After the spotting is complete,
Chabonneau goes through the film to
time the sequences and create
timing
notes, a breakdown of what is
happening
in each scene. This is typed out for
the
composer to see. Within a couple of
days,
the composer returns with the score,
and
the music editor and an engineer mix
the
score. Then, the music editor goes to
the
re-recording stage and guides the
music
mixer on how the music should fit
into
the scene, such as where the music is
too
loud or too soft, where it should
build
and fade, and any background
source
issues. Depending upon the project,
the
re-recording process can take one
to
three days, or three to four weeks. "On
a
television show, we're usually on
the
stage for about two days." Next, the
pro-
ducers and director may suggest
changes,
such as adding a sound to a scene,
or
switching out a particular piece of
music.
Those changes are made immediately. The next
phase is to document the music. The
music editor writes down the timing and order
of each piece of music used in the film,
adds the author's and publisher's names, and
turns over the information to the studio
legal department to issue contracts and
licenses. The last task is to create a backup of all
the materials so they can be placed in the
studio vault, and a copy of the score is sent to
the Library of Congress for copyright
purposes.
"In this business there is always
a deadline. A person has to be
able to deal with that pressure
and accept that responsibility.
Know that you're going to have
to set aside your own personal
life at times in order to fulfill
the job. That can be stressful
when you've planned a weekend
and that gets dumped because
the schedule has changed, and
you have to get things done by
Monday, as opposed to Tuesday
or Wednesday. Deadlines are
very important. Being punctual
is extremely important. These
are skills that are necessary."
THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS
JOB:
"The element I like the least is the egos and
personalities involved in
the business."
THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS JOB:
"The work itself. I've got the type of brain
where I like doing some-
thing very creative. I think I have a real
aptitude for combining sound
and image together in a way that works. I enjoy
that aspect. I like the
challenge. I view it as a puzzle that I can
solve. I like being able to go
through and measure music against a picture and
make it work."
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