I love the sentiment, and so wish more people realised this. Unfortunately, my experience has been the opposite when I tried to get my foot in the door. Directors/developers preferred the sounds/music that emulated their favourite existing works, and trying to do anything remotely different never got anywhere. Perhaps that's more how the indie sector works, or maybe I'm just bitter. I still think composers should take note! This is a great video.

@TheCrowHillCo

3 жыл бұрын

I think this is a very good point. I kind of touched on this (albeit maybe a little too politely) at the end was that we did something highly original to get the Alien Isolation job, the end result was strong but not world changing (I suspect had it been we would have won that BAFTA). We’re all slaves to temp and have to work to hire to pay the bills. But if we don’t develop our own voice and work hard at that there is little to draw on when we move up the ladder and start working with people with greater vision, sense of adventure and a real desire to do something new. My experience is directors want to push the boundaries but are often shackled by the studio or the commissioning broadcaster, by test audiences and by fear. But remember the director will hire you the producer will pay you, so your art should be adventurous your craft reliable. Thanks for your comment.

@Durrdiss

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheCrowHillCo Well put. We're all just trying to make something great, after all.

@RebelNMotion

3 жыл бұрын

I'm in sales and I have been for over 20 years. I was an actor for 15 years. I started my own video production company and I went out of business after a year. I was an awkward and shy teenager that couldn't mumble 8 simple words to a girl like, "Do you want to go out this weekend?" I've heard every, "NO!" in the book and I learned a lesson that Christian is trying to drive home. Example: When I pitch for a sale with just facts and features about my product I'm successful about 27% of time. When I pitch a sale with zero facts and features and personal examples of how "I" use my products I'm successful 88% of time. Why? It's because most people are motivated by experience and emotion. They need to picture themselves using the products, experiencing them. It's no different with abstract products like music, art, film and writing etc. Write to your emotions. Write to your experience. Write to your life and death. I promise you whatever you create "will" be different and your dream job will seek you out. Lastly: Don't cloud success with fame. Don't mistake one job or another as a career and do not I repeat do not compare your mentors or influence to yourself. -(They serve a purpose and it's not a measurement of talent, but rather the emotions that arise from the creative process you BOTH share.)

@Auswurkung

3 жыл бұрын

Probably my most "horror" experience was composing music for a documentary about a historic palatial cinema that had been demolished in our city. It was essentially about the corruption behind how it was eventually destroyed and all the back-door dealing that went on to get a heritage listed building knocked down. The director had place-marked all the scenes where he wanted music with the score from Titanic; his office was covered with Titanic memorabilia. Needless to say he wanted this ridiculous sweeping score over most of the film and it sounded ludicrous out of the context of a romantic drama. No matter how many alternate ideas I presented - delicate piano during the demolition scenes, darker subdued tones during scenes which exposed corruption during interviews, and larger more enthusiastically grand themes during the 3D fly-throughs of the original building - he would say something like "that's great, but there's this part in Titanic...". I eventually gave up and wished him luck - that was 7 years ago - to this day he hasn't finished the documentary; apparently, everyone he comes across is too difficult to work with...

@briancase6180

3 жыл бұрын

I think the explanation is this: when you're a nobody, you need to be able to produce something expectable, to speak in a familiar voice. When you're a somebody, you will have the luxury and even necessity of stepping outside the bounds to truly express your own voice. In the mean time, you need to develop it and be ready to use it to a greater or lesser degree: you never know when the opportunity to really speak in your voice will present itself. In the beginning, you will likely need to be able to speak in a familiar voice to make decision makers comfortable. They won't necessarily know when a special voice is in front of them because they're not expecting to encounter one.

I just turned 66 today and finally rallied the courage to build a small studio at home to do something I have dreamed of all my life. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to put together a set of "priceless" tutorials. I have often used the excuse of being too old to start something new and exciting but many people have countered with the Kentucky Fried Chicken empire story, built by Harland Sanders, starting at age 65.

@oldunclemick

3 жыл бұрын

Go for it! 👍

@citizenworld8094

3 жыл бұрын

Age in this game is just a number. If you can let your imagination fly, you can become 2 years old or 102 years, whatever you want. However, do not think ever that you are 66 because music and creativity don't care how old you are. Look at what God can do and he was very "old" when he made earth!

@GuitarsAndSynths

2 жыл бұрын

excellent same here well I am a bit younger but setup studio and working on some projects as I cannot afford to pay royalties to use music in my soundtrack project.

For the note takers... . . . . . . . . . . . 1. Do it your way (you are good enough - your way is the right way) 2. Be adventurous (and explorational, even when not required) 3. Restrict your options (play mainly with one new instrument) 4. Collaborate with extraordinary people (build a family of musicians) 5. Enrich your heritage (don’t listen to the other professionals for inspiration) 6. Embrace your heritage (it’s your artistic DNA) 7. Lean into your limitations (be insanely simplistic - give room for other film parts) 8. Lean into your USP (be one with the instrument) 9. Don’t copy other people (copy and combine three composers) 10. Don’t rely on other peoples sound (use them wrong)

@peanutbutteronmyguitar7005

3 жыл бұрын

thank you for this :-)

They said "Write about what you know." That album about configurating SCSI RAID controllers didn't do so well...

@DarkSideofSynth

3 жыл бұрын

Try one now about all the USB classification madness. Better luck next time, they say ;)

@0x3C

3 жыл бұрын

Johann Johannson wrote an album, IBM 1401. Anything is possible!

@karimayoubi74

3 жыл бұрын

LMAO. Classic!

@timbeaton5045

3 жыл бұрын

Could have used that for a Terminator soundtrack? I'll get my coat...

I think most of the great sound tracks really do have that "this doesnt sound like anything else?" aspect. Take the Good Bad and Ugly. That weird as hell singing, Cowboy yodelling. What else sounds like that? Or Zimmers interstellar score with that giant pipe organ mixed weird. Neil Youngs stoned guitar noodling on the Dead man sound track. Bear McCrearys over the top percussion based Battlestar scores. The massive almost overwhelming synth pads on Bladerunner. All of these where just unique and the whole reason you remember them is because your brain heard them and thought "Wow, this sounds different!". It paints new colours in your minds eye.

@GuitarsAndSynths

2 жыл бұрын

Ennio Moricone was a rare once in century genius. Same with John Williams of Star Wars fame.

Whether 'successful' or not, being yourself is SUCCESS.

@MrMikomi

Жыл бұрын

Not really. Being yourself and being successful is really being successful.

Your mom is AWESOME in Sherlock! I literally sat up straight in my chair when you mentioned she was your mother. Also, find your own voice is a must in any creative endeavor, from writing to painting, so you're definitely right about that.

This is the best video you've made Christian and the timing couldn't be better.

@leescanlan4995

3 жыл бұрын

My thoughts exactly

@6:56 Hildar Guðnadóttur went with Chris Watson to the decommission nuclear power station they used as the set for Chernobyl before filming started, recording of the sound of the building. With the exception of the choir piece, from those recordings the entire soundtrack was composed. It adds an extra dimension to the soundtrack that what you see (to a degree) is also what your hear. The physicality of the sets inform and are the instrumentation of the soundtrack.

"it all sounds the fucking same" you don't know how good hearing that made me feel. I severely needed that.

Here’s the answers to what the cues are from! (I think) . . . . . . . . . . . 1. Chernobyl 2. The Mandalorian 3. 21 Grams 4. The Social Network 5. The Motorcycle Diaries? 6. How to train your dragon 7. Gladiator 8. Solaris 9. American Beauty 10. Atonement

@HDSQ

3 жыл бұрын

Ayyyyy I guessed How to Train your Dragon! That being said it is reasonably easy to spot. Even still, it's probably one of my favourite film scores ever.

Brilliant stuff Christian, thank you!

I don't make soundtracks, but this gets me pumped to create.

Love it, thanks 🙏🏾

This is gold! Thank you Christian!

Thank you for this, It well appreciated.

Always inspiring, thanks Christian!

thank you... this is incredible advice.

Felt like I really needed this. Thanks Christian, you're a legend!

This is gold! Thanks so much, Christian!

Goosebump city! Thank you.

This is so inspiring, thank you!

Thank you 🙏 one of your very best.

Brilliant video, thank you so much

Thank you! Fantastic advice 🙂

Another great video with excellent advice. Thanks as ever Christian!

Great advice, thanks.

Many thanks Chris this is really inspiring !

Back to listen to this … again….and ..,,again.

love this....more please!

This is great, thank you Christian.

So good, as always. I often feel like your vlogs are a pep talk, reminding me to keep at it with the music making, thank you as ever for putting so much time and effort into these videos.

Thanks for this. Great stuff!

Thank yoiu! Useful and inspiring.

This is exactly what I needed to hear. Cracking video Christian! Thanks

Thank you for this. Really, thank you.

You are so inspiring....thank you Christian !

Thanks Christian for a great video - keep them coming.

Really needed to see this, was feeling like shit about my creative career recently and this helped 🙏

This was great info! Really helped me realign my head space around all of this.

Thanks for the wise advise and inspiration.

Great stuff CH! Hearing what influences/inspires others is priceless. And hearing those examples really drives the "why" home for me. Many thanks (as always)!!!

Awesome video, loving the freshness of your approach, amazing references too! Thanks a lot Christian!

Awesome, tks, Christian ☕❤️

What a great video. Well well done.

One of the most inspiring videos I have seen in a long time. Thank you.

Great video! I really enjoyed hearing the score examples.

Christian, this is an amazing video. Thank you so much for this advice. This has given me even more motivation to keep working on my music, especially my voice.

I loved listening to this. Stimulating and passion felt. Thank you for the great content, will be looking forward to more!

thank you, Christian. so much production value around an inspirational message :::

Excellent advise. Thank you

Thanks for one of the best inspiring and educational sessions from you so far.

Maravilloso!!! Gracias Christian!!!

This is the pep talk I didn't realize I needed. Thanks Christian !

Another great one. Tons of good advice in this video. Thanks, Christian!

I seriously love these! Never one to candy coat, you tell it like it is, but in a funny yet passionate way.

This is a stormin' video, Christian. Thanks so much for sharing...goosebumps aplenty with some of those score samples and the insights too, especially about the result of getting the Hobgoblin instrument that you couldn't play, so did something else with it...love that!

Great video as always!! 👏👏👏

Great channel, great videos and great advice, thanks Christian

thank you for these highly crucial words - I guess these will give me inspiration for ages...

I've already commented part way through. Just finished and damn, thank you for such a wonderful unicorn of a KZread video! Brilliant, insightful and thought provoking!

I love your channel mate, really great wealth of information

This is very timely for me, I've really want to get back to my first instrument of guitar and explore it more in film music. Nice to see your mum getting a nod, she always has a real individual presence about her on screen

Great piece this

Very good video! Thank you 👍👍

Amazing piece of content, thank you so much to sharing this knowledge

Fantastic video, thank you for this Christian!

Thanks. A great pick me up. Great respect thanks for spitfire to awesome much love to the team too

As a composer just starting off this is exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you

I just love your advice, Christian. Thank you so much for everything you are doing. And thank you and your team at Spitfire for making such inspiring instruments.

Christian, you're great. Thanks again, from Buenos Aires.

Thanks, i really needed to hear that.

Very true words from you as always Christian!

This was excellent. Laughed so many time. Felt empowerment to continue with my voice in my sector. Thank you.

Great video. It has lots of good insights with facts to back then up. Thanks.

I would say Awesome video, but you already know that! I can only say Thank you for the advice! I'm getting ready to spread my wings this year and I really needed to hear this!! Thanks!

Both you and your company are soooooo awesome! Thanks for being you and for your company's products! A loyal fan!

I think finding your voice isn’t the hard part, actually acknowledging that it’s there and listening to it is. It took me over 10 years to finally be able to do so, and that’s when people started to actually listen to my music as its own thing.

@oldunclemick

3 жыл бұрын

I think you're right. I'm also late to just going with what comes out. Over the years I've had friends say "I knew that was you" but never knew what it was they heard. I've stopped worrying about it.

I’ve struggled juggling life and creative output this year. 2020’s been such a mess, but can’t wait to get my teeth into some new material, itching to start a new pitch! Thanks for the inspiration Christian, these motivational video’s always do wonders!

This applies to almost anything creative! Great words of advice! Extremely motivating!

You Sir, are a gift to us all..

Inspiration for the nation !! Big up x

Great advice, thanks so much Christian. These vids are helping the lockdown blues

THANK YOU ! From the bottom of my heart. Your videos are so valuable. I am getting more confident in myself and in my own voice. Peace and inspiration wishes for you and your team! :)

Just brilliant.

This is such an incredibly useful video.

There was a lot of wisdom in this video and I thank you for it. Finding "my voice" remains my biggest challenge but I continue to work on it.

Your channel is an enrichment for composers world. Your videos are always so helpful for me. Thank you for your work.

You're a motivation master ! You show me the way. Thank you. 👍

such an incredible video

Thanks for all these advices! I've been making music my way and accidentally found my own voice, my sound. But soon enough I've enriched my heritage and now my voice has evolved. Finding new inspirations and adventure yourself to new sounds is the best way to be original and enrich your voice. Thank you and greetings from Uruguay!

Super inspiring man thank you

incredible video. Your best to date, I must say. You've given practical advice to strip that cliché into its most essential constituents. Advice that we can all apply. I have to check out Gustav's score now!

Damit Henderson, you always fuck me up with these videos.. thank you.

Well said! Inspiring!

Great video Christian with some really good tips, thanks take care

Inspiring as ever Christian. I am currently assembling my effects pedal "F*&kbox" as we speak and it is so much fun to just play around with sound in this way. Keep the videos coming, always look forward to seeing them.

I seriously love these videos more than any tutorial or product review. This is what it's all about.

Really enjoyed this video. So many wise points. Indeed, the most important aspect is to create your own, unique footprint. And never stop being curious. Thanks for the thoughts!

Thank-you for doing these. They are a Godsend, especially in these trying times. I also wanted to say that your beloved father was one of my favourites actors and inspiration growing up. I always loved everything he was in, he had such energy. The same goes for your mother always love seeing her on screen. They have both been an inspiration in my very limited Acting career. Keep up the good work, all your posts just make life better.