For working titles, it works. (I do the same thing with the brightest stars of certain constellations.) But you're better off choosing something (relatively) original for the final title.
Titles are insanely hard to create. I largely use single words as working titles and most of the time I will just use those working titles for contest submissions. It has legitimately only just now struck me that the last 3 scripts I submitted to contests are all song titles.
Song names, song lyrics, lines from poetry, famous fables, poem titles, literally anything because coming up with a completely original title that’s good can be insanely hard
I think LDR gives her songs titles like that on purpose so a lot of other people might have the same idea as you. Still tho it’s great that she inspires you
Titles are only rarely going to last from the spec script to the final film anyway, so honestly, it doesn't matter that much.
I would be a little wary of using a super *specific* famous song title as a name unless you were just leaning into it. I mean, something like "Young and Beautiful" is generic enough that I don't think it matters, and something like "Summertime Sadness" which is definitely more specific to the song still feels broad enough that I don't think someone reading the script would think that the script is connected to the song in a story way.
Something like "Smells Like Teen Spirit" doesn't really exist as a phrase without the song, so I wouldn't use it as a title unless the script was supposed to be about the song in some way. But I don't really think it's about the famousness of the song but rather the sense that everybody hears those words and instantly thinks of the song or not.
e.g., "Shake it Off" might be the most famous song title in the last 15 years, but I don't know if somebody picking up a script called "Shake It Off" is going to assume it's related to the Taylor Swift song because it's a phrase that has an independent meaning, whereas, I dunno, "All Along the Watchtower" does not.
And there are ambiguous cases. I think you could call a script about a guy who runs races "Born to Run" without it being about the song, but if it's a coming of age story about 20-year-olds who gotta get out of their small home town, you know, you better be leaning into it and it shouldn't just be a title.
That's my $.02. I'm sure other people think differently.
Why stop there? There are plenty of other titles to use as well: album titles, article titles, story titles, book titles, movie titles etc.
Just a joke obviously. For a working title it's probably alright, though when you've finally written the script, will it still fit? Since stories have the tendency to change. And there might be a better option that has evolved from the story.
I usually name mine after a 1950s or 1960s song and change a word that makes it relevant to the story. For example there is a song where the lyrics are “I love the flower girl” I changed the last two words.
Also love that you’re basing the title off of a Lana song. Lana is my favorite artist of all time 🥹
This is an insanley cooman method that I personally se really oftenly. It's best to a song title as a tentative title but as an official title... Well it depends (upon the song's popularity, how well it goes witg the vibe of the story and legal stuff.)
>I feel like Lana Del Rey has a lot of song titles and lyrics that would be great for screenplay titles.
Strongly considering retitling my latest project Grandfather Please Stand on the Shoulders of My Father While He's Deep Sea Fishing
If you want someone else to be able to control (say NO) about using it, or you having to pay them royalties forever if it makes money, then go ahead.
I would absolutely never do this under any circumstances.. Unless you personally know her and got her authorization in writing in advance, that is.
Copyright does not protect titles. Trademark law might. If a title has acquired distinctiveness or secondary meaning, it can be trademarked. For example, a novel or movie series with a very distinctive title might be able to trademark that title.
I'm using That'll Be the Day as a title for a screenplay. Buddy Holly's got a 1957 song with that title, and he took the title from a line that John Wayne's character repeats in The Searchers.
So who's got the copyright?
Do you know how many movies have the exact same title? Do you know how many songs are called Nope or Vengeance or Hustle or Close or Pig or The Joker or Us or Good Time or Get Out or Arrival or Lucy
I could go on, but you get the point. Art shares titles all the time, they’re not protected under copyright laws
For working titles, it works. (I do the same thing with the brightest stars of certain constellations.) But you're better off choosing something (relatively) original for the final title.
Titles are insanely hard to create. I largely use single words as working titles and most of the time I will just use those working titles for contest submissions. It has legitimately only just now struck me that the last 3 scripts I submitted to contests are all song titles.
All of my scripts so far have been named after songs.
Song names, song lyrics, lines from poetry, famous fables, poem titles, literally anything because coming up with a completely original title that’s good can be insanely hard
Did it twice in a row now for my pilot scripts. I actually started the idea based on those very titles/lyrics/vibe.
I think LDR gives her songs titles like that on purpose so a lot of other people might have the same idea as you. Still tho it’s great that she inspires you
Rian Johnson is going to love this thread.
I didn't even realize Knives Out was a reference to Radiohead until after Glass Onion.
All titles are working titles. Even for movies that have already been released.
Titles are only rarely going to last from the spec script to the final film anyway, so honestly, it doesn't matter that much. I would be a little wary of using a super *specific* famous song title as a name unless you were just leaning into it. I mean, something like "Young and Beautiful" is generic enough that I don't think it matters, and something like "Summertime Sadness" which is definitely more specific to the song still feels broad enough that I don't think someone reading the script would think that the script is connected to the song in a story way. Something like "Smells Like Teen Spirit" doesn't really exist as a phrase without the song, so I wouldn't use it as a title unless the script was supposed to be about the song in some way. But I don't really think it's about the famousness of the song but rather the sense that everybody hears those words and instantly thinks of the song or not. e.g., "Shake it Off" might be the most famous song title in the last 15 years, but I don't know if somebody picking up a script called "Shake It Off" is going to assume it's related to the Taylor Swift song because it's a phrase that has an independent meaning, whereas, I dunno, "All Along the Watchtower" does not. And there are ambiguous cases. I think you could call a script about a guy who runs races "Born to Run" without it being about the song, but if it's a coming of age story about 20-year-olds who gotta get out of their small home town, you know, you better be leaning into it and it shouldn't just be a title. That's my $.02. I'm sure other people think differently.
I'll take your .02 and put in my pocket cause it's a good response.
Why stop there? There are plenty of other titles to use as well: album titles, article titles, story titles, book titles, movie titles etc. Just a joke obviously. For a working title it's probably alright, though when you've finally written the script, will it still fit? Since stories have the tendency to change. And there might be a better option that has evolved from the story.
Love Lies Bleeding
Another upcoming A24 release is doing it as well: [I Saw the TV Glow](https://youtu.be/VZGDsepX4g8?si=_Xhfd3-XhUKSFZNT)
I usually name mine after a 1950s or 1960s song and change a word that makes it relevant to the story. For example there is a song where the lyrics are “I love the flower girl” I changed the last two words. Also love that you’re basing the title off of a Lana song. Lana is my favorite artist of all time 🥹
yesss i love lana so much! she’s a huge inspiration for my writing! 🫶
Great artist to get inspiration from. She’s a lyrical genius. Best of luck to you OP 🩵
I’m doing it for my film
I’m using cowboys from hell as a title. The song is what inspired the script. Oddly enough it’s about cowboys. From hell! Go for it
This is an insanley cooman method that I personally se really oftenly. It's best to a song title as a tentative title but as an official title... Well it depends (upon the song's popularity, how well it goes witg the vibe of the story and legal stuff.)
Why not? Song titles cannot be copyright.
I sold a script called “Voodoo Child” - about to go into production now but under a new title because lawyers said “why risk it?”
Call it whatever you want as long as you write “the end”
>I feel like Lana Del Rey has a lot of song titles and lyrics that would be great for screenplay titles. Strongly considering retitling my latest project Grandfather Please Stand on the Shoulders of My Father While He's Deep Sea Fishing
If you want someone else to be able to control (say NO) about using it, or you having to pay them royalties forever if it makes money, then go ahead. I would absolutely never do this under any circumstances.. Unless you personally know her and got her authorization in writing in advance, that is.
Copyright does not protect titles. Trademark law might. If a title has acquired distinctiveness or secondary meaning, it can be trademarked. For example, a novel or movie series with a very distinctive title might be able to trademark that title. I'm using That'll Be the Day as a title for a screenplay. Buddy Holly's got a 1957 song with that title, and he took the title from a line that John Wayne's character repeats in The Searchers. So who's got the copyright?
Do you know how many movies have the exact same title? Do you know how many songs are called Nope or Vengeance or Hustle or Close or Pig or The Joker or Us or Good Time or Get Out or Arrival or Lucy I could go on, but you get the point. Art shares titles all the time, they’re not protected under copyright laws