one of the most unforgettable moments Beetlejuice Beetlejuiceis a traditional sequel to Tim Burton’s “1988,” which premiered 36 years later Beetlejuicea homage to the terrifying, iconic needle drop from the first film.
It’s not an easy task for a screenwriter to incorporate drop needles into a script. Most people would advise screenwriters to avoid adding any music to their scripts for several logistical reasons. But music has its place and purpose, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Show us how to use needle drops almost perfectly.
What is needle drop?
Pin drop refers to the music that falls into the scene. The term refers to the record player’s needle dropping onto the record, but it quickly became a powerful tool for filmmakers. The emotions and associations an audience has with a particular song can enhance the overall tone of a particular scene.
Music can be played at specific moments in the story to highlight the importance of a moment in the script. It can serve as a nod to certain themes, serve as a bit of world-building, or be used to develop characters.
There are several ways to incorporate songs into movies, many of which are diegetic music or placed within scenes for characters to hear and interact with. This means music can be played in headphones, in the background at a party, or Beetlejuice moment—as a tongue-in-cheek way of possessing humans.
Read more: 5 Trademarks for Spike Jonze Movies, TV Shows and Music Videos
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” cleverly uses needle drop
As with any traditional sequel, the most iconic moments from the first film will be replicated. One of the scenes borrowed and reused in new ways is the Day-O dinner scene Beetlejuice. The moment was so unforgettable that the song came up again Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Attend a funeral.
Screenwriter Larry Wilson, who co-wrote the original novel with the late novelist Michael McDowell, said in an interview with Pitchfork that Warren Scallan, who rewrote the script, came up with the possession song and dance routine, based on the 1939 R&B Style creation.
To add energy to the scene, Catherine O’Hara suggested calypso music, and the producers chose Harry Belafonte’s “Day-O” because it was what the production team could afford.
The result is a hilariously terrifying affair that ends up being resurrected with the practical Devil Shrimp, delivering one of the more unexpected scares Beetlejuice.
And “Day-O” returns, bringing an even more sad pin-drop moment Beetlejuice Beetlejuicethe most notable pin drop occurs when diabolical trickster Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) convinces Lydia (Winona Ryder) to marry him. A towering cake was rolled out with gooey green frosting and figures of Lydia and Betelgeuse. As a groom, Betelgeuse sang “MacArthur Park” at the wedding party, a song referring to the rotten-looking cake and “all the sweet, green frosting running down.”
The song was a great choice to incorporate into the physical comedy on screen.
This ridiculous sequence sets the tone for Wedding from Hell, pays homage and incorporates Betelgeuse’s signature sadistic humor.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
How (and when) to write music into a screenplay
While music selection isn’t usually something a screenwriter has a say in, there’s always a time and place for incorporating certain songs into a script.
As with most script techniques, there are several ways to format music into a script.
The first method is to create a new action line and write “MUSIC CUE:” in all caps. The song title will be placed in quotes, followed by the artist’s name.
A great script by Edgar Writer to see how music is formatted in a script baby driverwhich not only shows you how to format music, but also how to use it within a scene to establish a tone, set the pace of a sequence, or develop a character.
“Baby Driver” (2017)
Why include musical cues in your script?
There are several ways to ensure that the music you write in your script is essential. One is to make sure the music enhances the scene and contributes something meaningful. This may involve visual pranks such as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Characters play loud music while committing violent crimes, e.g. Reservoir dogsor have your character dance to a song like saturday night fever.
The beauty of music and film as visual mediums is that they work hand in hand to create emotional moments for the audience. However, if you choose to add music, it must be essential to the scene.
If you’re not sure whether to add a pin drop, you can always take a page from Quentin Tarantino’s playbook and specify a musical genre rather than a specific song. This gives readers, directors, and producers the freedom to imagine a song that fits the scene, rather than being constrained by the song you choose.
Tarantino’s script is also a musical masterclass. While he doesn’t often choose specific songs for a script, he does choose a musical style. exist django unchainedTarantino set the tone for the opening of the film with the “Spaghetti Western Theme Song.”
“Django Unchained” (2012)
Readers can interpret the music they hear because they understand the genre’s role in the scene.
Writing music into a screenplay can be tricky for a variety of reasons, most of which are logistical. One potential problem is the possibility of legal disputes over copyright. The other is that the director ultimately decides whether or not to include a particular song.
But when needle drops work, they really work.
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Music creates some of the most iconic scenes in movies and is an integral part of life. Drop needles can greatly emphasize tone and help draw the viewer into the scene. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Knows how to deliver the music in a way that is completely unique and crucial to the comedy of the story.
Now that you know how to format music into your script, don’t be afraid to give in and add another layer of depth to your story!
Read more: How to write better scripts with music
