Danny Elfman: An In-Depth Interview | Film Music Foundation's Legends Series

An interview with composer Danny Elfman in conversation with Jon Burlingame. Recorded July 30, 2014 at Danny Elfman’s studio in Los Angeles, California by The Film Music Foundation.
- Chapters -
0:00:00 Introduction // Early Life and Family
0:03:11 Early Film Influences // Composer Bernard Herrmann and director Ray Harryhausen
0:07:49 Picking Up the Violin at Age 18 and Performing in France
0:13:11 Traveling Africa and Returning to America
0:18:06 The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo
0:21:10 Introduction to Writing Music
0:24:31 Oingo Boingo // Ska Influences
0:27:41 "Forbidden Zone" // First Experience with Music in Film
0:29:13 The Beginning of Oingo Boingo’s Success
0:33:08 First Collaboration with Tim Burton // "Pee-wee’s Big Adventure"
0:36:37 Writing for Full Orchestra // Influence of Nino Rota’s Music
0:43:32 Splitting Time Between Composing for Film and Oingo Boingo
0:46:11 Orchestrating with Steve Bartek
0:47:09 Collaborating with Tim Burton and Martin Brest
0:49:37 Composing for "Batman"
1:00:46 Composing for "Edward Scissorhands"
1:04:40 The Importance of a Theme
1:07:32 Elfman’s Writing Process
1:08:59 On "Milk", "Mars Attack", "The Hulk"
1:11:59 Meeting Gus Van Sant and Sam Raimi
1:14:31 Composing for "A Simple Plan"
1:15:24 Composing for "The Nightmare Before Christmas"
1:19:34 "The Nightmare Before Christmas" getting a second life
1:22:19 Composing "The Simpsons" Theme
1:27:24 Winning an Emmy Award // Oscar Nominations
1:29:24 Discussion on musician’s credibility in Hollywood
1:34:13 Finding A “Voice” in Music
1:35:58 Being Hired for "Chicago"
1:36:55 Composing for Superhero Films: "Spider-Man"
1:41:05 Scoring for Documentaries // "Standard Operating Procedure", "The Unknown Known"
1:42:38 Non-film Commissions // "Rabbit and Rogue", "Iris"
1:46:46 Collaborating with David O. Russell // "Silver Linings Playbook", "American Hustle"
1:50:39 Re-Composing Classical Material
1:52:27 Elfman’s Proudest Achievement
1:54:55 Advice to Aspiring Film Composers
1:57:45 Career If He Weren’t A Film Composer
1:59:37 Musicals for Broadway
2:02:23 How Elfman Would Like To Be Remembered
- Biography -
Danny Elfman (born Daniel Robert Elfman) is an award-winning composer, singer-songwriter, actor, and record producer. A native of Los Angeles, Elfman began his musical career as a violinist in Jérôme Savary’s “Le Grand Magic Circus” alongside his brother, Richard. He travelled the world, learning from different musical cultures and styles. Upon returning to Los Angeles, Elfman worked as the musical director of “The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo,” a performance art troupe established by Richard. His first scoring credit was for Richard’s 1979 film Forbidden Zone (1979, dir. by Richard Elfman). After his brother departed The Mystic Knights, Elfman became the lead singer-songwriter and transformed the group into the band Oingo Boingo. The group went on to release eight albums between 1981 and 1994 including Dead Man’s Party (1985) and Dark at the End of the Tunnel (1990).
In tandem with his career with Oingo Boingo, Elfman continued scoring films after Forbidden Zone. He was approached by Tim Burton and Paul Reubens in 1985 to score Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985, dir. by Tim Burton), which established Elfman’s collaborative relationship with Burton; Elfman would go on to score nearly all of Burton’s major studio releases including Beetlejuice (1988), Batman (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1990), and The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). Elfman has also frequently collaborated with directors Sam Raimi (Darkman, 1990; Spider-Man, 2002) and Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, 1997; Milk, 2008) and worked with many others on films like Dick Tracy (1990, dir. by Warren Beatty) and the Men in Black franchise (1997-present, dir. by Barry Sonnenfeld). Alongside his scoring career, Elfman continues to compose concert and incidental music for works including Twyla Tharp’s ballet Rabbit and Rogue (2008) and Cirque Du Soleil’s show Iris (2011).
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[@Loyal_Lion]

Simpson's theme... "I wrote the whole thing on the way home." F you Danny, god damn musical genius 😂

[@roc5291]

As far as I’m concerned, Danny is just as much a cornerstone to all of us millennials who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s and were mesmerized by his work as a part of our childhood as John Williams was. I wish there were more film composers like him working in film today who have a definitive voice like he does. Phenomenal interview.

[@tinanicholson9557]

I like Danny Elfman’s voice.

[@UFOSeekers]

Watched the entire interview. His work has inspired the imaginations of an entire generation. Thank you for all of your work Mr Elfman!

[@sarahammermann7239]

Amazingly brilliant man. Ahead of his time.

[@Loyal_Lion]

51:51 "I don't like ships..." This is hilarious to imagine. 😅

[@emilyspector2728]

This is so fascinating! Always been a fan and always had such a crush on him (still do). I can understand what he saying. My problem is hearing a song and then adding my own touches in my head or change some music around. And it DRIVES.ME.NUTS. Still need to learn to write music.

[@ggcruise]

Incredibly impressive career (and still going!), but for all his many successes and achievements ... nothing tops Oingo Boingo for me!!! Just the BEST music!

[@davidfleuchaus]

Amazing journey (so far, I’m half way through). I’m inspired. Amazing yet it’s merely the journey of a person whose skills are discovered by opportunity, continued by indulging passion and independence, validated by friends, fueled by adrenaline, with routine feedback from audiences (every day at first). Music is best taught by…listening - a LOT. (Somehow that point is lost way too much.) Eventually, once armed with just a little knowledge Danny put it to use. Rinse, repeat. The risk taking - no, the “F it” or throw fear to the side attitude and at least accumulate experience - is inspiring to me.

[@johnmchugh8049]

I’m a quarter in and I’m blown away

[@lora8706]

Silverlinings was You?!!! Loved that movie

[@lora8706]

Very talented guy !!!!

[@universalmeditation8631]

Thank you FMF for releasing these wonderful videos.

[@FilmMusicFoundationInterviews]

Our pleasure!

[@jeffdawson2786]

Amazing career with no signs of stopping.

[@Loyal_Lion]

10:55 "No propensity for music" Wow 😆

[@dpclerks09]

I couldn't believe that when he said it. He doesn't seem to recall it in a self-pitying way that you usually see in most people who tell similar stories of being doubted by their peers/teachers. Interesting.

[@annettelouise6781]

the way he explains the process sometimes, the hopping on the train at top of the hill...fabulous.

[@corm1000]

I was playing with a street troop, breathing fire playing trombone, playing guitar only in the '70s, only in the '70s.

[@devarodgers4676]

wonderful

[@johnmchugh8049]

Absolutely fascinating

[@devarodgers4676]

bridget fonda played 3rd linda in evil dead 3

[@kcinkg]

Fantastic ‼️

[@lora8706]

Loved Oingo Bingo music, songs, lyrics. Was able to see farewell concert San Diego maybe 1995? Wasn't that impressive to watch! Fun. Gong show once, right? Then hearing the scores in movies... Danny Elfman is a genius

[@lora8706]

Wife Bridget Fonda? Whoa! Cool...

[@annettelouise6781]

Funny he mentions not plagiarizing Oz yet he put the witch bike riding music in for Pee Wee. That was hilarious in the film.