More than 100 SOCAN members and industry representatives gathered in the Cassavetes Theatre of the Ex-Centris complex on May 17 to attend “The Business of Creating Music for Film, Television and Multimedia.” The one-day event addressed four topics: Contracts: Finding One’s Way; SOCAN Royalties: How to Maximize Your Revenues; Music, the Internet and Video Games; and Music Composition for Film and Television. The gathering ended on a conversation with Paul Baillargeon, a highly successful composer whose scores for the various Star Trek spinoff TV series have inspired many.

The seminar was organized by SOCAN film and television account executives Lyne Lanoue, Karine Melchior and Kathleen Mercier, with the participation of SOCAN Quebec’s Membership manager Joanne Pouliot and education and outreach specialist Stéphanie Falco, and got rave reviews from participants. “It was a really motivating experience,” said one, while others commented they had learned so much practical information during the day that these workshops ought be repeated frequently.

Nathalie Chalifour’s professional advice on contracts was particularly well received, and Lanoue answered many questions from the audience on foreign royalties and cue sheets. Michel Cusson, Iohann Martin (Dazmo) and producer Sophie Lorain gave food for thought with their explanations of the tricks of the trade, while SOCAN president Pierre-Daniel Rheault, following a session on video games presented by Paul Hoffert and Ubisoft’s Simon Pressey, among others, said he had never considered this outlet for his music personally, but that it sounded interesting.

Such well-known SOCAN members as Gaétan Essiambre, Jean-Claude Marsan, Tim Rideout, Claude Castonguay, Gabrielle Destroismaisons and Christian Clermont attended the event, along with publishers like Jehan Valiquet (Musinfo), Diane Pinet (Éditions Bloc-Notes) and Guillaume Lafrance (Éditorial Avenue), to name only a few. A lively cocktail reception was presented for all participants on the mezzanine of Café Méliès following the business part of the day.