In the first week of the project, I got off to a slow start. I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to actually get any work done. I began the project expecting to be able to jump right in and start recording for the movie, but I quickly realized that I needed to annotate and research before I could get any substantial work done. I took time to break down the movie, leaving upwards of 100 markers, each with a written note on what to do for the scene. I also spent the first week working on sound design. The project, while based around learning how to score a movie, is also my chance to master (or at least improve at) subtractive synthesis, which is what the majority of current synthesizers do to make different sounds. I have finally had the time to sit down and intake content on how to modulate sounds to get exactly what I need for certain melodies, harmonies, and anything else. For example, I recreated a theremin by modulating a saw wave with a sine LFO (I know that sentence means nothing to a regular person but doesn’t it sound like I really know what I am talking about?) I also tried recreating a synth patch for Tasogare by Mai Yamane. It failed, but the sound I ended up with was still good and I used it for the score.
While the bibliography helped me learn more about the process and mechanics of scoring, I have really benefited from the Youtube channel once upon a synth. His breakdowns are in depth and easy to digest, which has made my life way easier so far. I also gained a ton of information by meeting with actual composers, such as Christopher Bangs, who scored WeCrashed, and Forrest Gray, who scored The Morning Show. When meeting with Forrest, he reminded me that outside of this project, there will usually be set guidelines when scoring a film, but that I should take advantage of how much creative freedom I have here. To that point, Christopher told me to record every idea, even if it sounds bad, because I can delete anything later. The support and connections I have received thus far have made the process way more exciting. Knowing that I have connections in this industry opens up massive opportunities for the future.
As for how the recording is going, I am relieved to say that it is now going really well. I have been working out of Ableton Live, which I have been using for years, but never for scoring. At first, it was difficult to play along with the movie since I am so used to playing with a set tempo. Following along with characters and other motions is still very challenging, but I am enjoying how it forces me to change the way I think about music. The set of tools I usually have are useless here. It feels like learning how to make music all over again. As I move forward, I am curious as to how I will grow and improve, since so much has already changed in the last two weeks. I will begin incorporating real instruments, such as the flute, kalimba, and guitar, in later weeks (currently cannot use my microphone because I am missing a wire). This project has been a really great first step into scoring and I cannot wait to share whatever I end up with.