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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Screenwriting
Songs and scripts
For what it's worth, some "thoughts."
(Sure, I've got change for your nickel no, ma'am, they don't make half pennies any more.)
I used to think that scripts more closely resembled short stories than any other art form because, like a short story you started in the middle of action and just took off running. And, though I still think they do this - - I've been comparing scripts to songs and now think songs are closer to scripts than anything else.
A song is like a scene in a script because it deals with images and instantly passes on information about the mood.
At least some songs do this.
Take for example some of the lyrics from one of my favorite songs:
"Well the midnight train can come and go without me No, I don't need no taxi back to town
I think I'll just stay right here in this depot light, Was supposed to meet someone here tonight,
Now I'm sitting here thinking, waiting on a dark-eyed gal.
"No, I don't mind the rain; I never even noticed
And I don't feel the cold, it wouldn't matter anyhow, As a matter of fact I could stay till the break of day, I don't see as I'm in anybody's way;
I'm just sittin here thinking, waiting on a dark eyed gal."
("Waiting on a Dark Eyed Gal," written by Ron Davies (RIP), brother of Gail Davies, who is one of my favorite writers and singers. This song was performed by the "Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.")
You can "see" the picture. The mood is fixed. The "why" is explained in the "dialogue."
It could be easily changed into a scene by simply adding another character and filling in a few blanks...
EXT. TRAIN DEPOT NIGHT
Rain drips off the roof of the train station as the lights go out.
The STATION AGENT, almost as round as he is tall, exits the building and then locks the door, pulling his rain coat close against his neck. He holds his hand out to gage the rainfall.
RON DAVIES, 20s, in a Levi jacket and jeans, sits motionless on a bench, under the depot light, staring up the track. Water drips from his long hair.
STATION AGENT
No more trains until morning, son.
Ron continues to stare up the track.
The Agent nudges him.
STATION AGENT
Sir.
Ron turns.
STATION AGENT
That was the last train.
RON
Yeah.
STATION AGENT
Raining pretty hard.
RON
I'm waiting for someone.
STATION AGENT
Won't be coming tonight. Can I call
you a cab?
RON
She'll be here soon.
STATION AGENT
You can't stay all night.
RON
It's okay.
STATION AGENT
It's too cold.
RON
I'm fine.
The Agent rubs his hands nervously.
STATION AGENT
I can drop you off in town.
RON
She has the most incredible eyes. Hazel.
STATION AGENT
I gotta' go. Get out of the rain, son.
RON
Sure. I'll do that.
(Yeah, I know it's clumsy.)
The reason I bring this up is that songs often give me a scene and get me writing normally I don't just write the scene, but it's a starting point. This song actually "inspired" one of my shorts. I got thinking that maybe the "dark eyed gal" didn't show because she couldn't. Something happened. For what it's worth the short is at:
http://tinyurl.com/6d8wc
Anyhow, sorry to ramble. I had a few other points, but my brain has frozen again and I've forgotten them. I think I would enjoy writing songs, if I had the talent, because many of them are basically like one scene in a screenplay.
(Yeah, sure, you can have five pennies back for you nickle, ma'am. I tell you what, I'll give you an extra penney for your trouble... No, thank you, ma'am.)
RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"
(Sure, I've got change for your nickel no, ma'am, they don't make half pennies any more.)
I used to think that scripts more closely resembled short stories than any other art form because, like a short story you started in the middle of action and just took off running. And, though I still think they do this - - I've been comparing scripts to songs and now think songs are closer to scripts than anything else.
A song is like a scene in a script because it deals with images and instantly passes on information about the mood.
At least some songs do this.
Take for example some of the lyrics from one of my favorite songs:
"Well the midnight train can come and go without me No, I don't need no taxi back to town
I think I'll just stay right here in this depot light, Was supposed to meet someone here tonight,
Now I'm sitting here thinking, waiting on a dark-eyed gal.
"No, I don't mind the rain; I never even noticed
And I don't feel the cold, it wouldn't matter anyhow, As a matter of fact I could stay till the break of day, I don't see as I'm in anybody's way;
I'm just sittin here thinking, waiting on a dark eyed gal."
("Waiting on a Dark Eyed Gal," written by Ron Davies (RIP), brother of Gail Davies, who is one of my favorite writers and singers. This song was performed by the "Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.")
You can "see" the picture. The mood is fixed. The "why" is explained in the "dialogue."
It could be easily changed into a scene by simply adding another character and filling in a few blanks...
EXT. TRAIN DEPOT NIGHT
Rain drips off the roof of the train station as the lights go out.
The STATION AGENT, almost as round as he is tall, exits the building and then locks the door, pulling his rain coat close against his neck. He holds his hand out to gage the rainfall.
RON DAVIES, 20s, in a Levi jacket and jeans, sits motionless on a bench, under the depot light, staring up the track. Water drips from his long hair.
STATION AGENT
No more trains until morning, son.
Ron continues to stare up the track.
The Agent nudges him.
STATION AGENT
Sir.
Ron turns.
STATION AGENT
That was the last train.
RON
Yeah.
STATION AGENT
Raining pretty hard.
RON
I'm waiting for someone.
STATION AGENT
Won't be coming tonight. Can I call
you a cab?
RON
She'll be here soon.
STATION AGENT
You can't stay all night.
RON
It's okay.
STATION AGENT
It's too cold.
RON
I'm fine.
The Agent rubs his hands nervously.
STATION AGENT
I can drop you off in town.
RON
She has the most incredible eyes. Hazel.
STATION AGENT
I gotta' go. Get out of the rain, son.
RON
Sure. I'll do that.
(Yeah, I know it's clumsy.)
The reason I bring this up is that songs often give me a scene and get me writing normally I don't just write the scene, but it's a starting point. This song actually "inspired" one of my shorts. I got thinking that maybe the "dark eyed gal" didn't show because she couldn't. Something happened. For what it's worth the short is at:
http://tinyurl.com/6d8wc
Anyhow, sorry to ramble. I had a few other points, but my brain has frozen again and I've forgotten them. I think I would enjoy writing songs, if I had the talent, because many of them are basically like one scene in a screenplay.
(Yeah, sure, you can have five pennies back for you nickle, ma'am. I tell you what, I'll give you an extra penney for your trouble... No, thank you, ma'am.)
RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"
Top answer
somewhere"
- somewhere"
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4 Answers
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[nq:1]For what it's worth, some "thoughts." (Sure, I've got change for your nickel no, ma'am, they don't make half ... you nickle, ma'am. I tell you what, I'll give you an extra penney for your trouble... No, thank you, ma'am.)[/nq]
This is possibly true of country, which has a tendancy to give whole stories. It's less true of, say, U2 or the Spice Girls. I've done lyrics, and never rea
This is possibly true of country, which has a tendancy to give whole stories. It's less true of, say, U2 or the Spice Girls. I've done lyrics, and never rea
00
[nq:1]This is possibly true of country, which has a tendancy to give whole stories. It's less true of, say, U2 ... words that you put in their mouths: think actors and producers. So the process is kinda similar in some circumstances.[/nq]
I got thinking about this after* I posted and you're right, *some songs apply, but most don't. But the mood and pictures in these songs definitely get
I got thinking about this after* I posted and you're right, *some songs apply, but most don't. But the mood and pictures in these songs definitely get
00
[nq:2]This is possibly true of country, which has a tendancy ... producers. So the process is kinda similar in some circumstances.[/nq]
[nq:1]I got thinking about this after* I posted and you're right, *some songs apply, but most don't. But the ... related to the "scene" in the song. Maybe it's a right brain/left brain thing (or something) working in the background.[/nq]
Coincidenta
[nq:1]I got thinking about this after* I posted and you're right, *some songs apply, but most don't. But the ... related to the "scene" in the song. Maybe it's a right brain/left brain thing (or something) working in the background.[/nq]
Coincidenta
0
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