CONTEXUAL STUDIES: AUTEUR

In this essay, I will be discussing what an auteur is and matching that with a chosen director. I will be using websites to help explain the auteur theory and then visual images and clips of my chosen directors work to justify and explain why they match with this theory. I have chosen the Director Tim Burton for his classic style of dark, scary and gothic look but mixed together with the opposite emotions of happiness and love. 

 The Auteur Theory is “theory of filmmaking in which the director is viewed as the major creative force in a motion picture’ (The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica, 20-07-1998, https://www.britannica.com/art/auteur-theory) which I interpret, means a director with a unique style, someone who stands out from other Directors and who’s work you will know just by recognising the visual style of the film. This theory has been used since the 1940s and can sometimes describe a Director as an ‘artist’, depending on what it is they are being classed as an ‘Auteur’ from. For Directors, this would often be the overall visual style of the film. Perhaps their use of action over dialogue. Alfred Hitchcock is often classed as an Auteur for his amazing work in film making. One of his most artistic pieces of work can be taken from his film 'Vertigo'. This scene is very early in the film and it's the characters Scottie and Gavin meeting. When you watch this for the first time you won't see it, but the second time you watch, the characters choreographing is astonishing, Youtuber Nerdwriter1, breaks down the scene and describes the scene as "This scene is small and often over looked, but it holds up the rest of the film. How many other Directors could choreograph this conversation in such a way that it works like a dance?" (Nerdwriter1, Mar 23, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgnNakO6JZw) Alfred Hitchcock was an artist when it came to films, his techniques, his methods of blocking out the characters so that it works and flows with the dialogue is seamless. However, my example is not Mr. Hitchcock as he is already well know for his work in Film. 

Tim Burton is my choice of Director and I would say that he is an Auteur. Tim Burton is known for his unusual style of film making and love of stop-motion animation. He loves to join such dark and almost horrible styles with such loving and happy characters and stories. An example of this can be Tim Burton's 'A Nightmare Before Christmas'. The photos below show you the style of the film.

The film looks dark and gothic, as if to be a horror film. But, the actual story is sweet and heart warming. A skeleton finding the beauty of Christmas and learning that Halloween and scaring people isn't the only holiday to look at. Discovering love that was right in front of him (the character Sally) and finding himself after feeling lost for so long. 
Another example is 'Dark Shadows' a few photos from the film are below:

The film tells the story of a man turned into a vampire by an evil witch who wanted and loved him, but he did not feel the same. Even though you get this dark and horror look to the film, it's actually a comedy film and brings entertainment to the viewers. Tim Burton even said "I am not a dark person and I don't consider myself dark." He brings a twist to his films with the way he styles them. He is also an actual artist as he use to work for Disney. Watch makes me class Tim as a Auteur is that he doesn't go with 'the usual' with styles. Something that is dark, gothic and eccentric would naturally be classed with a horror, thriller or much darker genre or movie. The classic idea of Dark = Bad/Evil and Light = Good/Hopeful. 
Tim Burton doesn't care for how it 'should be' he see's this in his own visual style and brings forward a story of happiness and love with such a dark and horror like style and it works as well, as a fan of Tim Burton's work I love the way he uses this style. It makes him stand out as a Director and he pushes the limits. Some call him crazy or weird but I find it poetic and artistic. Tim Burton once said "Don't worry about how you 'should' draw it. Draw it the way you see it" This is why he is an Auteur, a love story should be with bright colours, happy surroundings and beautiful and attractive characters to most people. But Tim Burton can achieve this with a story of an Undead Bride, a gothic and jazzy style underworld and the story of love coming together (The film A Corpse Bride) he is an artist and a true auteur.

(Photos from google.co.uk)