NewEnglandFilm.com

I was thinking that screenwriters might have a source where they go to search for music. Any thoughts, suggestions?

Unless you are planning on producing your script, it is not your job as the screenwriter to find music. Generally, potential producers and directors are not that interested in reading screenwriters’ ideas for music cues in their screenplays. Unless it is absolutely crucial to your story, then you can include in your action paragraph — Suggested Music: (then name the composer and song). One major reason for this is that securing the music rights and paying the licensing fee for a song can be very challenging and expensive.

If, however, you are intending to produce and/or direct your screenplay and you are looking for original music, there are numerous screenwriting and film publications that advertise composers who are interested in film scoring, including NewEnglandFilm.com. I would also suggest contacting colleges and universities that have composition programs. Many composers are eager to break into the film industry and to collaborate on projects.

I want to know if I wrote a script in 1986, with Elves speaking, subtitled, can I still submit it? I ask because Lord of the Rings does the same.

To play devil’s advocate, if I am a story analyst or producer reading your script that has similarities (elves speaking) to a popular film (Lord of the Rings), unless the script is absolutely brilliant and you have a very unique spin on elves speaking, I would most likely reject the script because this idea might be too similar to the Lord of the Rings. To avoid risking any legal ramifications, I would then ask: Why not just revise the subtitled elves speaking with a different idea.

Another issue you should be aware of is that potential producers will ask themselves, “What is wrong with this script?” if it was written twenty-five years ago and still hasn’t been made.