Complete Guide to Film Scoring (Berklee Guide)

 (25 customer reviews)

When I bought "The Complete Guide to Film Scoring", i wasn't expecting it to be so... complete.

Actually, being a music major i was expecting a much more musical approach to this subject. I was interested in examples and more detailed information about how to write music for a film. The book includes this subject in a chapter, but it is treated pretty generaly.

What I found, and in really detailed way, were the means of making money with your score, full of examples, different approaches and all the necessary data to take full advantage of your score. However, it didn't satisfy me too much.

My partner and I are just starting to get into this business, but here in Switzerland, getting information on this industry is not so easy. Richard Davis' book was just what the doctor ordered for giving us a view into the different facets of the business; from who does what and when to what to be aware of when it comes to getting your pay. Be warned that the book is about the business and not about getting into the business. Although the author is very postive, and very constructive, there is no discussion about managers, or agents, or any specifics about where one might begin to make calls, send demos or knock on doors. But that wasn't what the author was aiming for, and the book does not lack because of it. The interviews with producing composers are fabulous, as well as the plethora of quotes from varied professionals in the business. If you're only going to get one book to find out about the film scoring business, this is the one to get.

Film composer Richard Davis's Complete Guide to Film Scoring is indeed complete. It is the only book I know that has all the fundamentals of composing the music for a film, from the spotting to the recording session and mix, giving fascinating facts and detail along the way. It even includes the financial part of the composing process and the agents, royalties copyrights, and contracts involved. As I first found my love for film composing, I knew nothing much of it and had many questions with no one to answer them. This book not only answered them but shed more light on vague parts of composing and even inspired me. The interviews of the various and rising new composers were delightful and the beginning chapter describing the development of early film music and its various developing styles and composers was very insightful and delighting to read. Richard Davis's book is a must-have for any aspiring film composer. Such knowledge that this book has comes only with experience but...Read more