Filmmaking / Directing : A Composer's Question for Directors: Music & Emotional Impact by Ronith Balaji

Ronith Balaji

A Composer's Question for Directors: Music & Emotional Impact

Hey everyone in the Film Making/Directing Lounge!

My name is Ronith, and I'm a film composer and music producer, currently studying Film & Media Scoring at Berklee College of Music.

My passion lies in crafting original scores that go beyond just supporting the visuals; I aim to create music that truly explores the emotive and psychological depths of a story, helping to elevate a director's unique vision and bring characters fully to life.

I'm fascinated by the directing process and always seeking to understand how directors conceive their films from the ground up. I'm curious:

When you're directing, what's one key element of a scene (beyond dialogue or action) that you rely on music to either reveal, enhance, or perhaps even subtly contradict to achieve a specific emotional or psychological impact?

I'd love to hear your insights on how you envision the collaboration with a composer to achieve those nuanced layers.

If you're curious, you can also check out some of my work here: https://rronith.bandzoogle.com

Looking forward to connecting with fellow filmmakers!

Debbie Croysdale

Change in status quo in the story occurs/game changer. Highlight a persons true frame of mind, perceive their real thoughts. Strengthen memory of a key flashback. Foreshadow an event. Build dread/tension/suspense. “Sudden” beats/foleys instead of whole music piece with visual camera jump cut/push in for shock effect. Dramatic irony. Set the scene. End the scene. Confuse the audience. Affirm the audience. Make audience feel joy, sadness Etc. Red herring such as a false sense of security then following visual expectations subverted. Other reasons to add music can happen organically when any scene demands and not always pre planned.

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