I’ve been working on a couple screenplays lately, and one of them has a musical number (really more just a song I wrote that’s essential to the script, not a big dance number or anything). How exactly do you write that in? Do you just write the lyrics as dialogue? I should probably read a book or something, but I hate those how-to pieces of shit, so I was hoping somebody here would have an idea.
Also, mods, feel free to move this to GQ if it doesn’t fit here.
If someone is singing the lyrics, I’d just have it go something like:
INT. CLUB - NIGHT
Bob, guitar in hand, takes the stage, strums the guitar, leans into the microphone.
BOB
(sings)
Lyrics go here and here
and here and so on
and so on just like
dialogue, but maybe
with commas after each
line instead of periods.
Bob finishes with a guitar solo. APPLAUSE from the audience.
I’m just guessing what the scene may be, of course. Format is off, can’t tab on here.
I’m trying to think if any screenplays I own have songs in them. If I remember one, I’ll get back to you.
Sir Rhosis
Thanks. That’s pretty much how I’ve got it now - just wasn’t sure it was SOP.
As an afterthought, I suppose you could do it by seeting the scene and saying stating something like “Bob sings a lovely ballad (lyrics to be provided).” But I think putting the lyrics in there is probably best, especially since it is your own composition.
Good luck with it.
Sir Rhosis