Composers and Filmmakers: Learning to Speak the Same Language
Hi everyone—Brooke here. Today I’m joined by my dear friend John Califra, a gifted composer who has scored numerous projects and knows the ins and outs of collaborating with directors. I asked John to share some thoughts on what composers should know when presenting their music to filmmakers. His insights are spot-on.
Filmmakers Often Don’t Know Music
According to John:
“Most filmmakers don’t know how to work with a composer. And that’s okay—it’s not their expertise. The real challenge comes when they think they know. Many bring their own personal soundtrack into the process—the music they grew up with, the playlists they live by. But those choices are often completely inappropriate for the film they’re making. The problem is, they can’t move away from it.”
This is one of the biggest hurdles composers face: separating what a filmmaker thinks they want from what the film truly needs.
Learning to Translate
John’s advice? Learn how to interpret a director’s words and instincts.
“When a filmmaker says, ‘I want it to sound like this,’ what they often mean is, ‘I want it to feel like this.’ Your job is to bridge that gap.”
The ability to translate vague or misguided musical requests into a score that elevates the story is a composer’s superpower.
The Balancing Act
Of course, this comes with risk.
Push too hard, and you might alienate the director.
Follow too literally, and you risk creating a score that doesn’t serve the film.
“You can lose clients if you don’t learn how to guide them,” John warns. “But if you do, you’ll have a bigger problem: the music won’t work for the story.”
The solution is empathy. Meet filmmakers where they are, gently steer them toward the best choices, and keep the focus on what the film itself demands.
Final Thought
As John Califra wisely says:
“Take it from the premise that the filmmaker knows nothing about music—and it’s worse when they think they do.”
For composers, writing the score is only half the job. The other half is learning how to communicate with filmmakers—translating their instincts, shaping their vision, and building trust along the way.