Music

Do you mean diagetic or non-diagetic music?

The actual score is not usually mentioned. For example, you wouldn't say "As Jennifer walks forward, through the darkness, creepy music starts to play." That is something the director will worry about in post production.

However, it's different if the characters are listening to music. You might say "Jared is in his room listening to a hip hop song," because you want to show something about Jared and what kind of music he listens to. I would avoid mentioning specific songs, because then the director would worry about whether or not s/he can get the rights to that song.

Music licensing is one complex bee-hotch, and any producer/director considering your piece will be yanked from your story by the thought, "Hmm, I dig that Led Zepplin song, but bejesus we're going to have to move the Stairway Heaven and earth to get it licensed. Jack Black had to make a special video plea to use that song in "School of Rock," what was the name of that song again..."

You get the idea. Why hang that baggage on your script? You can simply write, "Everyone in the car rocks out to a CLASSIC ROCK song."

By the way, it's a style thing, and maybe it's old school (because I've seen produced scripts that didn't do this), but I always put SFX and MUSIC in all caps.

Exile, your assumption is correct... as the screenwriter you have no control over the non-diegetic music (or music that exists outside the character's world).

However if he is listening to a song, you can mention what that song is. Of course, depending on if the producer can get licensing rights to that song, the song may end up changing later.

Verbal said:

...it's a style thing, and maybe it's old school (because I've seen produced scripts that didn't do this), but I always put SFX and MUSIC in all caps.

Click to expand...

I think the MUSIC mini-slug is more a shooting script thing, though a specific SFX can be mentioned as a mini-slug when appropriate. YMMV.