While many supervisors are focused as ‘song finders’, Mason Cooper approaches the post in a Full-Service comprehensive manner - serving as the Department Head of the Music area for film and television projects - involved from Script through Wrap (inc. Pre-Production, Physical Production, Post-Production, Deliverables).

We often say that the “Music” is the fun part, and the “Supervisor” role is the necessary component that is often overlooked.

Services entail researching, negotiating, and hiring composers, being integrally involved in all spotting sessions (score, songs, music, sound), clearing the apropos song licensing rights, being stewards of the budget parameters and assuring that all elements are then delivered to the mix stage.

Serving as a creative partner with the directors/producers in helping the fulfill their creative visions – the supervisor coordinates the personnel and logistics so they work seamlessly together throughout the process.

1. Full-Service Music Supervision – working comprehensively from Pre-Production and following through until all final Distributor Deliverables are completed. This entails involvement in the composer elements, song creative work (researching, compiling, choosing, spotting/editing, mix delivery), song business elements (i.e., clearances, union items, technical delivery, licensing, budgeting, etc.), and overseeing the legal and wrap for delivery.

2. Music ClearanceS – handling the music rights clearance and licensing process for projects whose creative needs have been handled by others.

3. Song Editing – song editing to assist spotting, editing songs into the project, delivering song files to mix (editing work is non-union).

4. Music Deliverables – for projects with music elements generally handled, I QC the elements (creative and business) to meet distributor deliverables needs, inclusive of final documentation of rights/licenses, music cue sheets, etc.

While you may send a polite followup email to inquire if your submission was received (hint: if the email didn’t bounce back to you, it was received), please don’t contact us to inquire if we liked your music.

We receive a high quantity of submissions for our projects, but rest assured: We need to find the right music, so we listen to all submissions that follow our Pitch Rules (* listed on the Project Brief page)!

With occasional exceptions, our primary position is that we DO NOT reply to pitches due to work time constraints! HOWEVER – if we like your music and it is in consideration for a project spot – we will contact you immediately to confirm the rights you control – as we CANNOT and WILL NOT use your music without clearing the rights with you first.

If you don’t hear from us, don’t despair… Your music is heard and appreciated… it’s not a judgment on your music if it doesn’t work for our project – it’s just a matter if it works for the specific need or not. It is a long process, so your pitches are one step in building a creative connection with us for the long term.

Yes. Simply put – we help to fulfill the director’s vision within the producer’s parameters. We believe the role is collaborative with all of the key personnel of the picture, director, producers, editors, mixers – and focus on communication, creative insights, and follow-throughs throughout. As our name is on a project, it is therefore treated as ‘our project,’ with the care and attention it deserves.

While many Music Supervisors have different likes, dislikes, and protocols as to how to pitch music, mine are straightforward: I only accept pitches that are targeted to the specific ‘per spot’ needs for the projects listed on my Pitch Briefs page. Also, unless you have permission from me to pitch via links or batches (i.e., Disco, Dropbox, etc.), please only pitch 1-3 songs per spot, via email attachment of song mp3’s – with your email Subject line referencing the Project and Spot you are pitching for. *If you are new to pitching to me, please review the Pitch Rules on the Project Brief page.

Mason Cooper has moderated and served on panels, put together film/music related programming for Festivals, Conferences and Seminars (from Los Angeles to Toronto, Nova Scotia to Nashville, and spoken at many colleges and schools around the US, mentoring and informing the next generation of Film-TV/Music minds. You may contact him via email with details of your event.