Early life and education

Bernstein was born in Minneapolis to mother Mildred Wolf (1910-2011) and father Charles Bernstein, Sr. (????-1952). His mother was a pianist. As for his father, he "was involved in writing and producing music in his early career," according to Bernstein. Bernstein also has a sister Carol Auslander and a stepfather Julius Wolf. Bernstein studied music at the Juilliard School.

Career

Bernstein did his first score for the 1969 Oscar-winning documentary, Czechoslovakia 1968. According to Bernstein, "I met the director, Denis Sanders, through friends at UCLA. It was a brilliant film, and I convinced Denis that I knew what sort of music would tell the story of the Russian invasion of its smaller neighbor. The film was unusual because it had no spoken words, only music and occasional sound effects to tell the story."

His first Hollywood score was for the United Artists film, White Lightning (1973), starring Burt Reynolds. The film marked the first of many collaborations between Bernstein and director Joseph Sargent. Bernstein also scored the sequel to the film, Gator (1976). Other films Bernstein scored during the 1970s include Hex (1973), That Man Bolt (1973), Mr. Majestyk (1974), Trackdown (1976), A Small Town in Texas (1976), Viva Knievel! (1977), Outlaw Blues (1977) and Love at First Bite (1979). He even wrote the dance music in the latter film.

During the 1980s, Bernstein scored the music for the horror films The Entity (1982), Cujo (1983), April Fool's Day (1986) and Deadly Friend (1986). Bernstein also scored non-horror films such as Foolin' Around (1980).

He continued to score music for documentaries such as Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision (1994) and After Innocence (2005), with the former winning the Academy Award for Best Documentary. He also scored music for made-for-television movies such as Sadat (1983), Miss Evers' Boys (1997), The Long Island Incident (1998) and Out of the Ashes (2003).

Bernstein reunited with Cujo director Lewis Teague to score his films, Cante Jondo (2007) and Charlotta-TS (2010).

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Under the recommendation of his agent, Bernstein met with Wes Craven and was hired to score his film, A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). On working with Craven: "Wes was easy to work with, he gave me a lot of freedom, but we could discuss ideas and approaches. In many ways he was an ideal director to communicate with because he listened well and was open to all ideas." Bernstein used an electric score since the film was low budget.

Bernstein did not return to score the music for the other films in the franchise, though Renny Harlin briefly talked to him about scoring the fourth film.

Use of his music

Quentin Tarantino has included Bernstein's music from White Lightning and The Entity in the soundtracks of his films Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) and Inglourious Basterds (2009).

Personal life

Bernstein is married to Georgianne Cowan. They have one daughter, Serina. They reside in Los Angeles.

In addition to film composing, Bernstein is also the author of two books. One of them is titled Film Music and Everything Else. The other is Movie Music: An Insider’s View. He has also taught courses in the University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles.

Bernstein has been a long-serving member of the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1995. In addition, he is also in the Board of Directors for both the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and the Society of Composers & Lyricists. He co-founded the latter organization.

List of work

Filmography Year Film 1969 Stoney 1970 The Man from O.R.G.Y. 1972 Sweet Kill Pigs 1973 This Is a Hijack Invasion of the Bee Girls White Lightning Hex That Man Bolt 1974 Mr. Majestyk 1976 Zebra Force Trackdown A Small Town in Texas Gator 1977 Viva Knievel! Outlaw Blues 1979 Love at First Bite 1980 Coast to Coast Foolin' Around 1982 The Entity 1983 Independence Day Cujo 1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street 1986 April Fool's Day Deadly Friend 1987 The Allnighter Evil Town Dudes 1993 Excessive Force 1995 Rumpelstiltskin 1997 When Danger Follows You Home 2007 Fighting Words 2008 Shattered! 2010 Street Poet Charlotta-TS Documentaries Czechoslovakia 1968 (1969) Rose Kennedy: A Life to Remember (1990) Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision (1994) Return with Honor (1999) After Innocence (2005) Refusenik (2007)

Television work Year Title Format 1975 A Shadow in the Streets Television movie 1976 Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby Television movie Nightmare in Badham County Television movie 1977 Escape from Bogen County Television movie Special Treat Episode: Five Finger Discount Four Against the Desert Television movie 1978 Wild and Wooly Television movie Thaddeus Rose and Eddie Television movie Cops and Robin Television movie Who's Watching the Kids? Series Steel Cowboy Television movie Fast Lane Blues Television movie Are You in the House Alone? Television movie Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold Television movie The Winds of Kitty Hawk Television movie 1979 Women at West Point Television movie The House on Garibaldi Street Television movie 1980 Scruples Miniseries Bogie Television movie 1981 Scruples Television pilot 1983 Sadat Miniseries 1985 Secret Weapons Television movie Malice in Wonderland Television movie Generation Television movie Covenant Television movie The Long Hot Summer Television movie Chase Television movie 1986 Rockabye Television movie 1987 CBS Schoolbreak Special Episode: Little Miss Perfect The Last Fling Television movie Ghost of a Chance Television movie The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains Television movie 1988 A Whisper Kills Television movie 1989 Desperate for Love Television movie Love and Betrayal Television movie 1990 Drug Wars: The Camarena Story Miniseries Too Young to Die? Television movie Fall from Grace Television movie Caroline? Television movie Ivory Hunters Television movie She Said No Television movie The Love She Sought Television movie 1991 Love, Lies and Murder Miniseries Payoff Television movie Guilty Until Proven Innocent Television movie Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus Television movie 1992 Drug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel Television movie Trial: The Price of Passion Television movie Somebody's Daughter Television movie 1993 Between Love and Hate Television movie The Sea Wolf Television movie Final Appeal Television movie 1994 My Name Is Kate Television movie 1996 Sophie & the Moonhanger Television movie Dead Ahead Television movie Bloodhounds II Television movie 1997 Miss Evers' Boys Television movie The Ticket Television movie 1998 The Hunted Television movie The Long Island Incident Television movie 2000 Picnic Television movie Enslavement: The True Story of Fanny Kemble Television movie American Experience Episode: Return with Honor 2001 The Day the World Ended Television movie 2002 Alejo & Valentina Series Crossing the Line Television movie A Christmas Visitor Television movie 2003 Profoundly Normal Television movie Out of the Ashes Television movie 2004 Family Sins Television movie 2007 Sybil Television movie 2008 Sweet Nothing in My Ear Television movie 2009 Nova Episode: Darwin's Darkest Hour 2015 Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf Television movie

[ Source: Wikipedia ]