Film Scoring/Introduction:Exam


This course in music and filmmaking is:
Film scoring introduction for filmmakers
This lesson is:
Introduction - The basic theory of film scoring
The pages in this lesson are:
Summary: Basic theory of film scoring for filmmakers
Page 1: What are the different kinds of music?
Page 2: Film score example "George Lucas in Love"


"How would you score this movie?"

This is your exam for this course


Read this exam.
Complete the lesson.
Then answer these questions.

Now you have finished the introduction to this course. Look at this exam and then proceed with the rest of the lessons. Much of the questions on this page will be answered by the lessons.

EXTERIOR - The local movie theater - NIGHT

(1) The Young Person and Old Person stand looking at the movie poster outside the theater.



Slowly dolly in.

A smile begins to form on the young person's face.





(2) The Movie Poster

Cut to the poster and dolly in slowly.





(3) Young Person: "That was a great movie..."

Cut to a side view.





(4) Young Person (contined): "but I do not understand one thing."

The young person's head turns to the older person.





(5) Old Person: "What's that?"

Wide angle shot to show emotional distance between the two characters.





(6) Young Person: "How can anyone be seduced by the Dark Side?"





(7) The old person thinks for a while. Old Person: "Humm!"





(8a) Old Person: "What computer do you..."


(8b) Old Person(off camera): "... have at home?"

Cut in mid sentence to see the young person's anticipation.





(9) Young Person (eagerly): "A Macintosh!"

The young person's face lights up with excitement.





(10) Old Person: "But what computer does your father use at work?"





(11) The young person thinks for a moment. Young Person: "Humm!"





(12) Young Person (amazed and excited): "Seduced by the Dark Side!"





(13) The Old Person smiles. Old Person: "Ahh!"



The face lights with a knowing smile.





(14) Old Person and the Young Person walk toward home together.

Lock the camera for a matte painting.

The camera remains locked. When the matte painting is added, the shot will look like a scene out of Star Wars at Port Isley.





(15) Fade to Black.

The End

Question 1: The opening music

A smiling face
When our movie starts, the audience sees the face of a young person. As the camera moves closer, the young person begins to smile. This shot is just three to five seconds long. (See #1 on the right.)
Question: - (1 point)
Decide what emotion do you want the audience to feel. Then think of how you would create that mood with music.
Send me your answer:
Tell me how you would create this mood with music.

Question 2 - The movie poster

Music for the Star Wars movie poster
Next, we see what the young person is watching. It is a poster for the movie, Star Wars. (See #2 on the right.)
Question: - (1 point)
Decide what emotion do you want the audience to feel. Then think of how you would create that mood with music.
Send me your answer:
Tell me how you would create this mood with music.

Question 3 - Thinking music

Music for the older person thinking
When the older person pauses to think, there needs to be music to explain what the older person is thinking. What kind of music should there be? (See #7 on the right.)
Question: - (1 point)
Decide what emotion do you want the audience to feel. Then think of how you would create that mood with music.
Send me your answer:
Tell me how you would create this mood with music.

Question 4 - The Macintosh Computer

The Macintosh music
When the young person eagerly says, "Macintosh", what music should there be? (See #9 on the right.)
Question: - (1 point)
Decide what emotion do you want the audience to feel. Then think of how you would create that mood with music.
Send me your answer:
Tell me how you would create this mood with music.

Question 5 - More thinking music

Young person thinking music
When the young person is thinking, what music should play? (See #11 on the right.)
Question: - (1 point)
Decide what emotion do you want the audience to feel. Then think of how you would create that mood with music.
Send me your answer:
Tell me how you would create this mood with music.

Question 6 - The revelation

Seduced by the Dark Side
When the young person exclaims, "Seduced by the dark side!", what music should there be? How should the audience feel? (See #12 on the right.)


Question: - (1 point)
Decide what emotion do you want the audience to feel. Then think of how you would create that mood with music.
Send me your answer:
Tell me how you would create this mood with music.

Question 7 - Happy thoughts

Older person smiles music
When the older person begins to smile, should we still hear the music from before or should there be new music? If new music, what should it be? How should it make the audience feel? (See #13 on the right.)


Question: - (1 point)
Decide what emotion do you want the audience to feel. Then think of how you would create that mood with music.
Send me your answer:
Tell me how you would create this mood with music.

Question 8 - The finalé

Walking home music
When the movie ends, what music should we hear as the younger person and the older person walk home together? (See #14 on the right.)
Question: - (1 point)
Decide what emotion do you want the audience to feel. Then think of how you would create that mood with music.
Send me your answer:
Tell me how you would create this mood with music.



Highly Recommended
The images in this storyboard to the right were created quickly and easily using the free demo version of FrameForge 3D Studio. This is a wonderful program that all filmmakers should immediately download. Your instructor highly recommends this program.
Free Demo Version
When you requrest to download the demo version, please list your middle name as "WikiU". Robert Elliott 16:09, 7 December 2006 (UTC)

The next age

Now you begin learning and practicing the basic methods of creating film scores for filmmakers who are not musicians.

Contact your instructor

Your instructor for this film scoring class is Robert Elliott.
You can email me by clicking here.