Composing for film - Mark Slater - London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios

[mikewill9511]

I love that this orchestra contributes with any type of genre, even metal (Nightwish).

[ColtonBrook]

What's up with the editing of this film?! :(

[composermark]

@ColtonBrook This may be a version I tweaked to get it within an upload length for YouTube. Sorry.

[composermark]

@composermark My account is now approved for videos up to 15 minutes - so I will upload the full thing at my youtube page - composermark

[devrimyoldas]

Beautiful work.

How long did the entire recording session last? Excluding mix and master.

And did you really have to print the entire score on your own? İf soo, thats mean.

[composermark]

@devrimyoldas I booked 3, 3 hour sessions on a Sunday, the only day LSO was available at the time. We managed to get everything done and the players left about an hour earlier in the third session. We were all pretty exhausted. As to the printing, I won't do that again - it was crazy. But the quote from JoAnn Kane was close to $25,000. A little steep for this project I felt.

[Vesdrajo]

fantastico!!!

[DoubleDChris]

Hi Mark, did you edit and copy all the parts on your own? How long did it take?

[composermark]

@DoubleDChris

I had some help with that. It was a mammoth task. Even so, I had to personally check and double check everything. It took about 6 weeks I think, to compose the music, orchestrate it, book and fix the orchestra, deal with the producers on the contract issues, copy out and print all the parts (using my A3 printer).

[composermark]

I must apologize for the extremely boring nature of this video

[EllieJable]

@composermark This is the first time i have seen this.. it's really good Mark..

[composermark]

@EllieJable

Thank you. I've recently put another video up from the session, but with a picture in picture of the film itself and narration.

[jazzmatik]

Was the orchestra sight reading? Or did they already rehearse that music before?

[composermark]

@jazzmatik

The orchestra was sight reading. Basically we would do each cue 3 times. It was usually perfect on the first and second play through, but you do a third take for safety.

[beatnikcafe]

@composermark compared to other orchestras you've worked with is that the norm in terms of getting it right on the first take?

[composermark]

@beatnikcafe not in Eastern Europe for example. But there are many factors of course, the style of music and the experience of the players. I was very surprised in LA just how much time they spend on cues - but they always do sectional passes as well as tutti takes - and there is always some comment from directors which results in a flurry of orchestration changes courtesy of the JoAnn Kane crew on hand.

[proteussyndrome]

This guy is on PC ?

[composermark]

@proteussyndrome Yes I use PC's

[IntoxicatedTV]

this is just as good as good ole rock and roll, and dream job BTW

[Jimbo459]

Thank you for uploading!! dream job...

[MrAh17]

Excellent! We need more!!!!

[canargentinemusic]

this is a fantastic video, as an aspiring film composer myself i have to say this is truly inspiring! :D