Everybody talks about tone when it comes to filmmaking because it's one of the most important aspects of storytelling—and music is one of the biggest modulators of tone.
Hey there, I'm Thomas Torrey, a filmmaker in Fort Mill, and I'm here to help NextLens filmmakers.
When we talk about music in film, we're either referring to the original score or the songs featured in the film. And when you marry music with an image, you instantly change the shape of your story.
You make associations, control emotional responses, and establish pace and setting—all through your musical choices. No music can also be an appropriate creative choice, as can minimal music, an upbeat percussive sound, a happy guitar, or a sad piano.
All of these choices communicate the tone your story needs. Collaborate with composers and music supervisors, and stay open to musical ideas that may differ from what you first imagined.
You never know how a piece of music may shape the tone of your scene until you try it out in the edit.
Learn more about how to submit your film to the 2026 NextLens Online Film Festival.
