This fully updated and complete guide takes you inside the world of creating music for film, television, and—unique to this third edition—video games. Industry expert Jeff Rona addresses a wide range of topics including musical aesthetics, cutting-edge technology and techniques, and current business aspects.

It is packed with interviews with the most influential film, television, and video game composers, along with music editors, music supervisors, agents, contractors and studio executives. Packed with insider’s tips, the book also advises on how to nurture positive relationships within your creative team and business contacts.

Includes interviews with John Williams, Carter Burwell, James Newton Howard, Hans Zimmer, Mark Isham, Basil Poledouris, Ludwig Göransson, Marc Shaiman, John Powell, Wendy and Lisa, Joseph Trapanese, and Michael Giacchino. The book addresses:

The Creative Process

• Making good musical choices
• The psychology of a good score
• Continuity and contrast, economy and musicality
• The importance of styles

Technology

• The best gear for film, TV and video game scoring
• Home studio design
• Synchronization
• Mixing for film, TV and video game scoring

Career

• Getting started
• Industry politics
• Demoing and finances

For the aspiring film, TV or video game composer, this book is a veritable cornucopia of useful information for pursuing scoring to picture as a career.