because at the end of the day we are book people

dialogue, plot, timing, characters…all (though there is more) of that is very important to the world of movies. they all play their own role in the making of great movies, of not so good movies, of the horrible ones that you don’t even pretend you thought were going to be good. i’ve seen them all. you probably have to. and books, in their own way, have all of the same qualities.

i was a film student for two years, and made five short films. okay, very short. for the first three movies i worked in a group, and we were broken up like this: jonny was the editor (with me annoying the crap out of him as i looked on over his shoulder), mike was an actor and would do lighting if pressed, and i did the rest. i wrote the scripts (damn good ones too), i was the director (there’s been better), i was the producer, i did lighting, and i snowed my wonderful teacher when the need arose (yes, we spent many afternoons ditching. sue us). and we made our movies.

it was after jonny finished moving this here and that there and being a general surgeon with the blade as he trimmed edges that were already beautifully trimmed (i love this guy), we realized what every great film knows: it’s nothing without music. there is no way to truly show how much music makes a difference unless you take it all out. i don’t mean sound. leave the dialogue (even if it is bad). leave the background noises of birds singing and chainsaws humming. you can’t just press mute and read subtitles, because that creates a different kind of movie (which brings up a whole other topic of deaf people watching films). after all, silent films can be great (don’t hold your breath on an example from me, i come from the age of LOUD). but music tells you who the people are and what the mood is and what’s going to happen and even what you should be feeling. and if it doesn’t tell you, it sure as hell helps you feel it. take Cruel Intentions, which i was watching earlier. in the last scene, as Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) gets distracted in the church and then walks out, the music makes it. watching her get pissed at her rude classmates (especially knowing what you know about her) is good. but the power, the passion of the music, just makes your heart pound. because with the music- and what a great song!- you know something is going to happen.

sorry, i was having a moment. but you should get the soundtrack.

anyways, i’ve been thinking of music in movies. or, to be more specific, what music is in books.

any ideas?

yes, that long rambling thing really was an introduction to that one simple question. what is it that enchances the mood you feel? i get what creates the mood- the characters, the writing, the plot, whatever floats your boat. but what is it that makes you feel more than sad- what makes you cry? what makes you laugh outloud? is there something that enchances it or is it the mood is created by *mumble mumble* and that does it?

so, what’s the music in books?  just the music the author listens to when they write? just that one line of oh god that’s so sad/funny/scary? is there even music?

and on a completely other subject (because i can’t even stay focused in my own post), does anyone know what the rules are for priests and drinking?

165 comments January 7th, 2007