Talk:Danny Elfman

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Should this article be really cat'ed in Spider-Man and Batman?! - UnlimitedAccess 5 July 2005 06:48 (UTC)

Modifying the listing of Desperate Housewives to the "theme" for desperate housewives. Danny Elfman only composed the theme, someone else (I forgot who the composer is) actually does the music in the show-- someone who works closely with Elfman and was obviously influenced by him but I can't remember his name...

Contents 1 Picture 2 Bodhi Elfman 3 Jewish 4 Birthplace 5 Layout of the Article 6 New Profession for Mr. Elfman 7 Simpsons theme...largest orchestra?? 8 Conducting= 8.1 MUSICAL ISSUES 9 Rock On!!!!!!! 10 Corrections 11 Reference for whitest white kid 12 Danny Elfman open letter 13 Danny's Religion

[edit] Picture

I have screencapped a picture of Danny Elfman from the Sweet Sounds feature of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory DVD. It seems to be fair use. If you feel that it isn't or have problems with the picture at least leave a note here explaining why. This picture seems sufficient so hopefully there won't be any more picture shuffling ;) Thanks. --Rachel Cakes 09:26, 24 January 2006 (UTC)

I am sorry, but I think the picture needs to be changed. I know it is a recent photo, but quite frankly, it makes him look like a dweeb. I remember a photo that was on this article earlier that did Mr. Elfman justice and IMO better suited for this article.. This is a just a suggestion. -Atomic Duck!

Which photo would that be? Could you please link to it or describe it to me? --Rachel Cakes 10:55, 21 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bodhi Elfman

I didn't know he was Jenna Elfman's uncle-in-law. Also, his nephew Bodhi is Scientologist I just read on the article. I really hope that Danny isn't. Danny seems like such a cool guy it would be a shame if he was. --Rachel Cakes 05:41, 2 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Jewish

Considering that his work isn't religious, is it appropriate that the first thing mentioned about him after his birth is that he is a Jewish American? 24.22.148.134 05:04, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

America seems obsessed with internal cultural subdivisions. There doesn't seem to be such a thing as a plain "American". Cain Mosni 19:02, 16 July 2006 (UTC)

Well, when you're in a country that defines itself by it's multicultural setting every group becomes hyphenated. This is even more pronounced in Canada where, rather than a melting pot, everyone is seperate, so much so that even 'regular' Canadians become 'English-Canadians'. It's not an 'American' symptom but rather a multicultural one. --Thaddius 16:23, 20 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Birthplace

He was born in Los Angeles. See: http://www.bluntinstrument.org.uk/elfman/bio/index.html, imdb, etc. (this is a common mistake, see bottom of www.squidoo.com/dannyelfman. Nationalparks 05:56, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Layout of the Article

I think this article should have a different layout. It just seems so jumbled up. Allemannster 03:39, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] New Profession for Mr. Elfman

The rumors are he wants to direct movies now, that this is indeed his heart's passion, not music. Picture an American Fellini or Argento but with a killer soundtrack. Can't wait....

[edit] Simpsons theme...largest orchestra??

I heard once that the theme tune for the Simpsons employed the largest orchestra ever for a film/Tv score... is this true?--Macca7174 15:33, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

Seems highly unlikely to me. I don't hear that many instruments, and I don't see why would they need that many. ☢ Ҡi∊ff⌇↯ 18:29, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Conducting=

In the trivia section it mentions that Danny conducted his scores for Batman and Batman Returns. As far as I know, this isn't true. According to Danny himself (Music For A Darkened Theater II liner notes) he only conducted one of his scores, which I believe was Dead Presidents (might have been something else). Anyone else got anything to the contrary? 71.141.142.179 03:41, 4 October 2006 (UTC)

Elfman assuredly did NOT conduct the score for Batman - At the time, Elfman would not have had the musical knowledge to do such a thing to begin with and I'm pretty sure Scott Smalley was the conductor (and I just talked to him last weekend). Which brings us to a completely un-addressed issue on this article: Sean W. Malone 22:43, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

I believe the late, great Shirley Walker may have conducted it, as she was quite involved in that score (orchestrating and writing some additional music I believe. Perhaps it's time to check the disc's liner notes. 205.155.8.6 18:02, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] MUSICAL ISSUES

When Danny Elfman first got into film scoring there was a huge backlash by (for lack of a better word) "real" composers. This is because Elfman had no significant musical training and knew almost nothing about harmony or orchestration (which are incredibly important to the compositional process). As a result, on the Batman score for example, orchestrator Steven Scott Smalley made all of those decisions effectively composing about 75% of the actual music (if you consider some of the basic elements of music such as; melody, harmony, rhythm, form, dynamics, articulations - Scott Smalley is responsible for almost all but melody and form...) If you've seen the composer's sketches (which film composers give to orchestrators in order to write the ridiculously large amount of music in the short amount of time they have) given to Smalley by Elfman (which I have seen/have copies of) you will find that they contain only melodic information.

I'm rather disappointed this wiki doesn't address that at all but then as an educated film composer in the world of GarageBand, I can't say I'm particularly surprised. Sean W. Malone 22:43, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

I'm pretty Shirley Walker conducted the score to Batman, as for the orchestrators Smalley was one of them, there were several orchestrators of Batman. ~\_|JaySherman|_/~ 05:46, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

DO you have any SOURCES beyond your personal opinion. This is a quite common accusation leveled at Elfman, but it always lacks the most basic proof. Where are these sketches? How could he have been musical director for a rock band for 10 plus years without having a basic grasp of harmony? Just because he didn't go to a conservatory to learn about composition does not mean he knows nothing about the process. 205.155.8.6 18:05, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Rock On!!!!!!!

You totally rock and succed in al you do!!!!!!!!!!!!! good luck with the rest!!!!!!!!!!!—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 71.83.129.140 (talk) .

[edit] Corrections

Can someone confirm that the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo name was shortened in 1978? Because Forbidden Zone was made in 1980 and the band is credited in that film as "The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo."

Also it would be good to link to his brother Richards Wikipedia entry in the first paragraph where he is mentioned as "his big brother."

The whole period between 1978 and 1980 seems transitional. I don't think there were any more Mystic Knights shows after 1978 and when they "shortened down" Richard Elfman decided to start the film. Forbidden Zone was released in 1980. --Stacey Doljack Borsody 18:04, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Reference for whitest white kid

The only thing I found was this: http://elfman.filmmusic.com/elfman_la_times.html Unless it can be corroborated, shouldn't it be REMOVED, since he's still living?

[edit] Danny Elfman open letter

Back in the late 80's Elfman was recieving a lot of criticism for not being a proffessionaly trained musician, some of those crticis were very harsh, and Danny apparently got enough and made an open letter, i found a copy of that letter here.~\_|JaySherman|_/~ 03:52, 22 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Danny's Religion

There has been a slight dispute over what religion Danny is. It has been claimed that he was born Jewish, but is now a congregational Christian. Has anyone been able to find a reliable source that clearly states his religion? --Releeshan 21:17, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

Or maybe he's Scientologist? I find it funny that folks care so much about this topic. --Stacey Doljack Borsody 21:23, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

That's his brother and nephew. Danny's not a Scientologist.

Yea, no shit. --Stacey Doljack Borsody 05:12, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

I don't care about it all that much, but I would like to put the issue to rest. --Releeshan 21:26, 5 February 2007 (UTC)