Question : What do you usually start with when composing?

Hello Vincent,
I always start with sound searching. I choose my instruments pallet according to the film and scene and build on top of that.
Once that's done, i look for the right tempo/mood that i want to create, find the hit points and start composing the themes.

Cheers,
Medhat

When composing to picture the most important thing to me is to set the mood first through harmony, so I concentrate in working an adequate harmonic structure to start developing the track. Then I set the pace finding an adequate timing and groove. When I have these elements in place I start to develop the instrumentation and sound design, then finishing with details to enhance the story telling of pictures. That's quite a raw explanation of the method I feel more comfortable with and of course there are specific jobs that need another approach.

I always start with a drum section, next I put a bass line, complex or simple,it depends of the case. Then I fill it with guitar,synths or sounds effects. I always improvise.

This might be one step earlier than what you thought of - but I always start with a dialogue with the film maker, and from our mutual goals I decide what the workflow will emphasise on. But no matter what that might be, once I start to work improvisation is always my first step. For me it's all about sketching first and composing once an idea has stuck in my mind.