Complete Guide to Film Scoring

by Richard Davis

Book Overview

An essential resource for both students and professionals, offering shrewd insight into the business, process, and art of writing music for film and TV. Interviews with top film scoring professionals add the priceless insight of the wisdom that comes with experience.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0634006363
• ISBN13: 9780634006364
• Release Date: February 2000
• Publisher: Berklee Press Publications
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Good introductory guide

A great introductory guide to scoring films. Davis explains all the various film music jargon, the roles of music editors and producers (among others) and what royalties you are entitled to. Also covered is the history of film music, what techniques you use to synchronize the action, how to strike deals, the importance of personal relations, et.c. I found it to be an enlightening guide that gave me the answers I was looking for. The language is dry for the most part, but easy to read and learn from.

A Valuble Gem for the Aspiring Film Composer

Film composer Richard Davis's Complete Guide to Film Scoring is indeed complete. It is the only book I know that has all the fundamentals of composing the music for a film, from the spotting to the recording session and mix, giving fascinating facts and detail along the way. It even includes the financial part of the composing process and the agents, royalties copyrights, and contracts involved. As I first found my love for film composing, I knew nothing much of it and had many questions with no one to answer them. This book not only answered them but shed more light on vague parts of composing and even inspired me. The interviews of the various and rising new composers were delightful and the beginning chapter describing the development of early film music and its various developing styles and composers was very insightful and delighting to read. Richard Davis's book is a must-have for any aspiring film composer. Such knowledge that this book has comes only with experience but Richard Davis easily explains it so we don't have to learn it the hard way.

The perfect book for getting the big Picture...

My partner and I are just starting to get into this business, but here in Switzerland, getting information on this industry is not so easy. Richard Davis' book was just what the doctor ordered for giving us a view into the different facets of the business; from who does what and when to what to be aware of when it comes to getting your pay. Be warned that the book is about the business and not about getting into the business. Although the author is very postive, and very constructive, there is no discussion about managers, or agents, or any specifics about where one might begin to make calls, send demos or knock on doors. But that wasn't what the author was aiming for, and the book does not lack because of it. The interviews with producing composers are fabulous, as well as the plethora of quotes from varied professionals in the business. If you're only going to get one book to find out about the film scoring business, this is the one to get.

Buy this book!

Composers interested in writing for film will find this book a very welcome addition to a field of education still in its infancy. With only 2 colleges in the u.s. offering degrees in film scoring (Berklee College of Music and U.S.C) and very little literature on the subject in print, it is difficult to learn the techniques involved in scoring for film and tv without actually being involved in the industry. Complete guide to film scoring is exactly what the title would suggest, COMPLETE. Those familiar with On the Track (another great title for those interested in Film Music which is unfortunately no longer as relevent to TODAY's industry...) will find the Complete Guide to be the only book on the market capable of replacing this title as the standard in film music education.The complete guide is an absolute must for those just beginning their careers, industry pros, or anyone with a love of the art of film music. It's packed with info without the atmosphere of a text book, covers every aspect of the industry, and is just an all in all fun read! Order it today and begin or broaden your knowledge of the scoring process.

Step-by-step Guide to Film Scoring

Exellent book for anyone interested in the process of writing soundtracks for movies or television. The author takes you through a history of film music on to the details of production, creating the music, and most importantly the business of film scoring. The last chapter contains interviews with nearly 20 of todays most visible composers.The author writes in an easy to approach style, with step by step instructions on every aspect involved in creating music for soundtracks. I believe this book is/will be considered a reference on this subject. If you are interested in scoring music for film or television buy this book.