Este Haim on Wanting to Compose Music for Paul Thomas Anderson: ‘If Jonny Greenwood Happens to Retire, I’ll Be Right There’

At the Berlin International Film Festival, musician Este Haim shared a major professional goal while promoting the British independent film "Sunny Dancer," for which she composed the score. She expressed a desire to write music for the revered director Paul Thomas Anderson. The filmmaker, responsible for modern classics such as "There Will Be Blood" and "Phantom Thread," has an extensive creative history with Haim's band, having directed numerous music videos and their short film "Valentine." This collaboration is deeply interwoven with family ties; Anderson featured Haim's sister Alana prominently in his 2021 coming-of-age story "Licorice Pizza," which also included cameos from Este, her other sister Danielle, and their mother Donna. Adding a unique personal dimension, Donna Haim was once the elementary school teacher of a young Paul Thomas Anderson.

Haim addressed the possibility of scoring an Anderson film during a press conference, first lavishing praise on the director by calling him "one of the greatest directors of all time" and describing their relationship as fraternal. She then humorously, yet pointedly, clarified her availability, stating she would be prepared "if Jonny Greenwood happens to retire." Jonny Greenwood, the renowned Radiohead guitarist and prolific composer, has served as Anderson's primary musical collaborator since 2007, crafting the acclaimed scores for "The Master," "Phantom Thread," and others. Haim's quip was a clear acknowledgment of Greenwood's entrenched and celebrated role in Anderson's filmography, a partnership often compared to other legendary director-composer duos like Tim Burton and Danny Elfman.

The musician also spoke warmly of her new partnership with "Sunny Dancer" director George Jaques, whom she now considers a younger brother. "So I've got two sisters, and I have two brothers as well," she noted, adding she would gladly work with the emerging British filmmaker indefinitely—provided, of course, that Greenwood remains occupied. This expansion of her creative family highlights Haim's serious investment in film composition, a field where enduring artistic relationships are frequently the bedrock of a composer's most memorable work. As film historian Dr. Lena Shaw observes, "The trust built over multiple projects allows a composer to deeply understand a director's visual language, often resulting in scores that are inseparable from the films themselves."

"Sunny Dancer," featuring Bella Ramsey of "The Last of Us" and Neil Patrick Harris, is premiering as the opening film for the Berlinale's Generation 14plus section. This prominent slot underscores the festival's function as a vital launchpad for new directorial talent and artists, like Haim, who are expanding from other disciplines. Este Haim is best known as the bassist and vocalist for HAIM, the Grammy-nominated pop-rock band formed with her sisters, which has released three critically acclaimed albums since their 2013 debut. A successful festival debut can significantly elevate a composer's profile, serving as a high-visibility demonstration of their ability to support narrative through music. Such exposure often acts as a catalyst, opening doors to more ambitious projects within the film industry.