Dramatic Instrumentals

[mazz]

Once again our friend matto (who knows a little something about targeting his music!) has cut through the fog (IMO).I was thinking about starting a "low level of tension" thread to try to analyze what was meant by that phrase and how close or far were were from that elusive mark. I still may when I get a minute.I also remembered that we're not writing music that can necessarily stand alone as a piece of music but are really trying to write music that stands behind a scene and dialog and enhances the scene without stealing it in any way. That's pretty hard to do anyway, let alone do it to a scene that you can't watch because it hasn't been shot or edited yet!! We're in the TV/film business, not the music business and have to train ourselves to think like that when we write.TAke care,Mazz

[jamkern]

You're right Mazz--this IS the TV/FILM business... It's very important to have music that is appropriate, clever and does not get in the way of dialog (---bragging alert--...I have almost daily cues on national shows, so I'm starting to figure out what works and what doesn't). That said, this brings me to the question of--why have I had several TV/FILM returns that said I was dead on, but the track failed to build in intensity enough (take it up another level!!).... I guess it's all relative to the listing in question--maybe Taxi could be more dicriptive with the listings??? ---back to composing!!! best to all--kick ass in 2008!!

[mazz]

jamkern,From what I've heard, TAXI puts the listings out pretty much as they get them from the client. I don't know what goes on behind the scenes, (i.e.: "could you clarify if you want vibes or marimba?") between the request and the posting of the actual text of the listing. I think I need to go back and read Dave's postings on his visit to TAXI to see if he addresses this.I think if you're getting played regularly on TV (envy alert!!!) then you're getting the hang of it. You obviously have built up some good relationships and TAXI is another avenue to open new doors. The fact that you get returns for some stuff that you've already placed on your own just means that, as you said, the piece wasn't quite right for that particular listing. No reflection on the piece itself.I"m all for kicking some major TV/Film ass in 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Mazz

[jude3]

Quote:I don't have time to listen to all the tracks posted here, but most of the rejected ones I heard were quite obviously off target. Mostly WAY too intense and dramatic, nothing like "sustaining a low level of tension" as requested in this listing. Others were not pro sounding enough for this listing which asks Taxi to be "extra selective".What could Taxi possibly have to gain from rejecting music that's good enough and on target for the listing company? I think you are saying that to protect taxi. those rejections were not clearly off the mark provided that those forwards were on.also the screener never listened to house wives or house. i listened to those shows for two days the forwards were not even near what the music i heard was. so that posses even another problem. if the listing says ala house, shouldn't the screener know the music on house?one reason taxi could rejetc those listings is because they don't want to farward too much material for the listing party to screen.they also could be interjectiong too much of their personal like and not being objective.once i did the resarch on the other dispatchthat came out with this and caught the screener not paying attention i realized that these people may be too busy to screen well. i like taxi but i am not so jaded that i can't be objective as to the fact that there might be a problemclearly in my mind there is in this case and in a few others i have not mentioned.

[jude3]

Quote:Once again our friend matto (who knows a little something about targeting his music!) has cut through the fog (IMO).I was thinking about starting a "low level of tension" thread to try to analyze what was meant by that phrase and how close or far were were from that elusive mark. I still may when I get a minute.I also remembered that we're not writing music that can necessarily stand alone as a piece of music but are really trying to write music that stands behind a scene and dialog and enhances the scene without stealing it in any way. That's pretty hard to do anyway, let alone do it to a scene that you can't watch because it hasn't been shot or edited yet!! We're in the TV/film business, not the music business and have to train ourselves to think like that when we write.TAke care,Mazzbut don't forget mazz that this listing also use the adjective "very current sounding". so that the music mustnot also be low level tension but current sounding.taxi never described what that word meant exept to give examples of two tv shows which in my oppinion the screener never listened to.

[jude3]

Listen to the music in these cuts from desperate house wives and tell me if they are good examples of "current sounding" instrumentals. They sound VERY traditional to me:http://abc.go.com/primetime/desperate/index?pn=indexTo me this proves that the person who listed the add did not give us the right information or enough information. It also shows that the screener never did the homework.The whole listing is wacked. You would have to be lucky to get forwarded since the information in the listing is not defined properly.That is why I content that all the music that was posted here should make it since there is no defined objective other to to say "current sounding dramatic" which all of them do.

[jude3]

Quote:There is something going on Jude. It's a plot I tell ya. It must be.And I think you are indeed gonna get a visit from the principal's office. Prepare yourself...I don't know if you are serious and attacking me personaly or joking.I hope you are joking.We pay taxi our hard earned money and devote our precious time. we have evey right to question them.There job is to lessen the load of the people who need music and to get them the best material for the least amount of screening.when i read stories of people who got deals from music that taxi rejected it makes me wonder how much of that goes on. If it is a great deal them it surely means that taxi is not doing a good job.I don't make it my full time job to police them, but i am sure they would appreciate my questioning it as it would help them keep on their toes.There is no need to make fun of me personally. I don't do that to you do i?One day maybe you will have a complaint.

[mazz]

Desperate Houswives' musical aesthetic is pretty much based around pizzicato strings which may be traditional sounding but is used in a current sounding way by the composer, IMO. Another current sounding usage of pizzicato strings would be Thomas Newman's theme for Six Feet Under.Of course, my definition of current sounding might be totally different from yours which might be totally different from the listing client's. That's where we get in to trouble trying to discuss music. Whether or not the screener watched House or DH, they have to be up on current sounding TV music in order to keep their job as a TAXI screener.I think the piece of mine that was returned was current sounding dramatic but, upon further listening, was not "low intensity" enough. In hindsight, I realize that I made a decision to combine House and Desperate Houswives which translated in to "too many concepts" in the end result. I've been thinking a lot about how to make it "low intensity" to meet my definition of that term, which is the only definition I can go on, and I'm OK with that.I've seen many listings that are worded similarly to the one we're discussing here. They are vague and maybe not musically accurate (did they mean marimba when they said vibes?) but they reflect, in my experience, what clients ask for in the real world. If the clients were real studied musicians, they'd probably write the music themselves. It's up to us to master the art of interpreting what they want and learning their language, as vague and inaccurate as it may be. Do you really want someone who knows a little bit about music to say "I think you should use a D chord there"?This return and discussion only makes me want to try harder to read between the lines, I don't have time or energy to get pissed off about it or how badly it was worded, etc. I can only control what I can control and for me that's continually improving and learning.Happy Holidays,Mazz

[jude3]

Quote:I think the piece of mine that was returned was current sounding dramatic but, upon further listening, was not "low intensity" enough. In hindsight, I realize that I made a decision to combine House and Desperate Houswives which translated in to "too many concepts" in the end result. I've been thinking a lot about how to make it "low intensity" to meet my definition of that term, which is the only definition I can go on, and I'm OK with that.I am listing to an episode of house right now and i mixed your piece in it. It works great! It sounds like some other music in house.As far as desperate house wives I have heard pizz strings like that for decades. You haven't?I post very little. way less than you. I compose ALOT. so i don't think i am wasting energy.maybe taxi will hear this and take it to heart and it will help us all.there can be a positive side to a complaint is there not?

[mazz]

Thanks for taking the time to listen to my piece and put it up against picture! We'll probably never know what the screener was thinking on this one.As far as wasting energy goes, I wasn't implying that you were. I apologize if you got that impression.I've heard pizz strings for decades too, but I like the way they are used in the show and I think it's a fresh dramatic/comedy approach. Maybe a little cliche musically but it works great for the show. My opinion, of course! I post a lot here because it keeps me in touch with other composers and fellow journey-ers on the music path. I also post when I'm burning backup CDs, bouncing mixes, etc., etc. It works for me and I learn a lot and I try to share my experience as well. (I have a lot of down time at my day gig so I spend some time here during that time as well. When I'm finally a full time composer, I may end up posting less, we'll see).There's plenty of stories of people getting library deals and once they sign the deal they send previously returned material to the library and sign those pieces as well. I don't take that as a reflection on TAXI at all. After all, a return doesn't mean the piece is bad, it just means that it didn't pass muster for that particular listing, according to TAXI's criteria for that client and listing. TAXI has to have a very high bar otherwise they'd have a hard time keeping clients like Fox Sports, etc.. That's a good thing, IMO.Take care,Mazz