--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'Hannibal' is not reality; the whole show…" description: "\"'Hannibal' is not reality; the whole show is not reality. It's heightened reality: they want music the entire time.\" — Brian Reitzell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/brian-reitzell-16610_hannibal_hannibal-is-not-reality-the-whole-show-i_1666238.jpg" --- # 'Hannibal' is not reality; the whole show is not reality… ![“'Hannibal' is not reality; the whole show is not reality. It's heightened reality: they want music the entire time.” quote by Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/brian-reitzell-16610_hannibal_hannibal-is-not-reality-the-whole-show-i_1666238.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/brian-reitzell-16610_hannibal_hannibal-is-not-reality-the-whole-show-i_1666238.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abb/brian-reitzell-16610_hannibal_hannibal-is-not-reality-the-whole-show-i_1666238.jpg) > “'Hannibal' is not reality; the whole show is not reality. It's heightened reality: they want music the entire time.” [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The series presents an exaggerated, stylized version of reality where music underscores every moment, creating a heightened, immersive experience. **In simple terms:** The show is an intensified version of reality with constant music. Key Takeaway Recognize artistic exaggeration in media. Themes media perception artistic style reality perception Mood thoughtful analytical Type critical observational When to use this quote - watching TV - analyzing film - creative storytelling Key Concepts hyperreality aesthetic immersion Questions to Reflect On - How does constant music affect your engagement? - What does “heightened reality” mean to you? A Different Perspective The music may distract from narrative depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hannibal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hannibal/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“The music plays . . . and your sense of reality is heightened to a dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mutti-clark/the-music-plays-and-your-sense-of-reality-is-heightened-to-a-dream/) [David Mutti Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mutti-clark/) > [The thing is, even if you're playing sort of a heightened character and playing inside sort of a heightened reality, you can still apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/the-thing-is-even-if-you-re-playing-sort-of-a-heightened-character/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [With 'Hannibal,' I just really want people to feel something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/with-hannibal-i-just-really-want-people-to-feel-something/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > [I think the idea of a heightened reality and then the fantasy that we're able to be swept up in, and then these larger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hemsworth/i-think-the-idea-of-a-heightened-reality-and-then-the-fantasy-that-we/) [Chris Hemsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hemsworth/) > [I want my job to include a little adventure, a little more of a heightened reality than what I'm actually living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/i-want-my-job-to-include-a-little-adventure-a-little-more-of-a/) [Nathan Fillion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-fillion/) > [I do hope that for the young women watching the show they know it is heightened reality and just grown ups playing teenagers. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilarie-burton/i-do-hope-that-for-the-young-women-watching-the-show-they-know-it-is/) [Hilarie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilarie-burton/) > [I love doing heightened reality stuff, and having fun with the characters I play, especially in a kind of darker way, which I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lee-potts/i-love-doing-heightened-reality-stuff-and-having-fun-with-the/) [Andrew-Lee Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lee-potts/) > [With 'Hannibal,' it's almost like the music is part of the furniture, so as a character goes from one room to another room, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/with-hannibal-it-s-almost-like-the-music-is-part-of-the-furniture-so/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > [I think the CG is an instrument to create reality. I don't think it's an instrument to create a heightened reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ross/i-think-the-cg-is-an-instrument-to-create-reality-i-don-t-think-it-s/) [Gary Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ross/) > [I've put a lot of records out and a lot of soundtracks, and 'Hannibal' is kind of a special one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/i-ve-put-a-lot-of-records-out-and-a-lot-of-soundtracks-and-hannibal/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > [With 'Hannibal,' it's like reactive scoring so I don't get ahead. I don't read a script; I don't want to know what's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/with-hannibal-it-s-like-reactive-scoring-so-i-don-t-get-ahead-i-don-t/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > [I felt, selfishly, that if there was going to be a TV show about 'Hannibal Lecter' whether I was going to be involved or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fuller/i-felt-selfishly-that-if-there-was-going-to-be-a-tv-show-about/) [Bryan Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fuller/) > [Homer, Hesiod, Pythagoras, Plato, and Cicero, just to name a few, all lived in pagan societies. Some of the greatest political and military leaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/homer-hesiod-pythagoras-plato-and-cicero-just-to-name-a-few-all-lived/) [Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/) > [Everything was so designed by Hannibal to break down Will in the first season, until Will's sanity became questionable. It's so much easier to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fuller/everything-was-so-designed-by-hannibal-to-break-down-will-in-the/) [Bryan Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fuller/) > [I would have let you shoot me without further ado! But it is not possible to hang the German Reichsmarschall! I cannot permit this.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-goring/i-would-have-let-you-shoot-me-without-further-ado-but-it-is-not/) [Hermann Goring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-goring/) ## More by Brian Reitzell > [I always liked the stress, the real high-stakes, get-the-orders-out line-cook job, as well as the ordering of the produce and everything - it's really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/i-always-liked-the-stress-the-real-high-stakes-get-the-orders-out/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > [Indie movies can be a lot more stressful than studio pictures. The stakes are just as high whether you're talking $3 million or $40 million.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/indie-movies-can-be-a-lot-more-stressful-than-studio-pictures-the/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > ['Lost in Translation' was a year of my life, if not more, and then 'Marie Antoinette' was about three years of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/lost-in-translation-was-a-year-of-my-life-if-not-more-and-then-marie/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > [With 'Hannibal,' it's like reactive scoring so I don't get ahead. I don't read a script; I don't want to know what's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/with-hannibal-it-s-like-reactive-scoring-so-i-don-t-get-ahead-i-don-t/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > [An orchestra can add some class, a historical vibe, but I believe you can get the same emotion from pottery wheels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/an-orchestra-can-add-some-class-a-historical-vibe-but-i-believe-you/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > [I've put a lot of records out and a lot of soundtracks, and 'Hannibal' is kind of a special one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/i-ve-put-a-lot-of-records-out-and-a-lot-of-soundtracks-and-hannibal/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > ['Loveless' was a really big record for me. It was what was keeping me alive when I was still touring with Redd Kross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/loveless-was-a-really-big-record-for-me-it-was-what-was-keeping-me/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > [I don't think nightmares are necessarily bad for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/i-don-t-think-nightmares-are-necessarily-bad-for-you/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > [I'm not a sports fan, but I remember watching highlights with post-rock guitar instrumental music over these slow-motion shots of football players. It's triumphant,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/i-m-not-a-sports-fan-but-i-remember-watching-highlights-with-post/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > [Music as a business is a dirty thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/music-as-a-business-is-a-dirty-thing/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > [My favourite scores, they have very little music. I don't ever want to notice the music coming in. I just want it to suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/my-favourite-scores-they-have-very-little-music-i-don-t-ever-want-to/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > [My dad had a candy-apple red sparkle drag boat with a giant hemi engine in it that he raced professionally. The sound of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/my-dad-had-a-candy-apple-red-sparkle-drag-boat-with-a-giant-hemi/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > [Bronze makes the most complex waveforms of any substance known to man. It creates these vibrations that will just crack your skull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/bronze-makes-the-most-complex-waveforms-of-any-substance-known-to-man/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > [With 'Hannibal,' it's almost like the music is part of the furniture, so as a character goes from one room to another room, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/with-hannibal-it-s-almost-like-the-music-is-part-of-the-furniture-so/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > [I love collaborating because I come from the world of being in bands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/i-love-collaborating-because-i-come-from-the-world-of-being-in-bands/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) [Explore all 39 Brian Reitzell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) ## More Hannibal quotes > [I would have let you shoot me without further ado! But it is not possible to hang the German Reichsmarschall! I cannot permit this.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-goring/i-would-have-let-you-shoot-me-without-further-ado-but-it-is-not/) [Hermann Goring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-goring/) > [Everything was so designed by Hannibal to break down Will in the first season, until Will's sanity became questionable. It's so much easier to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fuller/everything-was-so-designed-by-hannibal-to-break-down-will-in-the/) [Bryan Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fuller/) > [Homer, Hesiod, Pythagoras, Plato, and Cicero, just to name a few, all lived in pagan societies. Some of the greatest political and military leaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/homer-hesiod-pythagoras-plato-and-cicero-just-to-name-a-few-all-lived/) [Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/) > [I felt, selfishly, that if there was going to be a TV show about 'Hannibal Lecter' whether I was going to be involved or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fuller/i-felt-selfishly-that-if-there-was-going-to-be-a-tv-show-about/) [Bryan Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fuller/) > [“Every person is worth your time, Hannibal. If at first appearance a person seems dull, then look harder, look into him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/every-person-is-worth-your-time-hannibal-if-at-first-appearance-a/) [Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/) > [My son Hannibal will be a great general, because of all my soldiers he best knows how to obey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilcar-barca/my-son-hannibal-will-be-a-great-general-because-of-all-my-soldiers-he/) Hamilcar Barca > […well just call me Hannibal Lecter. With cleavage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/well-just-call-me-hannibal-lecter-with-cleavage/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [“I know what you're afraid of. It's not pain, or solitude. It's indignity you can't stand, Hannibal, you're like a cat that way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/i-know-what-you-re-afraid-of-it-s-not-pain-or-solitude-it-s-indignity/) [Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/) > [“Inveniam viam aut faciam…” “I will find a way or make one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal/inveniam-viam-aut-faciam-i-will-find-a-way-or-make-one/) [Hannibal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal/) > [With 'Hannibal,' it's like reactive scoring so I don't get ahead. I don't read a script; I don't want to know what's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/with-hannibal-it-s-like-reactive-scoring-so-i-don-t-get-ahead-i-don-t/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > [The Following and Hannibal are really well made, but the tone is very consistently dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/the-following-and-hannibal-are-really-well-made-but-the-tone-is-very/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) > [I've put a lot of records out and a lot of soundtracks, and 'Hannibal' is kind of a special one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reitzell/i-ve-put-a-lot-of-records-out-and-a-lot-of-soundtracks-and-hannibal/) [Brian Reitzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reitzell/) > [“Orion is above the horizon now, and near it Jupiter, brighter than it will ever be ... But i expect you can see it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/orion-is-above-the-horizon-now-and-near-it-jupiter-brighter-than-it/) [Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/) > [After The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal, the audience would like to know where, when, and who arrests Hannibal Lecter for the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dino-de-laurentiis/after-the-silence-of-the-lambs-and-hannibal-the-audience-would-like/) [Dino De Laurentiis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dino-de-laurentiis/) > [I'm incredibly proud of 'Hannibal' and the cast - I feel like we're doing really good television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fuller/i-m-incredibly-proud-of-hannibal-and-the-cast-i-feel-like-we-re-doing/) [Bryan Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fuller/) [Browse all 69 Hannibal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hannibal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "'Hannibal' is not reality; the whole show is not reality. 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