How Can Production Music Enhance the Storytelling of Movies and TV Shows?

Music is a crucial part of telling a story as it helps instill a specific emotion in the viewer, typing in a message or idea without the need for explicit explanation. George Lucas, the creative force behind the Star Wars series said that “sound and music are 50% of the entertainment in a movie”. This underscores the key role of music in filmmaking, often reflecting the film’s overall mood and theme. Therefore, the film score makes up a major chunk of the post-production process. This article will explore ways in which production music may help enhance storytelling.

1. Intensifying Viewer Immersion

Background music for films can function as a captivating bridge between the on-screen action and the audience, accentuating the atmospheres and moods of the scenes. In “Jaws”, for instance, through escalating tension of two alternating notes, the impending danger is felt before the shark is even visible, submerging viewers in the narrative world. The sonic device then draws attention to the unfolding drama, intensifying the story’s immersive factor. The right production of music can turn abstract into personal, thus instilling a resonance that lingers. Thinking back to “Forest Gump”, the nostalgic strings effectively align the audience’s emotions with the protagonist’s journey, anchoring them to the narrative. This helps add depth and secure a personal connection that goes beyond visual comprehension.

2. Provoking Emotional Depth through Soundscapes

Music can effortlessly tap into the viewer’s emotional core, triggering a response more profound than any visuals or dialogues can achieve. Han Zimmer’s “Interstellar” featured a haunting score that invokes a sense of vastness and solitude, perfectly effectively the character’s emotional struggle with time and space. Such a powerful sound deepens the audience's engagement, adding a personal connection to the story. Music has a way of enhancing a scene without having to do much. If a movie doesn’t have a powerful score to back it up, it leaves the story stale and not enticing to the viewer.

3. Punctuating Critical Plot Points

By building at turning points, and receding during quieter intervals, the musical scores signify the important story moments. In “The Lord of the Rings”, for example, Howard Shore’s epic music punctuates every despair, revelation, and triumph precisely, guiding the viewers through the intricate storyline. It helps to let the viewers know where they are in the story. When you’re watching a horror movie, you know when something scary is about to happen and when the music begins to ramp up. The characters alone can’t make the story continue; they need music to back them up.

4. Character Development

Further, music contributes to effective character development. For this, recurring motifs are associated with characters, reflecting their transformation over time. Luke Skywalker’s theme in the “Star Wars” series evolves to mirror his journey from a mere farm boy to a Jedi Knight, helping audiences connect with his character deeply. Sometimes, the music tells a story that words fail to, revealing subtexts and hidden narratives, adding a layer of interpretation. Nino Rota’s melancholic score in “The Godfather” portrays this perfectly, where it unveils the tragic undertones of power and family, elements less depicted in dialogue and action.

5. The Interplay of Sound and Silence in Storytelling

Sound and silence, in their strategic interplay, serve as powerful narrative tools. Silence often precedes noteworthy events, enhancing the impact of the sound that ensues. When everything suddenly goes silent, the viewer is immediately glued to the screen. In “Psycho”, for instance, the infamous shower scene followed right after an intense silence, heightening the shock from Bernard Herrmann’s violin score. This proved that the absence of music can be as potent as its presence in driving the narrative. These tactical moments in a score make the movie interesting and exciting. 

Conclusion

Production Music in TV shows and movies is more than to fill the background; it helps shape the story itself. The right sound can enhance a scene’s intensity, make a character more relatable, or a plot point more memorable. Every score plays a crucial role in telling the story, instilling a deeper connection between the audience and the narrative. Music is half the enjoyment of a movie. In other words, background music is not a mere nice addition; it’s a crucial part of the storytelling process.