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When you think of a Tim Burton film, quirky and dark probably come to mind. Not only has he co-wrote and produced some blockbuster movies, he directed them as well. He has come a long way since 1985 when he directed his first feature film, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. In many of his movies, Tim calls upon his closest friends, actor Johnny Depp, musician Danny Elfman and partner Helena Bonham Carter to be a part of his crazy but wonderful films.Timothy William Burton was born on August 25, 1958. It was in 1982 that he made a black and white stop motion film he named “Vincent”. This film was based on a poem that Tim wrote about a young boy who fantasizes about being Vincent Price. Price was Tim’s screen idol and even narrated the film for him. Tim’s girlfriend was an executive at Disney where he took up an office during production on the film. After that the two of them co-wrote a screenplay called “True Love” which was shown at the Chicago Film Festival. When the relationship ended, Tim did a series of live-action short stories such as Hansel and Gretel and Frankenweenie. Even though Tim’s work was not seen by many, he was attracting the attention of the film industry.
Tim’s marriage to a German-born artist only lasted four year until he left her for a model named Lisa Marie. She appeared in a couple of his movies, Ed Wood and Mars Attacks. They were engaged from 1992 to 2001 until he left her for Helena Bonham Carter. He met Helena on the set of Planet of the Apes. They have a son, Billy and a daughter, Nell and have homes in Los Angeles and London. Johnny Depp is their son Billy’s godfather. Johnny once said on his friend Tim Burton: "What more can I say about him? He is a brother, a friend, my godson's father. He is a unique and brave soul, someone that I would go to the ends of the earth for, and I know, full and well, he would do the same for me."
After seeing Tim Burton’s short film Frankenweenie, Paul Reubens asked Tim to direct his feature film “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure”. So, in 1985 and on a budget of $7 million dollars and asking songwriter Danny Elfman to write the music for the film, Pee-wee’s movie was made. The movie ended up grossing over $40 million at the box office. In 1988, he directed Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis in a horror/comedy called, “Beetlejuice”. Working on another low budget film, it went on to gross over $80 million. In 1989, Tim received his first big budget film, “Batman” but had butt heads with the producers over the leading man. Tim wanted Michael Keaton, who worked with him in Beetlejuice, to play the masked hero and they were against it. Causing discouragement in some fans by casting Keaton, he cast Jack Nicholson as the Joker hoping to assure them that this movie and its actors were going to be great. It was and ended up grossing over $400 million worldwide.
Tim went on to be very successful in the 1990’s as well. He started out the decade with a quirky movie called, “Edward Scissorhands” starring his friend Johnny Depp. This would be the first of many films Depp would appear in or voice for Burton. Tim also cast Vincent Price, his idol, to be a part of the movie and played the eccentric inventor. Sadly this was the last appearance on screen for Price before his death. Tim would go on to produce and direct many other blockbusters such as Batman Returns, Nightmare before Christmas, Cabin Boy, Ed Wood, Batman Forever, James and the Giant Peach, Mars Attacks, and Sleepy Hollow.
In the 2000’s, Tim Burton’s films continue to reign at the top of the box office. He started the decade and century with Planet of the Apes starring Mark Walburg and Helena Bonham Carter. This film is where he met Helena, who later became his partner. His other movies consisted of Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and a short film simply called 9.
His next film Alice in Wonderland is due for release March 10, 2010.
~Julie~
