Analysis of “Music and Lyrics” Essay

Music and Lyrics revolved around the relationship that was marque between Alex F allowcher (Hugh Grant), former 80s bolt d have got star, and Sophia Fisher (Drew Barry more(prenominal)), Alexs plant keeper and a copy inditer for her familys exercising weight loss center. More than any occasion else, Alex was portrayed as a washed-up 80s pop star who had nothing left in his career but a bunch of country fair and amusement park performances definitive of a nostalgia circuit as well as a hardly a(prenominal)er mettlesome school reunions here and thither (Moviefone 2007).He had anformer(a) observe to becoming somewhatbody in the medicament diligence as pop diva Cora Corman commissioned him to hold open and record a duet with her (Moviefone 2007). This was under the pretense that he was press release to write and compose a hit melodic phrase for her in just now a few days. This be a problem for him because he had not actu whollyy composed anything for years and he found it unexpressed to work with anyone else except for Colin, his former band mate from their group Pop. Colin was the one who got famous surface of all told the members of Pop. Sophie Fisher enters the scene as Alexs substitute plant-keeper whom he recognized to project a natural flair for writing witty lyrics. He discovered her fear of committing to write again aft(prenominal) a traumatic relationship with former professor and famous novelist Sloan Cates (Moviefone 2007). However, discovering that they had real chemistry writing the nervous strains and off the job, they in the long run gave themselves the chance at love and success they way they never thought they deserved (Moviefone 2007). Protagonist bookingThey say that a word-painting is exactly as good as its degrees problem, because the stronger the conflict, the more chance that would be generated into the energy of the picture shows screenplay (Whitcomb 2002). The moment the conflict appears that would be the epoc h wherein the floor has really begun until then that would be weakens that are considered setup, background and exposition (Whitcomb 2002). Basically, the Conflict is the heart of the romance in a very real sense its what keeps it pumping, desexs the blood race through and through its veins, and brings it to spirit (Whitcomb 2002, p.56). External Conflict began upon Alexs realization that he was really an established has-been, although his reaction to this may be more of an internal conflict, how the world saw him served as an external one. Following the premise above, the story of this movie rattling started when he was presented to be die of the show called Battle of the Has-Beens. The format of this show actually presented him in a comical dispirit wherein throng return to see the people who were stars before and are not stars anymore, thus the term has-been because they had been stars.If this announcement to world was not embarrassing gravid, stars of the onetime( prenominal) had to battle it come on in the boxing ring for an different chance to perform before the audience. The show was not only demeaning it portrays them as pathetic stars that missed the limelight so badly that they had to go through some great lengths of boxing with distributively other. It symbolized Alexs stature in the industry, as a washed up pop singer. After such interview with the producers, Alex was faced with other realities such as show abidecellation.He was recalln another realization how society found him replaceable and disposable. He show at Knots pick was cancelled, make up as he considered it one of the biggest gigs he had since the fall of his stardom. It was this realization of publics perceptual experience that made Cora Corman, famous but eccentric pop star during that time, and her offer to Alex to compose a song for her an drawing deal. However, with this offer came high stakes because Cora had burstn Alex merely enough time to compose and to write the lyrics of a song for her in just a couple of days.When the dilemma of writing a song was addressed because of the presence of Sophie, another external conflict broke fall out as they found out how Cora wanted to do the song. Her treatment of the song was unalike from the sweet and witty love song Sophie and Alex ab initio had in mind. It was turned into something erotic and sexual more than macrocosm romantic. Sophie was appalled by it because she felt it was a destruction of the creative unity of their work. During that time, she tried her hardest to fight against succumbing to what Cora wanted to do with the song.Being a first-time lyrist to work in the practice of medicine industry, she appeared naive enough to put more pressure of Alex virtually changing the song back to how it was supposed to be. The final external conflict was the pressure for Alex to give in to the reinvigorated treatment of the song, no matter how, farfetched it was from his original comp osition, only to have another chance to present him in the pop industry. On the other hand, the external conflict for Sophie was with this professor, Sloan Cates. He has been the one who had written closely her in his novel and poked fun of everything she felt insecure about.The presence of the novel Sally Michaels has quasi(prenominal)ly brought Sophie shame, the homogeneous way Alex felt shame as his career similarly went bug out the drain. The mere arrogance of Sloan after(prenominal) Sophie and Alex confronted him, caused as well as oft pain and shame for Sophie realizing that she still could not talk up to him after all those time. Internal The news that he was being considered in the Battle of Has-beens was acceptable to Alex in the surface. But upon designed that instead of performing, he was, asked to go on that point to box it out for a final song, and then it dawned on him just how low his career has gotten.Although, he would be the first one to admit he was a has-been there were certain areas in the tear wherein he would feel the shame of it, like the high school reunion he performed at when he pulled a hip muscle and the time at the carnival wherein he did not want to do his last song anymore before Sophie advance him to do so. His battle with accepting his fate as a has-been was one thing, but there was besides his fear of composing again and writing lyrics. The breakup of the band Pop for him was more scourge for him than he would than he would let people see.He tried to come up with his own alone album after the band broke up but he struggled to keep his pride after that was a flop. He besides struggled internally with what he was going to do about the changes in the song. He wondered if he was going to walk away from the project like Sophie did or was he about to give up Sophie, a woman who had brought inspiration back to his life. Sophie had a lot of internal conflicts as well. She had to be forced to write the lyrics for Al exs project because of how she struggled with Sloans fictional novel that was based on her life.She refused to write for him knowing she was not good enough. She did not acknowledge how she did not feel that way before the concomitant with Sloans novel that actually destroyed a part of who she was. She felt she was not good enough because of how her former professor had treated her, calling her a mimic and someone who without following the styles of her contemporary writers would have no creative genius of her own. She struggled to mother her own creative self-worth after that. She also struggled when Cora had a different idea she had in mind about the treatment of A Way Back into Love, the song she and Alex created.She refused to get on with the project if it was like that. However, she felt Alexs despair of seeing this as his last chance in the industry. She was torn between that and how she was furious about Alexs inability to stand up for the integrity of their work. She was t orn because she had pure tones for Alex as well. Moral Component Much of the moral component found in the film laid in the fact that Alex and Sophie struggled to maintain the creative integrity of their work. It showed a behind-the-scenes peak into the pressures of the business.It showcased how a work that is entirely different would make into something erotic and sensual in order to appeal to the public. Sophie was so appalled by this change in the song because the erotic version took away what the song actually stood for. She did not want Alex to make a comeback that did not reflect who he was. She wanted him to make one that actually displayed his sensitive and honest side. Both of them knew that the revised version of the song did nothing of that mixed bag nevertheless, Alex went ahead with it.Although, there was a falling away that took place between them, in the end, Alex did the right thing of maintaining the songs original composition. He even got the chance to write a son g of his own for Sophie as well. Another component laid in the fact that Alex stood up for Sophie when she could not do so for herself against Sloan. Their experience together had taught them much more than writing a new song but being able to see themselves for the worth that they had as people and as artists.It showed how even if in the past, they had been turned down and their talents did not calculate good enough, it should not have defined them as people the way they allowed it to happen. It showed how other people, like practice of medicine critics or famous novelists, cannot have that much power on them that they are constrict artistically. It is only when they had let go of baggage from the past and used all their pain to fuel their creativity that they were able to complete the song. Mise en Scene Mise-en-scene literally means put the scene in cut and was a term used in theater (Kolker 2005).When used in film, it points towards the totality of the composition of the t hrust (Kolker 2005). It refers to the framing, movement of the camera and characters, lighting, set design and general visual environment, even sound as it helps epicurean the composition (Kolker 2005). It is also the articulation of cinematic space wherein space was used to help tell the story (Kolker 2005). The principle of cutting also falls under mise-en-scene as it determines what goes on in that busy space (Kolker 2005). In the movie Music and Lyrics, the shots followed a basic flow. It flowed from one scene to another.It did not have anything philia or dramatic. It served as a basic canvas that reserved much of its charms to the actors and own presence on the screen. However, a lot of the shots were similar to music television systems as the movie revolved around the music industry of the 80s and the present. The movie opened with a Pop music video that represented the 80s and soon showed a music video Cora Corman was shooting that represented popular music in the 21st c entury. When it came to framing, there were a few instances wherein they would be held at quite close or tighter shots to focus on the actors.The framing was basic shots to let the actors witty banter to shine more than anything else. Everything was kept to a minimal so as not to serve as a distraction as this film was mostly about the comedic script and the charm of the actors. There were also instances wherein the shot began from the tele fancy screen that overcomes the whole shot and there was a similar one that had an entire magazine cover of Cora taking up the whole shot. such were done to establish how the movie had a pop write up and that such symbolisms represented the music industry, through MTV shows and teen magazines.There were also instances wherein they used old techniques like the shot panning from the wall to the actors or the ring actually panned through the fixtures of the apartment like the column inside the apartment. It was reminiscent of the old shots they u se for movies that give it the old feel to it. The camera, the lenses, the lighting instruments and other tools are used photographically to create the feel, and to fulfill the vision of how the film should look like (LoBrutto 2002). In this case, the lighting of the film reflected the mood of the characters.There had been instances wherein Alex was not feeling very confident about himself wherein there was less light available on the screen. This can also be attributed to the street scene wherein it was dark outside. However, it was noticed again when he and Sophie were stuck on the lyrics of the song wherein it was also dark. There was also noticeable parts wherein the nice moments Alex had with Sophie were represented by soft bright lights that was reflected the warmth of Sophies persona. She always seemed like there was some glow to her every time she was in the scene.The light also played an important factor in terms of marking time. Since they only had a few days to finish t he song, it showed how when it was dark again or morning again another day has passed by and they were closer to the deadline. It showed how they stayed up, pulling an all-nighter to finish the song. There were exaggerated lights used in the Pop music video as they way they did it in the 80s. It was in comparison with the more modern lights Cora had in the shooting of her music video. They were also red lights in Coras dressing room area that established her eastern inclinations.cinematic tools do not only include skills in cinematography, sound and production design, it also includes editing (LoBrutto 2002). The editing for this movie was simple using cut-to-cut transitions that are widely used for television and movies to avoid distraction from other kinds of transitions. The production design includes the physical environment of the movie that would be constituted by the sets, the location (LoBrutto 2002). It also includes the costume designs as well as the hair and makeup requi red for the shot. This film called for a particular set design because of its reference to the music of the 80s.Since Alex was a member of the 80s pop band, Pop, there was a exigency to create the set of a 80s music video. The look was cheesy and over-the-top they way they used to do it with red backgrounds and checkered black and white ones. Their costumes were also of the way they used to dress that was more on femininity of tuxedos they were wearing. Such outrageous costumes went together with the eye shadow and eyeliners that were descriptive of the style in that music generation. It was held in comparison to the modern style of music videos with Coras video.It showed more skin and the sex appeal was different as it was more erotic than the bubblegum love songs the Pop band had. Not that the context of Coras songs were deeper, they just presented pop in a more sexual manner. There were already dancers that backed her up and much use of the smoke machine. The other sets included Alexs apartment that played a part in the story as Sophie wanted to move around the furniture in her hopes to get lyrics out of it. The major pieces of furniture that was important in telling the stories were the grand piano, the large couch chair and the plants that Sophie was drowning.A notable set that was created for this movie was the enormous Buddha on the stage designed for Coras concert. It was such an distrustful set that intentionally desperately tried to incorporate Coras Buddhist influence with her music even if it was not so relevant. Sound was a very important factor to this film because a large percentage of it was about musical performances. Most of the sound design for this film relied on staying true to the 80s theme with the songs that were used for this film like Pop Goes my Heart and the songs that it was contrasted to with Coras sensual songs like Welcome to shekels town.Another area of sound was the piano Alex played as he tried to compose the song. It also included his jiving jeopardy tune that he used to pressure Sophie finish the songs. Part of the greatest charms of the movie, was the part wherein Alex and Sophie recorded the demo for Cora in Alexs own mini-studio in his apartment. Narrative The personalities of the characters were essential in the register of the movie. Alex was dryly straightforward yet witty. Sophie talked too much and was paranoid yet naive at the aforementioned(prenominal) time.The other characters like Rhonda, Sophies sister was the strong one in her household but she was also an Alex-fanatic. Ray, Alexs manager, was ever supportive of him. Cora was an epitome of a pop icon of todays time beautiful, eccentric and sensual. Each of the characters represented something the moviegoers could relate and empathize with (Tan 1996). Their little flaws and quirks were what made them charming because the viewers can see a part of themselves or somebody else in them. It makes them relatable to the audience (Tan 1996).T he viewers were drawn because of Sophie and Alex interchange their witty banters and has come to the point of liking each other despite their own oddities. Audience could find the narrative relatable because it spoke of a generation that most of them have undergone or are in. Most of it involved, a generated of music videos. Even if, most were not former pop stars, interests were still aroused because of their interest in the music industry and social cognition of what was going on with the movie with what they know happen in reality (Tan 1996).Most of all, the narrative worked because of the presence of music. Something most people can relate to and most people are interested in. There was an excellent metaphor that the actors have used in terms of using music and lyrics in reference to relationships. It also serves as a theme for the movie itself. When Alex referred said it was just lyrics. Sophie argued that lyrics were important as well. She referred to melody as meeting someon e for the first time and the physical draw poker that came with it it was related to sex in a relationship.On the other hand, once the couples get to know each other that turn into the lyrics wherein their story actually unfolds and reveals who they were. The combination of sex and the knowledge of each other was what make the relationship magical. Lyrics A Way Back into Love was the song Cora wanted Alex to compose. Listening to the lyrics actually summarizes much of the emotions and the thoughts that went on between Alex and Sophie, as well as the things each of them had been through in the past.The cloud above my bed symbolized how long they prevented themselves from moving on because of the fear they had due to past rejections. The following verses reflected exactly that aspect Ive been lonely for so long, trapped in the past, I just cant seem to move on It can be just a love song about past heartbreaks but it reflected the struggles Alex and Sophie had in the past about thei r careers. It also showed that the someone to shed some light was the person they found in each other. The chorus and other verses about dreams being kept in a box reflected their hope to find the joy that they had lost in the past.The song Alex composed by himself had similar charms to A Way Back into Love, he sang Dont Write Me Off at Coras concert. It basically spilled everything he felt about his life saying Im joyous to live my so-called fallen glories and how he felt about Sophie with charismatic antics like its not just my furniture youve rearranged and now I need you despite the fact that youve killed all my plants. References Kolker, R. (2005). Film, form and culture. fall in States McGraw-Hill. Also retrieved on November 29, 2007, from http//userpages. umbc.edu/landon/Local_Information_Files/Mise-en-Scene. htm. LoBrutto, V. (2002). The filmmakers guide to production design. New York Allworth Press. Music and lyrics. (2007) Moviefone. Retrieved on November 29, 2007 from http//movies. aol. com/movie/music-and-lyrics/25137/synopsis. Tan, E. (1996). Emotion and the structure of narrative film Film as an emotion machine. Mahwah, NJ Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Whitcomb, C. (2002). The writers guide to writing your screenplay How to write great screenplays for movies and television. Canada Kalmbach Publishing Co.