Has digital editing worsened the conditions for the film composer?

[Jurassic Shark 12,073]

Discuss!

[Chen G. 3,949]

No. Even in the good ol' film days, some filmmakers just couldn't stop editing the film, making it an absolute hell for the composer. 

 

Its naught to do with tools - its to do with the way one works.

[Jurassic Shark 12,073]

Yes, but it can be argued that in the analogue days, editing took more time, so it was more beneficial for the director to plan ahead.

[Marian Schedenig 8,193]

For "traditional" composers trying to write a score that also (to a larger or smaller extent) can stand on its own musical feet, definitely. For composers who just want to write a Balfe-style Mission Impossible score that adds some noise and nondescript tension to the film without giving it any identity or having any musical weight, it probably doesn't matter. But the facts that you get less time than ever to write to a somewhat final edit, and that in all likelihood not just some, but most of the score will still end up being cut to death make a consistent, dramatically and musically coherent score a hard to write and rare thing - even for the ever shrinking number of films that still go in for this kind of score.

[TheUlyssesian 2,478]

Yes.

 

You have the garbage suite variety film scoring these days.

 

Composers know that actually matching the action on screen is a hopeless lost cause. So might as well as just produce a sound design wallpaper that the director can plaster Willy nilly over scenes.

 

I find that if you are going to score the film this way, you might as well as slip the spotting session.

 

 

[Jurassic Shark 12,073]

7 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

For "traditional" composers trying to write a score that also (to a larger or smaller extent) can stand on its own musical feet, definitely. For composers who just want to write a Balfe-style Mission Impossible score that adds some noise and nondescript tension to the film without giving it any identity or having any musical weight, it probably doesn't matter. But the facts that you get less time than ever to write to a somewhat final edit, and that in all likelihood not just some, but most of the score will still end up being cut to death make a consistent, dramatically and musically coherent score a hard to write and rare thing - even for the ever shrinking number of films that still go in for this kind of score.

 

Eloquently put, sir.

[A24 4,331]

Just deliver the music a few days before the film opens in theaters. That way there's no time for the director to make any more changes. 

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

7 minutes ago, Alexcremers said:

Just deliver the music a few days before the film opens in theaters. That way there's no time for the director to make any more changes. 

 

Sounds like the fast lane to the breadline.

[A24 4,331]

Well, it's how Blade Runner 2049 got made and I don't see Zimmer waiting in line to receive his loaf of bread.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Walfish however....

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

17 minutes ago, Alexcremers said:

Well, it's how Blade Runner 2049 got made and I don't see Zimmer waiting in line to receive his loaf of bread.

 

He got lucky.