Screenwriting : What kind of music do you like to listen to most when writing? by Steven Harris Anzelowitz

Other film soundtracks. I especially enjoy Titanic soundtrack. It's sweeping.

Whatever's on the jukebox in the bar is okay with me. Heh-heh. Seriously...I listen to everything. I can't really have music playing while I'm writing. I have to have complete silence. But when I'm taking breaks, I listen to everything. I'm especially crushing right now on the live concerts of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds; Paganini's violin concertos; Ennio Morricone's soundtracks; and Merle Haggard's live concerts. Those guys just kill it.

I use music to help develop scenes and characters, so it depends on the theme and genre I'm writing. Right now, I've been working on a Japanese thriller and have been listening to works by artists such as Gackt and VAMPS (Japan).

The music I listen to while writing depends on the story. Sometimes it is AC/DC, sometimes Lady Antebellum or anything in between. When I wrote my last screenplay I listened to Billy Joel, Eric Carmen, and Joe Cocker.

I find the setting I'm writing in can add more atmosphere than any soundtrack. Eg. I was writing a scene about a captive, so I went and crouched with a notebook into an attic with low ceilings with a tiny window overlooking Amsterdam building tops. Another time I sat in a Madrid bus station as I was writing a Hispanic style pulp. I wish music would help me write, and envy folks who it aids. To me background music always proves an irritant, it moves me "away" from the thoughts and feelings of my characters, more than "deeper" into them.

Rap and upbeat symphony. Music that gives me power. I've been listening Skyrim's "Dovahkiin" theme song a lot lately.

Pink Floyd, Yes, The Alan Parsons Project, Genesis and The Mars Volta.

"Chill Out Music " preferably without vocals. It's relaxing, soothing and sometimes moody.

I know its odd, but I write best with the television on in the background. I get sucked into the kind of music i like to listen too, colors everything I do, best not to turn it on when I am writing. Who knows where it will take me.

Great question!!! I've organized entire spotify playlists to my projects. What do they consist of? Anything and everything! From Roger Miller to Beyonce. gGenerally, I go by the lyrics of the song and what kind if scene I'm writing at the time.

Sometimes I keep on ESPN's SportsCenter in the morning. My office is in a loft and I have the TV on low downstairs so it's not mucb of a distraction. If it's music it could be anything loud and heavy like Foo Fighters or ACDC which gets me on a roll and in the writing zone. Foo Fighters work their way in everyday! It really depends on the mood too and what I am working on. I am all over the place with Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zepplin, Heart, The Cars, Weezer, Tom Petty, movie soundtracks, Beatles, McCartney's solo work and Wings, David Bowie, Van Halen, The Police, The Rutles, and it keeps going. I just had on Chuck Mangione and The Cannonball Run theme if that gives you an idea. @Roberto: I love Pink Floyd and have a ton of their work going back to Syd Barrett. Select works can be listened to while writing, others will just zone me out from writing. Great choice with Alan Parsons Project and Genesis!

Steven: I listen to mostly jazz while I'm writing. Sometimes, I'll let youtube stream and listened to the Derek and Dominos first album and Allman Brothers live at the Filmore last week.

Hey Steven. :) I'll listen and enjoy some music before I work, but otherwise I prefer quiet.

I may change it up depending on the scene I'm writing but mostly it's hard classic rock.

I just got CJ Walley's new CD "50 Ways You Better Not Look at Me" and Phillip Hardy's new CD "I've Written Everywhere, Man", and I gotta say....not since the first recording by the French lady singing "Claire de la lune" have I been so moved.

@ Oliver White : First Fam 4 Life bro! I wrote to this also. :) P.S. We're old.

Steven - Not Edith. It's the first recording known to man, circa 1860. Funny thing is, they didn't have the capability to play back anything at the time. Talk about being ahead of one's time. Hey...I just picked up your CD "Steven and Liza: Live at the Shubert - One Night Only!" You can really hit the high bouncy C!

Pandora Kenny G station

• Oliver White Sounds like a hype beginning for a fitting movie score.

Totally depends on the project. For existential super natural material sort of epic sound tracky that is not definitive to a particular film. More like a storm... nature... the elements.

If you want to hear some really good soundscapes, you should also check out the Composing Lounge here on Stage32. There are a lot of great composers who have links to their own websites and music.

whatever suits the characters or scenes.

I seldom listen to music when I write but I like old school rap/hip hop and early punk/new wave. Sometimes I will have a movie or tv show on. Also depends on if I am writing in my office or in the living room with my laptop. I'm used to writing with tons of distractions so everything, including dogs, kids, spouses, tv and music tend to fade into white noise when I write.

I like to listen to classical music.

I like listening to pop music, especially from the 70s and 80s.

Yes, Steven buddy, I listen to music that best suits my story or the decade of that story. It helped greatly when I had to write a screenplay that took place back in early '80s and music was a big part of the storyline.

Sign you're getting old....when you refer to current pop music as "so-called music." I'm stilll waiting for Steven to tell us his favorite composers. Let me put on my psychic hat here....homny, homny hey...Panthers 38, Broncos 24...homny, homny hey...Cubs win 2016 World Series.....homny, homny hey....Steven's favorite composers.....Lil Kim, Sid Vicious, and Lemmy. Nice picks, Steven!

Heh-heh. You're okay in my book, Steven. Of course, my book is Rikers Island Rules & Regulations for Problem Inmates, but......

Victor, I grew up listening to that music (at the time), and I still love that music. Haha... :)

Steven's hint is very obvious - Moe, Larry and Curley's "The Alphabet Song!" Me too, Steven! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVWODdciZ88

That's funny. I have to write in complete silence. Music will distract me.

I don't think today's music is garbage at all. No different than our grandparents being horrified by Elvis or The Beatles. Not all of today's music appeals to me, but then neither does all of yesterday's music. Staying current with the times, even pop culture, music, etc is important. Especially in this industry!

Anybody who isn't moved by today's pop music - songs like Kelly Clarkson's Piece by Piece; Kirk Franklin's Wanna Be Happy; Five Finger Death Punch's Wash It All Away; Granger Smith's Backroad Song; or The Weeknd's Can't Feel My Face - is too rigid and frigid. Those - and many others - are great songs. But to each their own, I guess.

Capisce!

A lot of times, I'll be too focused to put on any music. If I do have something playing, it's usually atmospheric without any lyrics. Movie scores work great to get the inspiration flowing.

I agree with Steven about classic music. Classic/classical music to me is pieces from Mozart and Back and so on... When people say that 80s are classic, it makes me feel old or ancient. Haha... I grew up with that. However, I do understand what these "youngsters" are talking about... :)

Steven, I write action/drama scripts so I tend to listen to sweeping epics. Hans Zimmer and Steve Jablonsky are my usual favorites, but I also throw in James Horner (RIP) and Alan Silvestri.

I have the score to "The Magnificent Seven" by Elmer Bernstein playing now. Always keeps the thought process moving.

Yeah, scores are usually the best for me because they don't distract me with the lyrics. I love the soundtrack to 'The Fountain' by Clint Mansell

Steven, that is cool about your family. I can understand how you can be a huge fan of that kind of music. I used to play the violin, so I have knowledge of orchestra instruments.

I have instrumental music playing in the background all the time. It keeps my synapses calm and allows me to concentrate on what I'm doing.

Pandora piano classical

The best of Hans Zimmer and James Horner :)

Loved those two guys music score, Zlatan.

Jprge - Too bad James Horner is no longer with us, may he rest in peace, but one can never go wrong with either one of these incredible composers.

I listen to a score that's similar to the story I'm writing.

Steven, try music soundtracks to the same genre you're writing. Hans Zimmer is one great composer.

I like music from the sixties and seventies so that is what I listen to when I write. I wrote a screenplay based on a musicians life story once so I listened to his music while I wrote the script. That was kind of a fun thing to do especially since I grew up listening to some of his music.

I like to listen to Silence by No One when I'm writing. If someone comes in, I always switch it to Sullen Glares by Leave Me Alone.