Brad Birds 2007 Pixar animation is showing at the Royal Albert Hall, accompanied by a full orchestra.

So… lets start with the most important question.

Whats the best pun youve ever written?

It really started with one of my music editors, Stephen Davis.

He began to name the cues, and then we all got into the act.

The music editors, Paul Apelgren and Alex Levy, joined in.

So all of us make a run at come up with the best one.

The folks on the music team either laugh or cringe.

But if I had to pick one I really like fromRatatouillefor example…

I would say: Granny Get Your Gun.

Heist to See You.

That was a particularly… special one.

Do you still remember the music fromRatatouille?

Of course I still remember it!

I love the film and I always love working with Brad Bird.

I think that to capture food in music, you really are capturing an emotional response to food.

But you dont rely on the accordion as this constant signpost that were in France.

Was that a conscious decision?

Absolutely, it was a conscious decision.

I like live musicians, and personally orchestrate about 80 to 90% of all my scores.

Tim has been a great partner for many years.

[Note to readers: You will also have heard Tim Simonecs work onWhiplash.]

Along with that orchestral quality, your work has always had a strong sense of melody running through it.

Is that an equally intentional stylistic choice?

Yes, absolutely intentional.

Your work onMission: Impossible, for example, sounds like a lot of fun.

Do you enjoy playing with that kind of iconic tune?

And how far do you try and take it from the original?

It worked so well for the first film, we did the same in the second.

You mentionMission: Impossible.

I asked him Should I do this?

should I do that?

do you have any advice?

And he looked up from the salad he was eating and said: Just have fun with it.

That made it a whole lot easier!

Would you love to have a crack at something likeStar Wars?

Do you have a dream franchise to work on?

As long as John Williams wants to continue writing for the upcomingStar Warsfilms, I want him to.

Do you have any favourite film soundtracks?

Do you listen to them in general?

I grew up listening to ALL of them, but probably my all time favorite is Max SteinersKing Kong.

We like to think of you as an avid tinkerer.

How much do you go back and re-work your own stuff during the writing process?

I do most of my thinking and experimenting while I write.

Im a big fan of making creative decisions and sticking to them.

How different is it to go from video games to movies?

But in the end, the creative process is the same.

What attracts you to a job?

I would have to say that my approach is the same no matter what the project is.

It goes back to the story and how to express that in music.

Do you do much composing outside of soundtracks?

I recently did write a piece for the piano player Gloria Cheng and its on her album calledMontage.

Do you look at that score, then back atRatatouilleand see a progression?

I rarely listen to music Ive written.

But even then I dont evaluate why or how I did anything.

Are you conducting the orchestra on Wednesday?

And do you enjoy that as much as composing?

I do enjoy conducting my own music for concerts but I have never conducted the full film to picture.

For the Royal Albert Hall performance, I am leaving that job in the capable hands of Ludwig Wicki.

In fact, whenRatatouilleplays there, I will be back in Los Angeles working on my next project…

I am sorry that I have to miss that performance.

There seem to be fewer puns on theInside Outsoundtrack listing.

Finally, whats next for you, apart fromStar Trek BeyondandWar Of The Planet Of The Apes?

Do you look forward to playing around with your own themes as much as other peoples?

There are a few other things on the horizon that you will find out about soon.

I do look forward going back to write for the crew of the Enterprise and forApes.

Its always fun to revisit old friends.

Finally, lets end with the second most important question… whats your favourite Jason Statham movie?

Michael Giacchino, thank you very much!

Ratatouille In Concert takes place tonight, Wednesday the 28th of October, at Londons Royal Albert Hall.