ZKTProductions Scoring inquiry

Archive 05 · Services & Rates

Horror film scoring rates: build a scope and estimate

Every picture is different: runtime, density, live players, delivery timeline, and rights all shape the quote. Below are starting rates for common formats. For student films, rates start at $75.99. Other projects are priced on a sliding scale tied to your project funding, typically a few hundred dollars. All fees in USD. For how spotting and stems work, see scoring process. For FAQ, see fees FAQ. To hire, open a scoring inquiry.

Zazie Productions horror film scoring suite Asheville, NC
Scoring suite · Zazie Productions · Asheville, NC

IRate card - horror film scoring floors

Indicative pricing floors for psychological horror, folk horror, body horror, supernatural thrillers, and dark sci-fi. Quotes are fixed-fee, delivered in writing within 48 hours of rough cut review.

  • 01

    Student / Micro / Low-Budget · From $75.99 (sliding scale by funding)

    Flexible scoring for student films, low-budget shorts, and micro features. Student films start at $75.99; other low-budget work is priced on a sliding scale tied to your project funding. The studio accepts a limited number of low-budget projects per year based on story and aesthetic fit.

    Student / low-budget inquiry · Low-budget / sliding-scale FAQ

  • 02

    Short Film Score · Sliding scale, typically a few hundred dollars

    Full cue architecture for shorts (up to 20 minutes): thematic motifs, atmospheric beds, tension stingers, spotting session, two revision rounds, stereo full mix and stems. Priced to your production's funding, typically in the low hundreds.

    Typical delivery 2-3 weeks · Included deliverables

  • 03

    Feature / Episode Score · Sliding scale by funding, typically a few hundred dollars

    Full cinematic partnership for feature films and series episodes: bespoke thematic development, hybrid orchestration, dub stage stem delivery, timecode-matched cues, PRO cue sheets. Priced to your production's funding rather than a fixed four-figure floor.

    Typical delivery 4-8 weeks · Buyout rights included

  • 04

    Game / Interactive Score · Sliding scale by funding, typically a few hundred dollars

    Adaptive dark atmospheres: interactive loops, dynamic tension stems, horror stingers, and dread soundscapes configured for Wwise, FMOD, or Unity/Unreal integration. Priced to your project's funding.

    Adaptive stems · Game scoring FAQ

  • 05

    Fully Custom Score · Sliding scale by funding, typically a few hundred dollars

    Define your own musical scope. Experimental documentaries, museum installations, trailers, audio dramas, and high-concept trailers.

    Custom brief · Custom scope inquiry

IIProduction tiers - atmospheric intensity

Tiers describe production density, instrumentation, and stem complexity rather than quality. Every tier receives 100% original composition written to picture.

  • A

    Lean Tier · Minimalist dread

    Essential atmospheric beds, minimalist tension cues, hybrid electronics, analog synthesizers, sub-bass weight. Ideal for atmospheric shorts and dialogue-heavy psychological thrillers.

  • B

    Standard Tier · Full thematic architecture

    Full thematic motifs, multi-layer stems, acoustic instruments, bowed metals, vocal processing, two full revision rounds, dub stage delivery with timecode matching.

  • C

    Signature Tier · Bespoke psychoacoustic builds

    Custom instrument builds, live waterphone performances, struck metal sculptures, extended cello and viola techniques, bespoke sound design beds, multi-format delivery.

  • D

    Orchestral+ Tier · Expanded dark ensemble

    Expanded chamber ensemble, deep hybrid orchestration, surround audio stems (5.1 / 7.1 / Atmos prep), soundtrack album master, trailer cut adaptation.

IIIWhat shapes the number

Pricing is transparent, starts from what your production can afford (the sliding scale is tied to project funding), and is then adjusted by concrete production variables rather than guessed at:

  1. Your project's funding - quotes are built to the budget you disclose. Student films start at $75.99 and everything else scales from there, with most projects landing in the few-hundred-dollar range.
  2. Scored runtime and cue density - a 90-minute film with 70 minutes of wall-to-wall music requires more studio time than one with 25 minutes of targeted dread beds.
  3. Delivery timeline - turnaround under two weeks incurs rush scheduling fees.
  4. Live player sessions - hiring guest soloists (cellist, vocalists, contrabass) is passed through at cost or scoped into higher tiers.
  5. Stems and delivery complexity - standard 4-8 stem families are included; 16+ stems or multichannel immersive formats require additional mixing time.
  6. Revisions beyond scope - two rounds per cue are included; additional passes or recues after picture lock are billed via written change order.