Composing

Discuss, share content, offer tips and advice on hardware, software, style, strategies, process, work-flow and the business of scoring a film, video or theater production

Liked by Ashley Renee Smith and 6 others

Ashley Renee Smith
What Comes First—Melody, Theme, or Mood?

When you’re scoring a scene or developing music for a project, what’s your starting point?

Do you begin by crafting a central melody or motif? Do you focus on the emotional tone and build the instrumentation from there? Or do you take your cue from the visuals, cutting the music to match the rhythm a...

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Wyman Brent

Ashley Renee Smith, thank you. I only discovered my true creativity in April this year. Things just exploded. At least 400 songs written, all in five minutes or less. Developing four TV series, four f...

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Lisa Gerstner

I '"feel" the quality of the scene - hear the music inwardly - then compose.

Alessandro Sicardi

Ashley Renee Smith it’s an interesting question: I think every movie has a sound palette (acoustic, electronic, or mixed); and every scene of that movie can use different nuances of this palette. And...

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Morgan Aitken Ipg

Wow, I love the comparison of palette to sound, Alessandro Sicardi . It makes complete sense, just the way colour grading applies a palette of emotion to a film, so does music and sound. Probably more...

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Alessandro Sicardi

Thanks Morgan Aitken Ipg ! I really think music is photography, and lightening, for ears :) Some physicians used kind of a coloured scheme to explain how we perceive timbres, it’s very interesting...

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Liked by Koby Nguyen and one other

Navid Lancaster
Stage32 has an event for Composers coming up.

Stage 32 + Film-Raderie Composer + Filmmaker Relationship: How to Make Your Indie Film Successful Webcast.

Check your Education tab and click on Webinars. You would see it. Sign up. It's free.

Maurice Vaughan 5

Hi, Navid Lancaster. I signed up for the webcast. I'm looking forward to it!

Navid Lancaster

Maurice Vaughan 5 Awesomeness!

Koby Nguyen

Thank you Navid.

Liked by Ashley Renee Smith and one other

Wyman Brent
Some Songs Weigh More Than Others

When I wrote Broken Glass Symphony, it carried decades of my life with it. For 32 years, my life has been directly intertwined with Jewish life and causes—even though I am a gentile. I spent years working to establish the Jewish library in Vilnius, and along the way I often found the weight overwhel...

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Kerry Kennard
SoundPaint sounds

A lot of sound paint sounds a really great!

Check out this new violin sound.

I downloaded a $15 - 20 guitar sound last week.

KK

https://youtu.be/onQiqvKoKpo?si=MF_LUBcu9Qv4fWaI...

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Toluwanimi David Matthews

Hey there,

Posting if interested.

A Nigerian - born musician based in AUSTRALIA. Started making music six (6) - seven (7) years ago in New Zealand in 2018. Since relocating to Australia, D.MATTHEWS has...

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Wyman Brent
One Song

Today I only wrote one song—and I’m more than fine with that.

That song is Broken Glass Symphony. It came to me in less than five minutes, with no revisions, and it feels like one of the most important pieces I’ve ever written.

Since I began songwriting in April, I’ve already written about racism, pr...

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Maurice Vaughan 5

Yeah, it's like that sometimes, Wyman Brent ("Sometimes creativity is about quantity"). Sometimes you just come up with one thing though, like you did. I'd rather write one incredible scene, screenpla...

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Kerry Kennard

Agree - quality over quantity.

Hannah Woolmer
Composing for a Sex/Love Scene

I know it's a little bit of a cheeky subject, but I've been working on a feature recently that has unbelievable amounts of sex scenes and it got me thinking, 'how many love scenes have you composed in the past?' The answer is one. One love scene previously!

Love/sex scenes are peculiar because we get...

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Randall Scott White

Just loop "Take My Breath Away" knock offs and you're golden.

Hannah Woolmer

Kerry Kennard I suppose you could work with the similar orchestration and probably period and location would affect the music. It would be weird having 80s music in 1880s wild west. I should rewatch W...

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Kerry Kennard

Ha ha Hannah Woolmer - there was less sex in film and TV - smiles

Yes - period music sound research is needed.

Joel Irwin

Some of my favorite love scene music comes from the original version of the steve mcqueen/fay dunaway film, "The Thomas Crown Affair". Music by Michel Legrand. Pay particular attention to the way the...

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Fred Smith

When it comes to composing for intimate or love scenes, the music has to feel natural and not forced — too much and it becomes cheesy, too little and the mood is lost. That’s why I think inspiration o...

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Jose Antonio Betancourt Campos
Hi everyone, I’ve just updat…

Hi everyone,

I’ve just updated my website with my full composer reel. It features a selection of my work in orchestral, electronic, and cinematic music, showcasing a variety of genres and emotions.

Check it out here: www.betancourtcomposer.com

I’m based in Málaga and open to collaborations and p...

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logo | Enhance Stories with Music - Get Inspired
logo | Enhance Stories with Music - Get Inspired
Discover the work of film composer and musician Jose A. Betancourt. Experience storytelling through innovative music and compelling soundscapes.
Wyman Brent

I am enjoying looking at your website. "Music in service of story" That really resonates with me.

Maurice Vaughan 5

Hi, Jose Antonio Betancourt Campos. Welcome to the community. Stage 32 has a blog that'll help you navigate the platform and connect with creatives and industry professionals all over the world. Produ...

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Jose Antonio Betancourt Campos

oh I didn’t know that! thanks that’s so kind

Maurice Vaughan 5

You're welcome, Jose Antonio Betancourt Campos. That way other members can find your reel easily, and they can rate it and leave feedback.

David Laguillo

brilliant website, congratulations!

Libby Wright
Motivation Monday

Hi Friends! Every week, I have a meeting with myself and ask, "What one thing could I push forward that would MOST move me toward my goals?" Then, I make sure I prioritize that on my calendar. So, I'm asking you that question now! PS My 1 thing is meeting with the studio exec that has read my featur...

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Hannah Woolmer

Prioritizing studio time for me this week (I'm a film composer). This is a great post

Libby Wright

Thanks Hannah Woolmer . What are you working on currently? Do you have a home studio or do you go somewhere?

Hannah Woolmer

Libby WrightI just finished a huge project: a feature film that was packed with music in tons of different styles. After that intense stretch, I spent a couple of weeks resting and reconnecting with n...

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Morgan Aitken Ipg
Composers, What Would You Do With This?

I'm the exec producer on this series (at least that's what they tell me) so I've a vested interest in this request.

Take a listen to the 'come-on' (promo) on Your Stage for this so-called series.

Let's just agree, it's a wee lacking in the a...

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Morgan Aitken Ipg

Here's a stage 32 link to my personal take (a loop) of the music that might do this promo justice. I did it on my phone in a few minutes... probably like the promo, poster, marketing, social media......

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Kat Spencer

Morgan Aitken Ipg It's a Baldwin. And thank you! I don't do piano samples, only originals played by me. I add layers (strings mostly) sometimes, but I haven't done anything else with these improvs yet...

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Morgan Aitken Ipg

"No gigs yet." - worry not, Kat Spencer ! You're improvs are good. If you can get them down as score or midi you'll have a nice library of stuff to work from for scoring to spec. I like your use of mi...

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David Laguillo

soft piano, strings and timbal percussions at Vangelis´s style. Call me (not freebies).

Alessandro Sicardi

Morgan Aitken Ipg it depends on what the director wants to communicate... This intro seems an introduction to a tense situation, so I would probably use strings: dissonant, with sordino (Alex North, B...

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Wyman Brent
Falling in Love With My Own Songs

I’m sitting here listening to song after song I’ve written, and I have to admit something—I’m in love with my own songs. Not out of ego, but out of joy. Each one carries a piece of me: the humor, the heartache, the laughter, the fight against injustice, the playful madness, and the quiet tenderness....

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Wilhelmina Wells

Good talk, thankfully I always passionately appreciate what I create. Cheers.

Wyman Brent

Maurice Vaughan 5, you are very welcome. I am glad I have some little bit of wisdom to share.

Wyman Brent

Wilhelmina Wells, you and me both. I only started on this journey in April and I am loving it.

Tahoura Sheikholeslami

I love your poems too.

Wyman Brent

Tahoura Sheikholeslami, I love that you are in love with my words.

Wyman Brent
Healing

One of the most meaningful moments as a songwriter happened to me today. A friend on Facebook told me they shared my new song Making Sense with someone who is going through a breakup.

That simple act really struck me. It reminded me that songs don’t just exist as melodies and words — they carry feeli...

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Wilhelmina Wells

Music inspires and connects with others emotions.

Wyman Brent

Wilhelmina Wells, so very true. I am happy when my music makes someone think, or smile or laugh or feel a bit better about life. I have written more than 400 songs so hopefully something for everyone....

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Wyman Brent
Teamwork

My Approach to Creativity & Community

I believe creativity thrives when we support each other. It doesn’t take much — a kind word, a small suggestion, or sharing a useful tool — but it can make all the difference.

Whether it’s helping someone polish their profile, encouraging a songwriter to refine a...

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Maurice Vaughan 5

You're right, Wyman Brent. Creativity thrives when we support each other. There's been times when other members suggested things for my scripts that I never thought about -- and vice versa -- and thos...

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