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Investigation 11/17: Use Of Music In Film

The use of music within film plays a critical role when working to create the vision set out by the production team. Proper use of music can enhance and determine the way the film is perceived by audiences. On the contrary, improper use of music can disrupt the viewing experience of the film as well as establish an undesired mood for the film.

Tone And Mood Determined By Music

While there are multiple different concepts within film that can determine and contribute to tone and mood, the use of music is one concept that contributes on a much larger scale. With music being present over the course of the majority of a film, it can likely impacts the tone and mood the most out of any other concepts. The choice in music can completely adjust the tone and mood of what is being shown on screen. This video created by YouTube user shelley craig shows a scene from Pirates of the Caribbean with different music layer over top of it. The original score emanates a very jubilant feeling, demonstrating the overall feeling that was intended for the film. Each of the other types of music placed over the footage alter this intending feeling, creating an entirely different feeling.

Establishment Caused By Music

A common use case for music is to establish an idea within the film. White is is possible to establish an idea using just visuals, music can help to enhance the visuals which can further drive the point forward. An example of score working alongside visuals to establish an idea would be in the movie Back To The Future. With Back To The Future focusing on the idea of time travel, it was important for the filmmakers to establish each time period that the movie takes place in. The beginning of the movie is set during the year 1985. During these scenes, 80's style visuals are paired alongside the 1985 song The Power of Love by Huey Lewis and the News. This choice of song helps to enhance both the visuals and idea of the movie being set in 1985. Later in the film, after Marty travels back to the year 1955, both the visuals and music change to reflect the change in time. This time the accompanying song is Mr. Sandman which was released during the year 1954. Both of these examples show how the choice of music helps establish the film's idea of traveling to different time periods, and how this concept can be used withing other films.


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