Individuality is the vibrant streak of starlight in the black night. Individuality makes you the distinctive duckling in the crowd of adorable chicks. Yet is “different” truly such an atrocious thing? Tim Burton--renowned director and producer of movies such as Alice in Wonderland, Edward Scissorhands, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory--rebels against this common assumption by revolving his cinematic works around the importance of uniqueness. Inspired by Ray Harryhausen classic horror films and Roger Corman’s Vincent Price, he fused his contrasting light and dark moods to develop powerful themes behind his films, enhancing the value of individuality. To this day, his cinematic works empower many people with a new sense of pride in themselves. Tim Burton’s films use non-diegetic music, shot-reverse-shot, and close-up techniques to convey his thoughts about individuality and uniqueness.

As long as Tim Burton uses close-ups, the unique traits of certain characters are repeatedly highlighted. Close-ups are when the images being shot take up at least 80% of the entire frame. Edward Scissorhands is a key example of Tim Burton’s ability to utilize close-up shots to add to the overall theme of individuality. Whenever Edward is using his scissor-hands--whether it’s to cut hair or chop lettuce--the scissors are consistently shown in a close-up. As a result, Edward’s hands are established as an significant feature that sets him apart from others. Similarly, in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a close-up of Charlie’s face is used as he protests going to the chocolate factory in order to provide some income for the family. Due to this, Charlie’s admirable selfless nature that the rest of the children don’t possess is highlighted. In Alice In Wonderland, a close-up of the vorpal sword is used, clarifying the importance of the sword--it was the only weapon that could kill the dreaded Jabberwocky. In summary, Tim Burton’s use of close-ups emphasize important attributes of characters and objects, honing in on the unique factor that sets them apart from others.

Though close-up shots bring out special character traits, Tim Burton’s use of shot-reverse-shot shows how other characters in the plot react towards those extraordinary features. Shot-reverse-shot is an editing technique that consists of a shot of one subject, then another subject, and another shot that reverts back to the original subject. For example, in Edward Scissorhands, Tim Burton uses a shot-reverse-shot when Jim initiates a shoving match with Edward, calling him a “freak of nature”. Evidently, Jim’s derisive tone towards Edward’s peculiar hands is reflected through his aggressive reaction to Edward--which was reinforced by the use of shot-reverse-shot. On the other hand, in the same film a shot-reverse-shot of Joyce staring in wonderment at Edward is used, establishing Joyce’s admiration of Edward’s scissor-hands, for his fascinating hands brought a rejuvenating spark of life to the dull lifestyle of the neighborhood. Furthermore, in Alice in Wonderland, a shot-reverse-shot of the Red Queen and the White Queen is used as they face off in the battlefield. This not only signifies their unique physical traits--such as the Red Queen’s bulbous head and the White Queen’s pure white skin--but also the exclusive weapons each side possessed--the Red Queen with the Jabberwocky and the White Queen with Alice and the vorpal sword. As a result of the use of shot-reverse-shot, the contrasting individuality and relationships between two sides are clearly heightened, and the reactions of peers towards each character’s uniqueness is reinforced.

Often times, actions can be misleading. Whenever Tim Burton uses shot-reverse-shot editing techniques to bring out character reactions, he also incorporates non-diegetic sounds to reveal genuine character emotions towards one’s uniqueness. Non-diegetic sounds often take form as background music in movies, sounds the characters in the film cannot hear. For instance, in Edward Scissorhands haunting and dark non-diegetic orchestral music when Esmeralda proclaims that Edward is satanic and deceivingly evil. Though Esmeralda may have not physically offended Edward, the background music plays a vital factor in conveying Esmeralda’s dark and suspicious tone towards Edward and his scissor-hands. Likewise, in Alice in Wonderland intense and chilling non-diegetic orchestral music is played as the Jabberwocky is summoned to battle. This intense music implies the fearful emotions striking through the White Queen’s army towards the powerful Jabberwocky. Unlike any other creature or weapon, the Jabberwocky could spit destructive flames and could only be killed by the vorpal sword--and nothing else. This fearful tone towards the Jabberwocky and its (rather terrifying) traits are artfully exemplified through the use of non-diegetic music. Yet Tim Burton also uses non-diegetic music to positively arouse the scene. An example is a scene in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, when the crowd anxiously waiting outside the gates gaze at the colossal chocolate factory. In this particular scene, Tim Burton uses grand and glorious non-diegetic choral music to magnify the grandeur of the chocolate factory and the admiring emotions of the crowd towards the one-of-a-kind chocolate factory. Burton’s crafty use of non-diegetic music subtly accentuates the tones of characters towards others’ individuality.

After final analysis, it can safely be said that Tim Burton uses three central cinematic techniques—close-up shots, shot-reverse-shot, and non-diegetic music. While the non-diegetic music enhances the tone towards one character’s individuality, close-up shots and shot-reverse-shot establish character relationships and identify the unprecedented parts of the characters. As a result, heightened mood is the product that integrates with the enveloping theme statement of how individuality--the unique aspect of people--is a powerful attribute that can be used to positively impact lives. Tim Burton’s films bring forth a new meaning to individuality, and subtly shares his thoughts through his creative use of cinematic techniques.

“One person's craziness is another person's reality”-Tim Burton

“He's the most brilliant man. He has an imagination that just goes off the charts. Most people think Tim Burton is pretty weird, but he's not”- Annasophia Rob