A Comparison Of Wes Anderson And Tim Burton In Film Making

Wes Anderson and Tim Burton are both complex and unique characters in the filmmaking industry, with their own unmistakeable signatures. Although both of their technical approaches to filmmaking differ greatly, on a theoretical level they appear to agree on a number of aspects. One aspect of filmmaking that both directors seem to concur on is that films are composed in almost equal parts by all of the characters and creators involved in the production process, a process that includes the film's audience. Their opinions on the theoretical subject matter of filmmaking are largely exemplified in Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, and Tim Burton's Ed Wood. As pieces of meta-theater both films allow the directors to express their perception …show more content…
Anderson, however, focuses more on the layers of reality and interpretation within film by simultaneously emphasizing the reality of Zissou's documentary, the reality of Zissou's real life relationships, and the reality of the actors who are playing a part on a set. Meanwhile Burton's film highlights the layers of production within film, and how each new addition to the process alters the final product. The dialogue that occurs between Ed and Orson Welles also indicates some of Burton's personal opinion of these alterations, ascribing the ultimate vision of a film to the director as the decision maker. His mockery of his main character, however, also demonstrates a level of personal critique in the figure of the director, who relies on so many other elements in order to produce his vision. Burton does, however briefly, nod to the layers of reality in film through Ed's dismissal of the tipped over cardboard headstone. Both directors essentially acknowledge all the different elements and layers that are involved in the production of a film. Moreover they both put some burden of creation on the audience, who is required to “suspend their belief” in order to enjoy and experience the story and reality of a film. Tim Burton does appear to emphasize the director as more of a unifying force within the production process than Anderson, giving Ed more power of decision-making than Zissou. However, the number of compromises Ed is forced to make in order to please everyone greatly undermine his control and underline the superficiality of this power. Both director's, thus, agree that filmmaking is a constant process of collaboration, and interpretation that occurs between each element involved. Yet in spite of these factors, both are able to produce uniquely