OVERVIEW OF MUSICAL APPROACHES

1. MYSTERY

‘Mystery’ cues, especially Main Titles, immediately tell the audience that the core of the
story is a question that needs to be answered. The music is the audible lure of the
unknown, a siren call that seduces the viewer into the dark world of the film. If the movie
involves romance, then there is an additional need to incorporate the love interest as part
of the mysteriousness.

2. SUSPENSE

‘Suspense’ cues accompany those moments where there is sustained tension. Generally,
suspense cues are either rhythmic or non-rhythmic. In a rhythmic scene, the music must
keep the blood pumping and the pulse of the scene throbbing. In a non-rhythmic scene,
the music should prolong the tension by suspending time rather than pushing it forward.

3. DRAMATIC ATMOSPHERE

These are odd moments in the movie where everything is both visually and
psychologically off-center, and music is allowed to describe the weirdness of the
moment. In the ‘Mystery’ category, music sheds light on an unknown idea. However, in
‘Dramatic Atmospheric’, music is used to accompany the visual, bringing depth and
clarification to the images.

4. PASSAGE OF TIME

‘Passage of Time’ cues refer to an area in the film where a character progresses from
point A to point C, either physically or through a series of informative discoveries. Here,
the music needs to tie together the series of events while articulating the ‘passing of
time’.

5. CROSS-CUTTING

Due to its unique needs, ‘Cross-cutting’ is, perhaps, the most complicated category. Here,
we have the abrupt cutting between two or more scenes. The music needs to provide
continuity while, at the same time, serving each scene dramatically.
6. EXPLOSIVE DRAMATIC

These are the big, often very expensive, ‘set piece’ moments in the film that are vital to
the film’s success. Therefore, it is essential that the music pays off to sell the scene. All
the stops are pulled out, and the music needs to lift the scene to massive, gothic
proportions. It must make the scene explode off the screen.

7. CONTINUOUS ACTION

These are long passages of a movie where the pace is continuously frantic. In these
scenes, the music must drive the film relentlessly forward creating intense urgency. The
key to success is constantly increasing intensity towards the finish line and to never let up
steam in the middle.

8. STINGERS

These are self-contained musical stabs that exist entirely to make unsuspecting viewers
jump out of their seats. Stingers are usually prefaced by silence or very quiet underscore
to create an elevated shock value when it arrives. The key is finding the appropriate level
so it is not too large that it becomes melodramatic, or too quiet that it becomes anti-
climatic.

9. NORMALCY BEFORE ABNORMALITY

These cues are for movies that start in a pleasurable environment but eventually turn
sour. Consequently, Main Title music, and the immediate cues that follow, may contain
musical material that is completely removed from the bulk of the score.

10. PLAYING AGAINST THE SCENE

These are moments in the movie where the music is used to intentionally change our
perception of a scene by pitting an alternate emotion against it.

11. MISCELLANEOUS

These are the remaining moments in the movie where music is not related to the main
context of the score. (i.e. romantic scenes, scenes of comedic relief, source music,).