AN ESTABLISHED film scorer discussed the ever-expanding platform for composers in the video game and film industry in a lecture and masterclass at the Conservatory of Music last Jan. 25.
Amit Weiner, a composer and concert pianist, discussed in detail the different avenues for film scorers, recalling his numerous experiences in writing music for multimedia companies such as film studios and video game developers.
“The video game industry is a very big playing field for composition. They always use orchestra – the best orchestra in the world record for these video game soundtracks,” he added.
Weiner also talked about the “Music Library,” an archive for composers to upload their premade soundtracks, subsequently functioning as a market from which big companies like Sony and Warner Bros could purchase music.
“This “library” is a great place for starting composers to get published,” he said.
Weiner tackled the differences between film scores and program music.
“These two kinds of music require different sensitivities,” Weiner said. “Program music explores the intricacies of the music and the performers, while film scores are made to accompany other arts – they aren’t the star of the show.”
Assoc. Prof. Antonio Africa, dean of the Conservatory, expressed his enthusiasm for Weiner’s lecture, commenting on the need for more educational and extracurricular activities to allow the students to reach out to people.
“There is this notion that music – classical music – is boring. If you want the people to learn classical music, you have to branch out to them and present it in ways they can associate with… it will be difficult if we all remained purists in this day and age,” he said.
Also present at the lecture were representatives from the Embassy of Israel and Assoc. Prof. Giovanna Fontanilla, director of the Office of Public Affairs.
