If you have scored for both shorts and features, answer this:
Aside for the amount of music you have to score, is there a difference in your 'content'?
Let me separate out two things for the response:
1. The actual content - so for example for a chase scene or a fight scene - will you 'compose' the music (melody, tempo, etc.) the same way for both or will they 'sound' differently?
2. The 'arrangement' - films have different budgets so what you actually score for a film will depend on the budget - a very low budget, for example could be heavy on piano or synth. But aside from the instrumentation 'arrangement', does the music you score 'sound' the same even if for example, one is full orchestra and one is predominantly piano/synth.
And a final short versus feature scoring question:
Shorts are predominantly delivered electronically; features can be either electronic or live. Most composers score with DAW/Sequencers which is for electronic delivery. So do you pick your scoring tool based on whether the score is electronic or live? What if it is both? Do you find situations where you scored with a DAW and then need parts for live?
Well said! And I hope that Carl Sagan remains in the public consciousness for decades more to come.