Tim Burton Cinematic Techniques

When speculating Tim Burton and his films, a dark and eerie mood may come to mind. Burton is famous for his sinister, childlike films. He is known to overemphasize characters and actions and also likes to show contrast in his films. Some of Burton's well known films are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, and Edward Scissorhands. Although Tim Burton uses various cinematic techniques to establish his dark and mysterious style, there are certain techniques that stand out the most. He uses music and sound, lighting, and framing and camera angles to create such a deep emotion in the films.

In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Burton used non-diegetic sound to create a suspenseful effect. Throughout the film, deep and loud music

is played to keep the audience on their toes. In order to clarify, when Willy Wonka greets the waiting families at his chocolate factory, the deep and forceful music begins to play in the background for suspense. Tim Burton uses the non-diegetic sound to create an unsettling mood. Without this music, the film would not be as dramatic and exciting as it is.

Tim Burton uses diegetic sound in Corpse Bride to draw attention to a specific item. For instance, in the beginning of the film it shows Victor and his family getting prepared for his wedding rehearsal. On the way to Victoria's house, there is emphasis placed on Victor's mom's fan that she is holding. Many times on the way to Victoria's house, Victor's mother opens the fan with a snap. Emphasis is placed on this fan to show how their family does not have the most money, and that his mother feels very important with it. If the fan did not open with a sound, it would not be seen as significant as it is.

In the film Edward Scissorhands, Burton uses diegetic sound to show the mood coming from a character. In one scene, Joyce was tapping her nails on the door while Peg was talking to her. This makes her seem impatient and annoying. The tapping of her nails creates an irritating effect and because of that the audience does not like Joyce. Without such emphasis on her long nails, her character would not be perceived as bothersome as she is.

Tim Burton uses lowkey lighting in Corpse Bride. In the film when Victoria is getting married to the other man, lowkey lighting is used. Lowkey lighting is used to create a depressing tone in this scene. It is a disappointment that Victoria was going to marry that other man, after all the audience knew that he was bad news and suspicious. Because of the lowkey lighting used in this scene, the audience knows that it is more of a sorrowful moment in the film. Weddings more commonly create a blissful effect, however the dark and low lighting show the miserable mood in the scene.

In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Burton uses lowkey lighting. For instance, lowkey lighting is used when showing the Bucket's house. It shows how poor and inadequate they are considering that they were proud of the fact that they live on the outskirts of a busy town. Consequently that creates a depressing mood. The lighting of this scene makes the audience feel sympathy for the Bucket's. If the lighting were different, a different mood would show through and the audience would feel a different way towards the family.

Burton uses lowkey lighting in Edward Scissorhands. In particular, in the beginning of the film the castle in which Edward lives in is showed with lowkey lighting just after seeing the bright colors of the neighborhood down below. The dramatic shift in this scene allows the audience to see how isolated the castle genuinely is. The lowkey lighting achieves an unnerving effect because it is showing how contrasted the castle is compared to the conventional neighborhood. If it was not for this type of lighting, the castle would not seem as abandoned and intimidating to the audience.

Framing and camera angles are used in Edward Scissorhands.

For example, after Peg tells Edward to come home with her, there is a two shot of them in the car together. As a result of showing them in this shot, a sense of friendship is established. The two shot of them together shows them talking and Peg showing Edward the neighborhood. This shot is used to show how already they are friendly towards each other. If this shot was not taken, the audience would not have been able to tell how friendly they were to each other from the beginning.

Tim Burton used low angles in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. There was a low angled shot on Willy Wonka to make him seem powerful. Willy Wonka is the head of the chocolate factory therefore that is why he is perceived as this dominant. This shot makes the audience feel that Wonka is in charge and powerful. Without these low angles on Willy Wonka, the audience would think of him as just another character in this film.

Burton uses high angles in Corpse Bride to show weakness in a character. A high angle is used on Victoria after Victor visits her. She begs her parents to help him escape the dead world but they all believe she is crazy. The effect that this high angle achieves is that the audience knows that Victoria is powerless in this situation. Without this high angle making Victoria look weak and vulnerable, the audience would not feel sympathy for her being

misunderstood.

Tim Burton uses there main cinematic techniques in his films Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Edward Scissorhands, and Corpse Bride. Burton uses music and sound, lighting, and framing and camera angles to make his audience feel a certain emotion while watching his productions. He is known for his dark, childlike films and these cinematic techniques help him achieve more of an eerie and unsettling feeling while watching. Admittingly, if it was not for these techniques and the way Burton uses them, the movies would not be as unique and identifiable as they are.