A MUSIC
SUPERVISOR'S STORY - - -
by Rexanne
Mancini
I am
insanely passionate about music. The music business,
however, leaves me lukewarm and mostly confused. I am wildly
passionate about the film business. Films are great, however, I
am not insanely passionate about them as an art form. The
combination of film/music and being a music supervisor has turned
out to be a perfect gig for me. :)
The feature film "Yard Sale," which I am currently
working on, wrapped location production in September 2003 and was
initially slated to include 22 source songs. We ended up
licensing 38 songs for the film, which I swear has to be a record.
I listened to more than 2000 songs to compile a list of
approximately 200 for the director to approve/disapprove. My ears
were bleeding ... well, not really but ya know, there are some
pretty sorry songs out there! There are also some amazing songs
and songwriters in our world. I can't thank you wonderful
musically talented individuals enough for your submittals,
professionalism and inspiration, not to mention your brilliance.
Some of these great songs made it into the final cut of "Yard
Sale." Some did not.
The job of music supervisor is a dream gig however working with
directors placing songs in their films is a nightmare. There hasn't
been one film I've worked on where the director and I agreed 100
percent on which songs should go where or which songs fit
rhythmically into specific scenes. While I am hired for my
contacts and "expertise" in music, I am usually
eventually relegated to the position of go-between for the
songwriters and the director and/or producer on a film.
Invariably, the director will pick songs that I wouldn't choose
or vice-versa ... a frustrating experience, however, a common
occurrence in this business. One learns to get over it or
survival as a film music supervisor is questionable. Screaming
matches with directors will get you nowhere ... except barred
from the mixing studio and with a reputation you'd rather not
have.
The hours are long, the work is hard and the circumstances are
sometimes brutal, yet the opportunity to be a music supervisor is
a blessing for which I am eternally grateful. It has allowed me
to be a part of the magic that is music without having any real
musical talent other than "great ears." In my next life,
I wanna come back as a rock star. ;-)
(C) 2004 - 2007 Goodnight Kiss Music (BMI) no copies without written permission.