Hello! It’s only been a day but I’m back! As creators we don’t always get a chance to tell the story behind the story & that’s what I like about this place - the personal stories. This is following on from part 1 which I posted yesterdaywhere I'd got the music to Ricky Gervais, he'd called it 'stunningly beautiful' and we'd got up to about 600,000 views.
Watch the video: https://www.facebook.com/rickygervais/videos/328321240625569/
MAKING A SECOND PIECE OF MUSIC
I had some rough chords and I'd been thinking about potentially doing a second video set to scenes from Series 2 of Ricky Gervais' show Derek to capitalise on the momentum with the first video. The task seemed a little simpler this time - I was already in touch with Ricky's social media guy, Matt. I knew that I just had to make something great and there was the potential for RG to see it.
Over a couple months I perfected the piece of music on the piano and started to think about putting it down on the computer. I recorded the piano into Logic using MIDI from my keyboard. To get a rough template for the strings I used Spitfire Albion 2 samples in Kontakt. Basically, you play on the keyboard and it makes the sound of strings.
Above: The layout for Perfect Ending. The top track is piano. Below are various parts for Violin and Cello that had to be re-recorded separately line by line.
Once I had all the string parts finalised I got the musicians in to record in my studio in London.
Above: Milly McGregor on Violin. Peter Gregson on Cello.
CREATING THE VIDEO
I wanted to edit the video myself this time. I knew the series and the scenes I definitely wanted in there. It took watching through the whole series at least 3 times to get the full list of clips I wanted to use. I ripped the iTunes purchase into a usable format and started editing in FCPX. I had only just started video editing so this took me absolutely ages. Scroll scroll scroll scroll scroll watch clip scroll scroll watch clip mute clip scroll scroll.......
Above: Editing in Final Cut Pro
SENDING THE MUSIC OVER:
I have to add a note - I spent months on the music and the video. Paying rent for a studio at the same time whilst speculating on these videos. I was spending way too much time in my studio. But, I was investing in myself rather than hundreds of other artists/singers I could have been working with. I had no idea if it would be posted again by Ricky and no idea if it would pay off. The most important thing was to make work that I love, and that I was/am proud of.
So the music went live and Matt responded almost immediately...
Above: Sending the music via FB chat. (Matt is the white speech bubble)
THE REACH
The reach when Ricky reposts on mentions you in a Tweet/FB post is incredible. Here are some examples from the first time it happened...
Above: Facebook reach
Above: Twitter reach
Above: Reach without a RG repost - 4.8k vs 512k.
NEXT STEPS
The videos got around 1.5m views in total and everything had quietened down. RG was working on the movie Special Correspondents, Life on the Road, and a new stand up all at the same time.
I was working on a cover of Magic by Pilot I realised that it could conceivably be tied in somehow... after all the catch phrase from the show was "Kindness is Magic". I knew there was a wedding scene and perhaps it could work. I got my good friend Spencer Ludwig (he plays in the band Capital Cities) playing Trumpet on it and sung the chorus myself... I cut it to scenes from the whole series and the Special. Final cut again. Again, this took weeks to get the cut right.
This was used on Ricky's channels as the trailer for the Special for Derek.
SUMMARY:
I hope you enjoyed the post!
Benbrick
joh he
Wow. Thaks a lot for writing this great story of persistence and final success. Congratulations and a way to go :)
thank you!
that cool article ...
Very cool
Haha for one moment i thought he is selling platinium or something :D
Im glad we can see you here Benbrick , we got another good entertainer over here, i hope you will make a lot of great posts :)
thanks @hrottie!
Great job, and amazing exposure! Well done, loved reading this and way to go!! :)
Anyone else having problems viewing some images?
Gervais is not only hilarious, he is pretty quick on his feet when it comes to shutting down a heckler
Hey @cryptobarry Refresh!
Hello! Have a nice steeming!
You too :)
Most important take from the article. "The most important thing was to make work that I love, and that I was/am proud of." Everything else that comes with that is like icing on a cake. Great post!
Great to see musicians in here!!
Well done!
Thank you! I'll up vote that too!
I loved the original office... I remember being sad when I heard they were making a US version.. lol
Hehe. Both versions are so different but so utterly brilliant!
Awesome work @thisisbenbrick, what a fantastic story! You deserve every credit you get for this beautiful work. Thanks for enriching the Derek experience with your creativity and passion, for me and many, many others I know. Wishing you every success in the future :)
thank you yogi! (y)
Welcome and please make a lot of money here hehehehe
Do you want to build your own brand? If yes, please read my post
https://steemit.com/steemit/@jademont/build-your-fan-economy-in-steemit-by-bitshares-everyone-can-be-a-star
Genius, almost up there with Larry David
Preeeeeetttyyyyyyyyyyyy prettyyyyyyy good
Dear Benbrick..amazing..superb..
Great share! I also write and record music..looking forward to more of your story's...Happy Steeming!!!
thanks @arcaneinfo send me some music!
Cool. Will send snippets of some of my material in due diligence!
@thisisbenbrick
You're completely diligent and hard working. Huge respect for that.
hey @condra thank you so much :)
You f.ckk.. genius (no offense) but you are a very interesting person and smart.
thanks for reading and thank you!
good luck! you can usually apply the summary to any and all creative works :)
Nice to meet you benbrick! Welcome aboard and thanks for writing something enjoyable to read. Look foward to more
Brilliant! Good things can happen!
absolutely!
nice work
check my tunes https://steemit.com/music/@dumar022/2hidyq-022-announce-first-album-in-10-years
good stoy
Great article & looking forward to more of your story's!
Happy Steeming!
defiant photos
Wow ! REALLY ? Greetings , my friend ! You are very cool starts here ! this makes me happy !
Upvoted! https://steemit.com/steemit/@izzy/why-steem-is-the-real-libertarian-platform
Hello Benbrick :D,
The mobile, cryptocurrency-fueled Q&A and social media platform, Sensus, is looking to partner with internet/social-media famous or soon to be internet famous participants.
On Sensus, you can earn money for answering fan questions and comments while you simultaneously grow your following. We are looking to bring in users from all demographics and interests. Your music angle would be a great addition. Feel free to give it a look and get back to me at [email protected] :)
https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@sensus/sns-beta-bounty-the-mobile-sense-network-and-sensus-incentivized-crowd-wisdom-and-predictions-market
That's awesome I produce as well!
I usually use Ableton, but this is awesome thanks for sharing :D
that is nice
and even better! THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING!
all journeys start with one step...
Don't stop now, RUN, THEN FLY!
YOU CAN MAKE IT!
Don't marvel at the beauty of the clouds, keep going for the MOON!
And remember the Little guys!
LOL
One other way to monetize your songs is Aurovine, where you can earn audiocoins, every time someone shares or likes your music you get paid in audiocoin. Imogen Heap is the most know musicians in the aurovine, she release her album Tiny Human on it.
Hey @pipokinha thanks for sharing. This sounds really interesting! Going to check these links out!
Great idea! "Stunningly beautiful" is working).
https://steemit.com/steemit/@fernandosa/steemit-a-social-media-platform-that-rewards-good-discussion
Welcome benbrick, success always....
👍amazing post benbrick, good luck...
"never give up" story ;) I like this.
Very cool your post ... Congratulations!
thanks for post. i like it
Good for writing and sharing the good thing.
Awesome story! So great to hear when things like this come through - it's the dream! I'm a musician also, and I know rejection tends to come far more often than success - fantastic job! All the best to you! I'm sure there's plenty more to come!
Wow.. cool.. upvote for u @thisisbenbrick..
nice story !
wow. good story.
Nice post!
You're a true inspiration and proof that hard work pays off. Thank you for your story.
thanks bethemtay!
YESS! Good !!Good!!!!
great thank you for sharing your experience :)
Awesome story and amazing work! Congratulations! Sounds really beautiful ^_^