Scoring the Scene
A film’s score is not a single, continuous piece of music. It is constructed from dozens, sometimes hundreds, of individual, self-contained musical pieces called cues. Each music cue is written for a specific purpose within a specific scene. It has a precisely defined start point and end point, measured in minutes, seconds, and frames (timecode).
The process begins during a ‘spotting session’, where the director, composer, and music editor watch the film together and decide where music should start and stop, and what its function should be in each scene. These decisions are then documented in a music cue sheet.
The Music Cue Sheet
Similar to a sound cue sheet, this document is the composer’s blueprint. It assigns a unique code to each cue, typically including the reel number and cue number (e.g., 2M3 means Reel 2, Music Cue 3). The sheet details the cue’s duration, its exact timecode, and, most importantly, provides notes on its narrative function. For example:
- Cue 4M1: Start at 01:15:22:10. End at 01:16:45:02. “Music starts as Maria enters the abandoned house. Should be tense and exploratory. Build suspense until she sees the photograph, then end on a sudden, sharp sting.”
This document guides the composer as they write the score, ensuring that the music aligns perfectly with the dramatic beats of the film.
Underscore vs. Source Music
Music cues can be one of two types:
- Underscore (or Score): This is non-diegetic music that exists outside the world of the film. The characters cannot hear it. Its purpose is to guide the audience’s emotions, build tension, create excitement, or add a sense of wonder. This is the music written by the film’s composer.
- Source Music: This is diegetic music that originates from a source within the film’s world. The characters can hear it. Examples include a song playing on a car radio, a live band performing at a wedding, or music playing in a cafe. While sometimes written by the composer, source music is often licensed from existing popular songs, which is the responsibility of a Music Supervisor.