--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My best film composing experience was…" description: "\"My best film composing experience was with Elia Kazan.\" — Alex North" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/alex-north-39334_best-film_my-best-film-composing-experience-was-wi_2311829.png" --- # My best film composing experience was with Elia Kazan. ![“My best film composing experience was with Elia Kazan.” quote by Alex North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/alex-north-39334_best-film_my-best-film-composing-experience-was-wi_2311829.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/alex-north-39334_best-film_my-best-film-composing-experience-was-wi_2311829.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/alex-north-39334_best-film_my-best-film-composing-experience-was-wi_2311829.png) > “My best film composing experience was with Elia Kazan.” [Alex North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-north/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. North reflects on a memorable collaboration with director Elia Kazan, highlighting the synergy between composer and filmmaker. **In simple terms:** A great film score comes from strong director partnership. Key Takeaway Seek collaborative chemistry in creative projects. Themes creativity collaboration film music Mood reflective inspirational Type artistic professional When to use this quote - film scoring - directorial collaboration - creative workshops Key Concepts composer‑director synergy artistic inspiration Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster mutual respect with collaborators? - What boundaries protect your creative voice? A Different Perspective Collaboration can be limited by differing artistic visions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-film/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Composing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composing/) [Composing Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composing-experience-2374635/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elia-kazan-2019973/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Composing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-composing-2790136/) [Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kazan-563427/) ## Related quotes > [It is always the same with me; only when I experience something do I compose, and only when composing do I experience! After all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustav-mahler/it-is-always-the-same-with-me-only-when-i-experience-something-do-i/) [Gustav Mahler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustav-mahler/) > [Elia Kazan understood my problems. He was able to bring out the very best in me. He gave me credit for my intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/elia-kazan-understood-my-problems-he-was-able-to-bring-out-the-very/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [Elia Kazan - the films he made were such a big deal for me when I was growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-ehrenreich/elia-kazan-the-films-he-made-were-such-a-big-deal-for-me-when-i-was/) [Alden Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-ehrenreich/) > [I think I've done more recording in the past 10 years than most people, but it's all been directed toward film composing and soundtracks.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-clarke/i-think-i-ve-done-more-recording-in-the-past-10-years-than-most/) [Stanley Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-clarke/) > [Film composing is a splendid discipline, and I recommend a course of it to all composition teachers whose pupils are apt to be dawdling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-vaughan-williams/film-composing-is-a-splendid-discipline-and-i-recommend-a-course-of/) [Ralph Vaughan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-vaughan-williams/) > [“She had told Kazan that she was bored with the roles she was playing because so many of them had been basically the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-randy-taraborrelli/she-had-told-kazan-that-she-was-bored-with-the-roles-she-was-playing/) [J. Randy Taraborrelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-randy-taraborrelli/) > [Napoli wanted to send me to Rubin Kazan, and I knew nothing about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-quagliarella/napoli-wanted-to-send-me-to-rubin-kazan-and-i-knew-nothing-about-it/) [Fabio Quagliarella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-quagliarella/) > [As an actor, you're continually riding the waves of whether you're in or out, getting work or not getting work, and Kazan was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-pullman/as-an-actor-you-re-continually-riding-the-waves-of-whether-you-re-in/) [Bill Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-pullman/) > [“One’s missing.” Kazan was livid. He searched the dead faces and saw no sign of Anastasia Romanov. “The conniving little witch is gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-meade/one-s-missing-kazan-was-livid-he-searched-the-dead-faces-and-saw-no/) [Glenn Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-meade/) > [Oh, Zoe Kazan - I'd move back to Brooklyn for her. She makes me happy with my life. Knowing her, being at her dinner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-williams/oh-zoe-kazan-i-d-move-back-to-brooklyn-for-her-she-makes-me-happy/) [Michelle Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-williams/) > [All in all, I think Kazan is Russia's sportiest city after Moscow, leaving all the others far behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marat-safin/all-in-all-i-think-kazan-is-russia-s-sportiest-city-after-moscow/) [Marat Safin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marat-safin/) > [Kazan was an old friend, I met him in 1938. He picked up radio jobs for eating money, so I met him on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/kazan-was-an-old-friend-i-met-him-in-1938-he-picked-up-radio-jobs-for/) [Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/) > ['A Face in the Crowd' is Elia Kazan's forgotten movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-reed/a-face-in-the-crowd-is-elia-kazan-s-forgotten-movie/) [Peyton Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-reed/) > [I met my wife and, for the next ten years, we did no films at all. She did the first movie and then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/i-met-my-wife-and-for-the-next-ten-years-we-did-no-films-at-all-she/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [I trained as an actor with Lee Strasberg, Elia Kazan, and Harold Clurman, and those guys set a very high bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/i-trained-as-an-actor-with-lee-strasberg-elia-kazan-and-harold/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) ## More by Alex North > [Fear is a problem with film music and films; people want to be conventional, and there's more commercialism today. If you are not daring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-north/fear-is-a-problem-with-film-music-and-films-people-want-to-be/) [Alex North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-north/) > [When I decided to go to a country that subsidized music, I went to the Soviet Union for two years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-north/when-i-decided-to-go-to-a-country-that-subsidized-music-i-went-to-the/) [Alex North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-north/) > [There are so few directors who are musical who appreciate music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-north/there-are-so-few-directors-who-are-musical-who-appreciate-music/) [Alex North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-north/) > [I prefer to write music for family films. I like people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-north/i-prefer-to-write-music-for-family-films-i-like-people/) [Alex North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-north/) > [Today it's not culture; it's box office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-north/today-it-s-not-culture-it-s-box-office/) [Alex North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-north/) > [Being an old radical, I like films like Spartacus. I could relate to the hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-north/being-an-old-radical-i-like-films-like-spartacus-i-could-relate-to/) [Alex North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-north/) > [Composers today get a TV script on Friday and have to record on Tuesday. It's just dreadful to impose on gifted talent and expect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-north/composers-today-get-a-tv-script-on-friday-and-have-to-record-on/) [Alex North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-north/) > [There are scores you have to write objectively without getting involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-north/there-are-scores-you-have-to-write-objectively-without-getting/) [Alex North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-north/) > [I like what I hear as a resulting combination of these two strands... something of a combination of familiarity and, for lack of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-north/i-like-what-i-hear-as-a-resulting-combination-of-these-two-strands/) [Alex North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-north/) > [The United States and Turkey are the only two countries that don't have some kind of subsidy for the Arts. The whole culture in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-north/the-united-states-and-turkey-are-the-only-two-countries-that-don-t/) [Alex North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-north/) [Explore all 11 Alex North quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-north/) ## More Best film quotes > [For me, 'Come and See' is, by a million miles, the best film about war that has ever been made. I would highly recommend,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-ifans/for-me-come-and-see-is-by-a-million-miles-the-best-film-about-war/) [Rhys Ifans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-ifans/) > [The most important thing for Quentin and the most important thing for me is to make the best film possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-richardson/the-most-important-thing-for-quentin-and-the-most-important-thing-for/) [Robert Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-richardson/) > [I just try to make the best film possible, and once the movie's done, we deal with the DVD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singleton/i-just-try-to-make-the-best-film-possible-and-once-the-movie-s-done/) [John Singleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singleton/) > [Orson Welles lists Citizen Kane as his best film, Alfred Hitchcock opts for Shadow of a Doubt, and Sir Carol Reed chose The Third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cotten/orson-welles-lists-citizen-kane-as-his-best-film-alfred-hitchcock/) [Joseph Cotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cotten/) > [We've seen so many films now, that you have to be on par with the best films that have preceded you. You just can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keenen-ivory-wayans/we-ve-seen-so-many-films-now-that-you-have-to-be-on-par-with-the-best/) [Keenen Ivory Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keenen-ivory-wayans/) > [But even a kid, directing was something that I did. I made short films in school. I feel like I've been in the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-ehrenreich/but-even-a-kid-directing-was-something-that-i-did-i-made-short-films/) [Alden Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-ehrenreich/) > [The most important part of filmmaking is the collaboration and the ensemble element of it. If you just all focus on the task and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/the-most-important-part-of-filmmaking-is-the-collaboration-and-the/) [Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/) > [When I started acting, my mom said, "If you want to go to film school and eventually direct, being on set is probably the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-baruchel/when-i-started-acting-my-mom-said-if-you-want-to-go-to-film-school/) [Jay Baruchel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-baruchel/) > [Tom Hanks hits a new career peak. One of the best films of the year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-travers/tom-hanks-hits-a-new-career-peak-one-of-the-best-films-of-the-year/) [Peter Travers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-travers/) > [It's a privilege. It's a real honor. It's a challenge. Michael and I always feel we stand on tall shoulders when we make these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-broccoli/it-s-a-privilege-it-s-a-real-honor-it-s-a-challenge-michael-and-i/) [Barbara Broccoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-broccoli/) > [With a few exceptions, Fellini's films have failure and despair running through them: Life continues, but I can't imagine 'Felliniesque' as an exclusively uplifting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-pettigrew/with-a-few-exceptions-fellini-s-films-have-failure-and-despair/) [Damian Pettigrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-pettigrew/) > ['Gunday' might not be the best film of my life, but it's been a life-altering film for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-kapoor/gunday-might-not-be-the-best-film-of-my-life-but-it-s-been-a-life/) [Arjun Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-kapoor/) > [A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/a-census-taker-once-tried-to-test-me-i-ate-his-liver-with-some-fava/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [I think with a lot of filmmakers, their first film is their best film because they had to think on their feet and solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/i-think-with-a-lot-of-filmmakers-their-first-film-is-their-best-film/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [Sitting opposite Steven Spielberg, while he turns the pages of your script and talks about each scene as he goes, is about the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-charman/sitting-opposite-steven-spielberg-while-he-turns-the-pages-of-your/) [Matt Charman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-charman/) [Browse all 79 Best film quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-film/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My best film composing experience was with Elia Kazan.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alex North" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-north/my-best-film-composing-experience-was-with-elia-kazan/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Best film" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-north/my-best-film-composing-experience-was-with-elia-kazan/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/alex-north-39334_best-film_my-best-film-composing-experience-was-wi_2311829.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/alex-north-39334_best-film_my-best-film-composing-experience-was-wi_2311829.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/alex-north-39334_best-film_my-best-film-composing-experience-was-wi_2311829.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My best film composing experience was with Elia Kazan.” — Alex North", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alex North", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-north/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My best film composing experience was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-north/my-best-film-composing-experience-was-with-elia-kazan/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-north/my-best-film-composing-experience-was-with-elia-kazan/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```