How Does Tim Burton Use Cinematic Techniques

From films such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Big Fish to Edward Scissorhands, acclaimed director Tim Burton creates captivating and whimsical scenes that have and continue to entertain audiences across America. His approach in using techniques in order to convey emotion is widely admired by many directors who have seen his films. Tim Burton's use of cinematic techniques such as camera shots, lighting, and non-diegetic sound, allow him to disclose society's desperation to grasp the fantastical and exhilarating life instead of their current dreary ones.

In Tim Burton’s infamous adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Burton skillfully utilizes camera shots to enhance society’s desperation for the fantastical world that

they constantly seek. The scene starts out with Charlie buying a chocolate bar from a convenience store, and upon buying and opening it in the store, Charlie discovers that he has found the last golden ticket. There is then a medium close up-shot then goes close up into his bewildered face, but the moment is ruined when three desperate adults bombard his personal space and intrude on the shot, and offer him money for the golden ticket. The reason Burton does this is to show how desperate and how many people were involved in the hunt for the ticket. By having the adults crowd around Charlie after he has found the ticket, even though there are only three, the small frame makes it seem as if Charlie is being overwhelmed by the adults around him. He ridicules the adults who were so desperate that they were willing to harass a young boy in order for the ticket. The adults did not show proper behavior and even went as far as to manipulate him with money. Further into the movie, Charlie runs into his dilapidated house on the hill to bear the good news and another close up shot another close-up shot is presented after Charlie runs into his dilapidated house on the hill to bear the good news. The shot is of Charlie’s grandpa, Grandpa Joe, and his expression, which is composed and calm until the golden ticket lands in his hands. He immediately breaks out into an elated grin, the shot changing suddenly as he begins to jump and dance as the rest of the adults awkwardly stare in bewilderment. The purpose of this shot is to show the drastic change in expression that Grandpa Joe has when faced with an opportunity to escape his bleak life. Before, he could be seen with a weary expression on his face, crowded in a small house with three other adults. However, at the opportunity of excitement and adventure, he becomes more animated, unable to suppress his childlike excitement. Tim Burton’s use of camera shots in this scene expresses how that in today’s society, people end up desiring in one way or another, the imaginative and quirky world that their lives tend to lack. Rather than the lives they currently live, they are drawn to the more flashy and dangerous life which is amplified in Burton’s lighting technique in his film Big Fish.

In Big Fish, Burton’s creative use of lighting intensifies the inclination towards the fantasy life. For instance, when the youthful Edward Bloom stumbles upon a nude woman bathing in the lake, low-key lighting is used to enhance the shadows and convey the tone of mystery and excitement. Burton arranged it so light is facing down on top of their bodies, creating a moonlight-like effect. This results in a mythological feeling accompanied by a sense of omnisty of the unknown. This is then ruined when she disappears, the intense lighting ebbing away as Edward realizes that she was not real. In losing the woman, Edward has loss the adrenaline rush one gets from experiencing something so folkloric which then casts a solemn feeling. Later in the film, where Edward is on his deathbed in the hospital with his son at his side, he begs his son to finish the fantastic story he has started. His son, Will, or William, then goes along to tell the story, and from then, there is an abrupt and poignant change in the color and lighting as it shifts from a cold, blue tone to the exact same scene, but in a warm and orange tone. The characters look more flushed and vibrant, and there is a warmer feel to the scene. One cannot help but notice the contrast in the reality that they live in and the fantasy they fabricate. It is then where the viewer feels intense want and need for the fantastical tale and ending, rather than the sad reality where Edward dies in a cold and empty hospital room with just him and his son. This sad reality serves as a critical view on how adults seem dissatisfied with their current lives.

In Edward Scissorhands, non-diegetic sound (music) ridicules the bleak life that is faced by many. An example of this in the movie would be in the introduction, where it establishes the setting, there is no music is heard except for birds chirping and lawns being mowed. The lack of music sets up the uneventful and boring life they live. In mocking the suburban life this demonstrates the lack of excitement and adventure that is their reality. This is then seen again in the shot where all of the women in Suburbia get into their car at the exact same time to go visit Edward Scissorhands. Dramatic and ominous music begins playing as they roll out of their driveway, however it seems to be a mockery on the excitement of the scene, because while the music is intense, in reality it is just a flock of women rolling out of the driveway in pastel cars that all look the same. The aim of this scene is to jeer at brief excitement one feels, but in reality nothing ever happens, life is boring and static. Tim Burton’s usage of music is to create a parody of what is the typical human life. However, it is emphasized more clearly with the establishing shot that is presented alongside the music.

The message Tim Burton reveals in all of his movies requires clarity that each of these elements provide each other. First and foremost, in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, having the medium-close up shots provide the claustrophobic feeling Charlie has when being overwhelmed by desperate adults trying to bribe the ticket from him. This feeling is further enhanced to its fullest potential due to the change in music during this shot where it goes from wondrous and exciting to distressing and intense thumping in the background. With Big Fish, however, it is the camera shots and lighting creates the pitiful need for excitement and adventure. Along with the contrast in lighting that is seen, as Edward’s oncoming death approaches, a final establishing shot allows one to view all of his enchanting friends who have come to see him as he takes his final breath. However, in reality, it is just him and his son. Edward Scissorhands brings out the boring routine that is everyday life. The sarcastic take on this life goes along well with the high-key lighting that is seen. At first, this lighting is normal, but after seeing it so much with little to no diversity, it becomes sick and boring despite the optimistic mood it is supposed to represent. It is made clear then that these three elements are common throughout Tim Burton's films as they support each other, and further augment the critical view on the lack of excitement and adventure people face.

The film techniques that are used in many films directed by Tim Burton provide revelations to the audience of society and their obsession with the unordinary.

By analyzing directors and authors such as Tim Burton, it allows the audience and current writers to individualize the works they do and categorize authors by their uniqueness in the techniques they choose to adopt. In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Burton’s use of camera-shots allow him to reveal society’s desperation to get away from their own reality, and instead live an invigorating life. Big Fish highlights people's preference for a wondrous and eventful life. Edward Scissorhands mocks the bleak and routine lifestyle that is adapted by many. While society glorifies and desires an exciting and mystical world, they tend to scrutinize those who do not fit the monotonous agenda they have placed. When someone does not suppress their admiration towards fantasy and odyssey, they are heckled at until they cower to society’s set lifestyle. Yet, that exact thing is expressed in everything and seen everywhere, in movies and books, to music and theater. Society’s desire and ridiculing of the eccentric and silly is quite laughable and pathetic, but however one feels about mythology and magic, it can be agreed that Tim Burton’s techniques in creating a whimsical world and divulging into society’s longing is overwhelmingly resplendent and thought

provoking.