The amount of own creativity

[Denny S.]

Hello Mr. Newman,

First of all I would like to say thank you for sharing some of your freetime with us. I greatly appreciate this opportunity!

Whenever you're working with a director, do you work strictly based on the directors concept/references or do you often try to put in your own approach (an approach that might be completely different)? If so, are you able to convince him with your own version? I'm asking because I've recently seen a video from the Berklee Music School where the lecturer said that it's the most important purpose of a filmcomposer to fullfil the directors vision. Does that happen on a fairly strict level or is there still room for enough of your own creativity?

Once again, thank you for your time!


Best regards,

Denny

[David Newman]

Composing music for films is a film making process as much as it is composing. The best film scores, whether they are original in conception or not, always serve the film. Traditionally, the director is in charge of that process so you would always in the final analysis, defer to him or her. However, constraints, not enough money, the film itself do not negate your own creativity. Of course, if you can convince a director of a completely different vision, that's great. But you have to be careful. Generally all these films have been temped for months with widley different styles. A lot of musical work has gone on before you get to the party! On occasion I have gone a completely different path than was originally intended but mostly it's clear what is needed. Remember it's the FILM that needs music. You are in the final analysis a musical film maker. However this is not a negative but a positive. It's very fulfilling working on making a beautiful, or scary, etc. piece of art and commerce.