A Forum Interview with SHAWN CLEMENT - Post Your Questions

[Iplayjazz]

Gear Question---- What is your setup, and what do you use as your "go to" sounds/libraries? ex. Strings, piano, drums, ambient.


Thanks

Alan

[Melody]

I like the music you did on Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu. Can you tell me what was your inspiration. Did you read Batman comic books or see the movie? What helped you to create the mood?

Thank you for taking time to answer our questions.

[Justus]

Do you begin composing by sketching your ideas into the sequencer on a piano guidetrack or do record the orchestral instruments directly track-by -track?

[Atombo]

I'm not familiar with Shawn's music, so if anybody has a link where to listen to some of his music, I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks,
Tom

[Garritan]

I'm not familiar with Shawn's music, so if anybody has a link where to listen to some of his music, I'd really appreciate it!

Here is a link to some of Shawn's music:

http://www.clemistry.com/music.php

[etLux]

Hi Shawn,

Great to see you at Garritan; and a warm welcome!

Shawn, perhaps you could talk a bit about how newcomers
can gain experience in and entry into the fields of game, film,
and television scoring.

We have many forum members deeply interested in these
areas, and I know they would find your comments in this
regard of much help.

My best,

David
www.DavidSosnowski.com
.

[SeanHannifin]

Howdy Shawn!

Do you find that you tend to use some kind of certain compositional process often when working on projects, or does the process you go through always change for each project?

Also, what kind of information do directors/guys-in-charge tend to give you regarding what they want? Do you prefer them to be specific about what they want in the music, or do you prefer to have more artistic say yourself in what you compose?

Lastly... just curious... any funny memories from your job? Any anecdote(s)?

Thank you for your time!

[Narator]

Q for Gary.

When/where is this interview going to be done?

Q for Shawn.

do you work out?

[Looper]

Shawn,

Please tell us how you broke into the business after leaving Berklee and moving to LA? Did you work as a performing musician while pursuing scoring work or did get into scoring right away?

Thanks for sharing with the group.

EDIT:

Since asking that 2nd question I've read on your website that you were a top guitarist before getting into scoring.

Please allow me to ask a different question; how did you develop such incredible orchestration technique when the libraries and virtuals instruments we rely on today weren't available when you were starting out in the early to mid 90's?

Brian

[James W.G. Smith]

I have noticed one of the prominent tools used in television scoring by some composers is musical and/or rhythmic loops. How do you feel using this effects originality in a score, most importantly when the loops where not written by the composer using them?

Have you ever had to face composing for an hour-long show in a very short timeframe? If so, how did you deal with the kind of pressure and stress that can come from a contract like that?

When initially starting a new project, what is your process in trying to find an original sound for it?

What is your favorite cue that you have written?

What is your favorite color?

What is your favorite cue that you haven't written?

Would you be willing to share something thing that you have learned concerning film scoring that you did not learn in college?

What are your goals as a film composer? Any dream projects that you would love to be involved in?

What was the most difficult moment of your career, and if they are separate, the most rewarding?

What are some of the challenges about scoring a game as opposed to a film or television show?

And finally, the most important question: What kind of socks are you wearing?

Man, I think I ask too many questions...

James