Creating an Aural Space: The Playlist for 'Lucia & Nicole' & Why More Directors Should Make Playlists for Their Films

After the script, and in between that space from then until the first shooting day, a lot of groundwork needs to be done before you're running blocking and rehearsals with actors on set. For me, one of those things is a playlist.

I can talk until my lungs run out about everything I want the film to be, and spit out endless references. I can link to movies I can't force the crew to sit and watch. But, in the times when the words and understandings misalign, you can cut through the core of the abstract with a good playlist. Something your crew can passively listen to without a large time commitment while they're ideating, working, when they're bored of listening to you talk all day long, or that an actor can take in when they need to get in the headspace of the character. It's an easy sort of world-building that let's everyone in on what this film feels like, might sound like, or what the characters are listening to.

With all that in mind, here's the playlist I made for 'Lucia & Nicole' where I wanted to connect older Spanish love songs that we remember listening to growing up in our parents/grandparents house to the new ones that we enjoy now being made by our peers. Trying to both tie in and give a bit of homage to the love stories I remember of my youth.

A playlist is great way as well to build trust and allow for vulnerability, allowing everyone into your headspace as a director. And if you're open to it—asking what everyone might add to spark a new way into the film and it's world.

If you've ever made a playlist for your film, I'd love to hear it, feel free to drop a link below and let me know if you find this practice helpful!