Magic of the Music Editor: Intro

William Browning
Sep 6, 2018 · 4 min read

It’s an absolute miracle that a film or series gets made. As a child of the eighties, my folks would take my brother and me to the cinema to watch a movie, a weekly ritualistic family experience. No matter what was going on in our lives, individually or as a family, the gripping suspense or comic relief of whatever life-altering or threatening challenges Indiana Jones, Elliot, Lane Meyer, Luke Skywalker, Marty McFly, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, Roy Hobbs or James Bond faced would unite us, if only for those two hours. From John Bender’s Saturday morning accusations of being a brownie hound to the prematurely suave dealings of Ferris Bueller navigating his day off, we’d eagerly watch our hero beat the odds, defeat the villain and ride, drive or fly off into the horizon.

The most vivid memories of my youth entail visits to the movies took place during the end credits. As the rest of the moviegoers would file out of the cinema, my brother and I would be made to sit and watch the crawling names of those were responsible for having helped us escape the doldrums of our daily lives and transported us into this magical world. Yes, that previous statement might carry with it an undertone of dramatized nostalgia but making us sit there for the extra two minutes to watch the crawl credits made a point. I wouldn’t appreciate at the time. But, as I’ve grown older, I have come to value as an aspiring screenwriter. In the world of film, more just like anywhere else, it truly does take a village.

When considering every element required to realize the vision of a story told through images pace it with sound, music and deliver that story with a high degree of continuity, it’s beyond an accomplishment. Consider how you can chart the events, good or bad, of your life with films or series that were taking place at the time. Their more than just a few images of an overindulgent spoilt wannabe spewing out a few lines. It is a pure art form that can help us chronicle on our journey.

The people tasked with providing the skills to make sure to imbue each facet of the process with the just the right amount of influence from their particular field are quite remarkable. In addition to above the line talent (producer, screenwriter, director, actors) who guide the creative direction of the project, the role that crew play in providing support to ensure the creative continuity direction is beyond crucial.

As media conglomerates attempt to mirror the success of the streaming service model, there has never been more of a demand for original content. Exhibitors switching from analogue to less expensive digital prints has opened the door to technology making it a lot easier for exhibitors to carry films. The overall cost of making a movie or pilot series is less expensive today as opposed to twenty years ago because of the innovation of camera equipment, editing and music production software. It’s a lot easier for aspiring filmmakers to realise their vision. The stick that comes along with that carrot is that the good majority of these visions wind up translating to crap if they weren’t crap to start.

The process by which a project transition from the page and storyboard to principal photography to the final edit has never been more critical. Moreover, the choices made regarding the selection of particular elements and the way those elements are delivered genuinely elevate the quality of a project to unanticipated heights. One aspect in particular whose value has exponentially increased since the inception of the OTT service delivery model is the music department.

When we think of the music attached to a film, the first person that comes to mind is the composer. While the composer(s) is the most prominent role of adding music to a vehicle, several other equally important functions are related to the creative and operational process of incorporating music into the thematic message of a film or series. One, in particular, happens to be the music editor through which this series hopes examine and celebrate.

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