Meet Augusto Meijer, Dawid Jaworski, Serge Seletskyy and Josephine Hylén, members of the StudentFilmmakers Filmmakers Network. Visit their Network profiles below to connect.
Augusto Meijer
Filmmakers Network profile: greynotemusic Work And Experience
I’m a composer and producer from the Netherlands. I produce royalty free music and sound for media projects through my company, Greynote Music, and I work as an independent composer on various electronic composition projects. ON COMPOSING FOR VIDEO, FILM, AND MEDIA Similarities and Differences Composing for film and video is one of the most exciting things to do. Music and sound is an amazingly powerful element which dramatically influences the overall experience. For me, the main thing that differentiates working with video is the direct interaction and inspiration you get from the footage itself. This is why it works great composing directly while watching relevant footages, instead of working from written ideas or concepts only.
Tools And Technologies
For electronic music, my main instruments are various synthesizer hardware, i.e., drum machines, samplers, etc. For arranging, editing and acoustic instrument materials, I use software. My Mac Pro is the core of my studio space.
Memorable Projects
I once had the opportunity to visit Ohrid, Macedonia, for a two-week composition project, to meet amazing instrumentalists to work with. We, as a group, had done various performances during a well-known music festival. It was an amazing learning experience.
Current Projects
I’m currently working on mastering engineering tasks and a new live-electronic composition collaboration project with two talented instrumentalists.
Advice For Aspiring Composers
My main objective as a composer is to steadily progress in my work. There is no need to rush, and it’s important to keep focus.
The advice: A composer’s career is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.
3 Quick Tips from Augusto Meijer
Netherlands Composing for Video and Film 3 Quick Tips from Augusto Meijer • Have patience. Becoming a recognized composer does not come overnight. Work hard, and don’t give up. • Be inspired. Watch and listen reference materials over and over again. • Take a rest. Be sharp when you work, but also allow yourself to really step away from it at times. Composing for Media 3 Quick Tips from Augusto Meijer • Network. Marketing, promotion, etc. is as important as the work itself. • Be fast. clients love fast turnarounds. Learn to deliver hi quality work in a short amount of time. • Be original. Try to be yourself in your work, to stay unique.
Dawid Jaworski
Filmmakers Network profile: dawid-jaworski WORK AND EXPERIENCE
I am a beginner. I’m a self-educated film composer since February 2012. So I have two years experience so far, which is not many years. But, I am strongly pursuing my career because this is my passion. I’ve always been close to film. I love films and music, especially film music.
I have my private small music studio in my home. I am constantly investing in it. When I am not in studio, I make connections with people through social media, and I also go to the film festivals, and film music festivals with master classes. We have in Poland two wonderful international film music festivals in Poznań City, Transatlantyk, with guests also from Hollywood. Creator and director of the festival is Oscar-winning film composer Jan A. P. Kaczmarek.
Also, in Cracow, FMF International Film Music Festival, with the film music concerts. In 2013, it was the first edition of Master Classes for Young Composers. I’ve been in both, of course, because this is the best opportunity to meet people like me, and to learn something as a composer.
In my music I try to compose with Symphonic Orchestra, but sometimes I mix it with a bit of electronics, and sound design. I also try to focus on finding interesting short and feature film projects right now. But of course, I am open for other media when it’s interesting.
On Composing for Video, Film, and Media
Similarities and Differences
In my small experience, I think the biggest difference between composing for short film versus for media is complexity because every film is different… What’s most important is the film and the story, not my music. When composing for media? When I was working with a corporate video project, the guy told me, “it must be simple, in order to be easy listening all the time.” So I wrote a very simple, optimistic tune.
When you watch adverts, music is always easy and nice to hear. And similarities? Deadlines, there’s always a deadline, which is good and motivating. And sometimes temp-track; the director or the author of the project gives you music, and tells you, “compose something in this style but not the same, obviously”.
In my last short film (1 minute length), I spent 10 hours straight with the score. I got the material with no music and a deadline. And then I watched the film maybe three times, and then, with my intuition I improvised to it.
Tools and Technologies
At this time I work only with the samples, with my PC, M-Audio Interface and M-audio Workstation. And, of course, DAW – Pro Tools, which I love. In the future, of course, I want to work also with a real orchestra, but I am still learning step by step.
Memorable Projects
I think the most memorable is my first film project I worked on. I got hired in 2013 on a short film when I met the German Director Erik Schiesko at the Solanin Film Festival in Poland. He liked my demos and gave me the opportunity to work on the project. I was working really hard, made a few important mistakes. I watched the film about 60 times before even starting to improvise, instead of watching the film a few times. And I learned a lot. I created two versions; OST wasn’t approved. But Erik gave me time for gaining experience, so our collaboration is not over yet. My recent film, “The Wizard,” from January 2014, when I’ve done OST with the approval right away [is one of my favorite projects].
Because the film was so inspiring, and when I was composing for it, I had experience from other projects, it was easy work, and I quickly found the right music for it. Me and director Galatkyka Art – Dominika Muniak know that we will make more films together.
Current Projects
[In production] is the next short animation film from the director Dominika Muniak, and I will be the composer for this project. This is part of Animation Academy in Gorzów, Poland, where young people take part of the animation process with the director.
Advice for Aspiring Composers
Despite of the growing numbers of film composers around the globe, don’t give up, just do your thing with your style. Be open. Go to the film festivals and network with people there. Be determined. When it’s your passion, with small steps, there will be small successes, but every project opens another door. Daniel Carlin told me, “Work hard, be nice. And that’s it! And you’ll be successful.”
Composing for Video and Film
- Get to know the story, and film characters, talk with the director about it and the film crew when it’s possible.
- Watch out for dialogs between the scenes while composing.
- When you’re composing and you’re blocked, and you can’t find the right notes – get some sleep, go for a long walk, and take a shower. When you’re back fresh, you’re back in the game.
Serge Seletskyy
Filmmakers Network profile: sseletskyy
Odessa, Ukraine Work And Experience
I’m a professional software engineer. I’ve been working on internet projects from small to enterprise size for a decade. But my life’s passion is music. I promote myself as a self-taught composer-enthusiast. I studied playing piano when I was a schoolboy, and since then I keep composing just for the sake of my soul – I mostly write for my pleasure. I started my professional career as a composer and sound designer in 2009. Mostly I’m working on mobile games. Sometimes I make soundtracks for promo trailers and other small media projects.
Tools And Technologies
I write music on Fatar Studiologic midi keyboard. I used to work in Cubase. Now I use Ableton Live 9. My main libraries are Kontakt from NI and Cinematic Strings 2.
Memorable Project
My most memorable project is working with excellent team Gutenbergz.com on interactive book, “Of Blood and Hope,” by Samuel Pisar. This is a famous book about his life and how he survived in a death camp in Nazi Europe.
Current Projects
Now I’m working on an interactive story about the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Accident which happened in 1986 in Ukraine.
Advice For Aspiring Composers
Music is a train of thoughts. Make sure your train is driven from the deep of your soul to the right place.
Josephine Hylén
Filmmakers Network profile: Josephinehylen
Sweden Film Studies
Right now I’m studying Film – Motion Graphics on upper secondary school in Malmö, Sweden. On my spare time I make my own films and singing, acting and dancing in a musical group.
First Camera
I have always been interested in cameras and filmmaking. And I have always filmed something, but the first time I tried to make a good short film was when I had my first school project in upper secondary school. I shot with a Panasonic AG 151E, and I was nervous because I didn’t know exactly how to work with the settings and I was afraid to break it.
Inspiration
I have always been interested in filmmaking, and I love to watch behind the scenes. But when I was 14 years old, I made a film for my best friend for Christmas, and when I was done with it, I knew that this was something I was going to do a lot more of. To see the visions you only have in your mind become a film you can show to other people, is something magical.
Favorite Cameras
The cameras I use now are the Canon 60D and Canon 6D. Really good cameras, not too simple and not too hard to understand. They are practical, easy to take with you. I have only used them for few months so I am still learning something new every time I use them. I think my favorite camera so far is the Canon 6D because you can do a little bit more things with it than the 60D. You can get really nice shots with it and it’s practical to use. Easy to bring with you. I would love to learn more about RED, because I have heard so many positive things about the RED cameras.
Current Projects
Right now it’s just school projects. [Upcoming projects and deadlines include] three different films. One reportage, one trailer and one commercial.
Plans After Graduation
My plans after my graduation next year- I really want to work in the film industry and make films. It would be so fun to work on a “real” set and meet people that I can learn more from. I also want to specialize in something like producing, directing or screenwriting. So I’m looking for good film schools in the US or England, so if you know some schools, please tell me!
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