Theme tune related enquiry Page 2

The opening bit reminds me of Sweet Jane. Good song.

Re music in scripts this is how I opened my last but one.

EP97/SC1. EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOT. LETHERBRIDGE UNIVERSITY. CAMPUS. DAY. 07.00

[THE HOUR HAND MOVES TO SEVEN O'CLOCK

MUSIC BEGINS AND PLAYS OVER THE FIRST FIVE SCENES. BRAD SINGING - MORNING HAS BROKEN - WITH ACOUSTIC GUITAR.

BRAD:V/O
(SINGING) Morning has broken, like the first morning.

CUT TO:

EP97/SC2. INT. CARLY MADDERS ROOM. DAY. 07.01

[BOOKS ARRANGED NEATLY. AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR PROPPED AGAINST THE WALL]

[BRAD: V/O
(SINGING) Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning.
Praise for the springing fresh from the world.

[CARLY MADDERS, A PRE RAPHAELITE BEAUTY, WILD TITIAN HAIR, BIG GREEN EYES, IS LYING ON HER BED. HER CLOTHES DISARRAYED, SHE HAS BEEN SICK. SHE AWAKES DISCONCERTED, AND AS HER HANDS SMOOTH OVER HER SKIRT SHE GETS EVEN MORE SO.

HER EYES DART BACK AND FORTH. AS SHE CLOSES HER EYES SHE GETS DISJOINTED FLASHES OF MEMORY, SOUNDS DISTORTING BRAD'S SINGING, SHE SEES SHADOWS, HEARS DISTORTED VOICES.

SHE STUMBLES TO A SINK AND LOOKS AT HERSELF IN THE MIRROR AND GAGS HOLDING A HAND TO HER MOUTH]

CUT TO:

[EP97/SC3. SIMON'S HOUSE. SPARE ROOM. DAY. 07:30

BRAD: V/O
(SINGING) Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning.
Born of the one light, Eden saw play.

[SUE IS SEATED AT A DRESSING TABLE. SHE PICKS UP A LIPSTICK, LOOKS AT HERSELF IN THE MIRROR AND LOSES IT A BIT, CLUTCHING HOLD OF THE LIPSTICK AS IF TO HURL IT ACROSS THE ROOM.

THEN SHE TAKES A DEEP BREATH AND STEADIES HERSELF AND APPLIES THE LIPSTICK]

CUT TO:

EP97/SC4. INT. CARLY MADDER'S ROOM. DAY. 08:00

BRAD: V/O
(SINGING) Praise with elation, praise every morning.
God's recreation of the new day.

[CARLY HAS CHANGED HER CLOTHING.

PALE AND BEREFT OF MAKE UP SHE SITS ON THE BED, HOLDING A CRUCIFIX IN HER HAND AND MUMBLING A PRAYER. SHE LOOKS UP AND HER EYES OPEN. FIERCE. ANGRY]

CUT TO:

EP97/SC5. EXT. LETHERBRIDGE UNIVERSITY. CAMPUS. DAY. 08:15

[BRAD DEXTER A GOOD LOOKING, CURLY HAIRED, MAN OF 21. IS BUSKING ON CAMPUS, POSSIBLY IN FRONT OF THE BOOKSHOP. A COUPLE OF STUDENTS PASS AS DOES RUTH ON HER WAY TO THE SURGERY. SHE SMILES AND THROWS HIM A COIN, THE SONG RESONATING WITH HER UPBEAT MOOD.

BRAD FINISHES THE SONG REPRIEVING THE FINAL LINE.

BRAD: V/O
(SINGING) God's recreation of the new day.

CUT TO:

That extract was an hilarious.

Ronnie I think you should include the song but I also think you should try and change it in a way that makes your script better. You could have a character singing it or you could have the entire cast. Is it studio based?

Quote: jim field @ November 9 2009, 11:40 AM GMT

That extract was an hilarious.

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Well, it was a Marc P Doctors script! I remember thinking it worked very well on screen.

Yes, I know.

The point I was making was that what was written there was what appeared on the screen. Without directing the director apart from in the normal way in a script - I directed the sequence of actions and events thematically linked to the music. So you can do it, just not in a way that antagonises.

Plus I can play it on the guitar.

Quote: jim field @ November 9 2009, 11:40 AM GMT

That extract was an hilarious.

View original

Cheers. Here's some more. Music playing in the backgroundis Bob Dylan.
Michelle is a nurse pretending to be a student to do some undercover snooping.

[CARLY FLASHES MICHELLE A 'DON'T SAY ANYTHING' LOOK AS BRAD AND GRAHAM APPROACH CARRYING FOOD]

BRAD:
Room for a couple of little ones.

CARLY:
Sure.

[GRAHAM HANDS HER SOME PAPERS]

GRAHAM:[b]
My notes.

[b]BRAD:
The 'Pathetic Fallacy'

MICHELLE:
(SHORT) Bit rude isn't it?

GRAHAM:
Ruskin's phrase to describe the poetic notion of giving the natural world human sensibilities.

MICHELLE:
(DRY) Oh…. I thought you were talking about brewers droop.

[BRAD LAUGHS]

BRAD:
I'm Brad, this is Graham. And you would be…?

CARLY:
This is Michelle. She's…

MICHELLE:
(INTERRUPTING) I'm studying English too.

[SHE FLASHES CARLY A 'PLAY ALONG' LOOK]

GRAHAM:
I haven't seen you in the lecture halls.

MICHELLE:
I just transferred.

BRAD:
Really. I'm sure I've seen you somewhere. And I never forget a face, especially one as pulchritudinous as yours.

CARLY:
(ON MICHELLE'S REACTION) It means beautiful.

MICHELLE:
I knew that! I didn't get an A level in Charles Dickens for nothing you know.

BRAD:
(LAUGHS) We're going to have to watch this one Graham.

[GRAHAM POINTS AT THE NOTES]

GRAHAM:
So what's your take on the anthropomorphism issue?

MICHELLE:
(BEAT) I'm all for it… But not before marriage!

[BRAD LAUGHS AGAIN]

BRAD:
There really is something familiar about you. I'll get it in a minute… Something I can't quite put my finger on.

MICHELLE:
(NERVOUSLY COVERING) Good… because if you try to you'll get a plaster boot where you wouldn't like it.

BRAD:
I was talking metaphorically.

MICHELLE:
That's right. Right in the metaphoricals.

You're the 'best'.

Well... you might be going a little too far there Jim.

Quote: Ronnie Anderson @ November 9 2009, 1:24 AM GMT

I was wondering if any of you ever included the theme tune you'd like in your sitcom script.

I know you that it is pretty silly to think about such things when really I should be concentrating on the writing, however, I have found myself obsessed with a couple of songs being used as theme music for things I have written. One of the songs would be totally reinterepreted if it was used a theme tune for my sitcom and would work brilliantly, so would I look like a total moron if I were to mention it in the script, I think I probably will include it anyway, but I am curious as to what you think.

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Perhaps you could just allude to it? Especially if it is something that sets the tone.

GRAMS: JAUNTY/MELANCHOLIC/DOWNBEAT/FUNKY/etc (DELETE AS APPLICABLE) TUNE e.g. WHATEVER SONG IT IS YOU WANT.

That way you're just suggesting something rather than instructing them. Might work.

Or just give your sitcom the same name as the song and hope they get the hint.

Quote: Afinkawan @ November 9 2009, 12:52 PM GMT

Or just give your sitcom the same name as the song and hope they get the hint.

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I'm currently writing the pilot episode of 'Too Drunk To F**k'.

Whats the first line?

Of the sitcom I mean.

Quote: Marc P @ November 9 2009, 1:04 PM GMT

Whats the first line?

Of the sitcom I mean.

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INT. PUB - NIGHT.

Quote: Dolly Dagger @ November 9 2009, 1:06 PM GMT

INT. PUB - NIGHT.

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A woman is sat at the bar four tequilla shots in front of her, she drinks two as a man approaches.

CHIP: Can I buy you a drink?

WOMAN: (SLURRED) You'd be wasting your money honey, I'm too drunk to f**k.

CHIP: Did you come with any friends then?

Quote: Lee Henman @ November 9 2009, 2:47 AM GMT

Me and David Bussell wrote a paranormal-themed sketch show for Hat Trick last year (that sadly was turned down by the C4 commissioners - ah well.) Anyway I had a crack at writing the theme tune. It's here if you anyone fancies a listen: http://www.macjams.com/song/46430

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Love your theme mate! Got a bit of Danny Elfman in there too. Do you write lots of music for sketches...?

I had a tune in mind when I wrote a cop show sitcom (uncommissioned). I didn't write the music and I never told the producers for fear of looking a bit like an over keen amatuer. But I feel I can tell you guys...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7XTqHbsrdY

I felt it sounded like a retro cop show and would get goose bumps when I played it imaging the end credits to episode one!

A great bit of work there Lee.

I have a couple of songs in mind for theme tunes for two of my sitcoms, which I'll get off my arse and compose sometime.