Maybe this time.

About a week ago I had a meeting with the director of "The Burmese Lion" to talk about the opening theme music.  Up to that point I had done up three treatments for him to use, and he didn't think they were quite right.  All had strong melodic themes and big orchestral sound, but didn't seem to be what he wanted.  So I needed to talk to him face to face to try and understand what he was looking for.  He said he is not musically inclined so he was having a hard time articulating what he wanted to hear musically.  He brought in a few examples from other movies to show what he wanted and liked.  My three previous ideas had big openings, and immediate melodic theme, but I could tell from his examples he was looking for more mystery, a way to sneak the melodic theme in at first, just to hint at it.  Then a large fast build to the main theme played tutti.  He had the example of the 1994 Alex Baldwin film "The Shadow" and after hearing the rather 90s opening it became clear about what he was looking for.

I then went to work and now I think we have it.  I worked on the main theme again (Post to follow) more what he wants.  He cut the opening credits and title to it and I'm happy to say I think this will work. 

He had some concerns about levels and "Synthiness" of some of the instruments, which is to be expected.  I need to just remember to fully finished the mixing and midi settings before I send a "Rough Draft" especially when I know that the people I'm sending it to have very specific ideas of what they like, and are not as experienced musically.  People are so used to hearing the FULL production value of material now.  When Directors use needle drops from other movies against their own picture it is hard for a composer to compete with that.  The London Symphony orchestra is some hard competition to my little midi set up. 

But all that being said I think this will work, I'll post the results when I get home, and put some of the other ideas up that I came up with first.  

Till next time...