Home » Blog » 2009-05 » GB - Introducing Andrea von Foerster

GB - Introducing Andrea von Foerster

From Andrew:  For the first time, and hopefully not the last, we have a very special guest posting in our blog.  I have been so excited to get this rolling and have been having a hard time keeping it to myself.  You may or may not know that Andrea does the music supervision on Joss Whedon's Dollhouse.  She is one of two music supervisors I'm working with to post an occasional blog about music that speaks true to them right now or why they chose a song for a specific scene.  Feel free to post questions below and please make her feel welcome.  But enough from me, let's get to her...

Pop culture junkie. Music nerd. Avid TV fan. Music supervisor. I am all these things. Who knew countless hours/days/months/years of TV watching, spending all of my money at record stores and an obnoxious need to know every piece of information about my favorite musicians would lead to a paying gig? I'd like to take a moment to thank the "American dream" because I'm living it.

Last year when I was hired to work on Joss Whedon's show Dollhouse, I was ecstatic. I was a huge Buffy fan and it's really satisfying working on shows with strong female lead characters. Dollhouse lends itself to quietly epic songs with female vocals. So when I heard British alternative singer/songwriter Carina Round and her new EP, I had to support it getting placed on the show. Now just because I especially liked the song "For Everything A Reason" doesn't mean that it would ever fit a scene in the show or that the producers, editors, studio or network would like it. Music has to go through a lot of people to make it into an episode. But the song stood out with bold vocals, an ethereal eeriness and an amazing build. It seems everyone agreed because we ended up using the song in episode 107 of Dollhouse and it worked like magic. Carina Round was once signed to a label but she's now going it alone and has self-released her new EP, Things You Should Know. And you really should know all five songs. The EP was released on Amazon on May 12th, 2009. Check out the first track "Backseat." That song gets stuck in my head for days.

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Showing comments 1 to 10 of 15 | Next | Last
Pete Smith
Posts: 15
Comment
This is not a pitch
Reply #15 on : Mon March 01, 2010, 23:13:26
OK well maybe just a small one. If you've had a hard day and you need to unwind they won't hurt your ears (I hope) http://www.last.fm/music/ANTIQCOOL/Subliminal%2520Cuts?ac=antiqcool%20sub
Pete Smith
Posts: 15
Comment
Interesting site and comments
Reply #14 on : Mon March 01, 2010, 22:59:54
It's nice to see a Music Supervisor taking the time to answer posts. Wading through a sea of plastic every day in search of that one life raft (a special song) can be overwhelming and time consuming. With that in mind I won't be pitching anything, have a nice day :-)
Kendal Conrad
Posts: 15
Comment
White House Performance
Reply #13 on : Wed February 03, 2010, 13:12:47
Please listen to my demos at www.myspace.com/kendalconrad. I write all my own songs. I am Miss Pennsylvania Talent and was just selected to perform at the White House this past December. I perform at Hersheypark, Philadelphia City Hall, Bitter End in NY etc. Please listen to my original music. I have no agent, label or promoter or cowriter. I own the copyrights. Thank You, Kendal Conrad
Andrea von Foerster
Posts: 15
Comment
Getting Your Music Placed When You're Independent
Reply #12 on : Sat May 16, 2009, 22:12:54
Okay so admittedly this answer might sound a little mean but just pretend I'm Simon Cowell. DO YOUR HOMEWORK! You know what your music sounds like so watch TV shows and figure out which ones use music like yours. It's very obvious to music supervisors when someone has not watched a show and gets pitched music. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "I've got this artist and it's PERFECT for (fill in the TV show name)." Like when I worked on "The O.C.", we didn't use Orange County alternative rock bands. We used a lot of moody and brooding or uptempo indie rock from mostly U.K. artists. But people were so excited to be part of a big music-heavy show or they were big fans so they'd pitch the totally wrong kind of music. If you do this, supervisors remember you as wasting their time and your music will not get used. I've been pitched all sorts of music for all sorts of projects that was just plain wrong. If whomever sent the music had watched the show and then pitched the appropriate music...they might have had a placement. OR if you just want to pitch music in general (not for a specific show), DO NOT send your life history, a gigantic tree-killing press packet, a headshot and all that noise. Supervisors only care if the music is good, clearable and currently appropriate for one of their shows. Plus, if you're reading this post you already know about the BEST possible resource for finding out what type of music every primetime show uses (TVShowMusic.com)! Most supervisors are hungry the next up and comer. We don't care if you're signed or managed by your mom. Just make good music and be smart about how you send it out.
Andrea von Foerster
Posts: 15
Comment
A Long Winded Answer To How I Got To Be A Music Supervisor
Reply #11 on : Sat May 16, 2009, 21:52:43
Most music supervisors out there didn't mean to become music supervisors. Many of them had jobs in music - managing bands, DJing, booking clubs - and then they just kind of happened into it. There aren't that many music supervisors in the U.S. (or the world for that matter) so it's a very competitive field.

I actually went to USC as a film production major. Then I finished all my classes early so I picked up two minors - music production (which was a seriously crap program when I attended) and music business (which was absolutely amazing). Then I was a temp during the Summer of my junior year at Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group (Disney) in the music/soundtrack department for live action features. I witnessed how the music was selected for a film and all the work that goes into it. The very first film I worked on (as a lowly assistant to a director of music) was "10 Things I Hate About You." The film is now being turned into a TV show. Next I got offered a music coordinator gig (based on a recommendation from Disney) with music supervisor, Kevin Edelman. I got to put my music business minor skills to work and was lucky enough to work on Roswell (loved the music that was used on that show), Popular and Providence. Then I went on to a whole slew of other music jobs like working for a major music publisher, an independent music publisher, an independent film supervisor (Charles Raggio) and the current queen of music supervision (Alexandra Patsavas). I left Alex's company three years ago to go on my own and now I'm where I'm at.

That was probably WAY too much back story but basically you should just know that any music job is good to have. Know all kinds of music, even kinds you don't like, and know that this job isn't sitting around and listening to music all day. I really hate that some people think that. This job is awesome but it isn't a cakewalk. There's a LOT of paperwork and you have to learn what music will fit your budget and how fast it will clear. Every show has a different music budget so you have to get very creative and find artists and companies that will work with you.

There's no middle ground in music supervision...you are either the supervisor or you work for the supervisor. If you can, the best way into a job in music supervision is interning for a supervisor. Most supervisors only have one coordinator and the only way a job becomes available is if that coordinator leaves to work for someone else or goes out on their own. So if you're interning, you're learning how to do everything and it's an easier transition to hire you than an outsider. UCLA Extension also offers a music supervision class that was recently taught by music supervisor, Lindsay Wolfington (One Tree Hill, Ghost Whisperer). So check the Extension schedule for another class like that. Another alternative, snoop around film schools and offer to music supervise student films. Do licenses for people who want to screen at festivals. If you love many genres of music, are detail oriented, good with paperwork and are serious about doing music supervision, you'll find your way into this job.
Andrea von Foerster
Posts: 15
Comment
Where I look for new artists
Reply #10 on : Sat May 16, 2009, 21:05:32
Because I'm a music nerd and I've lived in so many places, I keep up with what's going on just about everywhere I can. I read blogs. Troll MySpace in the wee hours of the night when I can't sleep. Unlike most people I know these days, I actually listen to the radio (regular radio not satellite - because I'm cheap). I check out random websites. I go on friend's recommendations. And I get submissions from numerous labels, publishers, agents and managers. My friend and I were at a restaurant in Nashville and our waiter was a musician. He gave me his music and it turned out to be awesome!
Andrea von Foerster
Posts: 15
Comment
Score
Reply #9 on : Sat May 16, 2009, 20:57:21
Thank you for noticing the score! That's the genius of Mychael Danna and Rob Simonsen! Most TV soundtracks don't include score cues as that's more of a film soundtrack kind of thing. But anything's possible.
Andrea von Foerster
Posts: 15
Comment
In regards to a soundtrack
Reply #8 on : Sat May 16, 2009, 20:53:58
From your lips to Fox's ears. I'm not aware of any current plans for a soundtrack. If anything changes, I'll be blogging here and putting up posts on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace! Everyone on Dollhouse is amazing and so is everyone I know at Fox. So here's to a successful Season 2!
Joanne Best
Posts: 15
Comment
Whedon Music
Reply #7 on : Sat May 16, 2009, 12:57:12
Andrea: What an amazing job you've done supervising the music for Dollhouse! You truly are living the "American Dream" and it's wonderful to see a woman doing so well in the industry! Aside from the yummy goodness that is the Whedonverse, I've always loved the way (previously) unknown talented musicians are used in Joss's shows and as a female singer/songwriter who gets much inspiration from his amazing characters and storylines, it does my heart good, and helps me to keep my own dreams alive, knowing women like you are out there succeeding in a male dominated industry. I'm still giddy over the news of a 2nd Season of Dollhouse and once I can get my feet to stop doing the Happy Dance , and I can now uncross all my fingers so I can hold a pen lol, I've got a lot of new songwriting to do. It's so hard to even get anyone to listen to anything when you're not signed or have representation and you can't get signed until someone listens, and the circle continues. Do you have any advice as to how someone like me can pursue my own American Dream? And because it can't be said enough: Dollhouse Season Two!!! Those words just sound so good together!!!
GoldenMusicGuru
Posts: 15
Comment
Your Fantastic Job
Reply #6 on : Sat May 16, 2009, 06:46:07
Music supervision is something I am WAY interested it. From a student/mentor standpoint, where did you start, and how did you "jump in"?
Showing comments 1 to 10 of 15 | Next | Last

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