How can I become an Oscar-winning film score composer?

Answer 1

Hmm, hold on, let me call someone.
Boop baap beep boop beep boop boop.
Hello, Robert? Can you tell me how this fine individual can become an Oscar-winning film score composer?
Uh huh, yes, hmmm. What? Oh yes, I said "film SCORE" composer..Oscar winning. Yes....yes.. Oh, really? Ok, well thanks, I'll relay that message.
Ok, I just spoke to Robert and he says to wait outside, he'll pick you up in, like 20 minutes, okay?
You're welcome.

Answer 2

First, teleport yourself back to your grade school years, forget Palmer Method of Handwriting and Fingerpainting and just study musical instruments. All of them. What they sound like, what they can do, what their range is, etc. Then learn how to write in Sheet Music Language. Learn to play as many of these instruments as you can. Stay away from electric guitar, drumsets, etc. But get yourself an GOOD electronic keyboard. You will be able to recreate a host of different instruments on it for your original compositions.
Now its time to study CLASSICAL MUSIC. Listen to every orchestral soundtrack you can get your hands on. Interestingly, orchestral soundtracks (as opposed to rock-song compilation soundtracks) are all over old Warner Brothers cartoons, so, if you can, listen to CARTOON soundtracks as well. This music tells a story in ways rock hasnt even thought of yet (Well Pink Floyd and Queen have, but thats about it) They wont all be to your taste (personally Im not a huge fan of John Barry), but they can at least teach you how NOT to make the music they make.

Also, by this time you should cozying up to kids who want to be movie directors, and hope at least one of em actually does start directing major motion pictures sometime in the future, when he or she does, approach them with some music youve by this time composed and recorded yourself. It can be crude, but it should show what youre capable of.

As an example, purchase the CD "Music for a Darkened Theater, Volume 1" by Danny Elfman. On two different tracks, he has included the demo version of "This is Halloween" from the movie "A Nightmare on Christmas", as well as the soundtrack version. Listen to the differences in the two tracks, but also listen to the similarities. This is how you start. Tim Burton took a huge chance using Elfman's soundtrack for his first major movie, "Pee-wee's Big Adventure", but this remains one of my all time favorite movie soundtracks. And Elfman hasnt looked back since and still composes Tim Burton's soundtracks.

Last step would be, when you get big in the movie soundtrack composition biz, pick and choose your movies carefully and pick one with prestige, one with a chance at Oscars in other categories, then pour your heart and soul into the composition of the music for that movie.

And remember, if you have stage fright, you dont have to CONDUCT your music, just compose it, to get an Oscar. But its going to have to be something people cant get out of their heads.

And it also might help if you wait til John Williams and James Horner pass away. That's some stiff competition.

Good luck to you.

Answer 3

Score composer? The San Fernando Valley. Maybe you can finally come up with some original and half-decent porno soundtracks ;)

Answer 4

First you have to study music!!!