Welcome to episode 30 of The First Act Break podcast, the show where we dive into the art, business, and hustle of breaking into the film industry, and help you build a career doing what you love. Today, we bring on Mic Ferrante, an Emmy-Winning composer who's scored for the NFL, NBA, FAZE Clan, Kai Cenat and many more. He shares his experience going to music school and his recent career as a newly graduate pursing the composing dream.
Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
00:01:58 Falling in love with scoring
00:05:26 First real paycheck as composer
00:06:28 Getting paid through commercial work
00:07:15 How composers actually get hired
00:08:59 Marketing yourself as a composer
00:09:27 Biggest thing directors should know
00:10:45 Working with big brands (NBA, USC)
00:12:17 How people find him for gigs
00:14:23 The USC “Among Us” horn
00:15:40 Writing for narrative vs commercial
00:18:52 How themes and melodies are born
00:20:01 Why melody matters so much
00:22:58 Writing personal music outside film
00:23:40 Studying great music
00:27:06 Do directors need “good taste”?
00:27:59 Temp scores: helpful or cheating?
00:30:07 Is there a “career path”?
00:31:31 How composers actually break in
00:33:59 Diversify or starve in music
00:34:59 Balancing creativity and mental health
00:35:12 Is music / film school worth it?
00:36:59 USC: connections vs. classes
00:38:02 Mozart vs. modern composers
00:40:46 Money stress after graduation
00:41:40 How much do gigs pay?
00:44:33 Learning when to say no
00:47:00 Will AI take composer jobs?
00:48:59 How he’s future-proofing with AI
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Betrayal: Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a brand new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack. And make sure to check out Seasons 1-4 of Betrayal, along with Betrayal Weekly Season 1.