<p>Hello everyone,</p>
<p>Great article in Variety about the diminishing stature of the film composer. Food for thought for anyone considering this as a profession:
Film</a> composers lose luster - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety</p>
<p>Thanks for posting. Really interesting. It doesn’t surprise me, unfortunately. Except for the favored few, it’s not what many dream about.</p>
<p>Not surprising at all, though it still saddens me. Given that there are less and less people out there who have grown up with ‘good music’ (in any of its forms, not just talking classical), where mass listened to music (pop, rock and rap particularly) these days is schlock strung together from synthesizers and beat boxes and most of the performers only get by because they are overdubbed by tech in the studio. Given that, and the cost of doing ‘real music’, and studio beancounters head right for the cheapest lowest common denominator they can, which is basically putting together music using synthesizers and ‘samples’ and the like. </p>
<p>It is sad, because Hollywood music at its best is truly an art form. Not just the fact that you had people like Korngold and Hermann and Elmer Bernstein et al writing the music, but the musicians who played it as well (there was a really good piece about the studio musicians in the Strad magazine recently, profiling people like Felix Slatkin and the like who played in the studio orchestras back then).</p>
<p>What is ironic is that technology many times has helped kill movies in other ways. For example, how many movies out there thought they could get by with gee whiz special effects, spend a lot of money on them, then had the movie bomb because, well, it was a piece of crap (Avatar from the teasers I have seen looks like it is headed that way). </p>
<p>There is hope I think, at least for some. It could be that ‘run of the mill movies’ will increasingly use churned out schlock, but I suspect a number will still rely on good composition skills. One small sign of this is the composer Michael Giachinno, who did the movie for the last Star Trek movie, UP! and the series Lost. He uses live musicians, and to me is up there with almost any of the movie composers I can think of, and there are others out there I am sure. Like many cost cutting moves, I think the beancounters are going to learn that saving money like that sometimes makes no sense. Music developed via technology might work, but also won’t do much to make the movie memorable, either.</p>
<p>Musicprnt – Can you tell me where I could find the magazine you referenced with the article about studio musicians? My son will be pursuing film scoring in college and would be interested in reading it. Thanks.</p>
<p>Pianomom12, The Strad is typically available in music stores catering to string players, some Borders, Barnes and Noble stores. I don’t recall the article or issue musicprnt is referring to, but you can search for some past articles online here [The</a> Strad](<a href=“http://www.thestrad.com/]The”>http://www.thestrad.com/).</p>
<p>Many times you or your son can ask string playing peers or teachers to borrow a copy.</p>
<p>Violadad - I went to the Strad site to look for that article, but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to search for articles in past issues, except pulling up each issue one by one and scanning the table of contents. Since you’re such a master at searches - do you have a tip for me?</p>
<p>A fascinating discussion. I often find that the music makes it possible for me to get through what, to me, might otherwise be a tedious movie. Wasn’t it “The Castaway” with Tom Hanks, which had no music behind it? I couldn’t get through it at all. Like SpiritManager, I will be looking for that article and Pianomom12, good luck to your son on his terrific choice of a career!</p>
<p>SpiritManager, I’m not going to be much use on this one. I referenced the Strad site not so much from personal use (other than the summer guide and schools databases) but as a potential reference tool. Son has been a long time subscriber so I’m used to dealing with the paper issues, They revamped it about a year (maybe more) ago, and I know at one point there was an article search function, which may have required registration. There’s the free downloads section here [The</a> Strad](<a href=“http://www.thestrad.com/hdownloads.asp]The”>http://www.thestrad.com/hdownloads.asp), and there’s a link to the '09 index.</p>
<p>If musicprnt could provide the name of the article, I might be of more use.</p>
<p>Sorry to disappoint or have steered anyone on a wild goose chase.</p>
<p>Thanks Messo’sMama for those kind words of encouragement. Even though there may be fewer and fewer opportunities for young musicians to pursue film scoring, it’s still “his thing” and I hope to one day see his name on the screen long after most people have left the theatre.</p>
<p>I’ll look when I get home at which magazine it was…it could be Gramaphone or Strings as well (we get all three)…I’ll let you know if I am able to track it down.</p>
<p>It was the Strad, the November issue. I think it was “Hollywood’s love affair with the violin”.</p>
<p>Thanks so much. I’ll try to locate it…</p>