Film scoring services
Film scoring services for your picture.
Jeffrey Carabelos is a film composer writing original music for features, shorts, series and trailers. Every score is written to picture, mixed in his studio, Harmonic Alchemy, and delivered in the formats your post team needs.
Hire a film composer for an original score
Scoring starts with a conversation about the story, not a music library. Jeffrey reads the screenplay, watches dailies, and talks through the emotional map of the film with the director before a note is written. From there come themes, a cue-by-cue plan, and demos you can react to while there is still time to change direction.
For directors who are unsure what they want musically, the discovery process is part of the work, with sketches and references narrowing the field quickly until the sound of the film is unmistakable.
What a film scoring engagement includes
- Spotting session and cue list built with the director and editor
- Original themes and full cue composition written to locked or evolving picture
- Orchestral, hybrid orchestral, electronic and ambient palettes
- Live players layered in where the score calls for them
- Score mixing, stems and delivery for the dub stage
- Revisions through the edit, including trailer and festival cutdowns
Film music production, end to end
Harmonic Alchemy is a post-audio studio founded by Jeffrey in 2020 that contracts with audio professionals worldwide. That means composition, film music production, immersive mixing and sound design can all run through one point of contact instead of three separate vendors.
Budgets and timelines
Scores are quoted per project, based on runtime, minutes of music, the size of the ensemble and the delivery date. Independent features, shorts and branded work each get a plan that fits what the production can actually carry. Tell Jeffrey the picture-lock date and the budget you have, and he will tell you honestly what is possible.
Before we work together
Questions from filmmakers
What is your rate?
My fees are assessed based on the scope of work, including the amount and kind of music requested, whether live instrumentalists are desired, and the budget of the project. I work with most budget tiers, with common ranges from $100k-$3M. If you're concerned about budget, please reach out, there are always options available.
Do you take free work?
Generally speaking, I do not accept projects without a budget. I do, however, leave exceptions for student filmmakers with truly exceptional projects. If you are a student at a valid institution, reach out so we can discuss feasibility with my existing schedule.
What should I send you before we talk?
A little about the story, the kind of music you have in mind, your schedule, and your budget is a good place to start. If you have a screenplay, footage, or musical references you can share, those help me get a feel for the project. You do not need to have all the answers before reaching out.
What happens in a spotting session?
We look at the film together and talk about where music belongs, where it should be left out, and what each cue needs to do for the story. That conversation becomes a cue list and gives us a shared direction before I start writing.
How long does it take to score a film?
The schedule depends on how much music the film needs, the musical approach, and the recording and delivery requirements. Send me your picture-lock date and final mix deadline so we can discuss a realistic plan for your film. I've scored features in a matter of weeks, and over months. Let's chat so we can discover the best timeline for your needs.
How do demos and revisions work?
Early themes and demos give us something concrete to talk about before the full score takes shape. We can use those conversations to refine the direction. The revision scope and any changes needed as the edit develops are things to discuss when planning the project. My contract provides unlimited revisions. I am not happy unless you are ecstatic.