By Tracy Lesch
I’m a big movie fan. The best films touch my emotions like
my favorite books.
You can’t help but be stirred when William Wallace gives his
troops that pre-battle speech in Braveheart
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEOOZDbMrgE),
or Aragorn in The Return of the King (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReDWEGDioDA).
Who couldn’t feel Jack and Rose’s love in Titanic
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPoMFB0FjYg)?
As I write, I imagine my scenes on the big screen, my
characters played by favorite actors, with stunning backdrops, appropriate
props, and the best cinematography. This kind of “positive visualization” comes
easier today, but it took practice…
Imagine: you set aside solid time to write, you eliminate
all distractions, you’re charged up with coffee/chocolate, ready to go. You stretch
those fingers inexorably toward that keyboard and… nothing. Nada. Zippo. The
writing muse has left the building. Have you experienced this dreaded moment?
Me too. I can’t sit in silence. I need extra inspiration. Starting
out, I wondered what that was. The answer came from a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…
One of my favorite films is Star Wars, undergirded by the music of John Williams. Each
character has a theme, from Luke Skywalker to Darth Vader. The perfect mood for
every scene is in that soundtrack.
Go back to the clips above, but now concentrate on the
music. Does it capture the mood of the script?
Ding! “Mood music”
was what I needed. I tried soundtracks while writing and instantly became more
productive. I now keep a library close by. Some are go-to favorites, and helped
me write my first fantasy novel. Here’s my short list of the best:
Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope – Label: Sony
John Williams is the king of thematic music. Need proof? What
music comes to mind when I mention Jaws?
‘Nuff said.
The Lord of the Rings –
Reprise
The three scores by Howard Shore are winners, with themes of
friendship, ominous forces, pulse-pounding battle, and even lighthearted
comedy.
The Illusionist – Ryko
Filmworks
Philip Glass’ soundtrack is masterful. The film has sequences
devoid of dialogue where it falls to the music to tell the tale, and this is
accomplished flawlessly. Themes of mystery, timeless love, and aching sorrow abound,
along with what I call “horseback music,” ideal for when my own hero is riding
into adventure.
King Kong – Decca
James Newton Howard’s score for the marvelous Peter Jackson
remake is too big for the CD. The themes are soaring and quintessential, lush,
and inspiring every time.
The Dark Knight Rises – Watertower
Music
Hans Zimmer’s music is heavily influenced with Japanese
drums, and gets the blood racing. Unparalleled for action scenes, the score
also tells of despair and hope.
A soundtrack library is a powerful writing tool. No matter
your genre, there are soundtracks right for you, and it’s fun discovering them.
Some stores have headsets where you can sample disks. Some sell used CDs at
bargain prices.
If you want your writing to play out like a box office
smash, words are important, but don’t forget the music.
Tracy Lesch is an
award-winning writer of Fantasy, Suspense, and other Speculative Fiction. He is
a former Dungeons & Dragons illustrator, radio, and television personality.
His work has appeared in books, magazines, and online venues. In 2006, excerpts
from his fantasy epic Armor of God: The Paladin earned him Writer of the Year from the
Florida Christian Writer's Conference. His book went on to be chosen as a
Finalist in the 2012 Global Ebook Awards. Tracy is a member of the Professional
Writer's Alliance, and a graduate of the Christian Writer's Guild. Connect
with Tracy:
facebook.com/tracy.lesch
facebook.com/armor.of.god.the.paladin
Twitter.com/TracyLesch
Book trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIaPTkFBg1Y
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