Author: James Snyder

From Darth Vader entering the scene to the shark approaching in Jaws to an Avenger appearing on the screen, music in film plays a wholly crucial role in setting the mood and enhancing emotions felt throughout the movie and how audiences feel about specific characters.

Composers work tirelessly to create apt soundtracks that not only grab emotive attention but also develop the film’s characters and advance the plot. James Snyder notes that discovering how background music, singing, and acting combine to craft beautiful scenes enhances the viewing experience and allows budding screenwriters to implement scores to elevate their scripts.

The Vital Effects of Music in Film

When someone says, “Star Wars,” dialogue is unlikely to be the first thing that springs to mind. Instead, it’s the sounds — the dramatic, unforgettable score by John Williams included. The major movies in pop culture and beyond use music to develop themes and establish the tone of the whole production.

Emotion Enhancing

Whether it’s joy, fear, or sadness, music taps into emotions unlike anything else.

While dialogue in realistic movies like Me Before You and The Notebook may make watchers cry, it’s always amplified by the subtle changes in background music keys.

Horror films filled with jump scares prefer using crescendos or suddenly cutting the music out so only the main character’s breath can be heard to build tension before snapping it.

Regardless of the movie category, consider the music the emotion bringer.

Plot Advancing

Plot points and transitions are often highlighted with music. Not only does it help keep the plot ticking along, but it also ensures audiences remain engaged, even in lengthy films like Avatar.

Mood Setting

Like its emotion enhancing capabilities, music sets the ambiance for the entire movie. It sets the stage for a romantic comedy, brings the overarching joy to a Christmas film, or builds nothing but suspense for a horror title. The power a well-written score has is tremendous.

Place Creating

Leitmotifs (i.e., repeating melodic phrases used to represent something) are often used to establish the film’s setting. This applies to specific locations and/or a certain era.

Character Development Through Singing and Acting

A discussion on the role of music in films wouldn’t be complete without diving into the world of character development through a combination of acting and singing.

Often, characters, particularly in musicals, will sing songs to reveal their true feelings (a common theme in Disney films) or what they plan to do to other characters (as showcased beautifully in Wicked). Actors playing these parts must get into character fully before performing as their on-stage or on-screen personality must shine through with every note.

Perhaps one of the best examples of characters revealing their inner thoughts and pain points through music is Kristine (the tone-deaf character) from A Chorus Line. She uses the song Sing! to lament how she can’t sing, while struggling to get through the notes. It’s a near-perfect piece of musical theater, wonderfully representing the importance of acting and singing merging.

Barbra Streisand, Meryl Streep, and Ryan Gosling all have something in common — they’re triple threats. While somewhat a new notion, the accurately dubbed “triple threats” excel in singing, dancing, and acting, bringing the life and soul to Broadway productions. These performers expertly combine the three disciplines to create magical shows on the stage and in film.

Historically, people could make it in the industry by becoming an expert in one or two musical theater elements. These days, James Snyder explains that ensembles are smaller, with Broadway demanding triple threat status from their performers across the board. So much so that there are college programs dedicated to produce such performers, shipping them off to competitive auditions.

The Importance of Triple Threat Performers

Without these talented performers, productions couldn’t combine dancing, singing, and acting flawlessly. Imagine a Wicked show where the main character couldn’t sing; they’d have to employ a double with a strong voice or include lip syncing. Ultimately, audiences would be able to identify the switch, ruining the continuity and flow of the entire show.

As theater lovers, alongside production teams, continue expecting more from the performers, only some will be able to effectively climb to the top, contributing perfectly to the vibrancy Broadway requires.

Wider Skill Sets for Improved Productions

Performers must be able to sing with conviction, strength, projection, and passion. They must deliver characters with an alluring stage persona, recite lines like they come straight from the heart, and act oh-so-convincingly. And they must also be highly proficient in the production’s choreography, and the styles that occur — contemporary, tap, ballet, modern, and anything else it throws at them.

It has always been a cutthroat industry, but it’s increased in recent years, as critics and producers understand just how much all three disciplines contribute to the ambience and overall rating of the play.

The Stage Swing

There are innumerable reasons why a production’s cast will need to show prowess in a range of performance styles. One of the main reasons is being the stage swing.

For those not in the know, the swing is the person who could be asked to stand in for a main position at short notice due to injury or illness. It’s perhaps the most exciting, high-pressure situation performers have to show off their honed skills. However, if they aren’t equally strong in dance, drama, and music, they won’t be considered to take on the swing position.

Ever-Aspirational Talent

It’s almost every performer’s dream to be a triple threat. And it’s becoming increasingly more important to fit that description as time goes on. Granted, it’s a hard journey there, but the magic created on stage is more than worth it, especially to producers who are constantly looking for the latest talent.

All musical theater is a combination of acting, dancing, and singing. One simply cannot exist without the other on Broadway, solidifying its status as the ultimate necessity for memorable shows.

Conclusion

In the captivating realm of theater, the convergence of acting, singing, and dancing transforms mere stories into enchanting spectacles that resonate deep within us. The complexities of the triple threat lie in performers surpassing the confines of their individual crafts, resulting in performances that exude nothing but enchantment. As the curtain falls, may we forever cherish the harmonious interplay of these artistic forces, recognizing that it is through the unity of acting, singing, and dancing that the most extraordinary productions come to life, leaving an indelible mark on both the stage and our hearts.