Beyond the Garden of Earthly Delights
Random Rab
Sometimes a song just fits perfect — like a puzzle piece in your film. Forgive the filmmaking digression that follows because I have to follow this one through.
During the film crafting process — whether it’s actual scripting or editorial — I’m always trying to communicate the story using ALL the tools we have as filmmakers. It’s not just characters talking to each other. They do things. They are proactive and reactive. Aristotle said plot is character and it’s especially true in the best cinema. Their actions, reactions and decisions create the story events and turning points.
We also hear sounds & music and see specific visuals when we read a good script or watch a cinematic film. All of this kind of storytelling makes us feel emotion. It’s why silent movies can be so powerful, because so much story is actually communicated sans dialogue. Expository information sometimes must creep into dialogue — but I love it when I understand the story from the subtext. To me…what’s not said is often most powerful.
Often score and needle drop music play a big part in creating powerful subtext. And this Random Rab song was always about the Aliens in our film Phoenix, Oregon — just the simple idea that maybe they are on our side instead of against us. I love the little bit of sampled dialogue in the track at 3:35 —
These instruments detect the unseen forces that swirl around these distant worlds.
For most of the film, Bobby assumes the Aliens are conspiring against him. But this song comes in after his bowling win and there’s a dance party to this song that sets the stage for Lisa to change levels on him with her quip, These could be the best years of your life, do you realize that?
Maybe Bobby’s chance at happiness is his personal choice after all. As people dance and celebrate, we start to realize as viewers that the Aliens might be rooting for him.
I love this groove — the danceability, the mix, the electronic instrumentation. It’s a little melancholy, like Bobby is, but mostly it just makes you feel good. I’m so grateful that Rab allowed us to use it in the film. For me it’s a perfect bit of song casting. You can find it on our Phoenix, Oregon Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and also on Rab’s great double record EPICYCLE.
