If I Had ONE Piece Of Advice...
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 13 ноя 2020
- In this video I discuss the single most important piece of advice I could offer for any aspiring, ascending or struggling media composer. With 10 top tips of how to achieve it alongside ten musical examples. If there was one piece of advice you could give, what would it be? And do you recognise the music, let me know in the comments down below 10-1 what shows these tracks are from.
Видеоклипы
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.
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.
@@TheCrowHillCo Well put. We're all just trying to make something great, after all.
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.)
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...
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.
Go for it! 👍
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!
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.
Back to listen to this … again….and ..,,again.
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)
thank you for this :-)
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.
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.
Ennio Moricone was a rare once in century genius. Same with John Williams of Star Wars fame.
I don't make soundtracks, but this gets me pumped to create.
This is the best video you've made Christian and the timing couldn't be better.
My thoughts exactly
Whether 'successful' or not, being yourself is SUCCESS.
Not really. Being yourself and being successful is really being successful.
They said "Write about what you know." That album about configurating SCSI RAID controllers didn't do so well...
Try one now about all the USB classification madness. Better luck next time, they say ;)
Johann Johannson wrote an album, IBM 1401. Anything is possible!
LMAO. Classic!
Could have used that for a Terminator soundtrack?
I'll get my coat...
"it all sounds the fucking same" you don't know how good hearing that made me feel. I severely needed that.
There's a simple truth in what you say Christian. The less concerned I find myself with how others are doing it, the more I end up doing it myself.
Positive vibrations from overcast and chilly Ireland! ☘️☮️🤘🏽🤠👍🏽☮️☘️
@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.
I seriously love these videos more than any tutorial or product review. This is what it's all about.
This was excellent. Laughed so many time. Felt empowerment to continue with my voice in my sector. Thank you.
Damit Henderson, you always fuck me up with these videos..
thank you.
Felt like I really needed this. Thanks Christian, you're a legend!
Don't chase the image. Chase the feeling.
I dabble in composition as a hobby, production as a necessity, and songwriting as a passion. That being said, this advice is applicable to all of those things and more. It's applicable to any creative or business endeavor, as well as life in general. Well done!
Well said- Find your favourite artists influences
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
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.
Inside No. 9 is indeed the finest British TV show. Arguably one of the finest ever.
Grateful to the evesdropping algorithms that routed your videos into my stream,,,
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!
I absolutely loved this piece. Everybody can be exactly like everybody else. Only you can be you. So you might as well try to sell the one USP that no-one can match. Not always easy to do in the world of "commercial art" because it's a high risk strategy. But it's a wonderful thing to aim for. And if you're only doing creative work to pay the mortgage, you should probably be finding a better paying job.
God bless you, sir. Highly underrated channel but only the serious musicians will find you. The career musicians.
Thanks for the having the dogs in the peripherals most of time, so appreciated.
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.
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)!!!
I cannot describe how wide my grin got when ‘Forgotten Friendship’ from HTTYD came up. Was, is and will continue to be blown away by how simple the melody was, just so incredibly beautifully and tastefully embellished.
Both you and your company are soooooo awesome! Thanks for being you and for your company's products! A loyal fan!
This is exactly what I needed to hear. Cracking video Christian! Thanks
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!
Awesome video, loving the freshness of your approach, amazing references too! Thanks a lot Christian!
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.
I've already commented part way through. Just finished and damn, thank you for such a wonderful unicorn of a RUclips video! Brilliant, insightful and thought provoking!
Inside No. 9 is one of the best things British TV has produced in a very long time. Great work on the music, it's always a great part of each episode.
This is gold! Thank you Christian!
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
I seriously love these! Never one to candy coat, you tell it like it is, but in a funny yet passionate way.
One of the most inspiring videos I have seen in a long time. Thank you.
I loved listening to this. Stimulating and passion felt. Thank you for the great content, will be looking forward to more!
Thanks for one of the best inspiring and educational sessions from you so far.
Maravilloso!!! Gracias Christian!!!
Brilliant stuff Christian, thank you!
Thanks Christian for a great video - keep them coming.
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.
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!
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.
Another great video with excellent advice. Thanks as ever Christian!
This was great info! Really helped me realign my head space around all of this.
This is the pep talk I didn't realize I needed. Thanks Christian !
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.
Another great one. Tons of good advice in this video. Thanks, Christian!
This is gold! Thanks so much, Christian!
You are so inspiring....thank you Christian !
Christian, I've just discovered your channel thanks to Andrew Huaung and let me tell you that this video truly is a blessing. I'm considering revolutioning my whole career to build a musical one. All these words in this video just resonate so much in me. Thanks for sharing such a good content.
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, Christian.
so much production value around an inspirational message :::
Christian. I was having a conversation today about all of the things you've mentioned in this video - the frustration is so real! I'm at a stage where everything sounds like monotone soup, lost confidence, and dare I say it the whole "why the shit am I even trying". Madly, like nearly everything that has happened on my musical journey so far, I saw this video exactly when I needed to. Thank you for your work, your insights and your humour, all of which I find invaluable and heartwarming in equal measure.
Always inspiring, thanks Christian!
Fabulous advice, Chris. many thanks. I would just add: persistence, polite hustle, and pure unyielding intent.
Great piece this
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! :)
thank you for these highly crucial words - I guess these will give me inspiration for ages...
Probably the best thing I've ever seen you do, Christian. Very candid. By the way, YEAH, Solaris! Recognized it right away and whole-heartedly agree.
Great channel, great videos and great advice, thanks Christian
Brilliant! Spot on and so clearly articulated. You have a gift of speech. One of my favorite videos of yours to date. Thank you Christian. PS, I purchased your BBC library because of your videos. They sucked me into Spitfire in general and then I was introduced to the library from there and couldn't get it off my mind for many months. Pulled the trigger and I'm a happy camper. Thank you and an early happy 2021! Alex J. - USA
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.
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.
What a great video. Well well done.
You're a motivation master ! You show me the way. Thank you. 👍
Soooooooooo many new scores and new artists to discover for me now!!!!!!, Dario Marianelli's score just caught my eye instantly!. Thanks Christian Sir.
Thanks for the wise advise and inspiration.
Thanks. A great pick me up. Great respect thanks for spitfire to awesome much love to the team too
Love it, thanks 🙏🏾
Christian, you're great. Thanks again, from Buenos Aires.
Lovely video Christian. Great memories of your dad in Fawlty Towers and your mum in Til Death us Do Part and Worzel Gummidge. Thank you.
I just start to find a way to score my animation. Thank you so much for the advice!
Really needed to see this, was feeling like shit about my creative career recently and this helped 🙏
Great video. It has lots of good insights with facts to back then up. Thanks.
Goosebump city! Thank you.
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.
love this....more please!
Thank you, Christian! It is too bad (or lucky for you) that you don't live in Portland, Oregon, because I would be knocking on your door with compositions in hand (I need someone just like you as a collaborator!). You are so right about the tower of Babel that multimedia has become: Derivative Pablum! Chaotic cacophony! Especially now, at the end (???) of this pandemic where it feels as though we are locked in circular cul-de-sacs with no exit. No direction right or left, or front or back. Forget about up. Just down into a morass of everyone trying to be just like each other while hating everything outside of the self-servingness of crony capitalism. EDM: the soundtrack to a robot orgy, Rap: with its nursery rhyme melodies and kiddie-porn lyrics. 'Straight' Pablum Pop; which is all about reactionary anger and all-consuming, deeply suppressed rage. Corporate rock which is terrified of its own shadow; which is why it has no light with which to lead anymore . . . Thanks for always being so fun and inspiring. Especially at these times when it seems as though there is no light at the end of this seemingly endless tunnel. Keep these fun videos coming!!!
This is great, thank you Christian.
As a composer just starting off this is exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you
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!
This applies to almost anything creative! Great words of advice! Extremely motivating!
Really resonated with a lot of things in this video - specifically with talking about turning limitations into benefits. I've often beaten myself up for not playing guitar like Johnny Marr or being able to write lyrics like Justin Vernon or arrange vocal harmonies like Brian Wilson - but that's just a deeply counterproductive way of approaching creation. Still trying to bridge the gap between self-flagellation and creatively turning limitations into a expressive strength but I appreciate your focus on this. Going to go meditate on this video for a long time. Definitely worth several re-watches.
Your advice was so useful I printed it out and stuck it on my wall.
I have been struggling with this all my music life - to 'please' others to like my music.
I realized that I had to let go of this and just produce music that is "my way".
Here is the list of the 10 points you made - so that others can also print out and put on their wall.
10. don't rely on other people's sound. if u do - use them wrong!
9. don't copy other people. but if u do make sure they're brilliant and unexpected.
8. Lean into your USP (uniqueness).
7. Lean into your Limitations. Your style is defined by your limitations.
6. Embrace your heritage.
5. Enrich your Heritage
4. Collaborate with extraordinary people.
3. Restrict your options.
2. Be Adventurous. Experiment and go on adventures.
1. Do it your way.
Awesome, tks, Christian ☕❤️
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!
Just brilliant Christian. Very very wise words indeed. Been following you a while now and your videos are an inspiration. Superb
Tom B
This is such an incredibly useful video.
Many thanks Chris this is really inspiring !
Christian, your mother Rocks! She is a great actor! Thank you for all the encouragement!
Inspiration for the nation !! Big up x
Thank yoiu! Useful and inspiring.
I love your channel mate, really great wealth of information
This is so inspiring, thank you!
Great video Christian, some fantastic advice. Oddly the most interesting fact was I have watched the poirot series a few times and didn't realise you composed some of the music!
Excellent advise. Thank you
Your number one advice would be my only choice. What you said about your father is well known to me too. My father passed away four weeks ago, and the one memorial i hold more sacred than anything is his lifelong philosophy of Us being good enough.
I’m sorry for your loss.