What is the primary purpose of a film score?

A film score primarily serves to enhance the emotional experience and atmosphere of a movie. It plays a crucial role in setting the tone and mood, influencing how the audience feels during different scenes. Music can evoke specific emotions, signal changes in the narrative, and deepen the audience's connection to the characters and story.

While narrating the story is certainly important in film, the score's function is not to articulate the plot or dialogue directly, but rather to underscore the storytelling elements and provide an immersive experience. Similarly, while background information can sometimes be conveyed through other aspects of filmmaking, such as sound design or dialogue, it is not the primary purpose of a score. Promotion of the film typically falls under marketing efforts, which is separate from the creative work of composing a film score. Thus, enhancing the emotional landscape of the film is the foremost goal of a film score.