Tim burton auteur research

 TIM BURTON

Tim burton is an American filmmaker, animator and artist. He is known for his gothic and nightmarish films. The houses, cities and props are in a cartoonish way to emphasise goth features. These films include Edward Scissorhands, a nightmare before Christmas and corpse bride. For his style, he uses darkness to create flashback scenes and a gothic theme to the film. An example of this is in Charlie and the chocolate factory where the costuming is dark as well as in Corpse bride and a nightmare before Christmas.

Tim burtons cinematic style is flashbacks which is used a lot in his movies so that's how you recognise his cinematic signature. In Edward scissorhands, Edward has a flashback to when his father when he was going to replace the scissorhands with prosthetic hands. There is another flashback scene in Charlie and the chocolate factory when willy Wonka was a child and his father stopped him from eating candy. This was important as it led to Willy Wonka becoming a candy maker. In Corpse Bride, a flashback scene was used to show when Emily was alive and about to marry a Lord but was killed on the night of her wedding. Another flashback scene is used in the Alice in  Wonderland live action remake when it shows young Alice in wonderland when she was a child.

Another cinematic style is him playing with light and shadow. This has been used in the live action Dumbo and Tim burtons style is eclectic and this has uniquely become his own style. The backdrops used have high contrasts and the sets have jagged edges while all the other sets are more rounded which is a nice contrast. For lighting, he makes a character pale which has an effect on the viewer, making them feel uncomfortable. This is due to the mood the lighting creates. Another creative signature in his films is that Johnny Depp is in a lot of his movies and have been working together on eight of his movies. These include him playing Willy Wonka in 'Charlie and the chocolate factory', voicing Victor in 'Corpse bride', mad hatter in 'Alice in wonderland', Ichabod crane in 'sleepy hollow' and many more. Tim burtons signature camera shots is using tracking shots that weaves and the camera is often attached to a dolly or a crane.

Twist ending task

WRITING A TWIST TASK

A man is running through the woods being chased by someone dressed in black. [An Ariel shot is used which gives the viewer an understanding of what is going on] They run at fast speed through the trees and duck under overhanging branches. We follow the POV of both the man and the strange figure darting through the trees. The figure dressed in all black gains the most speed and in quick edits we see the man's face covered in sweat and looking frightened for his life, but the figure looks calm. This is the scene when I will use a close-up shot of the hooded figure.

The man falls over and the figure catches up with him. The figure leans over and outstretches his arms. The man screams at him not to kill him and the figure's hands start to smoke and reach for his face. Then the figure freezes and does not move. The man gets up, looks at the figure's arm and pulls up its sleeve. In a close-up shot, we see a small display screen in his arm that says: 'battery empty'. The man gets up and walks away as he believes the android to be dead. He calls a friend to say that he has the documents that he stole from the laboratory that will prove his innocence. Behind him we see a close-up of the android's display screen that clicks into life: 'emergency battery operated'. We then see the man talking on his phone. Then, a dark figure creeps up behind him slowly. The screen goes black and there is a loud scream from the man. We now see a group of people around a screen in a laboratory. The person at the other end of the line puts down his phone on the desk and says: 'android successfully reactivated'.


HOW WOULD THE TWIST OF MY SHORT FILM BE INFLUENCED BY OTHER FILMS?

This short film has been influenced by the short film 'High Maintenance' as the idea that a character is actually an android and not a human was influenced by that storyline. My short film also has two twists in it like the ones in 'High Maintenance'. The first twist was the figure dressed in black who was revealed to be an android and the second twist was that it came back to life and killed the man right at the very end. This is often used in horror films when a creature is thought to be dead but comes back at the end - like in 'Alien'. I will use similar camera shots and camera angles as 'High Maintenance' when you find out the man following the protagonist is an android. These camera shots will include an establishing shot at the beginning of the film so the audience gets a feel for the location and can guess the genre since it's going to be filmed in a forest. My film has also been influenced by 'Portals' due to the chase scenes in the film and both characters are seen trying to escape. In 'Portals', the protagonist is trying to escape the prison while in my short film, the protagonist is trying to escape the hooded figure chasing him. Towards the end of my short film, I subvert the expectation that the android is dead but actually isn't as the figure creeps up behind him and kills him.

Another way it is influenced by one of the short films is with 'Pitch Black Heist' when it starts off in one genre and shifts genre by the end. This will be done by changing the lighting at sometime in this film.  This is done in my short film when it starts off as an action/thriller when there is the chase scene throughout most of the film and when you find out the figure is an android and when the android kills him in the last scene it turns to a sci fi/ horror. The lighting will darken at the end to make the characters feel more vulnerable and isolated making it feel more like a Horror opposed to the start when the lighting is bright and the chase scene in the day will make it feel like an action film. This was done In 'High maintenance' when the lighting used makes it feel like a drama but is actually a sci fi when it is revealed he's an android. When the audience realises it's a sci- fi story with the android at the end of the film it should surprise them. The lighting will also be dark for the chase scene in the woods to make it conform to the horror genre. The dark lighting will make it similar to 'Pitch Black Heist' when the heist is being carried out and it is dark while they're doing this. The costumes will also be dark for the hooded figure to make it seem more mysterious and eerie. The film is also influenced by 'La Jetee' as for most of the film it is silent with no dialogue just like in the short film. This makes my short film focus mainly on the chase scenes rather than the story focusing on dialogue. In my film, when the android's arm starts smoking it foreshadows this character to not be human as up until this bit, you assume it just to be a dark, mysterious figure.

Studio System

studio system

from the mid 20s, American studios grew larger and there were 5 major companies: MGM. paramount, warner bros, 20th century fox and RKO. these were known as the big five and become part of the studio system. There were three smaller studios: universal, united artists and Columbia. There were many minor studios who released bee movies for a very little cast

 1. During which decades was the Hollywood  studio system at its most powerful ?

The 1930s through to the 1940s were considered the golden age of Hollywood with films like Casablanca

2. What were the major "big five " studios ?

the big 5 movie companies were MGM, paramount, warner bros, 20th century fox and RKO which became part of the studio system. These emerged in 1928.

3. What areas and roles in film production did the studio system have direct control over ?

They had the effective control of distributors and exhibition. They produced movies on their own filmmaking lot. They would use block booking where they would sell multiple films to a theatre. This meant the studios could make a lot of money. One studio could own all  theatres in the city which would mean all their films would be distributed no matter he quality of them.

4. Why was this factory method of production successful ?

The actors, directors, producers and personnel were under long term contracts so had to return when making another film. The studios would own their 'stars'. This was known as the star system.

 

5. Why did the studio system lose power and control in the 1950s and 1960s ?  

Television was now competing for audiences in the 1950s which led to studio systems losing power. They were also challenged under the 1948 supreme court ruling which was to seperate production from distribution.

classical style in film form

For the cinematography, you have to include the 180 degree rule. this sets an imaginary axis between two viewers or a character and an object. Another is an eyeline match. this indicated to the audience what the character is seeing. The audience believes they're looking at something through the eyes of the character. An example of a shot type in the establishing shot which is used at the start of the film. This is used to see the location.

Invisible editing is arranging shots in a sequence which suggests a progression of events. It gives the impression that the camera is filming the action. Another example of editing is shot/reverse shot where one character is shown looking at another character of screen. The camera then shows the other character looking at the first character. This makes it seem that they are both looking at each other due to them being in the opposite direction. Continuity editing is much preferred in the classical Hollywood period. This was used in Casablanca and makes sure the story looks  smooth.

For mise en scene, which is everything in a scene such as costumes and lighting. The style is very predictive and has a beginning, middle and end which is the three act structure being routine life, problem solving and then problem resolved. The films mood to the audience was added by the mise en scene. 

For sound, synchronised sound has been used. this is the sound being recorded at the time of filming the movies. There are three types of sound, human voices, music and sound effects. These three make the film seem realistic to the viewer. Dialogue must also sync with the action of the film without any delay to create realism.

For performance, there is method acting where the actors focus on an emotional performance and realism. Classical actors focus on action as there needed to be a focus on classical action. They also need imagination to relate to the other actors on screen and find their character.

Evaluating the two twists for 'high maintenance'

 evaluate the two twists of high maintenance. 

In my opinion,  believe the second twist was much more effective as when we found out the man was the robot, we could've never of guessed she was also a robot too. This is due to her displaying human emotions like short bursts of anger and slight regret as they took him away in the lift and she goes back to kiss him as if she slightly regrets what she did and feels guilty for returning him. A robot would never show signs of emotion which makes the twist more effective and makes us more surprised when we eventually find out the truth. Foreshadowing is used which are hints of the twist to come, these include her make up being very pale and her eyes emotionless. The 'mechanical sex' pun indicates that they are both robots but the audience would off never of guessed the first time they saw it that this indicates she's a robot too.  There are also clanking noises when she's eating dinner which suggests she's a robot. She also says something at the beginning when they're eating dinner and by the time her new husband comes along, he said the same things as she did but she does not notice. This could suggest they're programmed to say specific things due to them being robots. The title ' high maintenence is also a subtle hint as it has two meanings. The first is that maintenance used on machines and the other is that she trying to get their relationship working requires high maintenance. I also believe the first twist [that the man was the robot] was still effective due to the audience not knowing its a sci fi as the lighting and music suggests it's a drama.

A camera angle being used in this short film is a close up shot of both characters when they are at the dinner table. This shot displays their emotions which is effective as it makes it harder to guess the twist ending.  another camera angle used is the side close up where the camera focuses on the side of her head as she's at the table and when she's on the computer the camera zooms out from her room until the screen goes black. A camera angle effectively used in this film is when at different times of the film, they are switched off and an extreme close up is used as we see the blank expression of their face right up close to the camera. The lighting used is dark, ominous which foreshadows a dark twist to come. The music and the silence used is quite creepy and well as their voices being quiet and low as they're eating dinner as if they're not interested in each other due to neither of them showing emotion which is a hint to them being robots. The only sounds that we hear at times is the clanking of cutlery and her gulping as she drinks the whole of her wine glass.

Casablanca analysis

ricks bar scene

The cinematography [which is the use of camera shots and camera movements]for this scene is Casa Blanca is when we are first introduced to Ricks bar and the spotlight is moving  past Ricks bar but does not go inside as the doors stop it. This is supposed to show that refugees are safe in Ricks bar and is where they shelter as the Nazis cannot see them in there.  When we first see the exterior of Ricks bar, this is an establishing shot. another use of cinematography in this scene is when were in Ricks diner and the camera is panning from left to right so we can see the whole bar and allows us to take in the atmosphere of the bar and what kind of people come to this bar. The lighting in Ricks bar is bright and illuminating due to the white jackets being worn and the lamps in the background.

For the editing, when we first see inside Ricks bar the film is edited to make it feel as if we were a visitor going inside for the first time. We follow the camera through the bar doors and mix with the characters in one slow take. the slow, handheld camera technique is then followed by camera shots as they then focus on one of the characters. This static hold and pan away editing technique allows us to be interested in a lot of the customers sitting at the tables as if we were spending time looking at these people for the first time. The restless editing makes our visit to the bar seem realistic and confusing, as if there is so much to take in we keep looking at different tables.

For the mise en scene [which is the background, props and costume] there is a scene where two people are at a table and one of their suit is white which contrasts with the other who's suit is black. this is because he cannot leave Casa Blanca and accepts he will die here. the use of the black suit is to show his life is grim, while the others suit is white which shows he has no problems. everyone is dressing formally, this is to show wealthy people come to Ricks bar [e.g a character owning the second largest bank]. another use of mise en scene is when the background fades from light to dark as it reaches the person on the right as if to show his life is more bleak and that he is a lot more pessimistic. He is also holding a beer bottle in his hand which is part of the use of props. another prop being used is before we see Rick and can only see his arm as he's  playing chess. this could suggest he's an intellectual and analytical person.

The use of sound in casa Blanca is at the start as we hear the voiceover which gives us some information about Casablanca.  The voiceover was used often in films from the 1940s and is usually used only at the start and does not appear again. music is used when Sam plays 'it had to be you' medley on piano. This is used as the camera moves around the bar and we get a good look at it. There is dialogue between characters so nothing is missing there although we don't get to see Rick this scene or hear from him.

for performance [body language, reaction to others] there are two characters, one of them is trying to get out of Casablanca, the other is not looking directly at him or following his gaze. this is supposed to show he doesn't want to help him or be involved. His body language also suggests he wants to get up and leave. The casting is right as they are good actors and the actor for Sam is right due to his performance of the piano throughout the movie as the songs are an important part to this film as they trigger memories for Rick.