A Complete Guide to Music in Screenplays (Not Musicals)

Music in screenplays can be complicated.

We all have that perfect song to play at that exact moment, like in Guardians of the Galaxy or those perfect lyrics our character can sing out loud like in Baby Driver. But how do we do that visually in a script?

Example:

MUSIC CUE: "Queen" by Bohemian Rhapsody

Rick starts his engine. Drives the gas peddle to the floor. Turns up the song BLASTING music. A car side swipes him. He spins out.

END MUSIC CUE

How do you insert a character singing in a screenplay? You can write out a person singing in a screenplay by adding a parenthetical with the words “Singing” followed by italicized words of which are being sung.

Example:

Now you know how to use specific songs in scripts as well as writing your characters singing.

It’s also important to know people hardly don’t do this for a reason. Let’s explore why

You should use music in your script only when it’s essential to the scene.

Take a look at the situations below:

Writing a biopic of a musician. (Bohemian Rhapsody)
Your characters are in a record store and pick up their favorite record.
If your scene is in a Karaoke bar.
If your character is choosing a jukebox song.

There are many other reasons but make sure it’s essential to the character. Such as the movie Baby Driver. Music was an essential part of the character.

Watch how it’s done in Tarantino’s movie Death Proof.

These are just a few examples, but what they all have in common is they need music for the scene or story to continue. The reader is actively thinking about what song is the character about to play?

There are no restrictions on music. Or if your friend produced some tracks and says that you can use them for your movie, go ahead. If not, you could get into some legal trouble. Why you shouldn’t use Write music in your script.

Why you shouldn’t use Write music in your script

As a writer, you create the essence of the story.

Everything starts with you, but it doesn’t end with you. Choosing something as simple as a music choice could be imposing onto other people’s creative process.

Let’s now explore how your decision would affect your other future collaborators. One being the director.

1.) Its the Directors Job

As a director, it’s their job to see that the film gets from paper to the theatre. This job includes making acting decisions, set decisions, editing decisions, and even music choices.

We all know that the film is made three times. The first time is when you write it the second time is when you shoot it. The third is when you edit it.

2.) The Producers Headache

A producer is a filmmaker too but in a different way. It’s their job to make sure that whatever you write can be made. Seeing specific music in a script will make any producer’s eyes roll. They look at it as a financial burden.

You choose the perfect song for the ideal ending scene. But what if the producer doesn’t recognize the song and you based the whole ending off the feeling that song will give your reader. Or in this case, the executive interested in buying.

This mistake could make or break your sale. Again the skill of a writer should be able to set the tone of a scene without the words or feeling a musical choice could bring.

Your better off writing “Heavy base rap song plays in the b.g” than taking a chance of the executive not knowing who Kendrick Lamar is.

3.) It’s a harder sell

Using music in your script even if the producer likes, it would make it even harder to sell. That price tag is just too high even for a less popular song. But then again why would you license a song that isn’t recognizable it would be much more efficient to have a composer make a song with that feeling than to pay someone absorbent amounts of money to use there’s.

But ultimately the studio will have to decide whether it’s worth it or not.

Do I need permission to use a song in my screenplay?

No, you don’t need permission to use a song or any lyrical content in your script. You are free to write anything. But when it comes to copywriting your script, you could come into some trouble.

You can Copywrite lyrics that have already been copywritten. But most people submit scripts to the WGA as proof of creation. The WGA (Writers Guild of America) will have a version of your script so if someone does try to steal they will be the first ones that have your back and sue.

Can I write my character singing the song?

Let for this portion of the post we are going to educate you a little on song clearance. Every song has publishing rights, which are the musical competition and the written lyrical content, and the master writes, which is the sound you hear coming out the radio.

So again, it would be easier to write, “She sings a female popstars hit song.”

The Writer-Director

With all that you learned today about music in scripts, it can sound overwhelming for just a writer. But if you’re a writer-director, you have a little bit more power over the songs you include. And a bigger budget does help. Take a listen to how great writer-director Tarantino uses music in scripts.