Has the Film Score scene moved to London?
Has the Film Score scene moved to London?
Hi, all! I am a composer for film and dance, and I have years of experience as musical director for theatre as well. I am looking to get into composing for theatre, and I am wondering if anyone has anyone has any advice on how an experienced composer / MD should go about making that jump. Thoughts?
a suggestion: you can make a CD with your work samples and leave a copy to each theatre and director you come by. this is a way to get a project to work in and then put it again as a sample to get new projects...
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And Paul, I read that article on "Studio Shame", and this is where I get lost, LOL. It's all "high finance" to me. When I read that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix grossed just shy of a bill...
Expand commentAnd Paul, I read that article on "Studio Shame", and this is where I get lost, LOL. It's all "high finance" to me. When I read that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix grossed just shy of a billion dollars and is still 167 mil in the red... it just doesn't compute to me. If that's the case why do they make any movie???? I just don't get it. To me it looks more like that's how they're putting it down on paper to avoid taxes and get out of sharing the profits with the other people who bought a stake in the film. But what do I know? If I was any good with figures I'd have taken a steady job like an accountant, LOL :)
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Yeah, I think it would be like paying your son a million dollars to score a film you're producing, and then stating that the production company that you and your son own did not make a profit off of y...
Expand commentYeah, I think it would be like paying your son a million dollars to score a film you're producing, and then stating that the production company that you and your son own did not make a profit off of your $1.2 million film. If I had a contract with you to share in some percentage of your film's profits, I would not get much of anything. Meanwhile your son makes a mint. Essentially, that's what the article appears to be talking about. Except they are doing this with subsidiary and sister companies that handle things like marketing. Meanwhile, people with clout, movie stars like Tom Hanks, make deals with a percentage of the gross, not the net profit. A much more substantial value, which can not so easily be hidden by the books.
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All very interesting reading! I did know about back end payments and the like, but hadn't thought it would have such an effect as choice of location! A bit naive of me really.... just thought decision...
Expand commentAll very interesting reading! I did know about back end payments and the like, but hadn't thought it would have such an effect as choice of location! A bit naive of me really.... just thought decisions at that level were about the art. Perhaps they're even less about the art than in micro budget, indie movies??? And its clear you need to be a business man as well as an artist to be successful in the industry, to look after yourself. There will always be greed an creative accounting.
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Well, maybe I'm not as dumb in finances as I thought, Paul, because that's exactly what I thought it looked like, LOL. "Creative accounting" indeed Arhynn! You make a blockbuster that grosses a billio...
Expand commentWell, maybe I'm not as dumb in finances as I thought, Paul, because that's exactly what I thought it looked like, LOL. "Creative accounting" indeed Arhynn! You make a blockbuster that grosses a billion and tell your backers, "Sorry but we lost money on this one", LOL. Now that's the "show business" I've come to know on the recording end of things! And top composers choose London to, (pardon my French), screw over their fellow musicians to make a clean profit. And what you said is so true Arhynn: "...you need to be a business man as well as an artist to be successful in the industry..." and that's what they mean when they call it "talent plus", and as I've told my sons and students, you'll never get to hear the very best musicians on a recording, because they have so much talent that they lack the "plus".
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Wow. Thanks for that perspective Chris! I had no idea about that: " UK tax credit for high-end TV productions that offers a 25% rebate". That article points out that: ' The crew infrastructure that is...
Expand commentWow. Thanks for that perspective Chris! I had no idea about that: " UK tax credit for high-end TV productions that offers a 25% rebate". That article points out that: ' The crew infrastructure that is a legacy of the Harry Potter films is considered top-notch, the pound has dropped against the dollar and tax incentives make it even more competitive with its Continental neighbors." And as one of my connections in the UK pointed out, there is a lot of construction going on there. Here's the link and it's well worth the read: http://www.deadline.com/2013/09/hollywood-pics-pack-uk-soundstages-as-sp...