Cues from Movies

[jazzmanfla]

Hi Folks--First time on the Forum. I am trying to listen for cues in movies. I would like to watch as many movies as time permits so that I can get a feel for where and how they are used. I have Netflix. Problem is Netflix doesn't offer current hit movies. Does anyone have any ideas on where I can see recent movies without paying $12 at the movie theater? Does Amazon Prime have recent titles? On Demand on TV? I appreciate your thoughts.

[mojobone]

I reckon the only cheap/free way to do that would be to illegally download them from torrent sites, which I absolutely do not recommend. If you're set up as a business already you can expense cable and internet, which is kinda like free, cuz it reduces your taxable income. Cable and a DVR are probably the best option for your research, cuz you can record shows, roll the credits in slo-mo and study at leisure. Really, I think most of the action (and comedy and romance) is on TV, these days, since Hollywood seems focused exclusively on blockbusters-until it's Oscar season.

[hummingbird]

Depending on your goal, I am not sure if listening to the music of current hit movies is the right way to go. If you are interested in writing cues for television, then best to watch current shows... TAXI listings will also often give you show names and a la's to help direct your listening. Dean's book "Demystifying the Cue" is also a good resource.

Films tend to be scored by film composers... most of the time. Not that it isn't fascinating to listen to film scores (I love them).

As for a movie resource you might try Amazon and depending where you live there might be an online service you can rent from (for example my tv service provider rents movies for $4)

HTH

[mojobone]

Yeah, big-budget movies don't use a lot of library cues, since they budget for a composer, but it does happen on occasion; I saw a couple of Matt Hirt's cues listed in the credits for Connie And Carla. Some movies do use what's called 'song score' where a song is used as a cue; often this is done to inject some indie cred and often involves indie bands.