Bryan Dusseau: Music composer, music supervisor and musician in Toledo, Ohio.

What factors are really important to you as a film maker? Quality? Experience? Price? Portfolio?

Hi Bryan, I enjoyed reading your article, I think it is a great tool to help create healthy collaborative relationships between directors and composers. I just wrote an article on how directors can help their composers by just adding a few bits of info in their video files. If you have time give it a read and let me know what you think? Here it is: http://filmscoringtips.com/5-tips-to-deliver-better-videos-to-composers/

Hi Bryan. Good to meet you.

Hi Bryan, these are great questions. I will use them when I look for a composer for my first feature, which I am starting to film this month. Thanks for the post.

Hi everyone, I am going to be teaming up with someone in the composer lounge for a few tutorials, and demonstration for other composers. Of course other team members in the film industry can learn from this project, and get an inside look at how composers work (which is rare to find). What I will be doing is scoring a scene from a movie. I will be recording video the whole time, and explaining some ideas while I work. I will start from scratch to finish. I am in need of a scene I can use. Do one of you have a scene I can score for this learning experience? I would need all music cut out. Sound design and dialog can stay in, and are actually encouraged

Check out my promo video, I would like to know what you think.

Now that April is nearly over, I invite you to ask me any questions about composing/composers.

Opportunities do not come often. I personally take every opportunity I can. I make sure I benefit from it first. Am I making a profit, am I gaining experience, do I have an opportunity to have my score listened to by the right people? I try to answer my questions. If I can't answer any of my questions, I have to respectively turn down the offer. We should always be moving forward. For film makers just starting out, there is a plethora of composers just starting out as well. Let's all move forward together.

Normally for a feature film, the music cues are sent to be approved by the director/music supervisor. After the cue is finalized, the composer turns the cue in, usually to the music editor. The music editor will then sync the cue to the film. After the entire score is completed, the music editor will sync all of the music cues to the movie. In the end, the director makes the final call. The composer, music editor, music supervisor can guide/persuade/console the director, but the director calls the shots. This is where communication is vital for the composer and director/post production team. If the composer can explain why he/she wrote the music like that in a non musical way, then perhaps the music would not be chopped or moved around, at least not as much. After all the music is synced, the mixer controls the sound in the entire film. Balancing it out to perfection. This include dialog/music/sound effects.

Every once in a while you need to take time off and relax. Spend quality time with people you are close to. If familyand personal life is extremely stressful, it will really affect your work flow and take a personal toll on your mind and body.

Very educational article Bryan, us film composers can definitely take away something from this even though it's aimed more at film directors :)

It is important to be nice. You never know who you will meet, or who you will meet again. So taking your timetim of the day to help someone is a great way to pay it forward. Everyone has someone they ask questions. If you help someone, they will spread the good word of your work, and it is great to give a few tips to help someone work in film for a living. You do needto know when to stop. Giving too much information away would devalue your education and experience. Give away what you feel comfortable with, and try not to waste too much time talking online. There is a time to socialize, and a time to work hard and.achieve your goals Ngoaland complete your projects on time.

I really enjoyed this article! Thanks for sharing this with us!

Thanks Bryan! I am so involved in just getting my script optioned that I haven't even considered the soundtrack. This gives me an idea of the road ahead.

There will be times when a composer spends many hours on a cue. He/she may be very proud and feels that the music marries the picture perfectly. The director may listen to the music and does not share the same opinion. The director had something else in mind. After a few days, the director may actually be very fond of the cue. But most likely the director will ask the composer to rewrite the cue. The composer may feel resentment, or denial. But this is a team effort, and the composer needs to respect the director. The director needs to use precise words for the cue. Feelings, expression, tempo, volume, all this is important to talk about. I recommend that composers may rough scratch tracks of the cue, that way he/she does not spend too much time on the cue to make it perfect.

By working hard and getting your name credited on a really solid film that is played at a film festival can do wonders. It is a way to get some recognition, awards, contacts, and it is nice seeing your name on the big screen. Someone may have to know who did the cinematography, or the location scout, composer, writer, hair dresser ect. Someone will reach out to you if they like what they see. Keep moving forward. You may have to do 5 films that tank to land a nice amateur short film. It is all worth it though.

Networking is a big part of the film community. If you are always working on your skill to better yourself in your craft, people will notice. What is more important though is learning about other people and their crafts and interests. Establishing a base of interest and friendship is vital to future career, and its's just plain fun to have cool friends. Don't say, Hey my name is Bryan and I am a film composer. Most likely people will not even respond to you. Check out their work and compliment them. Chime in on conversations that you can relate to. Go to film festivals, ask to talk to them on the phone, join film groups, keep talking, and eventually everyone will know you as someone that cares about the film community. People want to work with people who have a passion for film, who likes working in teams, and is fun. Do this on a regular basis. Daily if you can.

When you put hard work into a resume, demo reel, audition, catered and specifically created for one position on the film you applied for, it feels like an eternity before they say you have the position or not. While I wait for the answer, I research about the film, I basically get all the knowledge I can before they accept and say "You have 4 weeks to write 60 minutes of music:". I basically get a head start. When I was talking about risk taking, this is one of those risks. If I get a head start, and the say no, then I wasted my time. Not entirely though. I can save any music I made and release it online, save it as a cue that can possibly be used later, and use it for a pitch for a new movie if it fit the specification. While you wait for an answer, complete the busy work that you can only do on your free time. Reach out to people, create new connections.

No matter how big or small your career path is right now, there is always someone watching. It may only be your child that really likes your work. But that is because he/she sees potential in you. If you keep on moving forward, someone else is going to fall upon your work. People may not let you know they are watching. If you give up now, who knows what could have happened just the next day if you kept the work up. Get ready for lots of disappointments, did you really expect to be among the best right when you first started? It takes some serious work to get to that level. You have to dive in deep waters and unknown territory, and not turn back. Of course it will be hard and scary. You may feel like you are all alone. Use that to your advantage. Imagine yourself where you strive to be. If you hypothetically look back to your past, you would be grateful you put all that hard work and struggle in. Don't forget why you started, and don't focus on the failures. Try again, then try harder. Go get em'.