Biography Of Tim Burton Film Studies Essay

His first job for Disney was in The Fox and the Hound (1981). This first work was brief because the studies considered the artistic profile of Burton would fit more in the conceptual art of the Black Cauldron. The Burton designs and ideas for both films were not used to not be “understood” by Disney.

After leaving work on the “Disney movie” Tim Burton began to develop more personal projects, including his first two shorts, (Vincent and Frankenweenie ) the quale they had very good acceptance by the critics and the public. Also began to write and illustrate a Christmas poem, which years later would charge life, Nightmare Before Christmas.

Burton befriended Julie Hickson executive and manager of creative development of Disney, Tom Wilhite, amazed by his talent decided to finance his first short film Vincent to $ 60,000.

It was during this time that Burton learned and specialization in the art of stop motion, for two months along with other entertainers Burton skilled in the art, Vincent created a black and white story, based on some stories of Edgar Allan Poe. To achieve this Tim Burton enlisted the help of his favorite actor Vincent Price who gave voice to the narration of the story. The play received numerous awards in Chicago and France, still not commercialized Disney ever.

In 1984, Burton created his first non-animated short film, Frankenweenie it was based on Frankestain of James Whale, the play was a child’s efforts to resurrect his dog Sparky hit by a car. For this short featured actors Burton Barret Oliver, David Stern and Shelly Duval. The film received a Saturn Award nomination.

However, at the end of production Disney Tim Burton decided to dismiss, holding that the short was too “scary” for younger audiences. It was not until 1994 after the success of future work of Burton when he began selling.

1.2.4-The consolidation of Burton as director and producer.

The big venture of Pee-wee:

Despite the failed working with Disney, Burton’s work began to have some spread and caught the attention of some producers. Griffin Dune including that offered Burton directing a comedy called After Hours in 1985, was finally Martin Scorssese in charge of directing this movie.

That same year the actor Paul Rubens Burton offered to direct a film about his famous comic character Pee-wee Herman. This work was the first Tim Burton film as director and production was a success since its initial cost 7 million dollars, box office obtained profits of more than 40 million dollars. In that same movie Tim Burton Danny Elfman asked to compose the soundtrack of the same, and so begin a director-composer collaborations more consolidated in the history of cinema.

Beetlejuice:

In 1988, Tim Burton took the opportunity to direct his second film, Beetlejuice was a black comedy. The film told the story of a couple that after buying a nice house with a fatal traffic accident. After discovering his tragic end the couple, now ghosts trying to make out the new tenants of the house with the help of an eccentric bioexorcist Beetlejuice.

This time the film featured in the cast, Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Alec Bldwin, and Geena Davis.

Received several awards including an Oscar for best makeup and box office earnings of 80 million dollars.

Batman:

A Burton was offered in 1989 the possibility of directing the first feature film from the Batman comic book character. The director accepted the job, provided they can choose the actors and film aesthetics. Burton and producers Warner Bros have been involved in numerous discussions of pre-production, as Burton wanted Michael Keaton as an actor who had worked with in Beetlejuice and the producers were thinking of a more muscular actor. Following the aesthetic of comic Burton finally got what he wanted, to use Keaton in the role of Batman and Jack Nicholson as the Joker, with the intention of attracting the public uninterested in superhero movies. The film was a success, and he got more than 400 million dollars, becoming the most successful movie of all time movies so far. Additional aesthetic mind chosen by Tim Burton for the city of Gotham City was adapted in the following comics.

1.2.5-The prodigious decade:

Edward Scissorshands:

In 1990, Burton wrote a new feature this would be interpreted by the idol of youth at the time that Johnny Depp would play the character of Edward, a being created by an eccentric scientist (Vincent Price, who play his last role before his death). Edward had human appearance but after the death of its creator was unfinished and had hands instead of one large scissors. Edward Scissorhands was filmed in Florida and is considered by many fans and critics of Burton as the best of his works, surely Edward Scissorhands is the work collected over the Burton aesthetic that makes a filmmaker unlike any other, either texture, color, character design or objects.

Batman Returns:

Although Warner Bros would not produce Edward Scissorhands, he was offered the opportunity to direct the sequel to Batman Returns, Burton accepted the condition of having full creative powers. For that film was Burton Michael Keaton again in the role of Batman, Danny DeVito in the role of the Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman. The film received a lot of criticism for being too dark and not very close to children. Still get a revenue of 160 million dollars, the Warner Bros. decided not to have the services of Tim Buton upon learning that he was preparing a new dry with an aesthetic similar to that of Batman Return. So Burton decided to start preparing a new project, this time returning to its roots as an animator.

Nightmare Before Christmas:

Tim Burton had planned to write and illustrate a children’s story, but in 1993 just changing that story in his next film. Nightmare Before Christmas, is his great work of animation. Directed by Henry Selick, the film tells the story of Jack Skeleton, the king of Halloween, who wants to understand Christmas, adapting their habits as monarch to carry out this holiday. The film was made using Stop Motion techniques and although there was an overwhelming success at the box office, is considered a cult film and one of the best musical film ever made it.

Ed Wood:

In 1994, Burton made one of his lesser known films, a narrative biography of Ed Wood, considered the worst filmmaker of all time. Burton pays homage to the director (played by Johnny Depp) which considers a direct influence, for its horror and fantasy in this film involved Martin Landau, Bill Murray and Lisa Marie. Although there was much less commercial success, helped the Burton film cogiera more fans and reopen the interest in the film Ed Wood.

Batman Forever:

Despite its intention to conduct the next part of Batman, Warner Bros. decided it would be the director Joel Schumacher with the intention of bringing the film to children and Tim Burton would make his work as a producer. This fact caused that Michael Keaton to resign his role as protagonist, and was hired Val Kimler in place. Tim Burton aesthetic differ in many aspects of the film which was contrary. The film generated $ 335 million and Warner, hired Schumacher to fourth, where Tim Burton no longer participate.

Mars Attacks!:

In 1996 Tim Burton returns to direct a feature film is trying to Mars Attacks! This film is a hybrid of science fiction films of the 50th and the total destruction of the 70th went unnoticed at the box office, surely the fact first 5 months after the Independent Day, made the film to be discredited by critics and public American, but had very good reviews abroad and won many admirers in marketing in VHS and DVD.

Sleepy Hollow:

In 1999 Tim Burton returned to his more eccentric and supernatural world, based on a story by Washington Irving, which tells the story of the Headless Horseman. Featuring a new interpretation of Johnny Depp in the role of Forensic and Christina Ricci in the role of Karina Van Tassel. The film won an Oscar for best art direction and two BAFTA awards in the categories of Best Production Design and Best Costume.

1.2.6-Year 2000.

Planet of the Apes:

After his breakup with his wife Lisa Marie, Burton conducted a remake of the 1968 film of Franklin Schaffner. The film was a success, earning 68 million dollars in the first week of release. Still, the film was widely panned by critics and fans of Burton, to get away entirely from its style and dark, nihilistic style of the first version. Despite finishing with an open ending does not seem to be any intention on the part of Burton to continue the saga.

Big Fish:

In 2003, Burton surprised everyone again with a custom Disney, Big Fish is a film away from the dark world of Burton but that recreates an imaginary fantasy world full of surprises. The film received four nominations for Golden Globe And for many fans is the most amazing film. In this film, Burton had the interpretation of Ewan McGregor and his new wife Helena Bonham Carter.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory:

Johnny Depp again which seems to be their star player, Tim Burton made this film based on a story by Roald Dahl, the film was a blockbuster hit 207 million in the U.S. alone. Characterization, and the voice of Johnny Depp in the role of Willy Wonka, was recognized in many ways as a film icon and aesthetic.

9:

Tim Burton produced this animated film in 2009, the film received much criticism, even that is considered a beautiful aesthetic work, but lack of narrative. It is the first animated film that Tim Burton does not opt for the technique of stop motion and computer-created in its entirety.

Alice in Wonderland:

It is the latest project of Tim Burton so far, this commission from Disney, will debut in early 2010, and was the first film in which the director has used the technique of 3D. Based on the acclaimed work of Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland. Was criticized by fans to move far from their darkest work I have incorporated many Disney items.

2. THE ART DIRECTION

2.1- Aspects work of Tim Burton.

When talking about aspects of the work of Burton, one must be aware that is not a conventional director, his work is mostly very personal issues, issues which have been consolidated in the audience and created a large pool of supporters and fans. When one analyzes the work of Burton put on his work with his film biography, which is particularly relevant as an artist who often uses his life experience and the elements that shaped his sentimental education. Situation is examined within the context of the Hollywood industry and explores the aesthetic and thematic constants that make up its visual poetry.

It addresses gender concerns, the notion of fantasy and Gothic-Expressionist tradition to understand the work of an author who re interprets the cultural tradition from the perspective of post-modern. Addresses the problems and contradictions posed by both the traditional concept of film genres as the auteur theory. It is shown that not only approaches are compatible, but can also become complementary approaches that contribute to the depth and richness of film debate. It talks about the particular generic reflection made by the filmmaker in his films, connecting with the characteristics of postmodern culture in which it is immersed. We can say that Burton has done what he wanted and how much more freedom the author has been most successful has been his work as staff is much much deeper and more spectacular.

Burton’s work, as well as its broad scope, it is more appropriate to consider more than a genre, a mode of art that various related forms emerge. Referred to the existing theories about the fantastic, the subversive potential and its psychoanalytic implications. It puts a special interest in his themes and myths, as they all are evoked in the Burton films.

Also includes the work of the filmmaker as a continuation of a tradition Gothic Expressionism, a continuous movement whose spirit, aesthetic and vital position opposed to the rationalistic attitude of classicism. It takes a journey through the elements of a tradition that Burton has been collected mainly through its cinema events. Tim Burton’s heir and successor of the romantic spirit, its atmosphere and features icon-phy, aesthetics of the uncanny, his macabre sense of humor, the denunciation of social hypocrisy and society that denies freedom and individual identity, its emphasis on subjectivity, intuition and the irrational.

Tim Burton is a very detailed, very thorough in their staging, from design, photography and music composed by Danny Elfman become key elements of dramatic expression.

We consider Edward Scissorshands and Nightmare before Christmas, as two of its films that include and represent all poetic and visual work of director. Since in these two films is the very essence of the author, personal visually despendedoras the full potential of California director.

2.2-Influences:

As an author, Tim Burton has had his artistic influences, both film, and painting. In this section we review their main influences, and the basic characteristics of his style.

Any person who enters into the imagination of Tim Burton will realize that this is not a conventional writer, with a very personal style, and all his movies are some characteristics or aesthetic and narrative patterns.

2.2.1-Pictorial influences:

We can find some reminiscences to German expressionism, particularly in some perspectives, altering the scenery, the kind of light and shadow and also on the themes of his films. Some authors of the movement, as Grosz or Otto Dix.

Burton is also influences the Polish poster from the mid-twentieth century.

The author surreal expressionism, Paul Klee tube also great significance in the beginning of the film director, especially in making puppets for his early films like Vincent or Nightmare Before Christmas.

2.2.2-Literary Influences:

Without doubt the main literary influence of Tim Burton comes from Edgar Allan Poe, American writer, is considered one of the pioneers of the short story, and the father of the renovation of the Gothic, with their tales of terror. Unlike other authors such as Roger Corman, Burton has not shot any film based on a story by Edgar Allan Poe, but it has done with other authors like Washington Irving (Sleppy Hollow), Lewis Carroll (Alice in the wonders) (Sweeney Todd) based on the musical by Stephen Sondheim or (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) by Roald Dahl and others.

2.2.3-Cinematic influences:

Roger Corman is without doubt the great influence of Burton, his films of series B, Burton served as inspiration for many other directors. Roger Corman became famous in the 60’s, go to the movies by Edgar Allan Poe stories and mixing genres of science fiction, horror and the occult in low-budget films, using actors low popularity as Boris Karloff or Bela Lugosi , or with actors little known at the time as Peter Fonda Jack Nicholson or Robert De Niro. Most Corman films were performed by Vincent Price, favorite actor and close friend of Burton used frequently at the beginning of this director. See Frankenweenie, or Edward Scissorhands. Prince’s last film before his death in 1993. Corman’s influence is mainly reflected in films like Ed Wood and Mars Attacks. In Ed Wood, Tim Burton pays homage to another series B director, Ed Wood as the worst filmmaker of all time.

2.3-Technic recourses.

2.3.1-Stop Motion.

Tim Burton is without doubt one of the most renowned film directors by the use of unconventional techniques for recording of his films, one of these techniques is the Stop Motion animation technique is to generate motion by displaying static objects photographs or successive frames at a given speed, creating the illusion of movement.

This incredible technique began with Ladislaw Starewicz with the short film “The Cameraman’s Revenge” in which dead insects used to tell the story of a family destroyed by infidelity.

Usually use 29 frames per second, which generate the illusion of movement giving the films made with this technique a realism as close to a conventional film. This fascinating technique requires time and patience for the detailed movements of the “actors” to others in an acceptable knowledge of photography, so Tim Burton has always surrounded by great directors of photography, in the case of Pete Kozachik, manager the technical section in such films as The Nightmare Before Christmas or Corpse Bride.

We consider that Tim Burton is one of the artists who have promoted this technique in the last two decades, and why not say is who re-discovered this technique in the new public disuse in the 90’s. Due to its popularity as a director and artist has made the genre of Stop Motion animation is made a place in the film industry. Burton himself has been linked in other photographic animation projects, some of them as a producer and some others as a collaborator. This is the case of The Nightmare Before Christmas, Burton’s own work, but under the direction of Henry Selick, director also of other projects under the signature of Tim Burton, and James and the Giant Peach or coral.

In the future, Burton is expected to redo any work using the technique of stop motion, some rumors say they may be Dear Dead Days, Charles Addams work he did in 1937 and subsequently came to TV screens under the title Addams Family in 1964. The work of Charles Addams is surely close to the Burton films especially recalling works such as The Nightmare Before Christmas Sweeny Todd or obscure pieces, with touches of macabre humor.

2.3.2-3D Animation.

Tim Burton not only traditional techniques used for the filming of his animated films, however it was not until 2009, when the California director dared with a 100% digital. 9 was the title of his first work in 3D, which was a box office bomb, and certainly his least known works, the universe of apocalyptic 9 was directed by Shane Acker and produced and supervised by Burton.

This first experience will not cower and Burton in 2010, premiere Alice in Wonderland, based on Lewis Carroll’s books Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass, directed by Tim Burton, and produced Disney Pictures The film was a box office hit but was severely challenged by critics and fans.

In interviews after the release, Burton says the 3D technique is perfect for his latest film and claims to build his next film (a remake of Frankenweenie gilt work) thinking about the qual this technology brings extra realism to the viewer, However, he admits that is not going to go crazy and will not abandon the classic film format.

3-TIM BURTON’S FILM ANALYSIS

I chose Edward Scissorhands and Big Fish are two of the films in my opinion more representative of the work of Burton, the first of its popularity and to represent and act out all the poetic and visual narrative that represents the California director.

The second has been chosen as the author’s lesser-known films by the general public, and to have markedly different aesthetic in Edward Scissorhands, Big Fish still well preserved and fantastic narrative structure that characterizes the work of Tim Burton .

Another of the facts that I have been decanted from Big Fish have been the thirteen years between a film and the other, and appreciate the evolution of cinema as well as an analysis of the time they were shot, the motives that pushed Burton to record these movies and what messages the author tries to convey to the viewer in each of them.

3.1-Edward Scissorhands

Synopsis:

The film begins with a colloquial conversation between an elderly woman and her granddaughter, which viewed from the window as snow falls and, curious, asks her grandmother the reason it snows. So, she begins her story … His story begins when a makeup saleswoman named Peg, enters a house to sell beauty products. On entering the place is with Edward, a young man who was created from a robot and was not finished after the death of its creator, running with scissors instead of hands. Touched by his kindness and innocence decided to take him home. No one in her family (her husband Bill and son Kevin) seem uncomfortable with the presence of Edward and even the neighbors are interested in the mysterious guest Peg. However, to get Kim’s eldest daughter, Peg, it triggers a series of problems because it does feel uncomfortable with Edward at home. Edward falls in love with her.

Edward Scissorhands Technical Data:

Production year: 1990

Country: United States

Director: Tim Burton

Production: Twentieth Century Fox

Producers: Tim Burton and Denise Di Novi

Executive Producer: Richard Hashimoto

Associate Producer: Caroline Thompson

Argument: Tim Burton and Caroline Thompson

Writer: Caroline Thompson

Music: Danny Elfman

Director of Photography: Stefan Czapsky

Art Director: Tom Duffield

Scenery: Rich Heinrichs (design) and Cheryl Carasik (decoration)

Costume Design: Colleen Atwood

Editing: Richard Halsey

Hair Design: Yolanda Toussieng

Makeup: Stan Winston

Special effects supervisor: Michael Wood

Duration: 107 minutes

Starring:

Johnny Depp: Edward

Winona Ryder Kim Boggs

Dianne Wiest: Peg Boggs

Vincent Price: Inventor

Anthony Michael Hall: Jim

Kathy Baker: Joyce Monroe

Robert Oliveri: Kevin Boggs

Conchata Ferrell: Helen

Alan Arkin: Bill Boggs

Caroline Aaron: Marge

O-Lan Jones: Esmeralda

Dick Anthony Williams Officer Allen

 

3.2-Big Fish

Synopsis:

Edward Bloom is a man who recounts moments of her life by adding great features. When it does at the wedding of his son Will, it stops talking for years. Will work as a journalist in Paris when his father’s health worsens, Will returns with his wife Josephine to Alabama. On the plane, Will tells one story of her father, she knew a witch who showed him how he would die by looking through his glass eye.

Throughout the film, Edward has some stories to tell of moments of his life. For example, explains that as a child, he spent three years in bed due to its rapid growth. After this, he becomes a successful athlete, but I think the town where he lives is too small for their ambitions. After meeting Karl, a misunderstood giant, began a journey with him. Edward goes through a haunted forest and reaches a village where she meets a poet called Norther Winslow. Before leaving the village, he promises to Jenny, a girl he met, he would return someday.

Big Fish Technical Data:

Production year: 2003

Country: United States

Director: Tim Burton

Production: Columbia Pictures

Producers: Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks

Executive Producer: Arne Schmidt

Associate Producer: Katterli Framentelder

Plot: Daniel Wallace

Writer: John August

Music: Danny Elfman

Director of photography: Philippe Rousselot

Art Direction: Roy Barnes, Robert Fechtmen

Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh

Costume Design: Colleen Atwood

Editing: Chris Chamia

Hair Design: Coni Address

Makeup: Gloria Belz

Special Effects Supervisor: Eric Allard

Length: 125 minutes

Starring:

Ewan McGregor: Young Ed Bloom

Albert Finney: Senior Ed Bloom

Jessica Lange: Senior Sandra Bloom

Alison Lohman: Young Sandra Bloom

Billy Crudup: Will Bloom

Steve Buscemi: Norther Winslow

Danny DeVito: Amos Calloway

Helena Bonham Carter: Jenny Young, Jenny Senior, The Witch

Matthew McGrory, Karl the Giant