Ever tried it? Film scores are a great way to get writers into a specific emotion. For example when I'm writing a love scene, I listen to a score that makes me feel that way. When I'm writing the scene, the score I'm listening to is the piece of music that could be playing if I was watching the scene play out in a cinema.
Film scores are designed, by their very nature, to make you feel a certain emotion. So if you're stuck for something to write or maybe you're in mid-scene and don't know how to continue, try putting on a film score and see where it takes you.
Listening to film scores on the train or in the car whilst thinking about my story can also inspire me with new ideas on where next to take the book.
Film composers that are great for this sort of thing include:
Hans Zimmer - Thin Red Line, Inception, Batman Begins.
Hans Zimmer is the ultimate film composer. He does the big score brilliantly but it's some of the more understated stuff that I think is great for writing. That said, if you're writing an action scene, it doesn't get better than Hans.
Hans Zimmer is the ultimate film composer. He does the big score brilliantly but it's some of the more understated stuff that I think is great for writing. That said, if you're writing an action scene, it doesn't get better than Hans.
Thomas Newman - Shawshank Redemption, Road to Perdition, White Oleander.
Thomas Newman is the king of the slow, simple score. His tracks are perfect for writing emotional, sad or love scenes. He does do more upbeat stuff but the power of his music is in its simplicity. Newman has a very distinctive sound that flows through all of his work.
Thomas Newman is the king of the slow, simple score. His tracks are perfect for writing emotional, sad or love scenes. He does do more upbeat stuff but the power of his music is in its simplicity. Newman has a very distinctive sound that flows through all of his work.
Mychael Danna - Moneyball, Time Traveller's Wife.
I've only recently noticed Mychael Danna through the movie Moneyball. But his scores are excellent. Not what you'd expect from a movie about baseball but one I keep coming back to to get me in the mood.
I've only recently noticed Mychael Danna through the movie Moneyball. But his scores are excellent. Not what you'd expect from a movie about baseball but one I keep coming back to to get me in the mood.
John Powell - The Bourne Trilogy, Face/Off, Hancock.
John Powell is perhaps best known for scoring the Bourne movies. A close collaborator of Hans Zimmer, Powell has found his own niche and does it expertly. Although his big scores are the ones you'll recognise, he has an ear for theme. Some of the softer moments in Face/Off and Hancock are really quite beautiful to listen to.
John Powell is perhaps best known for scoring the Bourne movies. A close collaborator of Hans Zimmer, Powell has found his own niche and does it expertly. Although his big scores are the ones you'll recognise, he has an ear for theme. Some of the softer moments in Face/Off and Hancock are really quite beautiful to listen to.
James Newton Howard - Dark Knight (with Hans Zimmer), Michael Clayton, Sixth Sense.
We all remember the chilling score to Sixth Sense. James Newton Howard keeps coming out with emotionally driven scores. He can do big, action based stuff but he's also excellent at the slower paced moments.
We all remember the chilling score to Sixth Sense. James Newton Howard keeps coming out with emotionally driven scores. He can do big, action based stuff but he's also excellent at the slower paced moments.
These are only five composers, there are so many more out there. Find what works for you. Next time you go to a movie and find yourself feeling a certain way, notice the score because its probably the music that's nudging you to feel that way.
If you don't know any of these scores but are keen to listen to them, download Spotify and type in some of these examples. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
No comments:
Post a Comment