Film Production and Composer's Role

Film Production Timetable

• Preproduction involves script development, financing, casting, costume/set design, and location scouting.
• Production includes finalizing the script and production design followed by principal photography.
• Postproduction focuses on film editing, audio/visual effects, music composition, and scheduling a release date, typically taking 5 to 8 weeks.

Composer’s Role

• Composers use scripts to gain insights and may begin researching and creating source music.
• Scripts often undergo significant changes, lacking detailed timing for composers.
• Composers typically start serious work during the fine or locked cut phase, when most editing is complete.

Music Spotting and Temp Music

• Spotting Session includes discussions among the director, composer, and music supervisor about cue placements, timings, and approaches.
• Temp Music provides a polished feel to early edits, often sourced from other film scores or classical music.
• Composers have mixed opinions on temp music; it can influence their creative process and expectations.

Composing Process

• Composing usually spans 5 to 8 weeks, influenced by fixed release dates and potential delays from the production phase.
• Key roles in music production include orchestrators, copyists, and music librarians, who ensure scores are ready for recording sessions.
• Final components include recording and mixing the music.

Historical Context: Baroque to Romantic Periods

• Baroque Period (1600-1750): Key composers include Vivaldi, Handel, and Bach; marked by the development of the common practice and structured musical forms.
• Classical Period (1730-1820): Featured composers like Mozart and Beethoven, emphasizing melody, emotion, and variety in musical dynamics.
• Romantic Period (1800-1910): Focused on emotional expression, with notable composers like Wagner and Tchaikovsky, expanding musical dynamics and storytelling.

The Silent Era (1895-1927)

• Marked by early technology such as the Zoopraxiscope and Kinetoscope, leading to the first projected films by the Lumiere Brothers in 1895.
• Music served pragmatic (to mask mechanical noise), psychoanalytic (to soothe audiences), and traditional purposes (long-established musical accompaniment).
• Three major approaches to film music during this period: adaptations of classical music, popular songs, or original scores.

Evolution of Narrative Film

• George Melies pioneered narrative techniques, with notable works like "A Trip to the Moon" (1902).
• Narrative focus shifted in films from 1905-1910, leading to more complex plots and a shift in musical aesthetics towards supporting drama.
• Rising Hollywood prominence in the 1920s led to longer films and the establishment of “Movie Palaces,” featuring larger orchestras and specialized structures for musical accompaniment.

Music in Film Practice

• By the early 1900s, musical accompaniment mostly consisted of compilation and improvisation, evolving toward original scores as the industry matured.
• Practical resources like cue sheets began to guide musicians in providing appropriate scores for scenes, indicating timing and mood.
• By the 1920s, musical performance in films varied greatly due to diverse venues, skills of musicians, shortcomings in cue sheets, and issues controlling music quality.

Additional Notes

• The art of Foley sound is integral to film production, enhancing realism through added sound effects.
• The complexities and pitfalls of temp tracks are noteworthy in understanding film composition challenges.

Explore the intricacies of film production from preproduction to postproduction, focusing on the role of composers in creating music for films. Learn about the importance of spotting sessions, temp music, and how scripts shape the composer's work during various production phases.