AUTEUR STUDY – TIM BURTON

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

• Familiar ‘Walt Disney’ logo – links to the genre (fantasy)• Mise en scene – Pan/aerial shot of the houses. The setting is quite

darkly lit then a shot of a brightly lit house is shown• The audience can tell the movie is shot in the Victorian Times -

audience introduced to a group shot of men in the living room. They speak fluent English (posh)

• Costume – Old fashioned, props (smoke pipe, fireplace). The are portrayed as wealthy.

• Genre of the film is established by the mise en scene and the music

• Music is magical/mysterious which links to the genre of film – Orchestral/Cresendo build up of the music

• Narrative – opening sequence starts off with a flashback of little Alice and her father then the camera jump cuts to the present day

• Most people know the story of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ but because Tim Burton is the director they can expect lots of twists and turns while keeping true to the real story

CORPSE BRIDE

• Props – Cars, Houses, Feather ink pen• Extreme close up of Victor opening a book and drawing.• Animation film – Protagonist has a ‘gothic’ look to him– makeup is very pale and dark• Non diegetic music – Orchestral music sounds peaceful and alluring • Set in the Victorian era because of the costumes and the props that is seen in the opening sequence• Colours – Dark and grey fits in with the theme of the movie • Panning shot of the protagonist drawing a butterfly which comes to life. The camera pans sideways when following the butterfly. The movement is slow like the butterfly is guiding the audience into another world.• Diegetic sound is used when the shot changes to the Victorians people working in the street

CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORTY

• Johnny Depp is in the film (famous for being in other Burton

films)

• Burton’s trademark style is visible because of the unique setting

• The narrator is not the protagonist. The protagonist’s story is

being told by the narrator

• Fast paced music in the opening sequence which builds up

exciting tension

• Modernised because it is focused on the present day

• Vibrant colours (purple, brown, blue etc..) contrast from Burton’s

animated films

• Major themes visible in Burton’s work is Death (Corpse’s Bride), A character

who is an ‘outcast’ /does not fit in with society, and the uses of vibrant

colours/dark settings.

• The genre of Burton’s films are mostly fantasy so children can enjoy them as

well as adults

• Audiences can expect quirky and unique elements in his films. Even though

the films are based on fantasy, the theme can relate to the audiences as it’s

very human.

• Burton’s film inspiration came from his childhood. His protagonists are mostly

‘heroic’ and kind hearted (Charlie). Burton explores dark themes but makes

them suitable for the target audience.