26.1 marinas assignment: The Theory of Films

26.1: Theory of Films 

In this assignment I’m going to be talking about the different techniques, codes and conventions, and theories two different directors use in their films and their genres. 

Auteur Theory: The director I am choosing to write about is Tim Burton. The theory I would link Tim Burton to is the auteur theory. The first way that he uses the auteur theory is, by using the same actors e.g. Johnny Depp and how he uses him as a main character in Charlie And the Chocolate Factory, Edward scissor hands, A nightmare Before Christmas(animation), and Corpse Bride (animation).

A list of his films Are Charlie And the Chocolate Factory, Edward scissor hands, A nightmare Before Christmas(animation), and Corpse Bride (animation), Alice in Wonderland, Alice through the looking glass, Beetlejuice 1 & 2, Batman (1989), Frankenweenie, Planet of the Apes (2001), Batman Returns.

Tim Burton uses the same actors in most of his films which is the use of the auteur theory. for example, using Johnny Depp a lot as well as Christopher Lee, Michael Keaton, Alan Rickman. These actors are usually main characters in Tim Burton’s films. For example, Michael Keaton plays Batman in Batman 1989 and is also in Beatle juice. 

Feminism theory: Feminist film theory is a theoretical film derived from feminist politics and feminist theory. A clear example of a film that uses feminism is Hidden Figures as it is about three African-American women working at NASA. 

There are many different film techniques used in films such as Charlie and the chocolate factory for example Tim Burton tends to like using a lot of different colours in his settings but then he also likes to have plain black and white backgrounds. Tim Burton likes to use fast music to create a scene as, it can cause tension and make you excited to see what’s going to happen especially in Charlie and the chocolate factory when they are on the boat on the chocolate river and in a film like A Corpse Bride he, uses a softer toned music to sound more relaxed and builds up the tension over time. In Hidden figures by Theodore Melfi. The main shots used in Hidden figures are, long shots, wide shots, close ups, over the shoulder but, mainly mid shots. The over the shoulder shots help give more of a POV button quite a POV as you see the side and shoulder of one of the characters. Close up shots allow us to see the characters facial expression easily and a wide shot allows us to see the background and setting easily. An editing technique used a lot in Charlie and the chocolate factory is CGI as, to get all the Oompa Loompa's they had to CGI one person to try and make them as identical as possible. In all of Tim Burton’s films, he either uses bright colourful colours or, he would use bland colours such as, black, white and, grey.

Use of light colours in Charlie and the chocolate factory to create a positive, imaginary image.

Use of dark, bland colours in Corpse Bride which creates a dark negative image. It also gives us the concept that, it's set in the dark

Tim Burton’s creative influence was when he was a young kid he, found that he was different to other kids as he drew monsters to escape the conformity of the American suburb he lived in. When he was young, the monsters that he drew he, could identify with as, he felt timid and left out. People usually compare Tim Burton’s work to a gothic theme because of his use of black and white for his creature which gives a connotation of plain, bland as well as his use of heavy make-up. Tim Burton uses the theme of death a lot in his films but also uses a lot of gothic poetry when, it comes to literature.

Tim Burton explores all different types of genres. For example, his most well-known films are either animation, fantasy, family, adventure and, romance. One example of his very well known, animation, romance films is Corpse Bride as it’s a stop motion animation film about a man who ends up falling in love with this woman who's is the corpse.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Tim Burton's films have similar conventions as he uses the theme of gothic a lot as most of his films are based on them e.g. The Nightmare Before Christmas, A Corpse Bride. The genres of his films are, usually gothic, fantasy, comedy as they are his styles of image. All of Tim Burton’s films all have a story to them which, is another convention of his films. Tim Burton tries to get across the message in his films that, it’s good to be different and, you can be loved no matter who you are or what you look like.  

Theodore Melfi born in 1971, the director of Hidden figures creates different genres of films but, they are mainly genres the older audience would, find interesting for example, Hidden Figures is a Historical drama which is based on the time of the women of NASA who, ended up being smarter then, the men and helping them accomplish everything to make sure the take, off worked. Hidden Figures uses exceptionalism which helps to present the image of the movement of time and how women were starting to get better jobs. Theodore Melfi is an American screenwriter, film director, and producer. His debut film, St. Vincent starring Bill Murray, was released in 2014. In his films he uses a constant use of light colours but ones we can see clearly are light blue and white.  The editing techniques include camera shots and the main types of camera shots Theodore Melfi uses are mid shots, close ups, wide shots and, over the shoulder shots as, they allow you to be able to see the facial expressions of the characters easily and also it makes it look like you are there and experiencing what happens. Melfi's films all have a story to them but Hidden figures is based on a real story which helps to empower feminism and show that they can be super intelligent. The back-ground music used in his films are usually quite soft but are also relevant to the genre of the film.  Films such as, Hidden Figures, there isn’t any music the mise en scene helps to create a scene by adding background noise instead so, you have people talking or, cars driving instead of, music playing. Hidden Figures isn’t just based on feminism but also, shows the impact it gave on people and how coloured people were finally starting to get more rights. 

   The image shows how, the main woman helped make a change and is empowered and more intelligent than the men. 

Altogether in this assignment I have spoken about the different theories the different directors have used in their films and spoken about the different conventions and techniques they use in their films. I have also discussed the reason behind the theories.