| Silent summer, Spring fresh water, Glacier coolness.
Pictures and music. Music evokes pictures and emotions.
This article tells you how to get the right music for your film or video.
Though large corporate music houses claim more choices, we show clearly why
it’s wise to get your music from an individual composer. Music is very personal
and special. Composed by someone caring the most about its quality and
integrity. An individual composer can intimately tailor your music for you.
Many single artists are composer, orchestrator, performer, audio engineer,
producer. The perfect place to find your music – the source. (Shaded oasis)
Often a composer, becomes intimately interested in your
project and can share positive concepts, specific input. Sometimes people say
they have a working project and are interested in a certain piece from my
catalogue. If the mood hits me, I’ll tailor something special for them.
My personal endeavor is a combination music library and
music production. If someone wants something from the library, great … if you’d
like a piece from the library but altered, it can be altered … fast and
personally for you. Large publishers and corporations generally do not offer
that. They’re in the pre-fabbed world of "as-is", "take it or
leave it". (Watch out … someone might sell you an iceberg when you only
want an ice cube.)
As a film/video person with a real need, you have the
right to consult informally with a knowledgeable caring person instead of a
corporate style publishing or film music corporation. Surely, a composer knows
her/his own work most intimately and cares more. As a buyer, you’ll be in touch
with the the music maker – the only one who delivers customized alterations
fast, who cares personally and intimately about your music, your
project, is inspired to work more for you, assuring the quality and integrity
of your work.
I usually keep music files in their original form. That
is, besides the polished stereo mix downs, I keep the original raw
multi-tracks. They are easily altered, re-mixed, borrowed from, cut &
pasted, etc. Instruments and/or sections are easily dropped or added. Big
publishing houses and music library companies generally have access only to the
published final mix downs. Specific musical alterations are too grass-rootsy
for large business operations.
In this case it’s truly "one stop music
shopping" as I retain rights to both the underlying works and master uses.
(Yes, I do live in a mango lightly scented paradise.)
WILL THE REAL MUSIC PRODUCER PLEASE STEP UP?
Digital has put production into the hands of the real
"producer", the individual artist.
If a director likes a piece of music, a motif, a small
clip, the composer is more equipped than anyone else to do full scoring based
on that music snippet.
(I’ll take that key lime orchard, please.)
All composers are individuals. And unknown composers do
exactly what the so called "bigger" ones do. But, without formal
protocol or "famous name" drama.
Going to a corporate music library company is like being
in a large retail chain store and agreeing on a generic plastic item instead of
getting a craftsman to do a special personalized piece for you. It’s a choice
of mass production or custom made with love. (Get dem u-boats outta my daisey
patch!)
Individual composers compete pricewise effortlessly with
the largest music library houses or publishers because she/he basically has no
overhead, no split commission, no employees, no office to run, and normally, no
100% money motivation.
The composer and the music are the life source, the
essence, the power. The so called "middle men" of business are not
the source or the essence. They are typically uninvolved salesmen. Give
yourself the alive experience of dealing with the vital source.
You deserve it … so does your project!
Charlie Miller’s music has been featured in the NBC
series, Homicide and also numerous indie film/video and audio projects. He has
been music director/arranger of Dr. John’s band and has done various projects
in that rich New Orleans style and many others.
Charlie
resides in New Orleans and can be reached at www.icorp.net/cmill/. |
