Adding music over a scene

[nycfilmmaker]

What's the best way to write music to a scene where the characterfs are talking but the audience doesn't hear them. they only hear the music. any :huh:

 

[EJ Pennypacker]

You can just state...

Funky rock music plays over... Jane and Mick running through the forest - naked.

Personally, the music is more of the music dept choice, rather than you the writer.

Just concentrate on writing the scene, and let the composer/ music dept make the right choice of what music suits best.

EJ

 

[weltonfilment]

What's the best way to write music to a scene where the characterfs are talking but the audience doesn't hear them. they only hear the music. any :huh:

If you just want to describe what kind of music the composer should create, then I'd say forget it. But if a particular track is actually being played IN the scene (ie, Jessie's Girl scene in Boogie Nights or The Shins in Garden State) then it would be appropriate to describe it, because the characters are interacting to it. Maybe the volume is so loud that we can't hear their conversation. An exception to this is when you're doing a montage scene with music a la the opening of Magnolia ("One"). That particular song is one that many people know, so they can instantly create that in their head as they read the script. It gives them a better understanding of the scene. However, be aware that popular music can be iffy, and if someone hates a particular song for one reason or another, that might affect the way your script reads to them.

 

[nycfilmmaker]

thanks. It's a spec script but the opening sequence has music p;laying over it BUT characters are talking but we can't hear them

so should it be

Guitar strings plays over. Characters not heard.

>

 

[EJ Pennypacker]

It almost sounds like your writing a title sequence for your spec - which if the case, it's a 'no-no'.

IMO I'd just cut to the REAL BEGINNING of the story and move forward from there.

A title sequence is something an independant company is often called into doing seperate to the film itself.

EJ

 

[nycfilmmaker]

Umm. not really a title sequence since there is no intercutting between image and titles or psuerimposing of titles. just a silent seqence (6 scenes)...but with guitar strings.

there's this poor guy playing guitar in the first scene though we cut to the next scene the guitear strings are still heard -- essenetailly we are going back and forth between this old guy and INT scenes.

still think i should skip this squence?

 

[Sad Max]

Is there action in the sequence that's essential to your story? Then describe the action, having noted the music that plays over it.

 

[nycfilmmaker]

Is there action in the sequence that's essential to your story? Then describe the action, having noted the music that plays over it.

thanks.
within each scene write the same "music plays over...cahracters not heard" guess I'm asking how could i just include it once within the sequence and I thought i had the structure of screenwriting down packed