Film Academy Live: Post #7
How to Make or Break Your Film: What Every Filmmaker needs to know about Film Music
Geoffrey and Benjamin Botkin
Mr. Botkin started out by listing a couple mistakes that beginning composers make. You should never:
1. Never think that the you know better than everyone else (especially the director)
approaching a film he hasn’t seen with predisposed opinions of what the music should sound like.
2. Thinking that you could do so much better if you were “discovered”
With those thoughts, Geoffrey Botkin handed the mic over to his son, Benjamin.
Benjamin is a truly remarkable young man. If any of you have read the book “Outliers” by Malcom Gladwell, you know about the estimate that says for a person to truly be a master of a subject, they must spend at least 10,000 hours studying it.
Benjamin Botkin has spent over a 13,000 hours studying film music composing, and probably even more on the study of music itself, at the age of seventeen.
Now on to his session.
Ironically, he began by stating that he doesn’t consider himself a master of this subject. That “Not even the Hollywood greats have even scratched the surface of what film music can do.”
He proceeded to give an analogy of the importance of film music: script is King, music is Queen. The Queen can either strengthen and help the King rule his kingdom, or tear it down. Music controls a lot of how people will feel during the film. The music tells the viewer exactly what to feel. One of the worst things you can do is to have the character arc and the music arc contradicting each other. Because when there are two story lines in conflict, the viwer will always follow the emotional line (the music).
Music, used properly should strengthen the story, and improve (or change) the acting. He gave the four C’s of music scoring:
C: Continuity (creates musical themes for visual items [people, places, times])
C: Context (where the music fits. It should play second fiddle to the script and the sound effects)
C: Contrast (placement of silence and music)
C: Content (musical elements tied together)
“Sometimes it’s not good to be original. Sometimes you just need to use what fits right.” He said. Far too many young composers have this urge to be original, to stand out, but that can sometimes be more damaging than helpful. You should have a reason for everything you do musically, and you must plan your film music. He, in closing, said, “ If you don’t (plan your music), you will be a slave to your art, instead of being the master.
Well, that’s a wrap of the Academy. The festival itself will start tomorrow at 12:00pm.
(Photo Credit Nathaniel Bluedorn)
January 7th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Isaac,
Excellent Job!!! You have given us all a very good feel for all the goings on and we sure look forward to hearing more from you about the festival!
January 7th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Wow, it’s so interesting to hear about everything that’s been going on there! I’m excited to hear your take about the film festival coming up. Do you think that you could maybe possibly do some interviews with filmmakers/attendees like last year? You’re doing a great job!
January 7th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
It is so great that all of these young aspiring Christian filmmakers are hearing these things! I’ve always been so so appriciative when the music has complimented a scene whether it was to make my laugh or especially cry. *Especially* when it has brought me to realize something in my walk with the Lord. What a wonderful gift Benjimin has!
January 7th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
I have so enjoyed reading about the film academy. Thank you so much for sharing with us, Isaac! You have done a terrific job.
I just read the twitter update… I hope your day goes smoothly, Alex (busy schedule!) and that the fellowship with your friend is uplifting and encouraging.
Brett, my prayers are with you as you have your root canal. I pray that it goes well. I know dental visits that involve “extras” like that are not fun at all. May God be with you both!
God Bless,
A sister in Christ…
January 8th, 2009 at 5:48 am
Isaac,
Thanks so much for all your blogging.THis post was particularly interesting, I love music and I know the effect it has on me when I watch a film, (sometimes I might not even have liked the actual movie, but I will still go back and purchase the soundtrack if the music was good :)) Although filmmaking is probably not something I will pursue, your posts have been extremely interesting and full of good bits of knowledge. My family likes to believe that a person learns everything for a reason, so I’m sure I will be able to use what I’ve learned here, in the future!
January 8th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Thanks again for the great posts Isaac. The tips you provided will help me tremendously.
January 8th, 2009 at 9:19 am
You guys are awesome! I have alway believed in teens going on to be more than what the world expects of them. It is very interesting to hear about the festival, media is a HUGE way to reach people in this nation. Filmmaking is something I’ve always been interested in because it has so much power and effect on a peron when they watch. I cried when I saw Fireproof and I can’t wait to see the new Christian films that will be coming out.
January 8th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Awesome job, Isaac! I’m looking forward to your posts from the festival!! I enjoyed this post very much becuase I am the main music person for the movies my brothers and I make. Thanks so much!!! God bless!
January 8th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
You are doing an amazing job, Issac. I definately agree w/ Benjamin; music really does play a huge role in movies.
January 8th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Thanks Isaac!
January 19th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Isaac,
Thank you so much for blogging about the Film Festival, I really appreciated it.
Just had a quick question.
Is Vision Forum planning to come out with cds or dvds of the Academy? Because I would really like to get this session about music.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Naomi,
I don’t know if you will get this, but Ben repeated his talk at the Festival, and I believe all the Festival talks (but don’t quote me on this) will be made available on Behemoth. I think. I’m not positive. (But his talk was really good.)
Kyle
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:46 am
Thanks Kyle! I’ll check into it.