One way to do it is to attend a film scoring program, particularly one in Los Angeles. UCLA and USC have very well-regarded ones, and "foot-in-the-door" opportunities come in the way professors and many guest lecturers. You learn new skills while working in an environment loaded with connections and advisors helping you find work opportunities. It's a good deal.

That's certainly not the only way, but it's one that seems especially effective.

The best way to break in is to become famous musician or composer. Then they'll actually have a reason to hire you.

My L.A. friends tell me that in the entire industry, there is a handful of film composers doing very well. Then there are a few hundred who are just getting by. Then there is everyone else.

I don't want to sound too discouraging, but you're probably going to have to work for free or minimal $$ on student/indie films. These opportunities do exist, and aren't that hard to find, if you're willing to work for nothing. If you work on one of those projects, and it actually becomes a success, you just might have a shot at getting a project with a real budget.

Personally, I'm not willing to work for free...

I'll tell you what I have been doing. I got my certificate at UCLA, I'm meeting people, and getting ready to work for free. I highly recommend some courses or an entire program to learn what's expected from you.

Meet people, tons of them, work on collaborative projects, free or not, repeat. Soon you will become a goto guy for several groups of people and once the confidence is established you can raise your rates. Most importantly, be selective on the people you choose to work with, too many BS projects out there that can eat up your energy and waste time. Also, be unique some how.. its tough nowadays with so many people in this biz, but the more you stand out the faster you become that 'goto guy' Finally, work with known names as much as you can, because when people look through your project credits and can't recognize any director, actor, or whomever then it don't mean sh*t to them. For example, I get more recognition for being a synth programmer working for a composer on a Wes Craven film then being the composer of some indy, even though EVERYTHING was better on the indy, people know who Wes Craven is. It sucks but that is how this stupid game works..

The easiest way to get into the craft is to just move to an industry center (LA or NYC) and start working on everything you can get. Throw your ego out the window and get rid of your expectations for your music – they'll change once you get your first paying job anyway!

School is great, but it's better to work. Don't fall into the trap of education if you know in your heart of hearts that you have the book knowledge already. Conversely, if you've not disciplined yourself in foundational studies, you'll have a difficult time doing anything beyond Reason and a laptop.

How much and how quickly you can get involved in is totally up to you....