The value of music in film.

Here's a bit of a rant from Micro Film Maker magazine:

“Most filmmakers think that the footage you capture is about 40% of a film, the editing is another 40%, with audio elements "filling" in the other 20%. The reality is that the audio is actually more like 70% of the film and the shooting, editing, and snappy titles are only 30%.

Think I'm wrong? Explain The Blair Witch Project, then.

A very poorly shot film, it was nonetheless watchable because Artisan spent a lot of money sweetening and re-looping the audio after it was purchased.”

I think this is exaggerated but I agree in the broad that sound in film production is very frequently undervalued. Include in that music. How much “value” music does music contribute to a film? According to former AFTRS music legend Martin Armiger, his discusions with directors indicated they thought it contributed around 20% to the audience experience of the film. So why is the budget usually no where near that? Why is music only about 5% of budget if you're lucky?

...Perhaps its because it mostly happens at the end of the production line when the budget has been blown, or perhaps its just supply and demand and there are so many talented composer / musicians out there under cutting each other to get a break?