Talking Heads Script

1. TIM BURTON – Presentation (Script)
Tim Burton was born on the 25th
August, in 1958 in Burbank, California.
Which makes him 58.
His currentoccupation is; Painting, Screenwriter, Illustrator, Director and
Producer.
Timothy Walter Burton (his full name)
What’s his Zodiac Sign? - Virgo
As a childTim Burton was engrossed with the classic horror films of
Roger Corman, many of which featuredquintessential screen villain
VincentPrice.
Burton also took interest in drawingand eventuallyenrolledat the
California Institute of Arts, where he majoredanimation. In 1980, he
graduatedand began working as an apprentice for WaltDisney Studios.
In 1982, he releasedan awardwinningshort“Vincent”, which inevitably
paid homage for the enduringwork of his childhoodidol.
Tim Burton became well known for being able to create visuallystriking
films that blend themes of fantasy and horror. These films were;
Beetlejuice, EdwardScissorhands,Batman, and The Nightmare Before
Christmas.
The overall theory on an Auteur dates back to The French New Wave, a
revolution in film making from in-between the 1958’s to the 1965. This is
where directors,and people alike started to think fullyand differently
about the ways of film, this wouldbe by challengingthe different ways in
which films were shot as well as what angles were being made, dialogue
and overall length of differentshots.
To my understandingof what an “Auteur Theory” is, would be simply the
overall debate, discussion as to the theory of who owns the rights to
credit and own a film.
The three act is a structure which is used within screenwritingthat
divides fictional narratives into three parts (acts), this is often calledthe
Setup, the Confrontation andthe Resolution.

2. I will be discussingthe three-actstructure in more detail later on.
In my opinion, it is a collaborative process of the whole team, individual
input towards the finish and how they all have made the film, however to
some respect I do agree that the Director shouldget the overall credit
for the film being made. And so that the others who helped with the film,
whether they are well known or not, dependingon that wouldreceive as
much credit or not. As for the individualinput which is needed from the
Director to ensure that he is an Auteur would be whether he is making
his own storyboards, writinghis script, using the same cinematographer
that recreates the overall vision through the camera, using the same
editors as well as set designers for the same reasons etc.
Tim Burton in previous and currentyears wouldarguablybe one of the
most famous directors of our time, creatingsome of the most
recognisable films.Burton’s films often alignedto the darker side of
things, he creates weirdand also wonderful animations that appeal
generallyto all ages. Within this section, I will be discussingwhether Tim
Burton himself can be classedas an Auteur, I will be looking at two of his
well-known films;Charlie andthe Chocolate Factory and Alice in
Wonderland.
Tim Burton has a dark-style within many of his movies with a continuous
theme. The dark themes are one of many key characteristics that identify
that the movie is a Tim Burton film. For example; his remake of Alice in
Wonderland, this was quite different, yet an extreme alternative to the
original cartoon which was releasedin 1949. However, with a much
darker and overall scarier contrast. The characters have a wider, darker
backstory; and the continuation of the majority of them being “mad” in
“Wonderland” – a strange worldruns throughout. When comparingto
the cartoon version, Burton creates the idea of Wonderlandbeingmore
real as well as the characters more realistic.
The genre of this particular filmhowever is not set as a specific genre,
like a lot of movies which are being created; they are often hybrid, which
generallymeans that its two genres mixed together. And as for Alice in
Wonderland, it is fantasymixed with action.

3. Action genre – action is a film genre which the protagonist/s end up
within a series of challenges which generallyinclude violence, extended
fighting, physical feats as well as frantic chases.
Fantasy genre – fantasy is a genre which is set within an imaginary
universe, often but not always the locations,events and or people from
the real world. Most fantasy genre movies tend to use magic or other
supernaturalelements as one of the main plot elements, theme, and or
setting. Magic and magical creatures tend to be a common theme in
many of these imaginaryworlds.
The editing within this film is dark which makes the animation rather
realistic. The style of editing especiallyfor Tim Burton’s films is
consistent. Continuityedits-the editingmade within the film is almost
seen as invisible, which makes the film flow in time with the story as well
as narrative, one scene flows perfectlyalong with the next. The shots in
which were used are very stereotypical for a big Blockbuster; big close
ups to make a point or even create tension. For example, when the Mad-
Hatter is “angry” or a close up on a character when trying to make a
point. However, most of the shots are fairlymoderated opened pan,
which gives the viewer more of a perspective view of the worldin which
the characters are in, and sets the scene. The lighting, music and sound is
also key as it has to link to the edit; Burton uses a lot of light to signify
where the themes couldinstantly change to dark. The music is there to
make tension, dramatic sounds, adding texture of sound and overall
there to create a better viewingexperience for all. However, the music
used is very dramatic, and upbeat. It doesn’t tend to be slow, and
relaxing; which adds to the overall experiencewhich is given off by the
movie. Overall, with these factors in place I feel they give Burton’s films
the typical dark-feel and creates one of the main features that we
recognise.
This being slightlycrazedand the darkness can also be shown within his
other famous remake “Charlie andthe Chocolate Factory”. This version
tends to be slightlydarker; again with the use of better effects and
presentingitself to all ages; as it generallycontains humour, as well as
dark themes that the older generation would enjoy. However, in
comparison to the original filmwhich was entitled “WillyWonka & the
Chocolate Factory”. The original film was directedby “Mel Stuart” which

4. was more based for children, the themes were lighter and although
“WillyWonka” was seen as quite an angry character, he was very much
happier; than Jonny Depp’s version that hit the screens in 2005.
Comparingthem both, I have been able to find that even the children
within the original hadlighter backstories that the film in which Tim
Burton had remade. Similar to the film Alice in Wonderland, Charlieand
the Chocolate Factory also follows the same 3-act structure, as previously
mentioned this is present within all of Tim Burton’s films, same with
editing, lighting, music and sound; which often disorientatingmusic and
weirdsounds are used with some of the crazier character, this generally
links in with the dark themes, characters and the general atmosphere
which is portrayed from his movies. However the genre for this movie,
like with Alice in Wonderlandis a hybrid of other genres. Though this
movie is more of a children’s fantasy/comedy; there is a theme and
sense of action and adventure, like Alice in Wonderlandfeature in both
films. And once more, the overall choice of shots are very similar to Alice
in Wonderlandas when a point is made for example when “WillyWonka”
makes a joke which is funny, the camera zooms in.
On the other hand, Burton is more well-known for his animation movies
such as Frankenweenie, Corpse Bride and Nightmare before Christmas.
All of these three individualmovies share things in common; Clayand
computer animation. To add to this, Burton’s natural dark and twisted
style and odd-almost Halloween-themedcharacters;this creates Burton’s
unique styles to his movies. This factor generallyis one of the most
important reasons as to why we recognise those films. As I mentioned
previouslyif you were to take away the natures, wouldyou recognise
Burton’s films as his own?
With the evidence provided I feel and believe that Tim Burton can call
himself an “Auteur” as he has a unique way of creatinghis own stories
and adding his own unique themes and many other little factors such as
clay animation, the actors in which he chooses and the overall theme he
uses to make his films stand out from the rest. However, in relation to
the Auteur Theory, he doesn’t fit with it specifically; as he doesn’t often
write, direct and produce the films. But due to this it has made me
believe that the auteur theory does not exist, as it is overall a team
project to make and finish a film. And to create somethingas unique as

5. Tim Burton does, it requires more than one person to help create his way
of filming/films. In conclusion to this I have exploredthere Auteur
Theory and whether it does or does not apply. However, when looking
deeper into whether Tim Burton is an Auteur as he chooses the directors
and writers in which he wants for his films which he knows will be able to
put across his artistic vision. If Tim Burton were to not make the remakes
of Alice in WonderlandandCharlie andthe Chocolate Factory, would
they have been portrayed in the same way? As Tim Burton chooses his
team to work alongside him he knows exactly what he wants to portray
within his films and who exactlywill help him do that. In the remake of
Beauty and the Beast if Tim Burton were too had directed or been a part
of the production team, wouldthe film not of had looked like a Tim
Burton film?
Thank you for taking time in looking at my presentation.