Background

• Modern film scorers are expected to own a well-equipped digital recording studio with video displays so potential directors and producers can preview the compositions while viewing the film. According to Film Music Magazine's 2011–2012 Film and TV Music Salary Survey, film and television scorers can work under one of two types of financial options. The more common "package" deal requires that the composer deliver finished music by paying for all production costs such as orchestration, music prep and recording. The less frequent "creative fee" deal only pays for the scorer to compose the work. The production company then assumes all production effort and costs. This second type of financial agreement is usually reserved only for major composers on high-budget films.
  
  

Training

• Formal training in music composition is available in many colleges or music conservatories accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. Subjects include conducting, interpretation, theory and performance with one or more instruments. While this training and an appropriate audition may provide entry level jobs in orchestras, small groups or educational institutions, positions in film scoring involve far more effort and time. Moving to centers of the film or TV industry, such as Los Angeles or New York City, is almost required. In addition, composers cut their teeth on free compositions and may end up working for other composers in order to make connections. Through these connections a composer can obtain small paying jobs such as scoring commercials or bridges on TV shows. These efforts can become stepping stones to a full film-scoring gig.
  
  

Television

• Film scorers are paid by the project and not by time period. Because programs on television are far more numerous than theatrical films, composers usually start on TV projects, where pay varies by program type and budget. According to Film Music Magazine's survey, a package deal on a TV movie, for example, paid $5,000 to $20,000 on a low budget, $25,000 to $50,000 on a medium budget, and $55,000 and above on a high budget. For a drama on cable TV, package pay per episode, as of June 2010, ran $2,000 to $10,000 for a low budget, $10,000 to $14,000 on a medium budget and $15,000-plus on a high budget. Package scoring for local news paid $2,000 to $5,000 for a low budget, $6,000 to $10,000 for a medium budget and $10,000-plus for a high budget.
  
  

Movies

• Pay for film scores also varies by budget and type. The creative fee for a composer for a studio feature is $150,000 to $450,000 for a medium-budget film and $350,000 to $2 million-plus on a high-budget film. For a package project, the fees are $60,000 to $250,000 for a low-budget film, $250,000 to $350,000 for a medium-budget film, and $400,000 to $2 million-plus for a high-budget film. A package deal on an independent feature runs $2,500 to $15,000 on a low budget, $25,000 to $75,000 on a medium budget and $75,000 on a high budget.