Music and motivation

I meet a lot of clients interested in adding a ‘motivational’ element to their production, this is sometimes to get people excited about a new product launch or to make staff feel better about their work.  Indeed the power of music to transform an otherwise run-of-the-mill film is quite astounding.

However, as a film maker, you do have to be extremely careful about the use of music – it takes a lot of experience and an instinct to know when to use it effectively and when to opt for silence (also a powerful asset).  Timing is the key, bringing music in at precisely the right moment and in context with the images should be the aim.  Sometimes it is subliminal, the audience almost unaware that is is there, until it is removed and then you can almost hear the silence!

There are also licencing issues to consider if you are using the work of other artists - you cannot simply lift a chart hit and use it against your production without permission otherwise you will get a knock on the door from the artists lawyers!  The MCPS-PRS have details of licencing mainstream tracks – sometimes you can purchase a ’standard’ licence, other times you may have to do some sort of negotiation.

So if your production lacks the ‘wow factor’, try looking at the soundtrack, it may hold the key!

James