Think of Indiana Jones, Superman, or Star Wars and it's impossible not to start humming the tune to the film.

Now music buffs are being given the chance to compose their own movie soundtrack for some real action heroes.

Airborne achievements

Next year marks 100 years of Naval aviation and, as part of the celebrations for the Royal Navy's airborne achievements since 1909, a competition has been launched to find the next John Williams or John Barry.

This is going to be a unique opportunity for someone to make their musical debut on the world stage as the Royal Marines Band Service will perform and record the compositionorganisers

Open competition

Open to anyone of any age, there will be a prize of £2,000 for the winning symphonic wind band composition and it will be performed and recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall by the Massed Bands of Her Majesty's Royal Marines during the prestigious Mountbatten Festival of Music in February 2009.

How to enter

To enter, applicants can download the film footage at www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk Applications are to be submitted by 31 August 2008, with a hard copy score and full set of symphonic wind band parts to be received by 30 November 2008.

Without strings

"Symphonic windbands – essentially a band without strings – are in wide demand to play film and stage music. So this competition will be a dream come true for would-be composers", Warrant Officer Ian Davies, MBE, Royal Marines Band Service, one of the team who created the competition, told 4BR.

Imagination

"The film portrayal of real missions by the Royal Navy's most exciting aircraft really catches the imagination. We are looking for an original soundtrack that will match the stunning footage. This is going to be a unique opportunity for someone to make their musical debut on the world stage as the Royal Marines Band Service will perform and record the composition."