entertainment industry coach question 630:My project is done but the music and I don't have $. How important is the music in a film?

Uh boy! Do you really want to open these flood gates, because my composers are going to eat you alive, not to mention any director worth his weight.

In fact, (and don't think I'm angry because I'm not. I want you to feel safe submitting questions to me, this is just tough love...) answer me this, and you'll answer your own question:

Would Jaws have had the same impact if Steven Spielberg ran out of money and had no music for his oncoming shark?

I rest my case...

But wait there's more, so much more! The stingers from Seinfeld are epic, they still play in my head. Someone composed those! And sound effects and foley, this is ALL part of the sound of a project and how the sound in turn makes you feel, and ultimately how you feel about a project determines if it's going to be a hit or a miss.

There is a piano piece, I believed played by Jim Brickman though the music is credited to James Horner, for the film A Beautiful Mind. This piece has the power to transform me in an instant, to bring tears to my eyes, to break my heart, and somehow uplift me at the same time. It's as close to perfect as a piece of music gets for me. So incredibly beautiful and moving. Literally, if I was going to be stuck on a desert island and could only bring one song with me, this would be the one... no lyrics, but it speaks to me, and the conversation always changes.

Perhaps you can find a gifted artist who needs a break and would work with you... what I'm saying is, don't give up because of money, it's too important.

www.theGreenlightCoach.com FIND ME

www.twitter.com/GreenlightCoach FOLLOW ME

www.TheGreenlightMentorProgram.com JOIN ME

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

entertainment industry coach question 628: Should I tell people when I've worked on a movie I think is cheesy?

This question was sent to me after I posted my social media status declaring "I love the cheesy holiday movies on the cable networks like Holiday in Handcuffs with Melissa Joan Heart and Mario Lopez. I'm DVRing all of them"

One of my Facebook friends (Charles Sydnor, an AMAZING composer, with a really cool website) shared one that he'd worked on. He did the music and was proud of it. So the answer, in my opinion, is, yes, if you are proud of the work you did on it. If you did your best focus pulling on a cheesy movie, you didn't write it, but dang was that focus sharp!

www.theGreenlightCoach.com FIND ME

www.twitter.com/GreenlightCoach FOLLOW ME

www.TheGreenlightMentorProgram.com JOIN ME

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

entertainment industry coach Question 504:How would I go about researching agents of composers?

This was a question asked in the comment section of yesterday's blog. The easiest way to find composers' agents, is to use IMDB Pro. You can also check out http://www.theamcl.org/ for more information.

Also try Googling them. I just Googled Hans Zimmer and immediately found: The Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency, Inc. (818) 260-85001

www.theGreenlightCoach.com FIND ME

www.twitter.com/GreenlightCoach FOLLOW ME

www.TheGreenlightMentorProgram.com JOIN ME

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!

entertainment industry coach Question 503:I'm trying to get into film scoring, any advice?

Based on the many genres of film, there are many different composers scoring films. It's like in dance where there are different choreographers for different styles. To start, you want to research the types of films you'd like to score. Then, check IMDB, to see who the composer was on each project. Once you have a list of 3-5 composers, do your research on them. Google them, and check their Guild's website to see if there are any interviews or articles involving them. Perhaps there's a bonus interview on a DVD with the composer.

Research will give you many clues about how composers get started in entertainment. In the mean time, look for projects in your area, if possible. Perhaps a film school or an independent film group may have opportunities for you. You want to build your demo.

In addition you can research agents who represent composers and call to ask what the industry standard is for marketing materials for a composer.

www.theGreenlightCoach.com FIND ME

www.twitter.com/GreenlightCoach FOLLOW ME

www.TheGreenlightMentorProgram.com JOIN ME

For more tips and articles by top entertainment industry career coach, The Greenlight Coach, visitwww.TheGreenlightCoachBlog.com

To stay current on The Greenlight Coach's speaking engagements, recommendations, and work success articles, sign up for her free newsletter at the top of the page and get a great bonus 1-hour MP3 on creating powerful business partnerships when you do!