The Film Score: A Foundational Guide to its History, Industry, and Craft

You've felt the power of a film score.Now, understand the craft behind it.In The Film Score: A Foundational Guide to its History, Industry, and Craft, award-winning composer Kentaro Sato takes you on an accessible journey into the heart of Hollywood's most powerful art form. This comprehensive guide pulls back the curtain on the history, craft, and business of cinematic music.Inside, you will:Trace the art form's history from the live piano accompaniment of the silent era to the epic hybrid scores of today’s blockbusters.Go behind the scenes to understand the creative collaboration between the composer, director, and the entire production team.Uncover the business of film music, from budgets and contracts to the high-stakes debates around royalties in the streaming era.Learn a new framework for critical listening, with detailed case studies of major genres including fantasy, action, horror, and science fiction.Explore the future of scoring in the expanding worlds of video games, television, and immersive media.Whether you are a film enthusiast, an aspiring composer, a filmmaker, or a student of the arts, this book will equip you with the tools to move beyond simply hearing a score to truly understanding its power. You will not just listen to music in film, but recognize it as an essential storytelling voice. Read more