A movie conductor is in charge of leading an orchestra or other group of musicians while they perform and record music for use in a film. This conductor may also be the composer of a piece of film music; however, this is not always the case, and a piece of music can be composed and conducted different people. The movie conductor is usually in charge of guiding the musicians playing the music through the composition and setting the speed or tempo for them. This can also include music rehearsals to give musicians notes or feedback, as well as adjusting the way the music is played.
A movie conductor, in general, performs many of the same tasks as a conductor of any other group of musicians, with some special considerations for the use of music in a film, also known as the film score. The conductor’s basic considerations often begin with rehearsals with the musicians or orchestra to ensure that the musicians are familiar with the music and understand what the conductor is looking for. This is frequently done to give musicians and filmmakers on a project a sense of direction; the movie conductor can then use feedback from the composer or director to fine-tune the performance before recording.
The movie conductor usually leads the musicians through each piece or arrangement during the performance and recording of music for a film score. This can be done in a variety of ways, depending on the conductor’s preferences, but the most common method is to use the right hand, often holding a baton, to set the pace and tempo for a performance. Different patterned movements are used to indicate different time signatures, and musicians play together in this tempo under the direction of a movie conductor.
Aside from this basic function, a movie conductor can also provide additional information to the musicians during a performance. The conductor can use gestures and facial expressions to indicate when a section should be played louder or when certain musicians should stop or start playing, which is often done to punctuate the action in the film. Many conductors work in a studio with a large screen, conducting the recording of music while watching a working print of the film. This enables a movie conductor to ensure that a piece’s pacing and performance correspond to what is happening in the film, as well as to make spontaneous adjustments as needed.