# Respuestas de Marc Jovani **Fecha:** 2025-03-05 10:55:10 **Modelo:** claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219 **Temperature:** 1.0 --- ## Pregunta 1 **Pregunta:** Who is Marc Jovani and how did your journey begin, from your first steps in music to becoming an internationally recognized composer in the world of film soundtracks? **Respuesta de Marc:** # My Journey from Small-Town Spain to Hollywood Film Composer My path in music began back in the summer of 1994 in a small coastal town called Peñíscola in the Valencian community of Spain. My uncle Paco gave me my first guitar lessons, and while I later tried piano with my teacher Mercedes, I found myself constantly procrastinating practice by writing small compositions instead. Even then, music creation called to me more than performance. My early conservatory experience was humbling, to say the least. I was rejected twice before being accepted as an auditing student. My first composition was harshly criticized by my teacher, Maestro Ferrer Ferran, who basically told me to throw it away and forget about it. I remember crying in the car when my father picked me up. But instead of quitting, this lit a fire in me. I was determined to prove him wrong. After struggling as "the worst in class," I eventually graduated with honors. The same teacher who had initially rejected my work later recognized my potential in film music and recommended me for USC's screen scoring program. I'd also been accepted to Berklee, but ultimately chose USC, which brought me to Los Angeles in 2010 as a student. The real journey to becoming a professional composer wasn't smooth. After graduating, visa challenges forced me back to Spain for several years. When my wife Ali and I finally moved to LA permanently in 2016, we arrived with just $10,000, three suitcases, and no connections. We built a desk from bricks because we couldn't afford furniture. I made 100 cold calls a day trying to find work. My breakthrough came through a friend's recommendation that led to a client who has since hired me for 12 more films. Over time, I've composed for more than 30 projects that have appeared on platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and major networks. Last year alone, I scored five films. Along this journey, I founded Cinematic Composing to help other composers avoid the struggles I faced. We've now taught over 16,000 students worldwide, sharing practical frameworks and mentorship rather than just theory. What I've learned is that success in film composition isn't just about musical talent—it's about persistence, practical production skills, and the confidence to keep going when everything suggests you should quit. Every rejection and setback ultimately shaped how I approach both composition and teaching today. --- ## Pregunta 2 **Pregunta:** Working with major studios like Netflix, FOX, and Lionsgate undoubtedly brings significant challenges. What have been the biggest obstacles you’ve faced in your career, and how did you overcome those moments? **Respuesta de Marc:** I've experienced quite a journey working with major studios, and yes - the obstacles have been significant at times. The biggest challenge I faced was simply breaking into the industry without connections. When Ali and I moved to LA in 2016, we had no network, limited funds, and were starting completely from scratch. I remember making 100 cold calls a day from IMDbPro listings, with almost no response. This period tested my confidence profoundly - I went nearly three years without landing a significant project after losing my main client early on. What turned things around wasn't a fancy strategy but simple persistence and relationship building. A single recommendation from a friend who shared my music with his client led to what became a transformative relationship - I've now done over 12 films with that same client. Another major obstacle was adapting to the intense production schedules of studio projects. Early in my career, I had to deliver 60 minutes of orchestral music in just three weeks - that's over 2 minutes of finished music daily. I overcame this by developing extremely efficient workflows and templates that handle much of the technical work, allowing me to focus on creative decisions. Perhaps the most challenging aspect has been managing self-doubt. When you're scoring for major platforms, the pressure can be immense. I've learned to distinguish between constructive criticism and my own impostor syndrome. Having clear systems, focusing on serving the story rather than my ego, and celebrating small wins along the way have been crucial to maintaining perspective. The truth is that persistence matters more than perfection. Every composer faces rejection and creative challenges - the difference is in how quickly you adapt, learn, and keep moving forward. --- ## Pregunta 3 **Pregunta:** How do you view the role of the neoclassical style and the presence of the piano in film score composition? Does this style influence your work or how you construct musical narratives? **Respuesta de Marc:** As a film composer, I find the neoclassical style and piano to be incredibly powerful tools in my scoring arsenal, though I approach them with specific dramatic intentions rather than stylistic loyalty. The neoclassical approach offers a beautiful balance - it provides emotional accessibility through familiar harmonic structures while allowing for contemporary production techniques and orchestration. When I'm scoring intimate character moments or scenes requiring emotional transparency, these elements become invaluable. The piano specifically has this remarkable duality in film scoring. It can function as the ultimate intimate solo voice when a scene requires vulnerability, yet it also blends seamlessly into larger orchestral textures when needed. I often use piano as an entry point into a cue - establishing a theme or emotional tone before expanding the orchestration. I don't necessarily aim for a strictly "neoclassical sound" in my work, but rather incorporate these elements where the storytelling demands it. For certain projects, particularly dramas or thrillers with emotional depth, these approaches become central. In others, like action sequences, they might serve as contrasting moments within a more contemporary palette. What truly matters is serving the film's emotional narrative. Sometimes that means leaning into neoclassical sensibilities; other times it means departing from them completely. The dramatic needs of the scene always dictate the stylistic approach. --- ## Pregunta 4 **Pregunta:** Given the complexity of composing for high-level cinematic productions, do you follow a specific routine to stimulate your creativity? What practices do you consider essential to balancing inspiration and productivity? **Respuesta de Marc:** When composing for high-level cinematic productions, I definitely follow specific routines to stimulate creativity while maintaining productivity. This balance is crucial because film music isn't just about inspiration - it's about delivering consistent quality under tight deadlines. My creative process starts early in the morning, typically between 5-7am. I've found these hours to be my "genius time" - when my mind is fresh and most receptive to creative thinking. During this period, I focus on conceptual work - sketching themes, establishing emotional frameworks for scenes, and mapping intensity arcs - rather than diving straight into production. A few practices I consider essential: 1. **Separate spaces for different tasks** - I maintain distinct physical environments for creative conceptualization versus technical execution. This spatial separation helps my brain transition between creative and production modes. 2. **Intentional recovery periods** - After periods of intense focus, I schedule deliberate resets. Cold plunges and saunas are remarkably effective for me, but even a 20-minute walk can shift your neurochemistry and restore creative energy. 3. **Physical activity** - Whether surfing, skating or biking, activities that induce flow states train your brain to access similar states during composition. I schedule 2-6 hours weekly for high-flow physical activities. 4. **Strategic limitations** - When starting a project, I identify the core emotional palette and instrumentation first, deliberately limiting my options. These constraints paradoxically enhance creativity rather than restrict it. 5. **Preparation rituals** - The night before, I prepare my workspace, eliminate potential distractions, and set clear triggers that remind me what I'll be working on. This removes decision fatigue and friction the next morning. What I've observed after scoring dozens of films is that creativity isn't random inspiration - it's a physiological state you can systematically access through deliberate practices and routines. The most productive composers I know don't wait for inspiration; they create conditions where it consistently appears. --- ## Pregunta 5 **Pregunta:** In addition to being a composer, you are also the cofounder of Cinematic Composing. How has this entrepreneurial experience influenced your musical career? What are your upcoming goals, both as a composer and as an educator and entrepreneur? **Respuesta de Marc:** # How Entrepreneurship Has Influenced My Musical Career Being both a composer and cofounder of Cinematic Composing has created an interesting symbiotic relationship between my creative work and business endeavors. The entrepreneurial side has influenced my composition career in profound ways. First, building Cinematic Composing forced me to systematize my creative process and articulate techniques I'd developed intuitively. Having to teach others required me to deeply analyze what actually works in film composition. This reflection made me a more deliberate composer, with clearer strategies for approaching each project. Second, entrepreneurship taught me to value my time differently. As composers, we often fall into the trap of perfecting every note endlessly. Building a business taught me to make decisions faster, be more efficient with my workflow, and establish clearer boundaries. I've composed for five films in a single year while running the business - something I couldn't have managed without these skills. Perhaps most importantly, having multiple income streams has given me creative freedom. I can be selective about scoring projects I genuinely connect with rather than taking everything that comes my way just to pay bills. This has resulted in better work and more rewarding collaborations. # Looking Forward My upcoming goals represent the continued evolution of both paths. As a composer, I'm focusing on projects with deeper storytelling opportunities - films that allow me to explore more complex emotional landscapes. I'm particularly drawn to stories that carry meaningful messages or explore human resilience. For Cinematic Composing, we're expanding our vision of what education can be in this field. We're developing more immersive learning experiences that bridge the gap between education and professional work. This includes more hands-on workshops at major scoring stages and creating opportunities for students to collaborate with filmmakers. The ultimate goal is creating a broader ecosystem where composers at different stages can find the resources and community they need. The industry can be isolating, and I believe there's tremendous value in building structures that support composers throughout their journey. What excites me most is finding new ways for these worlds to enhance each other - how my composing informs my teaching, and how building educational systems makes me a more thoughtful composer. In both areas, I'm focused on creating work that resonates and makes a meaningful impact. --- ## Pregunta 6 **Pregunta:** What message would you like to share with aspiring composers or musicians who dream of creating soundtracks and pursuing a career in the film industry? **Respuesta de Marc:** I'd like to share something with aspiring composers that I wish someone had told me when I was starting out. The path to becoming a film composer is both simpler and more complex than most people think. It's simpler because the actual steps to get there are straightforward: master your craft, build relationships, create opportunities, and deliver excellent work consistently. But it's more complex because the journey requires navigating self-doubt, rejection, and an industry that can sometimes feel impenetrable. First, understand that your unique voice matters. Hollywood doesn't need another Hans Zimmer or John Williams - they already exist. What the industry needs is YOUR authentic musical perspective. The directors and producers who will become your long-term collaborators are looking for someone who brings something fresh to their stories. Second, balance artistic integrity with practicality. Yes, you need to develop your skills to the highest level, but equally important is understanding storytelling, collaborating effectively, and meeting deadlines. I've seen brilliant composers fail because they couldn't deliver under pressure, while composers with modest technical skills succeed because they were reliable, adaptable, and easy to work with. Third, persistence trumps talent. Some of my most successful students weren't necessarily the most gifted musicians initially, but they were the ones who kept showing up, improving incrementally, and putting themselves out there consistently. When I lost my main client early in my career, I spent three years without a major project - but I kept working, improving, and building relationships until an opportunity finally came. Finally, remember that your worth isn't defined by your credits or achievements. The journey itself - the process of creation, growth, and connection - is what makes this path worthwhile. Some of my most fulfilling moments weren't scoring at the Warner Bros. stage, but rather those quiet breakthroughs when I discovered a new sound or solved a challenging musical problem. If you truly love creating music for storytelling, then you already have the most important ingredient for success. The rest is just showing up every day, putting in the work, and believing in yourself when no one else does. ---