How does one find film scoring jobs... (Composer looking for work)

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I am a young composer. My name is William. I am 16. I have been composing for a long time now. I use a DAW to compose because I don't have a full orchestra at my fingertips. I have had multiple classes on music theory.. So I could write music for a full orchestra if I wanted to.. But I don't have the money for a real orchestra. I will stick with samples for now. I use East West Symphonic Orchestra. (I know it's not the best sample library.. But it works for a start) My music is nothing compared to the work of people like John Williams and Hans Zimmer... But they are professionals. I can't compare my music to theirs. People who have heard my music projects say that I have great potential. And I've always wanted to score a film. So I decided to look into short films. I would love to do a feature length film but I am not ready for that big of a job. I think it would be great if I got a job scoring a short film to start out. So my question is... Does anyone know how I could find a job in that category? I still need to decide on a stage name (or company name)(whatever works best) and I need to make some sample scores to show what I can do.. But I'll never get anywhere if I can't figure out how to find the jobs I want to apply for! I am hoping I will find out something on this forum.

Thanks in advance.
-William

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There are some film maker forums like hackermovies.com etc.. But there are usually 20 musicians or more begging one film maker to use their music. So it's gonna be a tough competition.

Edit: I just realize hackermovies is German, but I am sure you will find US based or international forums as well.

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Please, not this "16 year old composer" story again.

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People have been telling me I could make money off of music for my entire life. So far, I've had a few near misses, but no break yet.

But then, I suck at promotion and people-personing. Maybe you don't suck at it like I do :hihi:
http://sendy.bandcamp.com/releases < My new album at Bandcamp! Now pay what you like!

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How does one find film scoring jobs..
By having a reputation, and experience and a network of contacts, and luck.

Deal with the first three by finding people who need such a thing, and offer your services. Work for free. Create a 'showreel' of stuff with different moods, feels etc you can demonstrate to them. Look for film and animation courses in your area and approach the students, for example. Hang around on short film forums, not audio forums. That sort of thing. Look for people in the same sort of situation as you who are wanting to make films; beginners, folk with minimal contacts or resources.
Network.
Build a portfolio of stuff you've done.
Iterate.
An idiot on Set Theory:
"In some cases there is an object called red that contains everything that is red. In much the same way a pot is a plate."

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Sendy wrote:
But then, I suck at promotion and people-personing. Maybe you don't suck at it like I do :hihi:
@Sendy, I remember your recent post about getting people interested in your work. This is what I was kinda' talking about:



I remember this guy from another forum, nobody paid him any attention.

That dude now has 25k subscribers to his channel (I'm not too sure how old his channel is but it is relatively new'ish). That came from just doing regular tutorials. Personally, I'm not at all into his music at all, but there must be loads of people who've heard it by now.

This young composer or anyone, could do the same. :)
I will take the Lord's name in vain, whenever I want. Hail Satan! And his little goblins too. :lol:

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The only film scoring jobs I've had, the directors found me (via my music releases). They tend to be small independents with little money (so no fee). I also score my own short films.

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whyterabbyt wrote:Work for free.
That's the part that most people get really stuck at, but it's of huge value. Don't EVER turn down unpaid work while you're trying to make it.

Get a foot in the door at a local college or with a film club or community projects where film students or amateur film makers would love the opportunity to get the music that they don't have the budget for.

Don't ever look down at that kind of work - look at it as building your resume.

Remember we're in the 21st century too - start a blog, a Facebook page, a LinkedIn profile, possibly your own website.

Once you have a portfolio of work and a resume - get an agent. The cut an agent takes is always worthwhile as they get you work and connections you would never be able to find on your own.

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There are agents for this? In the music biz?

How to find them? What to google for?

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CableChannel wrote:There are agents for this? In the music biz?

How to find them? What to google for?
Are you being serious? I'm not sure...

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robojam wrote:That's the part that most people get really stuck at, but it's of huge value. Don't EVER turn down unpaid work while you're trying to make it.
Yep, same as in other fields. I don't know anyone in a creative field (music, writing, graphics art, even programming) who didn't start out working for free. Money follows later, if it does.

Even in non-creative, but "off the beaten track" fields it can be like that. I did volunteer work in the field that later became my career, and without that, it simply wouldn't have happened because I would have lacked the references and the experience. This was back in the 1980s and early 1990s, but it's the same still, and probably even more so now that people are much, much more "visible", tools are more available, everyone can publicize their work (and themselves). There is much more competition, not only in the music business. Things were easier 20-30 years ago, in that regard, but hey, it's one of the few advantages of not being a spring chicken anymore. :)

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robojam wrote:
CableChannel wrote:There are agents for this? In the music biz?

How to find them? What to google for?
Are you being serious? I'm not sure...
Yes I am!

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CableChannel wrote:
robojam wrote:
CableChannel wrote:There are agents for this? In the music biz?

How to find them? What to google for?
Are you being serious? I'm not sure...
Yes I am!
You dont know what to google for to find an agent for film composers?

good point. who'd be able to work out keywords for that, eh?
An idiot on Set Theory:
"In some cases there is an object called red that contains everything that is red. In much the same way a pot is a plate."

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whyterabbyt wrote:
CableChannel wrote:
robojam wrote:
CableChannel wrote:There are agents for this? In the music biz?

How to find them? What to google for?
Are you being serious? I'm not sure...
Yes I am!
You dont know what to google for to find an agent for film composers?

good point. who'd be able to work out keywords for that, eh?
Now that you put it in italics I think I get the picture :ud: Thanks.

Anybody knows what an agent is called in German? Is it "Agent"? Reminds me of James Bond ;-)

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CableChannel wrote:Anybody knows what an agent is called in German? Is it "Agent"? Reminds me of James Bond ;-)
Music agents are called "Agenten" in German, too. :) Well, Musikagenten, in this context. Their offices are "Agenturen".

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