But if you consider the working conditions that composers put up with, superficially the odds do seem stacked against film music being classed as art. First of all, film music is composed in snippets, timed to the second, and written after the film is shot. Then there are the insane deadlines – like having five days to compose 50 minutes of music. Next, the composer has to live with the fact that he/she wields no artistic control. Finally, the ultimate insult is that what is written struggles to get itself noticed against a background of dialogue, squeals and every possible visual delight.
According to the writer, what is the worst aspect of a film composer’s working conditions?