When music tells the story

Last Saturday night I was lucky enough to be at the Royal Albert Hall for a live tribute to John Williams with the London Symphony Orchestra. It was a glorious evening, and a reminder of how much of a film’s storytelling happens through our ears.

A few notes can bring an entire fictional world rushing back; and what we remember most vividly is an accompanying feeling: wonder, dread, hope, loss. The music reconnects us with something we experienced long after the details of the plot have faded.

As filmmakers, we spend a great deal of time thinking about what an audience will see. Listening to John Williams’ iconic music performed live reminded us how much a score can reveal what a character cannot say, make an ordinary moment feel unsettling, or allow an emotion to emerge without dialogue.

It also takes judgement to know when to hold back. Sometimes a scene needs space.

That’s one reason we’re so pleased to champion young contemporary artists such as Brad Kella and Ariana May through our latest NV Pictures shorts. Working with musical talent is an opportunity to invite another storyteller into the process.

Our films operate on a rather different scale from a Hollywood blockbuster. But the main creative question is much the same: what will help an audience connect with the story?

Finding the right composer is a magical way of doing so.