Film Music Career Mentoring for European Film Composers
In September, ECSA is partnering up with OTICONS Film Composers Agency for the online Film Music Career Mentoring for European Film Composers. During the online sessions, two expert mentors will give two film composers the chance to gain invaluable insights about how to boost their career, how to communicate with filmmakers, as well as customized creative advice, artistic insights and processes, and real-life industry dos and don'ts.
Overview of the two courses
How to carve a realistic, efficient and successful career path as a film composer? How to be as prepared as possible for this ever-challenging and ever-changing film industry, before you even start communicating with filmmakers? And, with that said, how truly can a film composer efficiently communicate with directors and establish oneself as a great collaborator in the filmmaking process? Acclaimed film composers agent George Christopoulos, and world-renowned documentary composer Miriam Cutler, will provide to two chosen candidates tailored guidance through both the creative and business aspects and dimensions of the film composer’s profession and aim to help you enhance your chances in having a successful career as a film composer!
In separate sessions, George will focus on providing "Film Music Career Business Mentoring", by sharing crucial tools and tips to navigate yourself through the industry from a business perspective. George will shift your mindset from thinking as a composer, to thinking as a filmmaker and a business owner, by helping you to improve your networking, pitching and negotiating skills in ways that will boost your career, specifically in the region you live and work in! On the other hand, Miriam will focus on the creative and practical aspects of manifesting a satisfying film composing career by successfully "Communicating and Collaborating with Filmmakers". She will share her insights gained over more than 35 years as an independent composer on topics like music story arc, musical narrative tools, bringing the score to life with live musicians, maximizing the music budget, and most importantly, how to have inspiring and productive conversations with filmmakers - to get the information you need to write an amazing score.
About the mentors
The course will be given by experienced mentors George Christopoulos and Miriam Cutler.
George Christopoulos (GR) is the founder, CEO and film composers agent of Oticons Talent Agency. Oticons Talent Agency operates globally by representing nearly 30 composers from all over the world and specialises in facilitating international co-productions. As an agent he represents internationally more than 30 film composers from more than 20 different nationalities, while at the same time he has worked as a consultant for international co-productions on several feature films.
Miriam Cutler (US) is a three time Emmy-nominated, who is passionate about documentaries. Her work includes HBO, CNN, PBS, Sundance, SXSW, Berlin FF, Tribeca, Emmy, and Oscar nominated films: RBG, Love Gilda, Shari and Lambchop, Gabby Giffords - Won't Back Down, Beyond the Gaze, Til Kingdom Come, Flannery, Dark Money, The Hunting Ground, Ethel, Lost in La Mancha, Thin, Poster Girl, Ghosts of Abu Ghraib, A Plastic Ocean, Licensed To Kill, and many more. She has been a longtime Advisor at the Sundance Documentary Composers Lab, juror for Sundance FF, Spirit Awards, and the AFI and more. Miriam is regularly hosting workshops for filmmakers and film composers in festivals, like her currently ongoing collaborations with Krakow Film Music Festival and the Vancouver IFF, while she has lectured in universities such as the USC, UCLA, Loyola Marymount and many more. Miriam won various high-profile awards for her works, including the 2024 Camille Award for Outstanding Contribution for the film music industry.
Applications are open until 7 August 2025.