Welcome to this module on mastering the relationship between theme and underscore. We're going to look at how you choose between a strongly thematic musical statement and a more discreet kind of music, called underscore, depending on what the director or the producer actually needs.
Understanding what the director needs
The first conversations
- Vision and goals: understand the director's overall vision for the project. That covers the tone, the style, and the emotions they want to get across.
- What the music is for: work out the role the music has to play. Is it there to reinforce a specific emotion, to support dialogue without pulling focus, or to become a character in the story in its own right?
Two kinds of music
Theme
- Definition: a strong, memorable musical statement that can identify a character, a place or an idea.
- Use: it creates a strong emotional connection with the viewer. Themes usually recur and evolve along with the story.
- Example: the main theme from Star Wars, instantly recognizable, setting the epic tone of the whole saga.
Underscore
- Definition: discreet music that supports the action on screen without dominating the dialogue or the sound effects.
- Use: it subtly reinforces emotion and holds the atmosphere without drawing attention to itself.
- Example: the background music under the intense dialogue and suspense scenes in Breaking Bad, heightening the tension without pulling you away from what's being said.
How you build it
Analyzing the scene
- Emotional context: identify the main emotions in the scene.
- Action and dialogue: watch the pace and the content of the dialogue and the action to decide what kind of musical support is needed.
Choosing instruments and motifs
- Theme: pick instruments and motifs that can be easily associated with the key elements of the story.
- Underscore: use sonic textures, subtle harmonies and discreet rhythms that can evolve in the background.
Trying things and getting feedback
- First versions: write early versions of the music and play them to the director to get their reaction.
- Adjustments: revise the composition based on those notes so it lands closer to what they're expecting.