If you were a film composer, in what genre you'd like to be typecasted?

[filmmusic 3,270]

This is something that has crossed my mind.

The ideal thing for a composer is not to be typecasted of course, but I see more and more in Hollywood, that that's the norm!

As a starting film composer, if I ever would be typecasted I'd like to be in the romantic period drama genre.

I feel it's the closest to my general style and character, and it's the music I'd love to compose most and that moves me the most.

What is yours?

[Pieter Boelen 1,032]

I wouldn't and couldn't ever be a composer. But Action/Adventure all the way for me! Though I'd rather leave that to the experts.

[Brónach 1,330]

But Action/Adventure all the way for me!

Yup.

[filmmusic 3,270]

I have a hunch that most people will pick this, that's why i asked.

[Incanus 5,890]

I would go for drama as well, period or otherwise.

[Rachael Foley 10,162]

Whatever genre Barry's Bond scores are considered

[Incanus 5,890]

Whatever Bond scores are considered

I try to hold off an acerbic remark...

[Thor 9,362]

I would try to avoid typecasting, of course (that's the politically correct answer).

But I would like the spectrum between dramas (of all kinds) and more heroic stuff, especially sci fi. I would like to compose something that requires a Georges Delerue-like melancholy, as that is very close to my heart. That would be in the dramas, then.

[Rachael Foley 10,162]

Whatever Bond scores are considered

I try to hold off an acerbic remark...

"How dare you! I don't know what you said, but how dare you....!"

[Sharkissimo 1,978]

Erotic thrillers.

Preferably with Brian De Palma.

[filmmusic 3,270]

Erotic thrillers.

Preferably with Brian De Palma.

i didn't see that coming...

[Quintus 6,496]

Unabashed romantic epics like E.T. and Titanic. Particularly because high drama and action when woven with soaring pathos is what gives me the film music shivers and satisfaction more than anything else.

[Ollie 1,375]

Sci- fi Action with a pure orchestra.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,110]

Sci-fi.

[KK 3,313]

That's hard. I would never want to be typecasted as a composer, it'd be awful. But if it had to be typecasted in a specific genre, I'd take romantic dramas. Fantasy and action can produce awesome things for a composer, but to write that kind of music all the time is exhausting in the sense that it dilutes the quality of your body of work. If all John Williams wrote in his massive career was Star Wars, then it'd be rather boring as a whole. It'd be the same if all Howard Shore wrote was LotR style music (in fact LotR sounds so much more satisfying just because its sort of an anomaly in his usual career).

But I could live happily with having a career full of diverse beautiful themes for various romantic films like Georges Delerue or Phillipe Rombhi, Of course, it's still limiting, but that's the nature of typecasting.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,110]

That's what Cliff Eidelman does nowdays.

[KK 3,313]

Such a talented guy, sadly wasted.

[Ollie 1,375]

I'd get too choked up if I wrote such beautiful music as Delerue. I'd hate to cry in front of an orchestra.

[Luke Skywalker 2,385]

I don't know.

I just would like to be called 'The Next Williams'

[Matt C 605]

If I was a film composer...

Drama and romance films would be hard for me for nail down effectively, let alone a nightmare to be typecast in. A big genre like fantasy and sci-fi would be a fun canvas to play around in, provided it was mostly orchestral.

[Jonesy 55]

Fantasy would be the ideal genre to develop thematic stuff.

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[indy4 160]

Musicals or fantasy

[Quintus 6,496]

Fantasy would be the ideal genre to develop thematic stuff.

+1.

I dunno though. Medieval brass and gothic orchestration has gotten a bit tedious all these years after LotR. The Hobbit felt like the same tired record being spun in that regard.

[Brónach 1,330]

As if that was the only way to score fantasy.

Theoretically, fantasy and scifi are broad enough to include all kinds of stories to score, from children films to deep dramas to action and adventure. Theoretically. In practice, budget constraints and the practical realities of filming limit that a lot these days.

It's hard to be "typecast" as composer in such a broad thing.

[BloodBoal 8,711]

[Quintus 6,496]

Yeah, you could always go down the Ladyhawke route. Or Princess Bride. Such sumptuous, avant garde music. I would of course expect nothing less than sophisticated originality from you guys.

[Brónach 1,330]

For stuff like high medieval fantasy?

Pretty much anything. It's not like stuff like LOTR and SW and Conan and El Cid and Ran sound alike. There can also be horror music there. Or dramatic music. Or, you know, medieval music. Or modern folkloric music of several places in the world. Or electronic music. Or Goldsmith's Legend. Really, it depends on the movie.

But when I say "fantasy", I'm not necesarily thinking on The Lord of the Rings. I might as well be thinking on Doctor Who or Let the Right One In or Evil Dead or Pan's Labyrinth or Spirited Away or whatever.

[Quintus 6,496]

You mean drama and suspense. Thrillers et al. Not specific to the fantasy genre.

[Brónach 1,330]

I'm not sure I follow you.

I'm dense.

[karelm 3,271]

Sci-fi/action adventure for me...in the tradition of Bernard Herrmann -> Elliot Goldenthal -> Jerry Goldsmith -> James Horner -> John Williams!