Post-Production : Skywalker Sound by B. Chan

That's cool! I contacted the folks over at Skywalker ranch several months ago, just to get an idea of how much it would cost to mix my feature length film score (approx 60 minutes of music). The lady I spoke to was totally professional towards me, even though I made it clear I was "up-and coming" as a film composer. Bottom line, she mentioned who I would be working with, and said that a mix (mostly large orchestral virtual instrument tracks) would take about 4-5 days, and cost $1800.00 per day. So there you go ... for all you prospective film-makers with thoughts of having a top-notch mix of your score. :-) I say "Go for it!"

Well you get what you pay for! So is this in the budget for you?

Ha ha! No. I did make it clear to the person I spoke with that I was asking for future reference, because I expected some bigger projects to be coming along in the next few years. Besides getting a reference on the "upper bound" of what I'd expect to pay and get for a mix, I was also strategizing that at some point, putting up at least some of that money myself would be a good investment for 2 reasons: (1) it would put me around the kind of professionals whom I wanted to network with, wanted to hear my work, and wanted to learn from, and (2) I would have something for my demo that gave it a superior sound above what other composers bidding for the same job might have. In the first case, I already know 2 people who have in the past done work at Skywalker Ranch, one a S.F. Bay Area conductor and teacher who actually played percussion under John Williams for the Star Wars sound track CD, and the other one who is currently nominated for an Emmy for his score of the music for "House of Cards". So I would have something at least to talk to them about, they might remember me, and who knows they might think of me if someone asks them about a reasonably priced, but talented composer. :-) In the second case, having a great mix puts my music in the best light for potential clients, and helps make up for a lack of certain expectations they might have about hearing that "live orchestra" sound without having the live orchestra budget.