How do I compose for film?

[Gast AndreasvanHaren]

I was wondering if someone could hint me how I compose the music for a movie. I don't mean the composing itself, but the process around it. Do you load the movie into Logic and write it in there? Or do you use Sibelius to get the timing right?

My problem is that I don't know how to get things together; music and picture. How do you sync it? What software is used by composers who do this work? Do they write with a stopwatch at hand while looking at the movie?

Hope to find some help with this because I really would learn more about this.

best wishes,

André

[Gast maxx]

Hi André

as you know, I studyed many of Bernard Herrmann's scores

and his way of writing sync with the picture.

There are (as far as I know) more ways to do it but

I think his way was the most common and easiest way:

When the studio made a major picture a music editior was

asked to write the scenes that should have music down

in a kind of timetable. This timetable is as exact as a 1/3 second.

For example:

Reel 5 M1:

1:03:03 "Villain enters the house"

1:09:09 "He smashes a vase" / Housekeeper awakes

1:20:06 "Housekeeper sees the villain and run away"

Now one could write a score and punctuating the story.

Composer XY could do the following steps:

He wants the music start at 1:03 and going on to

1:09. He has e.g. 2 bars (4/4 notes) and wants to time

them: He calculates:

60 [sec.] divided by intended duration (here 6 seconds) multiplied by the total ammount of quaters (in this case 8)

makes: 80 beats per minute.

One quater durates 0,75 seconds.

8 quaters durate 6 seconds.

So the composer knows when he writes Tempo=80

and writes 2 bars with 4/4 measure he will exactly

conduct from 1:03:03 until 1:09:09.

So he goes on and on, and times his written music to

the timings he has.

This calculation works, if you know the total ammount

of quaters and the intended time.

Here again the formula:

(60 [sec.] divided by intended time in seconds) multiplied by the total ammount of quaters.

Hope this helps a bit.

Best,

Marcus

[Gast AndreasvanHaren]

Thanks, Marcus. I have to read this a couple of times, really. My feeling for math and formulas is terrible! I remember reading this before somewhere but always skip it because, well... math and formulas...

André

[Gast maxx]

Just take a calculator and try. It's not that hard.

If you once try it you'll soon catch on.

Just ask if you need help.

Best,

Marcus

[Gast maxx]

To may help you a bit and visualize the whole number

so a first draft could look like:

© by maxx 2009

[Gast AndreasvanHaren]

To may help you a bit and visualize the whole number

so a first draft could look like:

© by maxx 2009

Thanks, I get it now! Not so difficult really.

I am studying again the printed score of Psycho, very great writing what Hermann did there. I am rewriting some of my piano pieces (again) this time for string quartet and just finished the first movement. I really need more exercise in string writing, that's why I do this. I feel that my writing is still to classical based,

André

[Gast maxx]

If you are interested in string writing you may also be

interested in Herrmann's Echoes for string quartet.

The score is still out there in some libraries.

If you like Psycho you will be surprised to see what he

did in his Sinfonietta.

In general there are many things we can learn from

his style and techniques.

Best,

Marcus

[Gast AndreasvanHaren]

Thanks,

I will see if I can find it. I noticed btw that's it's very tricky to use his writing technics because it sounds immediately like Hermann!

André

[Gast maxx]

Have a look in your private messages.

Best,

Marcus