[Fmpro] Turning Down Work

Mon Aug 7 17:14:54 GMT 2006

Les, I write library music. Chris writes library
music. I'm sure there are many library pieces that
blow some non-library music out of the water.

But, I don't know if anyone would argue that Library
music isn't a cheaper alternative. For the overall
project, there is no substitute for a talented
composer (like Chris) sitting with the picture and
writing a unified custom score.

I have no idea what learning from Mr. Northam and Mr.
Holden have to do with this topic. For some reason you
want to re-interpret everything I write in a negative
light and then attack my character.

P e t e
S u r d o v a l

--- Les Hurdle <leshurdle101 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> How rude Pete.
> 
> I see on average 6-8 movies per month...........
> many of the scores are 
> same old crap.
> Same goes for TV.
> 
> There are some Library Composers I know who can
> write rings around even 
> the Hollywood A list, but they choose to write
> Library.
> So let's not start dinging product........ to do so
> strengthens the 
> division between the perceived 'value' of music by
> PRO's  e.g Song $1, 
> 'score $0.20 per min., Jingle $0.03
> 
> My concern over the business practices mentioned is
> the fact writers 
> work for companies, Scripps is a great example,
> where the writer 
> assists in the removal of all composer rights, the
> writer then joins 
> the regular work force and complains about loss of
> rights, $$'s etc.
> 
> Have the words of Mr Northam and Mr Holden fallen on
> deaf ears this 
> past few years?>
> 
> Les
> 
> On Aug 6, 2006, at 8:22 PM, Pete wrote:
> >  If the house
> > (show) is in a bad neighborhood (History Channel),
> > they might just use the old kitchen cabinets with
> some
> > fresh paint (library music). They know you would
> put
> > in a fantastic new kitchen (score), but the profit
> > margin is low with this house, so they'll stick
> with
> > the old cabinets. Of course if you want to put in
> a
> > hot new kitchen for the same price as refinishing
> the
> > old cabinets, they'd be all to happy to give you
> the
> > job.
> >
> > Hopefully, when it comes time to put a new kitchen
> in
> > a billion dollar mansion (hit show), they'll
> remember
> > your work and pay you what you deserve.
> >
> > Best,
> > P e t e
> > S u r d o v a l
> >
> > --- Merritt Music Productions
> <chris at merrittmusic.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Hi all,
> >>
> >> Glad to hear the expo went well!  Thought you
> guys
> >> might like this.  I
> >> turned down a $5k job last week.  Here's why:
> >>
> >> Last year I did a History Channel show for this
> >> production company.  It's a
> >> company I really wanted to work with so I did it
> for
> >> less than normal -
> >> $3,500.  I was thinking it would be the start of
> a
> >> long relationship and
> >> all, you know the drill.
> >>
> >> Anyway, the music turned out great.  I'm not
> saying
> >> this to brag, I mean to
> >> prove a point here.  I have a top of the line
> setup
> >> with all the major
> >> samples and such, but I also played real cello,
> >> violin, flutes, guitars,
> >> drums and so on.  It was a real work of art in
> some
> >> places; they were
> >> amazed, and loved it.  I told them my price was
> that
> >> low ONLY for this first
> >> project.
> >>
> >> After some time of not getting any more work from
> >> them, I realized: they
> >> don't really care about the quality.  Now that
> >> they've had a show composed
> >> for $3,500, which is not the cheapest they've
> had,
> >> they don't want to pay
> >> any more.  No matter what.
> >>
> >> But it gets better:
> >>
> >> They called me last week and said the usual: 
> they
> >> LOVED my work and really
> >> wanted me to do some more for them.  Great!  We
> >> talked about the show and
> >> the musical needs and I determined that I would
> >> still cut them a break.  I
> >> have a minimum of $5k.  That means that I
> normally
> >> don't do any type of
> >> project unless it pays at least $5k.  So I told
> them
> >> I would do it for $6k.
> >> A steal in my opinion for any real composer.
> >>
> >> He emailed me back saying that they only had $5k
> in
> >> the budget (b.s.) and
> >> that it must be the SAME contract as our earlier
> >> project together.  I asked
> >> for him to send me the contract from the last
> >> project because I was out of
> >> state.
> >>
> >> Turns out the earlier one was a pure
> Work-for-hire,
> >> granting the writer's
> >> share back to me.  These are the types of deals
> you
> >> have to look out for
> >> nowadays.  This production company is making
> THEIR
> >> OWN music library from
> >> composers who have scored their shows!  He told
> me
> >> this directly.  So when
> >> you score for them, they are REUSING your music
> as
> >> much as they want without
> >> paying!
> >>
> >> I told them I would still do it, though.  $5k for
> >> non-exclusive licensing
> >> and NOT work for hire, or $10k for pure work for
> >> hire.
> >>
> >> They haven't called back......
> >>
> >> Moral - Composers should make EVERY deal be
> >> non-exclusive licensing ONLY
> >> (huge projects could be different)
> >>
> >> NEVER do a work for hire!
> >>
> >> Hope everyone is well.  I'll keep ya'll posted!
> >>
> >> Chris
> >>
> >> Merritt Music Productions
> >> 9701 Clearwater Drive
> >> Knoxville, TN 37923
> >> merrittmusic.com
> >> 865-357-5473
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> The Film Music Pro List is sponsored by Film
> Music
> >> Magazine -  http://www.filmmusicmag.com
> >>
> >> To edit your list options or unsubscribe, visit:
> >> http://nxport.com/mailman/listinfo/fmpro
> >>
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Do You Yahoo!?
> > Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam
> protection around
> > http://mail.yahoo.com
> > _______________________________________________
> > The Film Music Pro List is sponsored by Film Music
> Magazine -  
> > http://www.filmmusicmag.com
> >
> > To edit your list options or unsubscribe, visit:
> > http://nxport.com/mailman/listinfo/fmpro
> >
> 
> _______________________________________________
> The Film Music Pro List is sponsored by Film Music
> Magazine -  http://www.filmmusicmag.com
> 
> To edit your list options or unsubscribe, visit:
> 
=== message truncated ===

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com 