This fully updated and complete guide takes you inside the world of creating music for film, television, and—unique to this edition—video games. It addresses a wide range of topics including musical aesthetics, cutting-edge technology and techniques, and current business aspects. Also included are interviews with leading industry professionals.

This fully updated and complete guide takes you inside the world of creating music for film, television, and—unique to this third edition—video games. Industry expert Jeff Rona addresses a wide range of topics including musical aesthetics, cutting-edge technology and techniques, and current business aspects.

It is packed with interviews with the most influential film, television, and video game composers, along with music editors, music supervisors, agents, contractors and studio executives. Packed with insider’s tips, the book also advises on how to nurture positive relationships within your creative team and business contacts.

Includes interviews with John Williams, Carter Burwell, James Newton Howard, Hans Zimmer, Mark Isham, Basil Poledouris, Ludwig Göransson, Marc Shaiman, John Powell, Wendy and Lisa, Joseph Trapanese, and Michael Giacchino. The book addresses:

The Creative Process

• Making good musical choices
• The psychology of a good score
• Continuity and contrast, economy and musicality
• The importance of styles

Technology

• The best gear for film, TV and video game scoring
• Home studio design
• Synchronization
• Mixing for film, TV and video game scoring

Career

• Getting started
• Industry politics
• Demoing and finances

For the aspiring film, TV or video game composer, this book is a veritable cornucopia of useful information for pursuing scoring to picture as a career.

Acknowledgments and Thank Yous

Foreword by Peter Golub

Introduction to the Third Edition

SECTION ONE • YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS

Chapter One • The Music

Chapter Two • Music For Episodic Television

Chapter Three • Developing A Personal Musical Style

Chapter Four • Music In Play: Scoring Games

SECTION TWO • TECHNOLOGY

Chapter Five • Setting Up A Studio

Chapter Six • The Written Note

Chapter Seven • Score Recording And Mixing

SECTION THREE • CAREER

Chapter Eight •Beginning A Career

Chapter Nine • Challenges

Chapter Ten • Making A Living

Epilogue

Glossary

Appendix

Resources

About the Author