"The Amazon" - Unscored Short Film For Composers
You know that moment when you're scrolling through yet another list of "practice films for composers" and everything is either copyrighted, boring, or costs money? Yeah, we've all been there.
What You'll Learn in This 3-Minute Read:
Why "The Amazon" is perfect for building your film scoring portfolio
How 90 seconds can showcase multiple composition skills
Technical specs and what makes this film composer-friendly
Why short films are actually better practice than features
How to use this project to land your next client
Perfect for: Beginner to intermediate composers ready to create portfolio-worthy work
You'll need: Any DAW and about 2-3 hours to create something amazing
Why "The Amazon" Hits Different
So here's the thing about most practice films - they're either student projects with awkward pacing, or they're so generic you could score them in your sleep. "The Amazon" was specifically created with composers in mind.
This 90-second unscored short film gives you everything you need to demonstrate real film scoring skills: clear emotional beats, visual storytelling that begs for musical support, and enough variety to show off different techniques without overwhelming the project scope.
What Makes 90 Seconds Perfect for Practice
Plot twist: longer isn't always better when building your portfolio. Here's why "The Amazon" works so well for composers:
Manageable scope: You can actually finish this project in a weekend, not abandon it after two weeks like that 20-minute film you started last month.
Multiple emotional beats: Despite its short length, the film includes several distinct moments that need different musical approaches - tension, wonder, resolution.
Client-friendly length: When potential clients review your portfolio, they want to hear your skills quickly. A 90-second piece that showcases range is way more valuable than a 10-minute score they'll never finish watching.
Technical Specs That Don't Suck
Here's what you're working with:
Length: 90 seconds (perfect for attention spans)
Format: High-quality video file, ready for import
Audio: Clean dialogue track with room for music
Rights: Full permission to use in your portfolio and social media
Sync points: Natural musical moments built into the edit
No weird file formats, no copyright concerns, no "you can practice but not share" restrictions. Just a solid foundation for your next portfolio piece.
Multiple Paths, One Smart Approach
Now, there are tons of ways to approach scoring "The Amazon." Some composers like to start with temp music for reference, others prefer to watch it silent and build from pure emotional response, and plenty of professionals begin with a single melodic idea and expand from there.
If you're not sure where to start, try this method: Watch the film three times. First time, just absorb the story. Second time, note where you feel the music should change or intensify. Third time, start humming along and see what melodies naturally emerge.
What Your Portfolio Actually Needs
Here's something nobody tells beginning composers: clients don't want to hear your best impression of Hans Zimmer. They want to hear that you can serve a story, hit emotional beats, and deliver professional-quality work on time.
"The Amazon" lets you demonstrate:
Storytelling through music: How your score supports narrative progression
Technical competency: Clean mixing, proper sync, professional delivery
Emotional range: Multiple moods within a single cohesive piece
Restraint: Knowing when NOT to add music is as important as knowing when to add it
The Hidden Portfolio Strategy
Most composers treat practice films like throwaway exercises. Smart composers use them as client magnets.
When you finish scoring "The Amazon," you're not just creating a portfolio piece - you're creating content. Share your process on social media, write about your creative choices, maybe even create a behind-the-scenes video showing your DAW workflow.
Potential clients love seeing the person behind the music. Your approach to this 90-second film might be exactly what convinces someone to hire you for their feature-length project.
Try-It-Yourself Challenge
Ready to turn 90 seconds into your next career breakthrough? Here's your assignment:
Download "The Amazon" and watch it through completely three times
Identify the key emotional moments where music should support the story
Create a simple MIDI sketch of your main musical ideas
Compose and mix your full score (aim for 4-6 hours total work time)
Share your results on social media with #TheAmazonScore
Why This Matters for Your Career
Every working composer has a story about the project that changed everything for them. Sometimes it's a student film that got into festivals. Sometimes it's a spec project that caught the right person's attention. Sometimes it's a practice film that became the centerpiece of their portfolio.
"The Amazon" isn't just 90 seconds of footage - it's 90 seconds of opportunity to prove you can transform visuals into emotional experiences through music.
Ready to dive in? Download "The Amazon" and see what you can create. The film industry is always looking for composers who can tell stories through music. This might be your chance to show them what you've got.