MEDIA MARKET: Indie
Films
Independent
films typically can use more non-traditional
music and recording techniques are the rule, rather than the exception. Independent
films offer an alternative that few consider--
small films with small budgets with musicians conjuring up tunes with only a handful of players or by themselves in small
studios or even in their apartments. One common trait in independent film scoring
is to avoid the rules and conventions that dominate music in studio pictures.
Solo performances and small ensembles often drive Indie scores. Indie films also can allow composers more "face time" with the film’s director. Most indie film composers
must be jacks-of-all-trades, performing duties that would fall to others on a larger production. Among them is the creation of source music that otherwise might be licensed or contracted out.
A general concern among indie film composers
is to carefully watch the recording expenses out of their own pockets because many indie music budgets are package deals where
a fixed sum includes all money available for the composer, studio rental and musician performance fees. The International Recording Musicians Association has created contract agreements for low-budget films
that cut regular studio-musician rates nearly in half.
Independent Films and have specific music needs to fill and place in respective productions from feature tracks with
and without vocals, underscore music compositions. Publicists, Directors, Producers
and Music Supervisors are key contacts to get hired and/or secure film music placements.
Various contracts can be initiated from Non-Exclusive, Exclusive, Limited Usage, Impertuity, Foreign Markets and DVD.
The success of Independent Films at film festivals shows featuring popular contemporary music and youth-market films
than can spawn soundtrack albums have combined to leave no doubt among Film Producers of the commercial power of contemporary
music. That awareness has prompted them to hire or contract on a project basis
music coordinators and music supervisors with record label and music publishing experience to make sure they get the best
contemporary composers and song writers for their projects.
There are three music categories of music for receiving income in Synchronization Royalties in Feature Films:
1. Underscore Music: Composing underscores (background music) is an art to understanding
how grooves and harmony evoke certain emotions and moods that can be enhanced with dialogue, sound effects and compelling
art from the director of photography.
2. Source Music: music used in recognized sources
in TV scenes (Radio, Stereo, Jukebox, TV, Elevator, CD Player, Intercom, etc)
3. Feature Music: Pre-existing songs or songs written
and recorded for the TV production; can be a song with vocal tracks in a prominent scene; band performing the song, song that’s
featured over the intro or ending credits.
