Music Supervision & Licensing FAQ
Each film brings its unique set of requirements, which means our music supervision fees vary to best accommodate your specific needs. The cost of our services is influenced by several factors, including the overall production budget, the particular music requirements of your project, the rights holders of the chosen songs, and the desired terms for the license. We tailor our pricing to ensure that you receive the most effective and efficient music supervision service, perfectly suited to your production’s scale and scope.
At Owl At The Moon Creative, we pride ourselves on being budget-friendly and flexible, working with a wide range of budgets to meet your music supervision needs. While we strive to accommodate your desires, it's important to maintain realistic expectations, especially when it comes to licensing music from big-name artists. If your budget doesn't align with the costs associated with these high-profile songs, we can help you explore alternative solutions. We specialize in finding sound-alike tracks that fit within your budget while still capturing the emotions and atmosphere you wish to convey in your film. Let us assist you in making your musical vision a reality, without compromising on quality or emotional impact.
The ideal time to involve a music supervisor in your film project can vary depending on the specific music needs of the production. Generally, it's advisable to bring a music supervisor on board in the early stages of post-production, once filming is complete. This timing allows sufficient scope to negotiate and finalize licensing deals, which can sometimes take several months, especially with major publishers. However, there are scenarios where engaging a music supervisor earlier in the production process is not only beneficial but crucial. For example, if your script includes significant musical elements—such as scenes where music is integral to the storyline or characters interact with specific songs—it’s wise to have a music supervisor involved from the script stage or during pre-production. This early involvement ensures that any potential licensing issues are addressed before filming begins, protecting your production from the risk of unusable footage due to denied music licenses.
Many filmmakers believe they can manage song licensing on their own, but this process is more complex than it may appear. Without knowledge of the specific terminology required in license requests, there's a significant risk that your request may not be taken seriously, or denied. Moreover, song rights are often fragmented among multiple co-publishers or co-owners. A common oversight is conducting only surface-level research, which can result in incomplete clearances. If every rightsholder is not properly accounted for, you could face serious legal challenges, especially as you move towards distribution. Hiring a specialist in music supervision, like Owl At The Moon Creative, ensures that every aspect of song licensing is handled meticulously, protecting your project from potential legal issues. In the intricate world of music rights, professional supervision isn't just helpful—it's essential.
Music Submissions FAQ
At Owl At The Moon Creative, our primary focus is on providing exceptional music supervision services to our production company and filmmaker clients. While we are not a sync agency, we understand the value of discovering new and exciting sounds. If you are an artist, band, composer, sync agent, or music publisher interested in submitting your music, please do so through Katie's DISCO page, following the specific requirements listed on our Music Page. It is crucial that your submissions include proper metadata with embedded contact information in the tracks. Katie periodically reviews submissions in DISCO to find suitable tracks for specific productions. Please note that submissions not adhering to our guidelines will be deleted. We appreciate your interest and look forward to possibly including your music in our projects if the opportunity aligns.
Metadata refers to the information embedded within a music file that provides essential details about the track. This includes the artist’s name, track title, album name, and other relevant data for licensing like copyright owners/publishers, splits, master recording owner, and PRO information. For submissions to Owl At The Moon Creative, it is particularly important that your metadata includes your direct contact information (or who to contact to make a license request) to ensure we can reach the right person if your music fits our project needs. If your tracks are one-stop, please include that in the metadata! To embed metadata into your music tracks, you can use various audio editing software options available both as free and paid versions, like iTunes and DISCO. Ensure all information is accurate and up-to-date before submitting your music. This step is crucial for maintaining professional communication and maximizing your opportunities in music licensing. More information can be found on our Music Page.
Composer Management FAQ
When a production hires Joseph Metcalfe through Owl At The Moon Creative, Katie Garibaldi manages all aspects of his scoring projects, including contract negotiation, scheduling, and coordinating specific production needs. Beyond ensuring a seamless collaboration between the composer and the production team, Katie offers a key benefit: built-in publicity. She actively pitches Joseph’s involvement in the film to appropriate magazines, blogs, podcasts, and other media outlets, generating additional buzz and visibility for the project. With Katie’s representation, productions receive not only an exceptional score but also a promotional partner to elevate the film’s profile.
Joseph Metcalfe is available for select scoring projects through Owl At The Moon Creative. Management is available to assess and negotiate projects based on creative and budgetary requirements. To inquire about collaborating, contact Katie Garibaldi to discuss your production’s scope, timeline, and budget. Katie will evaluate the project’s fit and, if appropriate, coordinate with Joseph to ensure his music complements your creative vision. With Katie managing the process, productions benefit from seamless logistics, clear communication, and unparalleled professionalism.
Once a composer contract has been negotiated, the production team can communicate directly with Joseph Metcalfe regarding their film’s scoring needs. Joseph works closely with the team, reviewing the film scene by scene to ensure the score enhances the story as desired by production. While direct collaboration is encouraged for creative success, Katie Garibaldi remains available to facilitate any additional needs and act as a bridge of communication when necessary, ensuring a smooth and efficient process from start to finish.
For all press materials, please contact Katie Garibaldi for a media kit that includes Joseph's music, bio, photos, press releases, etc.
At this time, Owl At The Moon Creative is not expanding its roster of composers. Our focus remains on providing dedicated management to our current composer client and ensuring exceptional service for all projects.
Orchestra Booking FAQ
The Simi Valley Orchestras offer a range of services to meet various needs. The Simi Valley Scoring Orchestra, composed of top-quality, non-union musicians, specializes in recordings and film scoring sessions, working with a wide range of production budgets. Located in the LA area and recording in Simi Valley, it provides a cost-effective, high-caliber solution for scoring needs. Additionally, the Simi Valley Community Orchestra performs locally at special events, while the Simi Valley Youth Orchestra showcases elite young talent at select performances locally and beyond.
Yes, Joseph Metcalfe brings his extensive experience as a conductor to lead the Simi Valley Scoring Orchestra during film scoring sessions. With a deep understanding of both composition and orchestral performance, Joseph ensures seamless communication between the production team and musicians, delivering a polished score that aligns with the film’s vision. While hiring Joseph as a composer provides the advantage of knowing an exceptional orchestra is available for your project, the Simi Valley Scoring Orchestra is a separate service that must be budgeted for.
Composers are also welcome to hire the orchestra directly for their scoring sessions, with the option to conduct themselves if they prefer. This flexibility allows productions to tailor the scoring process to their specific needs while benefiting from the orchestra's exceptional talent and expertise.
Still Have Questions?
Reach out any time. All inquires are welcome.
