Analysis of Tim Burton’s Directorial Style
The Vocabulary of Filmmaking
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Cinematography is the
art of shooting a film.
The following terms will help you
to better understand and
appreciate the art of filmmaking
and the similarity between
What effects can we get from lighting?
the scene is flooded with light,
creating a bright and
open-looking scene
the scene is filled with shadows
and darkness, creating suspense
or suspicion
Note the difference between left photo, which is “high key,” and
the photo on the right, which is “low key.” The bright, high key
photo setting seems wider and more open, filled with possibility;
the low key photo setting seems ominous, like something bad is
closing in on the subject.
Direct lighting from below or
from the side, which often
makes the subject appear
dangerous or evil
Soft lighting on the actor’s face
or from behind gives the
appearance of innocence or
goodness, a halo effect
Note the difference between left photo, which is “bottom lit” and
the photo on the right, which is “back lit.” Notice how the light
coming from the bottom of the left picture creates shadows in
this man’s face, making his innocent smile seem sinister. In the
right photo, the girl seems surrounded by light; she even appears
to have a “halo,” a small circle of light shining around her head.
This lighting makes her seem good and innocent.
PART TWO:
SOUND TECHNIQUES
DIEGETIC
NON-DIEGETIC
Sound which is created
with the intention of
PART ONE: CAMERA SHOTS
WHY DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CAMERA SHOTS?
WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CAMERA
CAMERA SHOT
A camera shot is
CAMERA SHOTS
The exact camera shot framed
by the cinematographer or
director can communicate many
things
Long Shot:
A shot from some
distance.
Effect: Shows context
and character; can
Establishing Shot:
A long shot or series
of shots that sets the
scene.
Effect: Used to establish
setting and to show
Medium Shot:
The most common
shot. The camera
seems to be a medium
distance from the
object being filmed. A
medium shot shows the
person from the waist
up.
Effect: Used to show
relationships or to
Full Shot:
A full body shot is
shown.
Close Up:
The image takes up at
least 80% of the frame
and are usually of
faces.
Effect: Signifies
Extreme Close Up:
The image being shot
is part of a whole, such
as an eye or hand
Effect: Used to show
Two Shot:
A scene between two
people shot exclusively
from an angle that
includes both character
more or less equally.
(Can be a medium or
long shot)
Effect:
It is used in
http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXpXn1_yU2k&feature=relate d
Film Shots Quiz:
Directions:
Number your paper 1-14.
Decide which film shot is best
represented by the example.
You may use your notes to
What film shot is
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this?
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this?
What film shot is
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SHOT COMPOSITION & STORYBOARDING
The director chooses each shot
purposefully to express his
intended vision. Before filming,
directors compose their shots on
STORYBOARDING
A storyboard is an illustrated plan of shots that help the
director plan his artistic vision before
actual filming begins.
To the left is an example of a
three-panel storyboard that Tim Burton
drew for A
Nightmare Before Christmas.
STORYBOARDING: STUDENT SAMPLE
EDWARD SCISSORHANDS
The pink arrows show the
movement of the camera. This is a more advanced
Individually, sketch out four-six
film shots on a storyboard. You
may use any story we have read
in class :
The Black Cat
,
The Cask
of Amontillado or The Masque of
the Red Death.
Don’t forget to identify the film
shots
by referencing your Film
Vocabulary Notes!
Where do we position the camera?
WHY DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CAMERA ANGLES?
WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CAMERA
A shot taken from a normal height;
that is, the character’s eye level
Ninety to ninety-five percent of the
shots seen are eye level because it
is the most natural angle.
A shot taken from
above the subject
This usually has the effect of
making the subject look smaller
than normal, giving him or her the
appearance of being weak,
powerless, or trapped
.
A shot taken from below the
subject
This usually has the effect of
making the subject look larger
than normal, and therefore
How can we move the camera?
A stationary camera
moves from side to side
on a horizontal axis
PAN
http://
A stationary camera
moves up or down along
a vertical axis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jYXX48Oz7s&feature=endscreen&N R=1
On a stationary camera, the lens moves forward
or backward to make an object appear to move
closer or further away from the camera.
With this technique, moving into a character is
often a personal or revealing movement, while
moving away distances or separates the audience
from the character.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV_gSUmjbdc
The camera is on a track that
allows it to move with the
action. The term also refers
to any camera mounted on
car, truck, or helicopter
DOLLY
http://
How does a director impact the story through editing?
FADE
Can fade to or from black or white.
A fade can begin in darkness and gradually
assume full brightness (fade-in), or the image
may gradually get darker (fade-out). A fade
often implies that time has passed or may
DISSOLVE
A kind of fade in which one image is slowly
replaced by another. It can create a connection
WIPE
A new image wipes off the previous image.
A wipe is more fluid than a cut and quicker
FLASHBACK
SHOT-REVERSE-SHOT
A shot of one subject, then another, then back
to the first.
FILM ANALYSIS
Your task is to prepare an
analytical statement about one film element used by Tim Burton in Big Fish. An analytical
statement is a basically a short paragraph that briefly
summarizes one aspect of study (analysis). An analytical
statement can be used to
analyze literature, film, or art. To prepare an analytical
statement, you need to combine three concepts:
• Artist’s Purpose
• Effect of Choice
• Examples
ANALYTICAL STATEMENT
Artist’s Purpose
ARTIST’S PURPOSE
Artist’s Purpose: the intended effect
or meaning created or suggested by
EFFECT
ANALYTICAL STATEMENT: EXAMPLE #1
Artist’s Purpose
Examples Effects
A purpose of a high angle shot is to make the subject appear less significant.
Jenny looks weaker and
smaller than Will in the shot. She speaks about how she is less important to Edward than Sandra and Will and she appears less important too.
The scene in which Will and Jenny speak about her
ANALYTICAL STATEMENT: EXAMPLE #2
Artist’s Purpose
Examples Effects
A purpose of a long shot is to make the subject appear more vulnerable.
Edward looks weaker and
smaller than he should because he is positioned at the end of a long shot in the forest. He is alone and lost
which makes him defenseless
against the dangers found there.
The scenes in which Edward Bloom walks alone through the forests outside of
MODEL OF AN
ANALYTICAL STATEMENT
To create your first analytical
statement, use the model on the
Tim Burton, director of Big Fish, uses
___________________________________________ (cinematic element) in
order to ________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_________ (achieve what general purpose). For example,
__________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
___________________________ (specific example and the effect of the
EXAMPLE OF AN
ANALYTICAL STATEMENT
The following analytical statements
are examples taken from the two
Tim Burton, director of Big Fish, uses high angled shots (cinematic
element) in order to make some characters seem less significant.
(achieve what general purpose). For example, in the scene in which
Will and Jenny speak about her relationship with Edward Bloom,
Jenny looks weaker and smaller than Will in the shot. She speaks
about how she is less important to Edward than Sandra and Will and
she appears less important too. (specific example and the effect of
the director’s choice).
ANALYTICAL STATEMENT: EXAMPLE #1
Artist’s Purpose
Examples Effects
A purpose of a high angle shot is to make the subject appear less significant.
Jenny looks weaker and
smaller than Will in the shot. She speaks about how she is less important to Edward than Sandra and Will and she appears less important too.
The scene in which Will and Jenny speak about her
Tim Burton, director of Big Fish, uses long shots (cinematic element)
in order to make the characters appear more vulnerable. (achieve
what general purpose). For example, in the scenes in which Edward
Bloom walks alone through the forests outside of Spectre, he looks
weaker and smaller than he should because he is positioned at the
end of a long shot in the forest. He is alone and lost which makes
him defenseless against the dangers found there. (specific example
ANALYTICAL STATEMENT: EXAMPLE #2
Artist’s Purpose
Examples Effects
A purpose of a long shot is to make the subject appear more vulnerable.
Edward looks weaker and
smaller than he should because he is positioned at the end of a long shot in the forest. He is alone and lost
which makes him defenseless
against the dangers found there.
The scenes in which Edward Bloom walks alone through the forests outside of
YOUR TURN!
