54 Quotes by Carter Burwell

On Being John Malkovich and the cinema of the absurd, I do enjoy it. I wish there were more like it. The very fact that there can’t be more like it is one of the reasons it’s admirable.

I write music to please myself. Hopefully the director’s enjoying it too.

I don’t personally see my work as being dark. What interests me is a balance between light and dark.

The jarring change going from an urban environment to an extremely remote natural environment is extremely inspiring. It’s constantly stimulating, it’s like a slap in the face.

I almost never try to make the audience comfortable. I wouldn’t want that if I were in the audience.

I don’t generally find myself listening to the music of a film unless there’s something awfully wrong with it.

If someone suddenly lost their director the day before shooting and wanted me to step in, I’d be willing to. But I’d do brain surgery the same way. I’m always up for something new.

In mainstream romantic comedies, I’m usually tearing my hair out. It’s just a devastatingly difficult genre for me.

I don't find myself lobbying for projects. Filmmakers almost always come to me.