I felt from time to time that shooting live music is the most purely cinematic thing you can do. Ideally, the cinema is becoming one with the music. …

- Jonathan Demme

It's a funny thing with documentary films - you want them to feel as entertaining and as gripping as a fictional film. With a fictional film you want…

- Jonathan Demme

When you're working on a script, every word that's on the page, somebody has to read it. Make every word count in your stories.

- Jonathan Demme

I also feel that the only thing more gratifying than working with someone who you've worked well with is working with someone new and coming up with …

- Jonathan Demme

If you're doing a music film, you've got to be singing about something.

- Jonathan Demme

I like finding a great shot and then just staying with it for a long time, not trying to pump things up with some kind of artificial energy by cuttin…

- Jonathan Demme

Everything I've made - it doesn't mean they've all been good - but everything I've made so far, big or little, fiction or documentary, has been somet…

- Jonathan Demme

Nothing beats a live performance. Nothing.

- Jonathan Demme

I'm guided by my enthusiasm.

- Jonathan Demme