<p>Welcome to episode 30 of The First Act Break podcast, the show where we dive into the art, business, and hustle of breaking into the film industry, and help you build a career doing what you love. Today, we bring on Mic Ferrante, an Emmy-Winning composer who&#39;s scored for the NFL, NBA, FAZE Clan, Kai Cenat and many more. He shares his experience going to music school and his recent career as a newly graduate pursing the composing dream.</p><p>Timecodes:</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:00</a> Intro</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=118s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:01:58</a> Falling in love with scoring</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=326s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:05:26</a> First real paycheck as composer</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=388s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:06:28</a> Getting paid through commercial work</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=435s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:07:15</a> How composers actually get hired</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=539s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:08:59</a> Marketing yourself as a composer</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=567s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:09:27</a> Biggest thing directors should know</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=645s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:10:45</a> Working with big brands (NBA, USC)</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=737s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:12:17</a> How people find him for gigs</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=863s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:14:23</a> The USC “Among Us” horn</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=940s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:15:40</a> Writing for narrative vs commercial</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=1132s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:18:52</a> How themes and melodies are born</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=1201s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:20:01</a> Why melody matters so much</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=1378s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:22:58</a> Writing personal music outside film</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=1420s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:23:40</a> Studying great music</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=1626s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:27:06</a> Do directors need “good taste”?</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=1679s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:27:59</a> Temp scores: helpful or cheating?</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=1807s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:30:07</a> Is there a “career path”?</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=1891s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:31:31</a> How composers actually break in</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=2039s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:33:59</a> Diversify or starve in music</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=2099s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:34:59</a> Balancing creativity and mental health</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=2112s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:35:12</a> Is music / film school worth it?</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=2219s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:36:59</a> USC: connections vs. classes</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=2282s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:38:02</a> Mozart vs. modern composers</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=2446s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:40:46</a> Money stress after graduation</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=2500s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:41:40</a> How much do gigs pay?</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=2673s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:44:33</a> Learning when to say no</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=2820s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:47:00</a> Will AI take composer jobs?</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=2939s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:48:59</a> How he’s future-proofing with AI</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=3000s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:50:00</a> Using AI in music workflow</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=3036s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:50:36</a> Handling jealousy and comparison</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=3117s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:51:57</a> Scoring for different directors’ styles</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=3215s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:53:35</a> Worst kind of project experience</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=3278s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:54:38</a> Running live sessions, leading people</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=3351s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:55:51</a> How to get good at piano</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=3497s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">00:58:17</a> Breaking down our scores together</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=3742s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">01:02:22</a> Melodies of War breakdown</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=3802s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">01:03:22</a> Love themes, character themes</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=3888s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">01:04:48</a> How sets actually work (drama)</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=4054s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">01:07:34</a> How we pulled off the musical</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=4175s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">01:09:35</a> Writing songs fast for production</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=4224s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">01:10:24</a> Question from last guest</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaXvdM6STt0&t=4280s" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">01:11:20</a> Freelance goals (director POV)</p>