Music can enhance what's happening on screen. it can completely change the tone of the scene.
What is a movie score?
Also known as a film score, this is a piece of music that has been composed to accompany the visuals of the film, typically with no vocals.
A movie score is
NOTthe soundtrack.
Soundtrack = pre-existing songs, usually with vocals.
movie score criteria:
Cohesion — Does it work gel well with the images? Does it fit with the pacing and tone of the movie it was made for?
Standalone value — Do you like this score regardless of the movie it came from?
Impact and inspiration — How has this affected other scores? Has it become part of pop culture?
Examples of popular movie scores:
Blade Runner vs Blade Runner 2049
Which do you prefer?
Taking home Best Picture from the 2017 Oscars.
Chopped up, sharp violins, a notable orchestral piece used in a film.
Alfred Hitchcock is known for pairing up with Bernard Herrmann his iconic frantic and scary film scores using largely string based instruments.
One of the most iconic film scores from John Williams.
Simple but effective, a truly creepy film score by John Carpenter.
A classic, most people can guess this from hearing just two notes. John Williams built up an incredible amount of tension in this piece and scaring beach goers for years!
Hmmm do these sound similar? A dark synth melody is used to slowly build tension in both of these media examples; Only God Forgives and Stranger Things.
Winner of Best Original Score 2017 at the Oscars. One of 5 Oscars they took home that night. Music makes this film.
Hans Zimmer produces an intense, pounding film score for Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, this helps to establish the dark, gritty Gotham.
Bernard Herrmann strikes again!
Vertigo has an amazing film score which emphasises the swirling obsession in this movie.
Another iconic film score from the motivational training scene in Rocky (1976).
pre-exisiting music in film:
music can let the audience know the time period, let us know how the character feels and shows us a release of emotions.
incorporating music into the scene should be carefully thought out. consider tone, pacing, does it make the audience feel what yo want?
needle drop =
film industry slang for a song that already exists. when a song and a film clip become so intertwined that one can't disassociate the song from the film.
MEMORABLE SONG MOMENTS IN FILM:
Iconic needle moment in Slumdog Millionaire () This scene shows the two kids hustling on a train through the Indian countryside.
There were several needle drops from 90s teen movies. Here Heath Ledger serenades "Can't take my eyes off you".
A nice ending to the film drive (), a song that softly carries emotion.
Mad world from the ending scene in Donnie Darko.
one of my favourite movie songs, a great driving scene
bittersweet symphony by the verve featured in cruel intentions.
Bobby Womack's across 110th Street features at the start of tarantino's film Jackie Brown.
an iconic song for the ending of transporting and representative of the era.
Marty mcfly's rendition of Johnny b. Goode.
a light, moody and atmospheric song for the ending of the graduate.
happy go lucky folk song meets twisted torture
childish Gambino's redbone featured in the opening scene of get out.
"stay woke"
famous comedy moment where Terry crews sings "a thousand miles" in white chicks ()
Mia's mum is unaware of the drama unfolding around her in this film fishtank ().
celine dions ballad for James cameron's spectacle titanic (1997)
twilights baseball scene comes to life with muse's supermassive black hole rock song.
that iconic ending pose of the breakfast club is carried by song- don't you (forget about me).
a great all round soundtrack from Shrek
an emotional song to match an emotional journey watching mason growing up on screen over 12 years.
watch more about soundtracks and choosing that perfect song:
