“If you've ever had that feeling of loneliness, of being an outsider, it never quite leaves you. You can be happy or successful or whatever, but that thing still stays within you.” As a child, Tim Burton was an introvert who was shy, quirky, creative, and didn’t blend well within the social crowds of his hometown. Just like his years of youth, his style and his memorable characters are misfits that don’t fit into any category. Having a child-like horror sense, the movies Edward Scissorhands, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Big Fish all exhibit Burton’s unique style. In order to portray his style Tim Burton uses the cinematic techniques of shot-reverse-shot, flashback, and low angle.
As a director, Burton uses shot-reverse-shot in order to show the reactions towards the social outcasts in his films. For example, during the land of candy scene in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, there is a shot-reverse-shot between Willy Wonka and Mr. Salt. The camera flashes from the hubris CEO disgustingly glaring with one eyebrow raised to the eccentric candy maker who is uncaringly smirking. During the confrontational stare down, Willy Wonka is clearly being ostracized for his quirky ways and his social ineptness. Another example of shot-reverse-shot is used is when Edward sees Kim for the first time in a picture in the cult classic Edward Scissorhands. During this scene, Edward is awe struck by Kim’s beauty and there is a moment where the camera flashes from Edwards longing face back to the photo. It shows that despite his non-human characteristics and his unusuality, there is still a humanistic side in him that yearns for affection and to be normal.
Throughout many of Burton’s films, flashbacks are used in order to reveal the histo...
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...racters. Burton uses this technique in order for the viewers to favor the underdog and the outcast.
The cinematic techniques of shot-reverse-shot, flashback, and low angle were used to evoke different emotions in the viewers and for them to relate to Burton’s unique style. Through his style of directing and his oddball characters, Tim Burton has taught us that it is okay to not confine ourselves into the social norm. Whether it was a man with scissors for hands finding true love, a man full of myths reconnecting with his son through his creativity, or a peculiar chocolate-loving man being accepted by his own father, it is clear that happiness and success is still an option to even the weirdest of the weird. Although the symptoms of being a wallflower might never leave or the past might show up in the present, people can still chose what they do and where they go.
Individuality is rejection, whether it be a rejection of society or a rejection by society. Burton explores the consequences that can derive from rejection and how appearances may differ from reality. The work of Tim Burton consists of a unique style unlike any other. Not only do his films convey his ideas of individuality to the audience, they are done in a distinctive Burton way. Burton’s style of the formal elements of German Expressionism, gothic horror, and unique characters allow him to convey his ideas.
Edward Scissorhands is a film written and directed by Tim Burton and Caroline Thompson. It tells the story of an outsider with scissors for hands trying to fit in to an unknown society that judges based on appearance. The film explains how in most societies if you do not act the norm as everyone else you will be rejected and frond upon. I believe that like in the film people nowadays people are less likely to express individuality and would rather conform to a group than feel like an outcast. Through the films elements that the director uses I will focus on the colors, costumes and sound of the film that show the differences of an outsider.
What makes a producer’s style unique? How does a producer’s style distinguish itself from others’ styles? In Tim Burton’s imaginative productions, Alice in Wonderland, Edward Scissorhands, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, one is able to identify Burton’s distinct style when peeling back the layers of his films. Summarizing these films, in Alice in Wonderland, a young woman is transported to the mystical wonderland, where she must defeat the forces of evil along with a journey of self-discovery. Next, in Edward Scissorhands, an unfinished project is discovered and integrated into the everyday lives of people in a nearby suburban town. The film shows how Edward, an unfinished man, tries to live an ordinary life and make deal with his attraction towards Kim. Finally, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a story of a boy from an impoverished family who has come upon the chance to visit Mr. Wonka’s candy factory. In these three films, Burton’s cinematic style can be depicted through his frequent use of front and back lighting and low angles to show the opposing forces between good a...
People are constantly being judged and pressured to change to fit society’s standards. In Tim Burton films, there is always one character that does not fit the mold. These outcast characters in the movies Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and Edward Scissorhands are strange and isolated from the world. Despite the outcast’s difficulties, misfit characters like Edward and Wonka go on to be the hero of the story. Therefore, Burton uses many different cinematic techniques to illustrate that one does not need to conform to society in order to have a happy and successful life.
Since the communist era, the concept of conformity has been tested on humans thinking it would bring a sort of comfort. These regimes rapidly crumbled due to their often authoritarian nature. Following these dictatorships, we often associate conformity with misery. Similarly, in Edward Scissorhands, through the characterization of Peg Boggs, the symbolism of Edward’s castle home and the change in Edward’s behaviour, director Tim Burton rejects conformity since it leads to fakeness, boredom, and corruption and, instead, promotes the benefits of authenticity and old habits.
Using the production elements of symbolism; especially hands themselves, and the use of allusion to elements from other genres; particularly those from fairytale and gothic romance/horror films, Tim Burton has directed the film in such a manner to illustrate, emphasise and ridicule the materialism and lack of imagination of society. The film however, is prominently a satire which has certain elements from fairytale, comedy and horror genres. Through the choices made by the director, the audience is invited to become aware of the inhumanity present in the way society functions, especially in its prejudiced treatment towards people who do not conform. The use of allusion in Edward Scissorhands is one of the most important choices in production that has been made by director Tim Burton. In order to fully appreciate and understand the plot, the movie is dependant on the audience being able to recognise certain references and elements emulated from other films.
Everyone has that one friend who is a complete goofball: the one who is just different from the rest and can be a little abstract. The misfit may be easy to spot in a crowd and be judged; however, Tim Burton accepts the oddball and takes the concept of character dramatization one step further. Through his movies, Edward Scissorhands and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the outcast tries to break through the social barrier by reaching out to the community and trying to fit in. With Burton’s imaginative characters, Burton shows how being an outcast gives a person the potential for success.
A cinematic technique Burton often uses is low key lighting. In his opening credits during Big Fish and Edward Scissorhands, the credits were dull and dark. An example would be in Edward Scissorhands. Edward’s house was in low key lighting
Many of Tim Burtons film feature a lonely and isolated creature/person, trapped in their own thoughts or beliefs. He uses Edwards isolation and loneliness to represent him to say that, "Years of isolation make it impossible for him to judge right from wrong.". Tim Burton strongly carries this theme to his audience in Edward Scissorhands. Tim Burton conveys that loneliness and isolation are very real problems and it can exist in anyone, good or bad, nice or rude. He uses the facial expressions of Edward to portray this. Edward is first seen as sad, never smiling and always confused and apart from others but soon he is smiling and joining everyone else, learning new things constantly. Tim Burton has always known that many people are isolated and lonely and he himself has experienced it. With this, he strived to let the audience know how strongly it can affect and shape a person. He used his skill as an auteur to drive this theme home and tell his audience his
wealthy Hollywood director. Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and Alice in Wonderland are examples of Burton movies that the characters have to go through challenging obstacles to find their triumph. Burton uses low angles and high key lighting in Charlie and the Chocolate factory and in Alice in Wonderland to emphasize that positive attitude affects a person’s fortune.
Indisputably, Tim Burton has one of the world’s most distinct styles when regarding film directing. His tone, mood, diction, imagery, organization, syntax, and point of view within his films sets him apart from other renowned directors. Burton’s style can be easily depicted in two of his most highly esteemed and critically acclaimed films, Edward Scissorhands and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Burton ingeniously incorporates effective cinematic techniques to convey a poignant underlying message to the audience. Such cinematic techniques are in the lighting and editing technique categories. High key and low key relationships plus editing variations evinces the director’s elaborate style. He utilizes these cinematic techniques to establish tone mood, and imagery in the films.
“One person's craziness is another person's reality.” –Tim Burton. A well respected director Tim Burton has always been known for the ability to send a strong universal message. In one of his most widespread movie, Edward Scissor Hands he reveals his true potential as a filmmaker to show how society can treat an outsider. Edward Scissor Hands Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and many more of his creations, Tim Burton uses lighting, and camera movements to depict a unique gothic cinematic experience. The appearance of a person is only an illusion, the inside is the truth of someone.
Both examples create suspense; by making the audience wonder what will happen to the characters, Burton shows that his style is creative and mysterious.
One way Burton establishes this theme is by using misfit characters in his films. In Alice in Wonderland, Alice is an outcast compared to the people around her. At one point, Alice’s mother is disappointed that Alice did not wear “proper” attire to a party, and, when Alice defiantly asks her if she would wear a codfish on her head if it was
Burton uses close-up camera angles to show significant items in his film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Tim Burton uses a close-up camera angle when Charlie finds the golden ticket to show how it is significant to the story. The golden ticket is significant because it is like his ticket to a new and better life. In Edward Scissorhands there is a close-up of the hands his inventor was going to give him which is very significant to the story because if his inventor finished him and