A film would not be complete without the incorporation of production music. Music is crucial in setting the tone, dramatising certain points, and evoking different emotions from those who are watching. Therefore, picking the right production music is pivotal and should be given a lot of attention to. After all, if a song or tune seems misplaced, then it can seriously deter from the successfulness of the film. There are lots of aspects you need to consider when it comes to picking the best music and this article will reveal exactly what those are.
What is your budget for your film’s production music?
Most short films do not have massive budgets. Either way, you need to make sure you define a budget from the outset. There are lots of different methods of acquiring production music – you could choose someone in an audio school program so the can get experience.
Is the music relevant to the action on screen?
This sounds like an obvious point. However, sometimes some people are so desperate to incorporate a certain track that they ignore how relevant it is. You need to ensure the mood of the song is parallel to the mood of the characters on the screen. The other way of picking a song is if the short film you are producing is showing a character listening to some music. In this instance you need to get in the mind of your character and ask yourself what he or she would listen to on this occasion.
Remember viewers are only going to hear the song once
More often than not people’s favourite songs have grown on them. They listen to the tune in question over and over again and end up falling in love with it. You don’t have this luxury when it comes to putting together a short film. You need to find music that creates the right impression upon first hearing. Thus, when you are picking a track you need to determine your feelings on it the very first time you listen to it. Don’t listen to the tune 20 times and then decide that yes you like it.
Try to find original production music
There is nothing wrong with taking influence from other films. However, an issue can arise when a particular song is played in several films and thus automatically gets ingrained in your mind. Because of this, any other song you come across feels somewhat not good enough. It’s a bit like when you go shopping and you have a set picture in your mind regarding what clothes you want and thus nothing matches up to your ideal. When it comes to production music, you obviously have the option to use the popular tune in question. After all, if it has been used several times then it must be a great track. However, it is always better to try and be original. People are going to be much more impressed if you have the capacity to wow them with a song they have never heard before rather than play something that is popular at present.
If you consider the four points mentioned in this article whenever you are considering a certain track then you should have no trouble finding the perfect production music for your short film. Remember that the most important thing to do is define a budget from the outset so that you are looking for your music in the right places. This will make the process a lot quicker and easier. When considering different tracks try and look for something that is original, make sure that it is relevant to the action on screen, and think about the influence of the song upon first hearing only.