Music in scripts - "The Proposal"

Yesterday I mentioned a lazy and not so good way to include music in your script.  In general, I think dictating the moments where music isn’t in the world of the characters (they can’t hear it) can be dangerous because it’s a crutch for using the song to tell your story instead of actually WRITING it yourself.  Conversely, I think good uses of music are often ones where the music interacts directly with characters.

One example that comes to mind is from the hit rom com The Proposal where Betty White and Sandra Bullock's characters sing and dance to Lil’ Jon's "Get Low."

Betty White knows how to get low.

While attention is obviously paid to the song, the scene isn’t funny because the song itself is funny and the writer was counting on the song alone to make the audience laugh.  The scene is funny because the characters (a sweet Grandma and an uptight control freak) singing and dancing to a song with dirty lyrics is a funny contradiction.  One other good thing about this use of music is that if I read it in a script and I thought it was funny, I know the movie could use a similar song if they couldn't get the rights to this one. That's because the CHARACTERS are the star of this scene NOT the song itself.

Music in scripts - what NOT to do

Okay, so maybe I gave some mixed messages yesterday.  I said, “Go ahead, put music in your script, just remember there’s a big chance people will judge you poorly for it.”  Well then, allow me to point out good and not so good ways to use music in a script.  Today, the not so good…

I’d say the most cringe inducing use of music in a script (regardless of your personal taste in music) looks something like this:

MUSICAL MONTAGE - RICK SPRINGFIELD’S "JESSIE’S GIRL"

Bob watches longingly as Jessie and Jane fall in love.

I think the main problem is the song is working too hard while you are not.  By writing this, you’re saying: “I’m gonna take a break and let "Jessie’s Girl" tell you the story because I’m not a good enough writer to write a scene about a guy wanting another guy’s girl.”  Not that a "Jesse’s Girl" montage wouldn’t be great/funny/whatever, this choice just looks lazy. 

So, before you put a music choice in a script, ask yourself: Is this song doing the work my writing should be doing?  Am I relying on the song to tell my story or set a tone that wouldn’t exist otherwise?  If the answers to those questions are yes, I’d say scrap the song and focus on your WRITING instead.

Must...use..."Jessie's Girl"...can't...stop...myself.

Can you put music in your script?

So, you've seen movies or read scripts that use music and now you want to write something like:

MUSICAL MONTAGE - QUEEN'S "BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY"

OR

CREDITS ROLL OVER JAMES TAYLOR'S "FIRE AND RAIN"

But, you've probably heard that's a big no no….so what gives?  Can you put music in your script?  Thinking about yesterday's post on Love Actually (which is full of music) made me want to write this post and now I’m gonna be a little controversial and say the answer to that question is YES.

A Billy Mack hit is ALWAYS welcome in a script

The music question is really a stand in for a bigger question: Can I break the unwritten rules of screenwriting?  In other words, can I write a 140 page script?  Can I write an 80 page script?  Can I put in camera angles?  Can I say what characters are thinking?  Can I write my script in the 1^st person? And so on.  The writers asking these questions usually want to break these rules and others (duh) but they’ve heard people say: DON’T DO IT!!!

So, why do I say yes?  Well, you’re the writer, even if you are a baby.  Write what you want to write!  If you want to include music because that’s your creative vision, then do it.  Some great scripts I've read break the music rule and I’d hate to discourage someone from writing something good because they were told they MUST MUST MUST do things a certain way.

BUT, be prepared for the consequences of your actions.  Baby writers can't get away with nearly as much rule breaking as pro writers.  So, what is breaking the rules worth to you?  If you do something that people say you shouldn’t (like assigning music choices) don’t be shocked or pissed if a friend/reader/people in general hate your rule breaking choice (or your taste in music).  Hollywood wants to find the next big thing, the money maker, the new fabulous talent, and it’s tough…if it was easy, every movie would be a critical and financial success.  People doubt their own taste sometimes…you enjoy a script you read that when made into an actual movie, totally blows (I’m still mad, P.S. I Love You).  So, if you see a “mistake” from a baby writer like telling us what song plays, it’s easy to feel more confident saying “this writer is an amateur”…PASS.