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Well, it's a sign of an amateur to name a song in a spec screenplay. The reason is that you're asking a potential buyer to not only buy your script, but also suggesting they purchase the rights to this song. Is the song essential to the plot? Can you be general with it? Can you heavily imply that this is the song you want?
This is one of those admittedly annoying areas where we'd like to have a little control, but need to leave it to those who are considering what to purchase. Sometimes, it's not the art; it's the business.
I do want to say it is not forbidden, per se, becaue really nothing is forbidden, but it is frowned upon.
I've got a question that has probably been answered a lot over the time that this site has been around, and I'm sorry, but I just need to know.
Is it an absolute "NO" to include the song title and artist in a description... For example...
FADE IN:
INT. VAN
Two metal-heads are headbanging to the song, "Enter Sandman".
Is that allowed, or do screenwriters not get an option on the soundtrack for their piece of work?
Most will tell you no, and with good reason, but if what you film has a limited audience -- as most shorts do, like you and a few friends, go ahead. No one will know.
If, though, you plan to shop the film at festivals, you might want to try to get a "Festival License." You can, often, get the rights to songs at a much reduced cost if you're a student or amature film maker.
Metallica, though...hmmm, I doubt it. They're some money grubbing bastards!
Best to find a local band that is looking for exposure.
Not everyone knows what a metalhead looks like. There's too many subcategories of America's youth now-a-days. Even within a subcategory, there's a lot of room to play.
Not everyone knows what a metalhead looks like. There's too many subcategories of America's youth now-a-days. Even within a subcategory, there's a lot of room to play.
If only there were someone on a movie making team to interpret the script visually...
I'm willing to bet that a sixteen year old metalhead dresses very differently than a twenty year old metalhead. Also, things like what they look like (fat, tall, unkempt, etc) really affect the first impression.
The basic rule I follow, especially in specs, is: If it doesn't add to either the story, or to character development, don't include it. That is to say, if it's important that they be listening to specifically "enter sandman" then leave it in, but if it could be any headbanger song then say that.
This holds even truer for an instance such as this one where the music is diegetic (In the movie world) as opposed to something that only the audience would hear, out side of the world of the characters. (I know that's not a great explanation of diegetic/nondiegetic, but if you really care you can look it up.) As far as I can tell the song doesn't help develop the characters beyond that they are headbangers, nor does it address the story and the bigger picture. So just to recap, do it only if it is important to the story or the characters, otherwise say something like Alex's suggestion.
Let say for a minute that you have a sence were somone is hanging from a cliff and there is a real life song know as "Cliff Dangler" your sence looks something like this
EXT. ROCKY MOUTAINS-DAY
A man hangs on the edge of a cliff.
GUY CLIFF DANGLER, YOU LOOK GOOD/CLIFF DANGLER, DO WHAT YOU SHOULD/ CLIFF DANGLER, GOT DANGER IN HIS EYES/ CLIFF DANGLER, NOT GONNA DIE!
Those are the only lyrics used. Since it is minimal, would it fall under fair use. also, wouldn't it affect your script from being able to be copywriten?
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Songs In Screenplays?
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