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Episode 46: Critical Feedback
What should you do when you get critical feedback? In previous episodes, we talked about the practice of killing your babies and working with experienced consultants to make the film better. This episode is all about hearing difficult feedback and ...

Episode 45: Consultants
It's critically important to get professional help or consulting throughout the entire process of producing a film. How else would a first time filmmaker know what to look out for when trial and error are so costly in both time ...

Episode 44: Picture Lock
Thanks to the many focus groups in 2019 Christian Taylor has accumulated a long list of things to fix and improve in The Girl Who Wore Freedom. The goal is to be "picture locked" by February 6th so that we ...

Episode 43: Rights & Clearances
When you're making a film, remember to take notes about the archival footage, usage rights, and sources for everything added to the film. Learn from our first time filmmaker, Christian Taylor as she talks to co-hosts Josh Lindsay and Jason ...

Episode 42: Birthday in TN
Christian Taylor visits her family in Tennessee and (surprise, surprise), she screens the film. While she was there she hears new stories that make her start thinking about her next film. (Is there some sort of filmmakers Stockholm syndrome?) She ...

Episode 41: Coast to Coast
In this episode, co-host and Director Christian Taylor recap focus groups events from one coast to the other: The Villages, Florida to Phelan, California. These two focus groups were on different ends of the spectrum but both very special for ...

Episode 40: Branson
In this episode, co-host and Director Christian Taylor recaps her experience running two of the most impactful focus groups so far at the Branson Military Film Festival. Hear how the original girl who wore freedom, Dani Patrix, visited from Normandy ...

Episode 39: Collaborators
Collaboration on a project as large as a film like The Girl Who Wore Freedom is difficult. Films take years to produce and it's natural for our priorities or goals to shift along the way. In this episode Director Christian Taylor ...

Episode 38: Blessings
In this special Thanksgiving episode, first-time filmmaker Christian Taylor looks back over the last year and shares the many things for which she's thankful. Want to help us make the film? We need volunteers and donations to help finish work ...

Episode 37: Networking
In the heat of the moment, you can feel very low when you feel like a meeting or focus group goes poorly. But it's impossible to know how a single conversation will lead to more opportunities and ultimately influence the ...
In this episode of Documentary First, host Christian Taylor sits down with Finnish film composer Panu Aaltio to dive into the fascinating world of film scoring. From his early days as a cello player to becoming a successful composer for films and documentaries, Panu shares his unique journey and the challenges and joys of crafting music for the screen.
The conversation explores the intricate relationship between music and film, the influence of video game music, and how directors’ styles shape a composer’s approach to scoring. Panu discusses the creative process behind composing scores that evoke emotional responses, the importance of collaboration with directors, and the role of music as a character in a film.
He also offers valuable insights on his experiences working on Netflix originals, the significance of documentaries in his career, and advice for aspiring composers looking to break into the industry.
Watch the hit show “Little Siberia” on Netflix!
Discover Panu Aaltio’s work: https://www.panuaaltio.com/
Key Takeaways:
Sound Bites:
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Film Scoring
05:35 Panu’s Musical Journey
12:16 From Hobby to Profession
20:13 Navigating Directorial Styles
25:30 The Language of Music in Film
26:24 Understanding Emotional Impact through Score
28:48 Creating Unique Soundscapes for Film
30:41 The Role of Music as a Character
32:13 Experimentation in Composition
35:34 The Importance of Early Composition
41:12 Navigating the Netflix Experience
42:26 The Significance of Documentaries in Career
43:09 DocuView Déjà Vu
44:18 Advice for Aspiring Composers
45:17 Influential Scores and Future Projects