Lauren Ashton

Mrs. Fuller

Honors English, 5th Period

11/14/14

Tim Burtons Worlds of Distance and Differences

Tim Burton creates movies that seem only possible in dreams. Tim Burton is a

director who sees everything outside of the box and enjoys the grey line between

reality and fantasy. He grew up as a solitary kid who lived with his grandmother and

was intrigued by death and monsters. Needless to say, he is not what most people

would call normal. He has made many films, and his outsider views on things attract

many fans. In the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the world inside a candy

factory made by a mysterious chocolatier intensely varies from the colorless world

outside the gates. In the movie variations of everyday kind of people come into the

factory to see what it is like and eventually take over control of it. Through the scenes

many unrealistic things happen, like a girl turning into a blueberry. Tim Burtons

interest in fantasy and his huge imagination are strongly shown in this movie. In the

movie Edward Scissorhands an engineered human who has lived alone for many

years is brought down into a community that he is nothing like and has to face the

reality of being different. With knowledge of Tim Burtons childhood it is obvious how

he portrays himself in Edward Scissorhands. The movie Big Fish is all a father telling

his son and family members crazy stories from his childhood; but, then the father dies

and the son is left to see the stories are actually truer than he thought. He tells about

a giant, a werewolf, and a tree that wrapped him up in its branches, all things that

dont seem possible. The audience is left confused at the end of the movie with what

all of it meant. This is exactly what Tim Burton wants though, people asking why?
 and what does that mean? He loves confusion. In his films, director Tim Burton

utilizes specific colors, meaningful music, and clever camera angles to portray the

idea that distance within families can create differences and isolation in people.

The creative use of editing in Tim Burtons films helps to present the

relationships between characters and how they differ from each other. In the movie

Edward Scissorhands many flashbacks are used to show Edwards old life. One

example of this is a flashback to when Edwards creator is reading him a book. In this

scene it shows how Edward is engineered because he only has an upper body and how

the inventor spent his time teaching Edward things. This flashback shows the caring

relationship that Edward had with him and shows that Edward is a caring person,

despite his appearance, which is important to know as the movie progresses. The

flashback also helps to show how different Edward is compared to his new found family

and how he did not grow up like the typical neighborhood teen. Editing techniques can

also be found in Tim Burtons movie Big Fish. In the movie a shot reverse shot is used

when the father and the son are talking about the fathers hard to believe life stories.

This technique helps so you can see how the father and son do not have a very good

relationship. That explains why the characters act in certain ways toward each other.

This editing technique also shows feelings and emotions in the scene as it switches

back and forth between faces. Editing is again used in Charlie and the Chocolate

Factory. Shot reverse shot is used many times, and a strong example is at the end of

the movie. Willy Wonka tells Charlie he won the factory and the camera switches

between the two of them while they have the conversation on why Charlie doesnt

want to accept it. Similar to big Fish, this use of shot- reverse -shot really illustrates the

characters relation and their feelings to each other. This technique shows both of the

characters feelings very well and emphasizes the difference between Charlie and Willy.
Clearly editing used in these films really helped to show characters relationships and

the differences between characters.

Tim Burtons thoughtful use of music in his movies helps to convey the moods

and feelings of characters and emphasizes moments between people. There is lots of

music used in his film and all of it is useful to showing those things. In Edward

Scissorhands, when Edward is making an ice sculpture for Kim and she is dancing in

the ice shavings there is happy, romantic music that plays. When the scene switches

quickly to Jim, Kims boy friend, approaching in the yard, the music suddenly goes to a

darker, scarier sound. The music, along with the sudden change, really emphasizes the

characters and the interactions. When the music is happy that shows the strong

bonding moment between Edward and Kim and how theyre both happy with each

other. As soon as Jim comes into the scene, and the music changes, it shows right

away the intense relationship between Edward and Jim. The music makes the feelings

obvious. The quick changes of music show how people feel differently toward Edward

and it also portrays the relationships among the characters. Likewise, in the movie Big

Fish, music helps to create an image of the characters feelings. When Will is coming

home for the first time in three years and is walking up the stairs to see his father, the

music playing adds to the scene. He is walking up the steps and looking at old family

pictures and there is a meaningful but sad music playing. The music played in this

scene shows Wills feelings towards his childhood and now it impacts him in the

present. If there was any other style of music being played at that moment the

audience would not understand the relationship between Will and his family as much.

The music played shows his feelings in this scene and emphasizes the importance of

the scene as well. Overall music used in these films effectively portrays the feelings of

the characters and also the differences between them.

 Tim Burton uses very specific camera angles to dictate the characters true

emotion and show the audience who they really are. Camera angles are used in many

ways throughout the movie and theyre very significant. In the movie Charlie and the

Chocolate Factory there is a flash back of Willy Wonkas childhood. In this flashback

there is at one point a high angle shot looking down on Willy and then switches to a low

angle on Willys dad. This is going on while Willy and his father are fighting. These

camera angles were very important, first of all to show how weak and intimidated Willy

was and then how tough his dad was. These angles helped to set the stage on the

characters and who they are and gave insight on Willys relationships in his childhood

that have a big impact on his present life. Important camera angles can be seen in

Edward Scissorhands. A close up shot is used on Edwards face when he first enters

the new town and sees Kim. The camera shows the picture then goes to a close up of

his face. This close up shot shows Edwards feelings for Kim right away, which is

important for the rest of the movie. The close up shot shows Edwards liking for Kim

and how he just wants to be treated normal and have someone like him. This is the

side of him other people dont see. If a close up shot was not used here important

elements for the movie would be left out. Camera angles are again used in the movie

Big Fish. An example of this is a two-shot used at the end of the movie. Will is in the

hospital with his father who is on his death bed. There is a two shot of Will and his

father talking. This angle shows both of the characters feelings as they talk and

emphasized the important connection going on between father and son. With this shot

you can see how the son is finally accepting his dad and theyre sharing an important

moment together. Even though Will was reluctant to him at first this angle gives the

audience the message that he finally accepts him. Overall, the camera angles in these

movies showed emotion and also the distance and differences in characters.
 In movies made by Tim Burton the techniques of editing, music, and camera

angles are used to teach the audience differences among people due to family

relationships. These cinematics techniques are very important in the development of

the theme and ideas throughout the movie. The camera angles show the relationships

among people. Music displays emotion, and the editing shows feelings and moments

other characters cant see. Tim Burton uses his own life for baselines in his blockbuster

movies and his family relationships to create intriguing characters and interesting

stories. From a manmade person to a chocolate factory with a flying elevator, Tims

imagination and own experiences light up the movie screens. Although people in our

world look at individuality as strange, the importance of everyone being different is

necessary, and Tim Burton show this through his films.