--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a screen composer or film-music…" description: "\"As a screen composer or film-music writer, I need something that I can work with in the body of the score. Like 'Charade,' 'Moon River,' 'Wine and Rose..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/114/henry-mancini-5029_body_as-a-screen-composer-or-film-music-write_3179787.png" --- # As a screen composer or film-music writer, I need… ![“As a screen composer or film-music writer, I need something that I can work with in the body of the score. Like 'Charade,' 'Moon River,' 'Wine and Roses,' 'Dear Heart' - they were all just themes that grew out of the picture.” quote by Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/114/henry-mancini-5029_body_as-a-screen-composer-or-film-music-write_3179787.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/114/henry-mancini-5029_body_as-a-screen-composer-or-film-music-write_3179787.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/114/henry-mancini-5029_body_as-a-screen-composer-or-film-music-write_3179787.png) > “As a screen composer or film-music writer, I need something that I can work with in the body of the score. Like 'Charade,' 'Moon River,' 'Wine and Roses,' 'Dear Heart' - they were all just themes that grew out of the picture.” [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A composer should create a theme that naturally emerges from the film’s visuals and story. **In simple terms:** Themes should grow from the picture. Key Takeaway Let the image guide your music. Themes creativity film scoring thematic development Mood inspired reflective Type instructional creative When to use this quote - writing a film score - developing a TV series theme - composing for commercials - creating leitmotifs for characters Key Concepts musical motifs visual storytelling emotional resonance Questions to Reflect On - How does visual narrative shape your melodic ideas? - What techniques help a theme stay flexible? A Different Perspective A strong theme may still need lyrical or orchestral adaptation to fit different scenes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Composer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/) [Composer Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer-film-1469144/) [Dear heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dear-heart/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-music/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Just Themes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-themes-5821568/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) [Screen Composer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screen-composer-5821567/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When I'm writing film music, I feel like I'm more a filmmaker than a composer. It's more about what the film needs. I'm basically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-johannsson/when-i-m-writing-film-music-i-feel-like-i-m-more-a-filmmaker-than-a/) [Johann Johannsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-johannsson/) > [I'm the same composer since my first film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-imman/i-m-the-same-composer-since-my-first-film/) [D. Imman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-imman/) > [I mean, I think as a composer for film, I am very frequently deferential to the drama. My motto is, 'Do no harm.' My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/i-mean-i-think-as-a-composer-for-film-i-am-very-frequently/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) > [According to me, one composer should do one film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeet-gannguli/according-to-me-one-composer-should-do-one-film/) [Jeet Gannguli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeet-gannguli/) > [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/) > [I'd say for a film composer, 'Star Wars' is kind of like the holy grail of film music. It's probably the best film music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-goransson/i-d-say-for-a-film-composer-star-wars-is-kind-of-like-the-holy-grail/) [Ludwig Goransson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-goransson/) > [If you're reading a comic strip, you can read it at any speed you want. But with film and music, the audience has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/if-you-re-reading-a-comic-strip-you-can-read-it-at-any-speed-you-want/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [Film music, over the years, has taken from everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/film-music-over-the-years-has-taken-from-everybody/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [Stravinsky influenced film music in general - those stabbing chords and rhythms from 'The Rite of Spring.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/stravinsky-influenced-film-music-in-general-those-stabbing-chords-and/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [Writing for TV or films isn't great art. You have to have a common denominator. It's up to the composer to make that common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/writing-for-tv-or-films-isn-t-great-art-you-have-to-have-a-common/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [“Poem Heart of the heartless world, Dear heart, the thought of you Is the pain at my side, The shadow that chills my view.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cornford/poem-heart-of-the-heartless-world-dear-heart-the-thought-of-you-is/) [John Cornford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cornford/) > [Dear Heart, I know I let you down so many times. I've been going through a lot you can see the tears in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-heart-i-know-i-let-you-down-so-many-times-i-ve-been-going/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Come into my wagon, dear heart,” the old woman crooned at Celaena, “and let old Baba Yellowlegs take a look into your future.” Sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/come-into-my-wagon-dear-heart-the-old-woman-crooned-at-celaena-and/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Dear heart, we embrace the song and the story and all our gifts because the world has such great need, and because the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-newcomer/dear-heart-we-embrace-the-song-and-the-story-and-all-our-gifts/) [Carrie Newcomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-newcomer/) > [Warm summer sun, shine kindly here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/warm-summer-sun-shine-kindly-here/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## More by Henry Mancini > [If you're feeling fancy free, come wander through the world with me, and any place we chance to be, will be a rendezvous. Two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/if-you-re-feeling-fancy-free-come-wander-through-the-world-with-me/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [In 'Charade,' there was a big fight. George Kennedy was playing one of his first big heavy roles; he had a hook for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/in-charade-there-was-a-big-fight-george-kennedy-was-playing-one-of/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [Bassoon is not an easy instrument to play and to pick it up and play it like a flute or a saxophone is quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/bassoon-is-not-an-easy-instrument-to-play-and-to-pick-it-up-and-play/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [I had no idea 'Moon River' would do so well. I was too busy working to think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/i-had-no-idea-moon-river-would-do-so-well-i-was-too-busy-working-to/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [When I play 'Newhart' in concert, it always gets a hand, right from the very beginning. To me, 'Newhart' is a hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/when-i-play-newhart-in-concert-it-always-gets-a-hand-right-from-the/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [Music forced into the air you breathe is an invasion of privacy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/music-forced-into-the-air-you-breathe-is-an-invasion-of-privacy/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [Sometimes memorable music doesn't necessarily have to be a hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/sometimes-memorable-music-doesn-t-necessarily-have-to-be-a-hit/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [Some scenes cry out for a certain kind of treatment. The kind we're conditioned by years of film-watching to expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/some-scenes-cry-out-for-a-certain-kind-of-treatment-the-kind-we-re/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [I've done entire scores for I don't know how many films and series. I never kept track; I suppose it's up in the hundreds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/i-ve-done-entire-scores-for-i-don-t-know-how-many-films-and-series-i/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [I equate composing with orchestrating. I think my music in terms of an orchestra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/i-equate-composing-with-orchestrating-i-think-my-music-in-terms-of-an/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [I just love what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/i-just-love-what-i-do/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [Jazz is capable of doing much more than depicting the dope fiend and the drunk and the slinky gal. In our show there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/jazz-is-capable-of-doing-much-more-than-depicting-the-dope-fiend-and/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [Broadway is intimidating. Don't think it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/broadway-is-intimidating-don-t-think-it-s-not/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [People love to hear a guy who is really good on his instrument. They love to watch him go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/people-love-to-hear-a-guy-who-is-really-good-on-his-instrument-they/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [I'm no songwriter because all of my popular songs have just been outgrowths of themes for the various pictures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/i-m-no-songwriter-because-all-of-my-popular-songs-have-just-been/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) [Explore all 104 Henry Mancini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) [Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. 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My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) [Browse all 20,814 Body quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a screen composer or film-music writer, I need something that I can work with in the body of the score. Like 'Charade,' 'Moon River,' 'Wine and Roses,' 'Dear Heart' - they were all just themes that grew out of the picture.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Mancini" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/as-a-screen-composer-or-film-music-writer-i-need-something-that-i-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Body" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/as-a-screen-composer-or-film-music-writer-i-need-something-that-i-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/114/henry-mancini-5029_body_as-a-screen-composer-or-film-music-write_3179787.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/114/henry-mancini-5029_body_as-a-screen-composer-or-film-music-write_3179787.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/114/henry-mancini-5029_body_as-a-screen-composer-or-film-music-write_3179787.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As a screen composer or film-music writer, I need something that I can work with in the body of the score…” — Henry Mancini", "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": "Henry Mancini", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As a screen composer or film-music...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/as-a-screen-composer-or-film-music-writer-i-need-something-that-i-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/as-a-screen-composer-or-film-music-writer-i-need-something-that-i-can/#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 } } ] } ```