So, you’ve gotten through post-production, picture lock, and you’re ready to start promoting or distributing your film project. Before you start planning your outfits for the red carpet premieres, there are still some things that will need to be taken care of to ensure that you’re ready for the next stages of your project. Make sure your cue sheet is correct and submitted to ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. Whether you have a music department handling all music related aspects of the project or you’ve handled music clearance/production yourself, you want to make sure that the cue sheet has been submitted…
Author: Rosie Howe
Before becoming involved in the movie business, I had preconceived notions of what “avant-garde” films were. I didn’t really know much about them and had only seen one in a film class during my first years of college. Little did I know, avant-garde films would become some of the most important creative work that I would do. Avant-garde cinema explores alternatives to traditional methods of filmmaking as well as forgoing traditional narratives. Examples of this can be experimenting with the editing of visuals or audio, filming techniques, and of course having a narrative that is bizarre or surreal. The same…
The job of a Music Supervisor is one that is multi-faceted, adventure-filled, and at its very basic level, simply about diplomacy. It’s also a job where one is continually educating clients and musical talent alike. That also means, educating clients on what exactly a music supervisor is and how can it benefit them to hire one. The Guild of Music Supervisors defines a music supervisor as “a qualified professional who oversees all music-related aspects of film, television, advertising, video games, and other existing or emerging visual media platforms as required.” Thanks to the tremendous efforts of The Guild of Music…
There is no doubt that the combination of music and film can have a powerful impact. In fact many, including myself, have dedicated their entire lives to the growth and success of this artform. Throughout my time with Ms. In the Biz I have shared various tips and tricks for readers to help guide them through the music clearance and production process. This month, lets discuss animation. Even though the technical process can be similar from project to project, the creative process can vary depending on what type of project it is. When it comes to animation, the creative process…
As a business owner, you are constantly analyzing every aspect of your business. Constantly improving your business will only make it run more efficiently. Part of a well-built foundation is constructing and maintaining an active and responsive social network. No, I’m not talking about just online. I’m talking about engaging with people in real time and in real life. Like so many of you out there in the cyber universe, part of my morning ritual is to catch up on the news and articles. Recently I read an interesting article about social etiquette and how our society has become more…
As previously mentioned in past articles, I’m a major crime/mystery/thriller buff. In the past few years there have been some exhilarating films in these genres released. One in particular that I feel is worth celebrating is the multi-layered mystery Bad Times at the El Royale coming from director Drew Goddard (Cloverfield, The Cabin In the Woods, Lost). Describing the film as a “love letter to music”, the film is full of performances and music by and from the cast, as well as Goddard himself. About the film: Synopsis: Circa 1969, several strangers, most with a secret to bury, meet by…
The podcast world is new for me. I had never had an opportunity to explore podcasts, until a few months ago. I had the incredible pleasure of being on the talented L. Ariel’s podcast “Hey, How Did You Get That Music Job?” L. Ariel’s podcast gives listeners a good insight into various jobs in the music industry. It’s also been rated one of the top industry podcasts two years in a row. Past guests have included music business coach and consultant Suzanne Paulinski, video game composer Cris Velasco (Fortnite, Assassins, and Resident Evil), and film and TV composer Jared Forman…
Film trailers have not only become another source of revenue for musical artists, but have become its own class of entertainment. So much so, that some trailer’s popularity surpasses that of the actual film that it’s for. One of the main driving forces behind any great trailer these days is the music that is chosen for it, either by you (the filmmaker) or by your music supervisor/trailer house. Choosing the right music for your film trailer is an incredibly powerful branding tool. One that, if done right, you could capitalize on. Below are typical types of music used in trailers…
Soundtracks have been a healthy obsession of mine since I can remember. I used to carry a variety around with me when I was little. I had a brown teddy bear back pack filled to the brim with CD soundtracks to some of my favorite films at the time (Practical Magic, Men In Black and 10 Things I Hate About You to name a few). So, naturally I get excited when a client comes to me wanting to do a soundtrack for their film. I currently have two projects that have a strong possibility of doing soundtracks, so I thought…
With technology constantly changing it’s important to keep up on what’s current and can help you to make the most out of the assets you’re creating for your projects. I have mentioned in past articles a few ways you can monetizing your assets (i.e. original music written/composed for your film or TV show). Now that we are officially in 2019, I wanted to share a few ideas of how you can monetize on the music created for your projects after it has been completed and released. The ideas listed below are specifically geared toward filmmakers and those in television who…
I know some of you can relate when I say that as soon as the holidays hit I am dreaming of places to travel. And now, as I find myself at the end of January, I’m still dreaming of that vacation. I always make it a point to experience new music or to see an artist that I love whenever I’m traveling to a new place. Recently, I’ve been really itching to make a trip to Europe and discover what musical treasures it has to offer. Below are some suggested places to visit to find your next incredible music experience.…
Anyone in the music industry will tell you that it’s not just about music. This year it’s been about making strides to play legal catch up from the development of technology in the past couple of decades. Since the inception of the digital download, the music industry has not only tried to make sense of music’s place in the development of technology, but also to receive proper compensation for its inception into the digital market. Amongst these tremendous victories that our beloved industry celebrated recently, was the passing of the Music Modernization Act (MMA). A piece of legislation meant to…
2018 has been such an exciting year of change for the entertainment industry. But, like in recent years, we have seen an alarming amount of death of our industry colleagues due to overdoses, suicides, and illness. Anyone who has worked in this industry even for a few months knows how grueling, unforgiving, and just plain hard it can be to thrive and even survive. Many of us struggle with depression, drug addiction, and poor quality of life in general. But we stay, and put our minds, bodies, and souls through the ringer because of the immeasurable love we have for…
As we continue to evolve in a world where most people are spending a good amount of their time online and on social media apps, places like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook are the places to premiere new content. When music budgets have been limited and didn’t allow for a full media rights package, creatives have used online platforms to release their projects. As this continues to be a common distribution channel, people are still a little unclear on what rights are involved when using music on these platforms. Because let’s face it, licensing can be a bit confusing even if…