Last year the World Economic Forum dished out the glum news that it could take until 2133 for the world to close the global gender gap and progress to close it is slowing down year on year. Naturally this glacial pace of change is worrying not only for ourselves, already in the working world, but for future generations who may never see equality in their lifetime. (more…)
I think it’s fair to say for me writing and music go hand in hand. Putting on your headphones and listening to music is the easiest way to lock yourself into the world that you’re writing about and also put your mindset in the right ‘mood’ for scenes.
I got inspired by this video by the lovely Linda on Youtube, that got me thinking about music and the writing process. In terms of what I listen to? I have a generic ‘writing playlist’ in my iTunes which I use for both when I’m writing blogs and writing fiction etc. The playlist is an amalgamation of the suggestions below – but here the more specific musicians, genres, tracks and themes I choose when I need to gear up to write specific scenes and stories.
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The easiest playlists to compile are for big battles and fight scenes where you need your characters kicking some serious ass. I always go for something with charging guitars and drums as the rhythm helps with imagining the beats and more cinematic cut-aways for narration. Anything by 30 Seconds to Mars, Bastille, Muse and Florence + the Machine set the tone wonderfully – Knights of Cydonia (Muse), This Is War (30 Seconds to Mars), Pompeii (Bastille), and Drumming Song (Florence + the Machine) are particularly brilliant to amp you up.
If I’m working on YA or a more contemporary storylines I go acoustic and indie (also cause I’m a hipster-sh*t). Taylor Swift’s earlier albums are pretty much primed background music for stuff like this, as are Joe Brooks, Arcade Fire and Kate Voegele’s back catalogues. If we’re going for more modern indie, Alessia Cara and Alabama Shakes have been firm favourites recently. Speaking of Taylor Swift, the entirety of 1989 is fantastic for big ‘screw you’ scenes a la Emma Stone in Easy A. ‘Get Over You’ by Sara Barielles and ‘Comeback Queen’ by Lolo also do the trick – and are generally super empowering to listen to.
Badlands (Halsey) and The Small One (Sia) have proved great accompaniments to inner monologues, sadder moments and what I call ‘walk and think’ scenes (i.e. characters walking in the rain feeling nostalgic or particularly pensive *URGH ANGST*). Lyrically Sia and Halsey are fantastically inspiring songwriters too, so it fuels the fire to write better when I listen to them.
Anything by Panic! At the Disco makes for great background music for ‘sexy’ scenes and parties…and banquets…basically any kind of period era gathering with fancy frocks and general debauchery (Vices + Virtues is especially fantastic for those). The Weekend are good for modern day versions of these scenes.
And of course, actual soundtracks are ready made for writing epic sagas. My personal picks are usually Pan’s Labyrinth, anything by Studio Ghibli, or composed by Hans Zimmer. More recently I also highly recommend the new Force Awakens soundtrack – ‘The Jedi Steps’ is so fun to write to.
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So fellow writers, what music do you listen to to get you in the mood to write? Pass me some suggestions in the comments below.
Ria
One of the articles I included in my last Sunday Share Out post was a brilliant post by Vulture on the female directors out there already killing the game in the movie industry. After the lack of diversity at the Oscars this year and in celebration of Women’s History Month I decided to break down my five favourite, inspiring female directors…
AVA DUVERNAY
Watch: Selma (2014), This is the life (2009)
I’ve personally nicknamed her the oncoming storm and potentially the woman who could single handedly change Hollywood. Duvernay has already taken steps to shake up the establishment in an active way we haven’t really seen before by a female director. A vocal activist for the black community, she’s also advocates for diverse cinema through ARRAY Now and is the first black woman to direct a film nominated for Best Picture.
GURINDER CHADHA
Watch: Bend It Like Beckham (2002), Bride and Prejudice (2004), Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008)
You may not know her name but it’s likely that if, like me, you were a British teenager growing up in the early to mid 2000s you’ll know her work. Chadha specialises in underdogs and unconventional heroines who are always equal parts cringe-inducing (Georgina in ‘Angus, Thongs…’) and endearing (Jess in Bend It Like Beckham). Her movies are not only fabulous fun they have incredible heart and soul, and despite the romantic bent of most of her filmography there’s still a huge focus on family and female friendships in her movies.
SOFIA COPPOLA
Watch: The Virgin Suicides (1999), Lost in Translation (2003), Marie Antoinette (2006)
It’s a hard job carving your own path when you come from a Hollywood dynasty like the Coppola’s and yet Sofia Coppola seems to have done so with incredible ease. Her strength lies in aesthetics – candy colours, pastel hues, dreamy sepias form the backdrop of her filmscapes. Coppola has a knack for making even the mundane feel beautiful and exploits the manic pixie dreamgirl trope so very well.
JULIE TAYMOR
Watch: Frida (2002), The Tempest (2010), Across the Universe (2007)
The absolute powerhouse that you probably have never heard of. Taymor was the first woman to win a Tony Award for Best Director for her work on The Lion King musical and already had a long established theater career before being recognised for her film work. Her movies follow the vein of her theatrical world, experimental, aesthetically beautiful in the most fantastical sense, Taymor’s back catalogue is an exercise in how amazing her imagination and ingenuity is.
LANA WACHOWSKI
Watch: The Matrix (1999), V for Vendetta (2006), Sense8 (2015)
One half of the Wachowski siblings and Lana remains to be one of the more prominent figures in the realm of science fiction film-making after helping head up The Matrix franchise. Though the emphasis in this list is very much focused on film, personally for me her greatest work and achievement is the brilliantly evocative and diverse Netflix original series Sense8.
NOTEWORTHY RUNNERS UP: Elizabeth Banks (Pitch Perfect), Amma Asante (Belle), and Mary Harron (American Psycho)
Over to you! Who are your favourites on my list? Who are your favourites on the original 100?
And are there any directors who have been missed off/need to be recognised?
Ria