In the last couple of years I’ve read about how some writers write with music playing (Cameron Crowe, Stephen King, and Nancy Myers). Now you can add Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor (the writing team behind Election) to that list:
Jim Taylor: Music is very important to Alexander. He has a musical sensibility that’s unusual and particular to him, and it’s really evident in his films, especially in Election. He’ll often play something while we’re writing especially to help us capture a certain tone.
Alexander Payne: In terms of the directing side, one film I found inspiring to watch in terms of music and in some degree of multiple voice-overs was Casino. Casino is an influence on Election, directorially. Kevin Tent and I watched it a couple of times while we were editing Election.
(Pulled from an interview by Kevin Conroy Scott and featured in his book Screenwriters’ Masterclass.)
Alexander and Taylor also won a Oscar award for their screenplay Sideways.
[...] In the last couple of years I’ve read about how some writers write with music playing (Cameron Crowe, Stephen King, and Nancy Myers). Now you can add Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor (the writing team behind Election) to that list: Jim Taylor: Music is very important to Alexander. He has a musical sensibility that’s unusual and particular [...] Original Source… [...]
Weirdly, I HAVE to write with music. I’m working on a drama now so I set up a Pandora station with sad, drama-esque songs. It puts me in a nostalgic, slightly moody frame of mind, which I think is essential with this piece.
Although I do kind of feel all “Blllaaahh-ed out” after a writing session. So I go watch “Toddlers and Tiaras” to feel better about life.
Cameron Crowe goes as far as doing the same things for actors by playing music on the set. I’ve read that Nancy Myers sometimes makes a mix track to help actors get in character.
I love writing to Soundtrack music. It puts me in a “cinematic mode”. Scenes come to me much more naturally that way.