Tim Burton - An Auteur?
In accordance to Cinema and Society course work, the following is the second blog post: "What makes an Auteur – What makes a filmmaker an Auteur? Compile a set of at least 3 films which demonstrate the auteur qualities of a director of your choice accompanied by a commentary of at least 500 words."
Although Tim Burton may be widely recognized as one of the Hollywood studio systems greatest directors he could also be considered an auteur. In regards to film and film making, an auteur is a director who influences the film to the point they are recognized as if they wrote it.
Burton was a lonely child, with an interest in art and drawing from the offset. After studying at the California Institute of Arts he landed a job with Disney where he was one of the animators for the 1981 animation The Fox and Hound and it was through Disney that Burton really found his big break with them giving him the oportunity to release his own films to small film festivals with films such as Vincent(1982) and Frankenweenie (1984). 
One of the reoccurring themes evident through a lot of Burton's films is the reference to German Expressionism. Brought to Hollywood by German film makers in the early 1900s it features a lot of emphasis on eyes with them dark against a pale white face, obscurity of shapes and awkward movements. Science fiction could almost draw from early silent films and German expressionism as it was notable with the lack of reality and the blurred lines between reality and surrealism.
Edward Scissorhands, directed and written by Burton is the first film starring Johnny Depp in a leading role for him, of which many more were to follow. Depp's character Edward has many resemblances to the character Cesare from Robert Weine's "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" (1920), it is almost as if the character is based on him with the disheveled hair, glum expression and dark eyes and pale skin. According to the Internet Movie Database during the 1980's Burton was to do a remake of "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" however this never came about. It is unusual for a Burton film to appear in "normal" lighting, most of the time they are either very dark and gothic or very bright, like Alice in Wonderland (2010).
In reflection of Burton's lonely childhood, the characters within his films are always a bit odd, outsiders and quirky. One of the most prevelent actors starring in Burton's masterpieces is Johnny Depp. Johnny Depp has appeared in 8 leading roles for Burton, the most recent of which is Dark Shadows in 2012.
Burton appears to have a small pool of actors which he likes to pick from for his roles. These include Johnny Depp, his partner Helena Bonham Carter and Christopher Lee. Burton's 2010 box office smash "Alice in Wonderland" featured the three previously mentioned characters. Burton's use of familiar characters within his films and the quirky atmosphere created make them easily recognizable, one of the attributes to being an auteur.
Burton has used the American composer Danny Elfman in all but 5 of his films, and it appears that Burton likes to use what is familliar to him. His use of music within his films is always unique and usual. It appears that Burton makes the music within his films main contributers to the film, not just an accessory. He has even been quoted saying that Sweeny Todd: The Devil Barber of Fleet Street (2007) is simply a silent movie with music; bringing back reference to his use of German expressionism and early methods of film making.
I believe that Tim Burton's films have a recognizable style, from his use of quirky characters, reflections of German expressionism and utilizing actors which he is familiar with, as well as composers such as Danny Elfman. In my opinion, Tim Burton is definitely an auteur.
Sources:
SALISBURY, M., 2006. Burton on Burton. Revised ed. London, Faber and Faber.
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