---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Composing is to think. It is to have your…"
description: "\"Composing is to think. It is to have your mind trying to find what is the best sound that the movie is going for: the best melody, the best texture, th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/alexandre-desplat-4905_best_composing-is-to-think-it-is-to-have-your_886985.png"
---

#  Composing is to think. It is to have your mind trying to…

![“Composing is to think. It is to have your mind trying to find what is the best sound that the movie is going for: the best melody, the best texture, the best structure and dramaturgic arc for the film. Then you discuss that with the director. He's the leader. He's the one showing you the path to…” quote by Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/alexandre-desplat-4905_best_composing-is-to-think-it-is-to-have-your_886985.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/alexandre-desplat-4905_best_composing-is-to-think-it-is-to-have-your_886985.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/alexandre-desplat-4905_best_composing-is-to-think-it-is-to-have-your_886985.png)

> “Composing is to think. It is to have your mind trying to find what is the best sound that the movie is going for: the best melody, the best texture, the best structure and dramaturgic arc for the film. Then you discuss that with the director. He's the leader. He's the one showing you the path to follow to find the soul of the film.”

[Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Film music is a collaborative search for the perfect sonic narrative, guided by the director’s vision.

**In simple terms:** Music shapes film story.

Key Takeaway

Collaborate closely with directors to define a film’s sonic soul.

Themes

creativity collaboration storytelling

Mood

inspirational analytical

Type

professional artistic

When to use this quote

- directing
- editing
- sound design
- production meetings

Key Concepts

music theory film narrative

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you negotiate musical ideas with a director?
- What methods help align music with narrative tone?

A Different Perspective

Creative conflicts may arise from differing artistic visions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Composing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composing/) [Composing Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composing-think-1109322/) [Discuss Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discuss-director-1109323/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Discuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-discuss-1109324/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Sound Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound-movie-1109325/)

## Related quotes

> [I always go crazy over every scene and have to discuss it with my director many times. Even Sekhar Kammula, who directed me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sai-pallavi/i-always-go-crazy-over-every-scene-and-have-to-discuss-it-with-my/)

[Sai Pallavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sai-pallavi/)

> [My favorite part about costume designing is the artistry of the job. You meet with a director and a visionary to discuss ideas. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-e-carter/my-favorite-part-about-costume-designing-is-the-artistry-of-the-job/)

[Ruth E. Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-e-carter/)

> [Turn off the sound in a movie, and if you can tell what's going on, the movie should work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/turn-off-the-sound-in-a-movie-and-if-you-can-tell-what-s-going-on-the/)

[Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/)

> [When I watch a movie, I don't make a sound or move. The more I'm into the movie, the more bored I look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/when-i-watch-a-movie-i-don-t-make-a-sound-or-move-the-more-i-m-into/)

[Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/)

> [The dubbing of the music and effects is really incredible today. You're feeling gun shots. I mean, it's not the way people say it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-silver/the-dubbing-of-the-music-and-effects-is-really-incredible-today-you/)

[Joel Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-silver/)

> [“The sound was still off. In the movie, the girl and the woman had gotten into a car and were driving somewhere. They were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-michael-thomas/the-sound-was-still-off-in-the-movie-the-girl-and-the-woman-had/)

[Ford Michael Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-michael-thomas/)

> [That's why I'm so passionate about making music for movies because you dive in and find the best ideas to bring tolife a collective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/that-s-why-i-m-so-passionate-about-making-music-for-movies-because/)

[Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

> [I always tend to think that composing is not playing an instrument, composing is having something in your head that's steaming and it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/i-always-tend-to-think-that-composing-is-not-playing-an-instrument/)

[Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

> [I don't meditate before I play or compose, but I see playing and composing as meditative acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-swallow/i-don-t-meditate-before-i-play-or-compose-but-i-see-playing-and/)

[Steve Swallow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-swallow/)

> [I was really into the music of Cream after I finished composing the music for 'BTTB.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/i-was-really-into-the-music-of-cream-after-i-finished-composing-the/)

[Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/)

> [Even though, theoretically, being a composer and being a songwriter are the same thing, in my brain, they are completely different. When I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bacon/even-though-theoretically-being-a-composer-and-being-a-songwriter-are/)

[Michael Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bacon/)

> [I'm the only actor who has done everything, right from anchoring shows to composing and singing songs to theatre to movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javed-jaffrey/i-m-the-only-actor-who-has-done-everything-right-from-anchoring-shows/)

[Javed Jaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javed-jaffrey/)

> [Composing a piece of music is very feminine. It is sensitive, emotional, contemplative. By comparison, doing housework is positively masculine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kolb/composing-a-piece-of-music-is-very-feminine-it-is-sensitive-emotional/)

[Barbara Kolb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kolb/)

> [As human beings, we are the only organisms that create for the sheer stupid pleasure of doing so. Whether it's laying out a garden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hamel/as-human-beings-we-are-the-only-organisms-that-create-for-the-sheer/)

[Gary Hamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hamel/)

> [Playing is much, much harder than composing in my opinion, becoming a player. If you want to be a player for all your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-powell/playing-is-much-much-harder-than-composing-in-my-opinion-becoming-a/)

[John Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-powell/)

## More by Alexandre Desplat

> [When synthesizers appeared everyone was a composer suddenly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/when-synthesizers-appeared-everyone-was-a-composer-suddenly/)

[Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

> [I've been pretty lucky to work with directors who were quite influenced by European cinema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/i-ve-been-pretty-lucky-to-work-with-directors-who-were-quite/)

[Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

> [I guess the passion I have for cinema is as strong as the one that I have for music. And I've always tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/i-guess-the-passion-i-have-for-cinema-is-as-strong-as-the-one-that-i/)

[Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

> [That's the main lesson I've learned from working in the theater: respect the dramaturgy. I don't want to overwhelm everything with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/that-s-the-main-lesson-i-ve-learned-from-working-in-the-theater/)

[Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

> [I'm not a script composer. I'm a film composer and my brain is excited by images and moving elements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/i-m-not-a-script-composer-i-m-a-film-composer-and-my-brain-is-excited/)

[Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

> [There are some moments in your life and in your career when you meet a movie and the director that suddenly just turns you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/there-are-some-moments-in-your-life-and-in-your-career-when-you-meet/)

[Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

> [I never thought the orchestra should be big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/i-never-thought-the-orchestra-should-be-big/)

[Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

> [The main difference I'd say is that European cinema has always used less music than American cinema for historical reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/the-main-difference-i-d-say-is-that-european-cinema-has-always-used/)

[Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

> [Mozart for me is the No. 1 composer. His music is not just joy or sadness. It's deep emotion with a touch of lightness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/mozart-for-me-is-the-no-1-composer-his-music-is-not-just-joy-or/)

[Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

> [I liked 'The Darjeeling Limited' very much. There was a melancholy about that film that I liked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/i-liked-the-darjeeling-limited-very-much-there-was-a-melancholy-about/)

[Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

> [When you work on animation, the music has a great task: to create a sound and melodies and mood and atmosphere and energy dedicated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/when-you-work-on-animation-the-music-has-a-great-task-to-create-a/)

[Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

> [My parents had a lot of movie soundtracks that they brought back from the States. So very early on I heard film music at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/my-parents-had-a-lot-of-movie-soundtracks-that-they-brought-back-from/)

[Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

> [It's very hard to understand what's happening in someone's brain and what goes into their experience and their death, and the music has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/it-s-very-hard-to-understand-what-s-happening-in-someone-s-brain-and/)

[Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

> [It's not easy to write an understated score over a loud one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/it-s-not-easy-to-write-an-understated-score-over-a-loud-one/)

[Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

> [As a child brought up in Paris, I dreamed of America, that lost world my parents had left behind - it was in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/as-a-child-brought-up-in-paris-i-dreamed-of-america-that-lost-world/)

[Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

[Explore all 105 Alexandre Desplat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/)

## More Best quotes

> [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/)

[Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/)

> [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [It's no wonder Pep is one of the best coaches in the world. When I knew I could work with him I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/it-s-no-wonder-pep-is-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-when-i/)

[Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/)

> [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/)

[Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/)

> [Life is where you love people and use things not use people and love things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/life-is-where-you-love-people-and-use-things-not-use-people-and-love/)

[Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/)

> [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/)

[Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/)

> [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/)

[Gene Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-scott/)

> [I'm looking to fight the best guys in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/i-m-looking-to-fight-the-best-guys-in-the-world/)

[Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/)

> [Batley and Spen has a high proportion of people working in manufacturing, and we can boast the full range of industries, including high-skilled, precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/batley-and-spen-has-a-high-proportion-of-people-working-in/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [Any position I was going to be in, I was going to make the best of it. I always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/any-position-i-was-going-to-be-in-i-was-going-to-make-the-best-of-it/)

[Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/)

[Browse all 21,674 Best quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Composing is to think. It is to have your mind trying to find what is the best sound that the movie is going for: the best melody, the best texture, the best structure and dramaturgic arc for the film. Then you discuss that with the director. He's the leader. He's the one showing you the path to follow to find the soul of the film.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alexandre Desplat"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/composing-is-to-think-it-is-to-have-your-mind-trying-to-find-what-is/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Best"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/composing-is-to-think-it-is-to-have-your-mind-trying-to-find-what-is/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/alexandre-desplat-4905_best_composing-is-to-think-it-is-to-have-your_886985.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/alexandre-desplat-4905_best_composing-is-to-think-it-is-to-have-your_886985.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/alexandre-desplat-4905_best_composing-is-to-think-it-is-to-have-your_886985.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Composing is to think. It is to have your mind trying to find what is the best sound that the movie is going…” — Alexandre Desplat",
                "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": "Alexandre Desplat",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Composing is to think. It is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/composing-is-to-think-it-is-to-have-your-mind-trying-to-find-what-is/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/composing-is-to-think-it-is-to-have-your-mind-trying-to-find-what-is/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
