The Art of Film Music Supervision: Insights from A24’s ‘The Drama’
A24’s The Drama has attracted attention not only for its visuals and performances but for a sound world that feels deliberately out of time. Music supervisor Jemma Burns worked closely with director Kristoffer Borgli to assemble a soundtrack that reads like a character of its own, shaping mood, irony, and emotional texture throughout the film.
Crafting a Distinct Sonic Landscape
Burns and Borgli began with shared playlists and a clear sensibility: a timeless aesthetic that borrows from ’50s, ’60s and ’70s folk traditions. The result is an old-fashioned whimsy that sits oddly next to contemporary themes, creating a persistent off-kilter feeling. That friction was intentional. By prioritising songs with a private, intimate quality, they built a sonic foundation that allows modern moments to feel sharper and more dissonant.
Music as a Narrative Device: Impact and Intent
Songs in The Drama do more than fill silence. Strategic needle drops, including moments that reference mainstream artists like Alicia Keys, act as punctuation. At times music offers levity, at other times it amplifies tension, and often it reveals what dialogue does not. Burns treats music as a fifth character: it comments, misleads, comforts and unsettles, helping to shape how the audience reads a scene and how a performer such as Zendaya is framed on screen.
The Strategic Selection: Beyond Obvious Hits
Choosing tracks meant avoiding familiar cultural signposts that would steer audience interpretation too quickly. Burns sought unusual placements, lesser-known tracks from classic eras and tonal matches that felt emotionally accurate rather than merely popular. Practical considerations like licensing and clearance were part of the process, but the primary filter remained whether a song could quietly reframe a moment or deepen a character.
For filmmakers and aspiring supervisors, The Drama is a case study in how intentional song choice and close director-supervisor collaboration can make music integral to storytelling rather than merely decorative.
