Tim Burton is a well-known American film director that has created dozens of dark movies. Two of his most famous films include the very original story of Edward Scissorhands in and his retelling of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Both films use many devices to help tell their unique stories, but Tim Burton’s expert use of lighting and camera angles cause the viewers to stay glued to the screen.
One of the most powerful and visual elements any director can use to help create a story is color. Whether it is the color of the costumes, sets, or even the way the entire shot is tinted in editing, the lighting has a lot to do with how we see those colors. In both Edward Scissorhands and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Burton uses bright, popping colors in many of the scenes to symbolize what most people associate with good and normal things. In the early scenes of Edward Scissorhands, Burton uses energetic colors such as bright pink, blue, and yellow with vivid green lawns to represent the happiness of suburban life. Likewise, in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the colors of the candy factory are incredibly bright and are juxtaposed against the plain, dreary scenes of Charlie’s environment. Burton uses color in both of these situations to show that just because a place might be colorful, it does not mean that it is necessarily happier. Although the lighting is an obvious tool that Burton uses to create a certain mood, viewers may not realize the way the camera shoots the scene can impact the director’s meaning as well.
In the opening scenes of both films, Burton captures the vast world with establishing shots that explore the entire setting of the films. Edward Scissorhands contrasts the attractive suburbs with a monstrous looking mansion, while Burton opens Charlie and the Chocolate Factory depicting the entire Wonka town as a gloomy city with wide shots of a dull, snowy, poor place to live life. As each film continues, the viewer is introduced to every important character at eye level and usually using a close up and sometimes even an extreme close up of just their face. This type of shot creates the understanding that this character is important in one way or another. Burton continues to shoot the scenes from a perspective where the viewer is actually at the table with Edward Scissorhands or even looking up at Willy Wonka, as Charlie would. These shots allow the viewer to have the same experience as the characters would. However, Burton does not choose just one character to film from this angle. He wants the movie-goer to feel what it is like to be several of the main characters and realize that each has a different perspective.
Sound plays an important part in Burton’s movies. The non-diegetic sound creates the mood of each scene. Haunting melodies set the stage for villains and fear. During the opening credits of “Edward Scissorhands” creepy music plays. The ghastly music and images gives the sense that something is wrong. Something has happened and now the inventor is dead. The music gives a heads up that there is a problem of some kind. Burton also utilizes diegetic sound to create mood. In “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” the Oompa-Lumpas sing every time a rotten child is taken away. This is a different way to tell the viewer that something is wrong with the child. It makes somewhat boring facts interesting. Sound is a monumental part of Burton’s style.
The lighting and camera effects of many films can often be categorized into one simple style: dark, bright, wide shots, close ups. Tim Burton is anything but simple. His vision is complex, yet he has the ability to present complex themes in a seemingly simple and fun movie. Edward Scissorhands and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are just two examples that demonstrate Burton’s mastery of lighting and camera angles. He uses diegetic and non-diegetic sound to display mysterious scenes. His unique style and ability to create meaning out of cinematic techniques like these are what makes Tim Burton one of the most well-known American directors in recent history.