Edit Foundry

I love using music.  Using music is an opportunity to add a little something extra to a story.  I think it’s a true art.  

• It’s often abused  

• It’s often misused  

• It’s often misplaced  

• It’s often inappropriate.

  
  

Using music is just like editing.  

• You have to experiment  

• You have to practice using it   

  
  

A few words about how I use music.  I currently work at a station that allows the use of popular music.  I highly prefer using popular music to a library like Killer Tracks.  However, I’ve worked at stations that don’t allow the use of popular music.  

Working at those stations I still managed to create the atmospheres I wanted with the music selection, I just had to search the library a little harder.  What you want is there, you just have to find it.

I did say I like using popular music.  However, I don’t like using anything that’s too mainstream or current at that moment.  I’ll use popular music that you may not recognize immediately.  The reason I do this is because generally music usually attaches itself to people on some emotional level.  I don’t want people to come into one of my stories with a pre-convinced emotion.  I want them to gain their own emotional attachment to my story.

At the end of this post I’ll reveal where my music came from for this story.

This post is going to be just about music.

• Music can help the pace of a story

• Music can add an emotional draw

• Music can help reveal a moment in a story

• Music can help with transitions between story elements

In this post I’m going to set up the story first before you watch it.  

Journey of Hope is broken into 4 parts.  Each story was a block in a 30 minute special.  

In part 1 we introduced Scott Orr, established he had Parkinson’s disease, and showed the difficulties in both work and his favorite hobby.  Scott’s a go kart mechanic. He and his best friend race go karts.

In part 2 we showed a gathering of his friends to shave his head in preparation for life changing brain surgery.  We also showed some of the testing he went through and meetings with doctors.

In part 3 we began his journey into surgery and conclude with something going wrong in the operating room.

Journey of Hope Part 4 is the story we going to use for talking about using music.

Ok, so now you can go watch Journey of Hope Part 4.

Journey of Hope Part 4 begins with music up full.  It’s rather serious in nature.  So, just by the nature of the music I’m setting a mood.  

 

 

 

The next shot is that of Dr. McVicker [:04] looking down very seriously.

At [:07] the reporter track begins

We all know in life there are risks.

It’s followed by a piece of sound by Dr. Kumar asking Scott a question.  I’m establishing there is something wrong.  Using reporter track and sound like you would in any normal story.  

However, in this story I’ve decided to add music in several locations throughout.  

• I’m establishing the emotion of the moment.  

• Occasionally I’m going to bring the music full.  

Each time I do this I have a reason.  I’m going to take you through my logic.

At [:24] the reporter track is

When something appeared terribly wrong.

It’s at this point when you see Scott open his eyes and look to his right after the doctor told him to close them.  

I bring up the music and let the shot breathe.  I’m letting the viewer feel the gravity of the moment.  

It’s this small moment of just music that’s a reinforcement of something that’s not right at this point in the surgery.

At [:36] if you listen closely you’ll hear the music start to fade.  It’s very subtle and takes a full 4 seconds to fade away.  The incident has passed.  The minor scare is no longer an issue.  I want the music to fade away, but I don’t want the viewer to notice it fading away. 

At [1:20] I cut out of the operating room and into the waiting room.  A few emotional moments are about to happen.  

• I’m going to use music to reinforce these moments. 

 I want the music to be there but I want to bring it up a little before the moment actually occurs.  Listen closely again.  You can hear me start the music at [1:24].  

 

 

• I like bringing up music a little before it’s usefulness

• I do this so the music isn’t too abruptly added.

 

 

 

I’m carrying the ‘relief’ music underneath this whole section of Scott’s parents, his wife, and his best friend in the waiting room.

At [1:44] I bring the music up full. 

 There is a shot of Scott lying there calm.  

Then at [1:45] is a shot of Scott’s hand not moving. Both of these shot are very poignant.  I want the viewer to just take in the moment.  I leave the music up full to help the moment flow over the viewer.  

If you are not familiar with Parkinson’s Disease go here for a good explanation.  His hand not trembling is an extremely important part of the story.

At [1:59] the music ends.  That part of the story ends as well.  Coincendence?  No.  I back timed the music to end right here. 

• I use music to help tell the viewer that this is the end of this part of the story.

I’ve used two different pieces of music now.  I’m not using it constantly.  I’m only trying to use it when I want to help reinforce the emotion of the moment.

At [2:53] is the next time I use music in the story.  Scott’s about to test the Pacemaker for the Brain he’s had implanted to help control the trembling in his hand.  

• This is reason for the surgery.  

• It’s a very important moment in the story.  

It a evolutionary moment.  I didn’t want music that’s too serious.  I don’t want to overplay the emotion here.  I chose something light but not overpowering.  It’s simple.  

At [3:07] is the first time Scott sees his hand not tremble after the activation of the Pacemaker for the brain.  

I let the shot breath with the music up.  Agian, I’m allowing the viewer to take in the moment for just a little bit longer.

At [3:18] I let the music come up again.  Scott says

Wow, haven’t seen that in a long time.

Another moment I want to just let breath for an extra second.

At [3:25] Scott twitches his fingers as he’s looking down.  I let that moment breath as well.  It’s also the end of that piece of music.  Again, I’m telling the viewer that’s the end of this part of the story.

At [3:50] I start the music up again.  You have to listen very closely.  I bring it up very subtly.  I like doing this.  

• I don’t like music all of a sudden there.

At [4:09] I bring the music up full again.  The reporter’s track says 

There is no cure for Parkinson’s or it’s symptoms.

It’s not a moment but it’s poignant statement.  I decide to bring up the music because is poignant.

At [4:26] I change the music.  They are about to take the go kart on the track  I wanted something upbeat and fun but something that still fit with the rest of the music.  I use this piece of music for the rest of the story.

At [4:54] the music ends as our story ends.  Agian, I back timed the music to make this happen.

I hardly ever use the music as it was origionally constructed.  I’ll use bit and pieces and rework the music to fit my story.  I strive hard to make cuts the viewer won’t notice. 

So, I may use the beginning of a piece of music, cut to the middle piece I like to bring up full, then make another cut to help with my backtiming to the end.

In case you are wondering I used the soundtrack to Erin Brockovich.  This is the only soundtrack I used for the entire documentary.  

I wanted all the music to flow well with the entire story.  Erin Brockovich came out in 2000.  That was 8 years ago.  Like I said, I like using popular music.  I like using a piece of music the viewer would not immediately recognize.

 

 

This entry was posted on Friday, January 23rd, 2009 at 11:14 pm Filed under Feature Editing and. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.