Screenwriting : Soundtracks by Brandon Corbin

Hi Brandon Corbin! Definitely think a great soundtrack can really raise the quality of a project. But when it comes to writing, I don't put it into the script (the writer rarely has control over those things), but I will make a playlist for what I'm writing!

Emily J I figured as much. the reason I was wondering was because I named all the episodes of my show after famous songs that also would resonate with the episodes. I just thought it’d be genius

FYI, you mean "score" not "soundtrack". A movie's soundtrack is all the dialogue, foley, and environmental stuff.

I'm with you though. I need a good playlist to inspire me and suggest stuff to my producers. I've had the pleasure of working with some established artists too and been able to pick tracks of theirs to use.

I wrote my first screenplay with specific songs from around 1983 in my head. I added the music cues in the event a producer or director wants to know what I was thinking when I wrote the scene and give them an idea for music for the film. Generally, I don't like instrumental scores. For my first film, Hiding Bodies, I wrote a song (with Matt Savage) that basically tells the same story but in a different way. We only used about 30 seconds of a 5:38 minute song. People have commented on how it sets the mood after the surprise ending. I think in a non-musical, that's the way to go, use original songs for specific purposes. I have written a musical feature screenplay with 25 songs (with Lani Madland) that has won a bunch of awards at smaller festivals. I doubt it will be filmed before a stage version is done first.

I wouldn't waste mental energy doing that on spec screenplays

Love when the Gods swoop down from Olympus to put we mortals in our place. Thank you.

I wouldn't say "The song "So Fresh, So Clean" by Outkast plays on the radio" in a spec script, Brandon Corbin, but I'd write something like "Ricky cleans the house from top to bottom, checking himself out in mirrors and dancing to music. The same song plays in each room so he doesn't miss the lyrics. It's got the vibe of "So Fresh, So Clean" by Outkast."

Music is just as important as another main character! It is vital to telling the story.

When you include various needle drops in your film that capture the period/era it brings a whole new element to the film. Obviously Tarantino rarely disappoints in the soundtrack department. the same can be said about PT Anderson…moreover, it adds that layer to the already great story-telling by the aforementioned filmmakers. so, a resounding yes! it brings the film to life.

I'm one of those people who buys movie soundtracks to listen to in my truck (the music part, anyway). So I'm definitely in favor of a good soundtrack.

i love a good soundtrack for a film! i do feel like some films tonsllu don’t need a soundtrack but the way music supervisors and musicians have been curating great soundtracks is nice to hear!

Hey Brandon Corbin! You can totally name your episodes after songs and I would totally recommend doing this if it reflects the vibe of the show and helps set the stage for what they're about to read :)

I believe that the soundtrack can make a movie memorable in so many ways. Music can add emotion to words and anticipation to drama. Many times, in playing the soundtrack only, we are reminded of various movie scenes.

Emily J definitely! My show is actually written to be surrounded by hip-hop culture.