1. Auteur study-Tim Burton
Timothy Walter "Tim" Burton is an American film director, film producer, writer, poet and
stop motion artist. He is known for his dark, gothic, macabre and quirky horror and fantasy
films and for blockbusters. He is known for using recurring collaborators on his works;
among them are Johnny Depp, Who has become a close friend of Burton since their first
film together; musician Danny Elfman, who has composed scores for all but two of the films
Burton has directed; also actress and partner Helena Bonham Carter.
2. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
The Film opens with an animation which is highly typical of Tim burtons movies and
uses a dark color scheme which reflects the themes of the movie such as gore and
darkness. The gothic architecture not only tells us the location of the film but also
which era it is set in (Victorian). The stormy weather is highly ominous and
indicates that all is not quite right about this film. While this is going on there is
non-digetic orchestral strings are being utilised too build suspense and build
momentum towards the end of the credits even becoming frantic. A barber chair is
shown giving us some more insight into what we are to expect from the remainder
of the film.
3. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (2005)
The opening of this film is very similar to the opening of Sweeny Todd but instead of
blood there is chocolate. Also it is animated a favorite of Burton and something he has
a tendency to utilise it as he himself was originally an animator. The gold typography
highlights the theme of extravagance and extroversion. Also it takes a tour through
Wonka’s factory exposing the main themes and locations that will feature in the film.
Even though there is no dialogue during the entire opening the narrative is set up
through the opening maybe due to the expected knowledge of the story. Throughout
this there is the constant non-digetic sound of classical strings slowly building
momentum another common feature in Burtons films.
4. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
At the very beginning of the trailer there is a edited version of the 20th century
fox animation with snow falling around it and a blue colour scheme is
employed to create a moody atmosphere. The digetic sound of lullaby music
creates an uneasy awkwardness. The dark shades continue as we follow a
point of view camera on a journey through an eerie dark environment full of
spider webs and frost continue the creepy ambience. The main elements of
the film are shown in the forms of statues