As
an award winning music producer, film director, and Emmy nominated
composer, Craig Stuart Garfinkle's career includes work on feature
films, documentaries, multimedia, network television, commercials,
stage musicals and albums..
"I am so glad that Dane
entrusted me with such a special film." Craig says. "I got to be a fly
on the wall while Dane spent night after night at the Laugh Factory
working through this new, very personal material - mining his own
tragedies for comedic value."
"And although I have composed music for dozens of documentaries, as
both director and producer of this tender, dark and funny film, I
earned a renewed respect for all the film makers with whom I have
collaborated over the years. Directing is one tough gig!"
But the highlight of the project was being asked to write, compose,
edit, and produce a short film as Dane's "warm up act," to be shown to
his audience before taking the stage on his "ISolated INcident, Global
Thermo Comedy Tour." "What a thrill it was for me to be sitting in
Madison Square Garden, watching this movie being presented to 20,000
screaming fans."
His
other recent Dane Cook projects include, "Rough Around the Edges, Live
from Madison Square Gardens," for which he produced both the CD and the
live concert DVD, the songs, "Forward," and "I'll Never Be You," on
which Craig produced and played guitars, and the double platinum
selling comedy CD, "Retaliation," which Craig edited and mixed.
"When
we were working together on "Retaliation,"
we had no idea what was to follow. It was just a great hang: Dane, his
managers Brian and Barry, and myself, locked up in a room, trying to
put together a CD that made us laugh. Looking at where we've come since
then I can only say I was blessed to be a part of such a great team!"
"Retaliation"
also debuted at 4 on the pop charts, which was the first time a comedy
album debuted in the top-ten since Steve Martin's, "Wild and Crazy Guy"
in 1979.
Craig
is probably best known, however, for his musical contribution to film
trailers with partner Simone Benyacar. 
Some
of their recent projects in this genre would include, "J.J. Abrams Star
Trek," "Sin City,"
"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," "Harry Potter and the Order of
the Phoenix," "Spider-man 3," "Call of Duty II," "Halo II" and
countless
others. "Forest
Chase," which can be previewed on the sample "pop-out", is just one
example
of these collaborations with Simone.
In
the
film and TV world, Craig has recently been creating music for NBC's,
THE OFFICE," as well as the score for the film
GHOSTS NEVER SLEEP,
a "dark dramedy" starring Faye Dunaway and Tony Goldwyn. Also look out
for THE KIDS WHO SAVED SUMMER, a family comedy that features, in
addition to Craig's score, four of Craig's songs. The film is presently
running on The Disney Channel and Showtime Family.
In
the
world of multimedia, Craig's music is featured in two just released
X-Box / PS2 games. Craig composed the original music for BALDUR'S GATE,
THE DARK ALLIANCE II, and his song, A NUCLEAR BLAST, is the main menu
theme for the Game FALLOUT, THE BROTHERHOOD OF STEEL.
BALDUR'S
GATE marks Craig's thirteenth journey
to "Middle
Earth" having started composing for the "Dungeons and Dragons" genre
for TSR Inc. in the mid '90s. Other scores in this genre include the TV
special DRAGONSTRIKE, and the games PLANESCAPE, A GUIDE TO THE
OUTLANDS, RAVENLOFT - A LIGHT IN THE BELFRY, and TERROR TRAX (among
others). He also contributed music (with partner Simone Benyacar) to
the trailer for feature film THE LORD OF THE RINGS, THE RETURN OF THE
KING.
In
addition to THE OFFICE, Craig
has composed for hundreds of network television projects ranging from
NBC's THE JEFF FOXWORTHY SHOW to ABC's TOTALLY OUTRAGEOUS. Other
television projects presently in production include RUSSIAN ROULETTE
(theme and music), a game show for Sony/Columbia Tri-Star that is
airing on The Game Show Network, and the music library and original
music for the Tollin/Robbins production THE NICK CANNON SHOW airing on
the Nickelodeon Network.
Other
notable television projects include:
LUNATIC THEATER
(theme and music), a pilot for the Fox Network, written and produced by
Jerry Seinfeld, Barry Marder, Alan Marder & Jim Coane, and IMAGES
OF ARIZONA, the latest in the series of Emmy winning documentaries he
has scored for Arizona Public Television.
Finally,
Craig was part of the composing team (headed by Stephen James Taylor)
for Disney's RAW TOONAGE, and the sole composer for the KAET/PBS
production VISIONS OF ARIZONA. Both programs received Emmy nominations
for outstanding original score.
Craig lives in Malibu, California,
with
his wife, fellow composer and conductor Eímear Noone, and his
daughter Madison.
Represented
by Austin Godsey, Artists
Management, 818-506-8344
