I was just wondering what you think the best choice for my documentaries soundtrack would be. I was thinking of just using music that I know and listen to. Just stuff out of my CD collection. But I also wonder if I should try to get original, or non-copyrited music for it. My movie is not going to be earning any money for me though, so I don't know...

If your not making any money, and dont anticipate any aclaim, Id say use whatever.
BUT if you think thee is even a chance of it gettingh into festival competition, for more than just student categories, go with original. There was once a film about the life of the Carpenters (the sining duo) that was played out almost entirly by Barbie dolls. The thing was an underground smash, but was knocked out of the running (and forced to never be shown again) for using the carpenters music, without their permission. Well, cant have a film about their music without their music. Then again, you can always re cut the movie with original stuff if need be. Just something to think about.
R. M.

"Luck, is when opportunity, meets preperation." "There are 3 sides to every story. Yours, mine, and the truth, and none of us are lying" -Robert Evans

yeah. thanks. I really want to use non-original music, cause I have so much that would go so perfectly with the theme and mood of everything. Plus I dont know how I could get any quality original music. I play guitar but I'm not THAT good, and dont have good recording equipment either.

Where in Ontario are you from? I am from the Muskoka region and know quite a few great artists/composers that would probally be willing to work for free depending. They do many styles as well and could possibly score if needed.

If you don't look I'll force you to _=_

awesome, I am from a small town in the Niagara Region.

Well.....
What kind of music are u looking for?

If you don't look I'll force you to _=_

well the type of music I was going to use was alot of simple acoustic guitar songs. With different moods, I need some happy fun songs, and sad depressing songs. But not just acoustic guitar either though. I was pretty much going to use music by my favourite bands cause they have just about everything I need: Thursday, New Amsterdams, Cursive, The Anniversary, Elliott, Doves.... yeah anyway...

The one thing I wish is that I could get songs by them but without singing cause instrumental songs work better over talking.

I've actually written a bunch of songs on my acoustic that i would like in the movie too though, its just that my recording equipment pretty much consists of windows sound recorder and a cheap microphone.

If you search long enough, you can find the instrumentals to some popular songs, maybe even the ones you like. But be warned, I accidentally downloaded a somewhat instrumental recording of Nelly's "Hot in Here" song. All it had was his voice, and it sounded like the original recording...Man it sucked! Really scary...

Anyways, go looking around, see if you can find someone to record you in a studio. It usually isn't that much. I know a studio where they will record me for an hour for 40 bucks. That's a good deal! Maybe you'll find something better.

I say make two versions, one with original music, and the other with music from your cd collection. I always do this for my short films. I admit that the music from my cd collection is better and has a better reaction towards the audience because they know the song but when I submit my film for something, I give them the one with original music. So it's kinda fun to do both ways. Well, atleast for me anyway..

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I Personally feel like it's cheating a bit to use polished "professional" music to try and make (in many cases) a marginal film somehow "seem" better. But then again, if you're asking this question you have no money.... you're also probably learning the ropes.


If you are a high school kid just doing this for fun, I seriously doubt that you'll get a knock on the door for using temp music... BUT! If you put this film on-line (etc.) and BMI or ASCAP somehow sees it they will absolutely send you a bill for a few hundred dollars.... Keep that in mind..

yeesh, even by putting it online and not making any profit, I might get in trouble?

Most of the cd's in my cd collection are not "polished" well-known artists though anyway. Mostly indie bands or lesser known stuff. But i dunno... I do know I dont have any plans to submit to any festivals, as of now. But who knows what might happen once it is done.

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I say make two versions, one with original music, and the other with music from your cd collection.

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Dude... Thats not as easy as it sounds. Its like double the work. I for one, edit the visual TO the music. I cant just throw in a different song and hope if works! It would thorow everything off.

And i dont belive that you do that. I could be wrong, but i think im right.

yeah he does have a very good point there. I also edit the visuals around the music for the most part.

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Dude... Thats not as easy as it sounds. Its like double the work.

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Um, not really for me. I usually do original music first and then export it to VHS, then I delete my audio lines of original music and replace them with non-original music and then export it again. So now I have 2 version with different songs.

but HEY, I'm only a Senior High School Student, what do I know?

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yeah simple enough to do that, but what he means is that he edits his video so that it goes along with the music. Like maybe the shot changes when there is a change in the music.... so by changing the song, it may not flow as nicely...

Bingo.



And uhm, Your method has confused me into a jumbled mess. Why would you.. wait that doesnt even make sense. Are you using a linear system? I dont get it! Why would you export to VHS and then relo... ahhh forget it

"This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time"

Hey, I'm only a SOPHMORE in high school, but I'm wonderin' as well, can I get in trouble for using music if it's non-profit? Obviously the chances are completely nil, but I am wondering. Can't I just offer 100% of the 'profits'?

Everybody is Funny Looking in their own way
~Funny Looking Productions

an old teacher of mine said something about the free use laws applying when you use music like that... I dunno though, I'm not a lawyer