Not quite a song.

[Writing Again]

I was looking at a horror novel of mine that has not sold. I was thinking of adapting it to a screenplay, for practice if nothing else.

I am strongly tempted to start it this way:

FADE IN:

Hot molten lava begins to pour slowly across the blackness. MUSIC, slow, dark, and ominous at first begins to build to a higher, angrier, pitch. As it does so the lava begins to swirl faster and faster untill it is flowing violently down a hillside.



How feasible is that?

Yes, I was thinking that something classical might be the best, but I am far from an expert in music.


And yes the lava does play a small but important part in the story.

[filmcarver]

You will NEVER make the decision on film score unless it is your project top to bottom.

Your job is to tell the story. If you feel that a particular piece of music is absolutely VITAL, then include a brief description.

What you are describing is run of the mill dramatic background, and has nothing to do with the story. If the story is told correctly, the ominous feel will be there without the score...that's your job.

Read this month's Scr(i)pt Magazine....another writer who failed with his novels scored with his screenplay, so go for it.

[Writing Again]

Thank you for your answers and that encouragement.

I was pretty sure it should not be used, but when I wrote the scene I kept hearing the music.

Is this better, or am I brooking other rules?

FADE IN:

A single red drop of BLOOD falls into the blackness, followed slowly, ominously, by another. The puddle formed begins to swirl showing itself to be a pool of lava. The lava churns faster and faster spilling down a hillside, some of if forming a small eddy.

A SMALL LIZARD like CREATURE steps shyly across the pool of lava. Looks around, sees something and then quickly disappears.

CUT TO: etc.

Perhaps this whole type of entrence into the script is wrong. But I am attached to it because if does give the "feel" of what follows.

[filmcarver]

Whatever you think is important to open with, fine. Just make sure it moves swiftly into the current world of the main character and what they are about to experience that will change their world forever.

Down the road, you'll realize succinct and to the point stories with great characters and dialogue rule the day. You won't believe how much you will cut your action lines down and get the same results if not better.

It sounds like you're trying to see your story as a film, which is good if you keep it that way. As has been said, a good script is an accurate description of a film as you watched it.

Just remember to visualize yourself as a pro reader who just grabbed this script at 3:00 in the afternoon.

Tell them the story, not how you want to direct the film.

Best of luck