I've been in this biz so long, it's really my reputation that brings me work.

Other than a few years of piano as a kid, I don't have all that much musical training. I played piano for all the musicals in high school and was in a few bands, but never really considered music as a viable career until I was in college.

I became friends on a social basis with a music professor (Dr. Alan Stein) who took a real interest in my work. He encouraged me in countless different ways, urged me to try different arranging styles, etc.

No matter how many scores I've written, the next project will hopefully be completely different. As hard as it is, I'm always trying to stay fresh, not repeat myself, and come up with original musical ideas and ways of scoring.

I've been a full-time composer for many years, and I'm still learning all the time. There is always more than one musical solution to each movie scene, but my goal is to compose music that works perfectly for the director, and me!

The most common reason that I turn down a film project is because of my schedule. If I can't devote the time to a score that it deserves, I'll pass. I'll also turn down a film if its moral position is different than what my own understanding of right and wrong.

Do everything you can to learn your craft. Score student films for free, attend conferences, learn music theory - do anything and everything you can.