The “sound” of “Infatuation” explained and analyzed

  • In this section, I will be explaining how I envision the score and sound effects of my screenplay. On top of this, I will also be providing examples of songs I want in my film and what scenes they correspond to. My goal is to create a distinctive sound for each character that reflects how Dolores sees them.
  • Characters & Their Sound
    • Each character has a designated type of sound associated with them, as assigned by Dolores’ view of them. The sounds don’t necessarily line up with reality, much like the sounds used in “The Batman” (2022, directed by Matt Reeves, written by Matt Reeves and Peter Craig). This is a nod to Dolores’ unreliable narration of events: her account is fragmented, skipping over chunks of time, and often downplays or dramatizes events as a result of her inability to face the music, if you will.
    • Certain instruments are associated with certain characters, much like in “Epic: The Musical” which is a concept album by Jorge Rivera-Herrans.
      • Dolores is associated with piano.
        • Piano is very versatile in the types of sound it can produced, much like the swells of emotion Dolores experiences.
      • Mariko is associated with strings for a couple of different reasons
        • Strings can often be used to depict an unraveling in film, notably in “Arcane” in Jinx’s introduction as a character, the scene leading to the destruction of the Mona Lisa in “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” and “I Can Do Anything/Finale” from “The Boys.”
        • Strings are also often given a romantic connotation, as seen in “Catwoman” from “The Batman” and “There Are Other Ways” from “Epic: The Musical”
      • Wynn is associated with guitar, as there are many different types of music is can make, which reflects Wynn’s changing image in Dolores’ mind from a potential threat to her rock, as well as Wynn’s adaptability.
  • Sound Effects
    • Muting
      • Oftentimes, when Dolores deems something unimportant, she mutes them for her voiceovers. However, this often during things that may be considered important to other characters, such as the details of counterarguments in Council meetings, or the history of the Children of Desdemona.
      • She also does this during moments of trauma, reflecting her unwillingness to grapple with them.
    • Mixing & Matching
      • In the scenes with Marc, his footsteps are replaced with the sounds of explosions to give a more intimidating presence as Mariko has depicted him to Dolores + how Dolores views him
      • During Mariko’s crisis phone call, the sound of the baby crying is actually a fox scream to increase the fear and horror of the situation
  • Character Playlists
  • Songs for my Film
    • “Something Stupid” by Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra
      • This song gives us an introduction into things that Mariko likes while also setting the scene for her first conversation with Dolores.
      • “Something Stupid” has lyrics that allude to the subject’s bad experiences in love before which mirrors both Dolores’ bad luck in finding someone as devoted as herself and Mariko’s many toxic relationships in the past.
        • “I can see it in your eyes/That you despise the same old lies/You heard the night before/And though it’s just a line to you/For me it’s true/And never seemed so right before”
    • “Ex-Girlfriend” by No Doubt
      • This song is in the aftermath of Mariko and Dolores’ big fight and break-up, with both of them ending up miserable. Mariko starts devolving more and more without a support system which reflects the edgy guitar sections. However, the lyrics align more with Dolores, as the lyrics acknowledge wanting to control the subject of the song, much like Dolores becoming intensely jealous and possessive of Mariko’s attention.
        • “Your wildness scares me/So does your freedom (freedom)/You say you can’t stand the restrictions/I find myself trying to change you/If you were meant to be my lover I wouldn’t have to”
    • “Coffee” by Chappell Roan
      • This song is for the first kiss between Dolores and Mariko. It alludes to the fact that Dolores and Mariko first meet up outside of work at a cafe for coffee, but also to Mariko’s reluctance to let herself end up in love with Dolores.
        • “If I didn’t love you, it would be fine/I’ll meet you for coffee, only for coffee/Nowhere else is safe, every place leads back to your place”
      • This song is the only one to have come out after the time in which the scene takes place (except my dream end credits song which is “Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan)