SCREEN SCORING

SCOR 506
Applied Techniques in Contemporary
Scoring
by Patrick Kirst

Course Description
This course explores modern approaches to film music composition. It focuses on
how to develop dramatic concepts and how to communicate ideas to a potential
director and producer. The course covers contemporary writing techniques and
current conceptual writing methods.

 COURSE OBJECTIVES

Developing and Applying Concepts for Film

and TV

Improving Communication Skills

Improving your Understanding for Drama

Improving your Conceptual Composing

Skills

Preparing you for the Industry

WHAT ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS TO A GREAT FILM SCORE?

A great film score...

is strong yet unobtrusive (picture is emphasized, not the music)

supports and completes director’s vision while including a fresh and

unexpected point of view. The unexpected acceptance.

is thematic (a theme could be a melody, a sonic space, a harmonic progression,

etc.), something to hold on to which adds form to the film

goes beyond what we see on the screen (transcends)

is memorable and iconic

is bold, even provocative at times

has a life on its own

gives the film an identity/ has a sonic identity

has simplicity and transparency

has built-in dramaturgy -> has a strong story-telling character

is representational

has a strong concept (the master plan behind the score)

 KEY EXAMPLE #1

Stanley Kubrik: 2001, A Space Odyssey

KEY EXAMPLE #2

James Horner, A Beautiful Mind

Main Title At the Bar

A Beautiful Mind
#1
A Beautiful Mind
#2
THE $1 Mio QUESTION
 CREATING A CONCEPT
What is the film about?
Creating a Catalogue of Keywords:
Dramatic Concept
What is this film about?
Mathematics
Symmetry
Elegance (Elegant Solution)
A Beautiful Mind and his “Muse”
Obsession/Passion, Finding Solutions
Secrets of Nature
Musical Concept
How can the dramatic concept be captured?
Musical Formulas
Symmetrical Patterns
Classical Style: Mozart, Bach, etc.
(Female) Opera Singer
Circular Rhythmic Engines
Sense of Mystery
 also helpful:

Describe the protagonists!

Create a catalogue of adjectives:

John Nash is:

•genuine
•curious
•obsessed
•intrigued
•ingenious
•lacking social skills
•vulnerable, etc. etc…
KEY EXAMPLE # 3

John Corigliano, The Red Violin

Main Title
Understanding the characters and the story
are key in finding the right concept...
 AS S I G N M E N T “C o n c e p t s”
Practice the communication of strong concepts.

Excellent examples in film music history are:

- Psycho (Herrmann)

- To Kill A Mockingbird (E. Bernstein)

- The Magnificent Seven (E. Bernstein) -> musical concept in Westerns (Morricone...) ?

- Planet of the Apes (Goldsmith, the pioneer of conceptual writing)

- Jaws (Williams)

- Bladerunner (Vangelis)

- Alien (Goldsmith)

- Edward Scissorhands (Elfman)

- American Beauty (Newman)

- The Matrix (Davis)

- Batman (Zimmer)

- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Desplat)

- Interstellar (Zimmer)

- Arrival (Johannsson)
- Pick two films and practice and prepare the concepts behind them, then

- Look for “Behind the Scenes” clips on YouTube to understand the composers’ choices

- Can you find other examples in film music history that have a strong concept?
ASSIGNMENT

Green
GREEN
 AS S I G N M E N T “ G r e e n”

1. Write a verbalized concept, your pitch to a

potential director/producer. (100-200 words)

2. Write the cue according to your concept

Don’t do #1 after #2 ! :-o