Burbank High School Burbank, California Class of 1967: Notable BHS Alumni

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Notable BHS Alumni - Tim Burton '76

"Tim was born Timothy William Burton on August 25, 1958, in Burbank, California. He attended Providencia Elementary School and Burbank High School, where he swam and played water polo. He spent many of his childhood years drawing cartoons and watching old movies, being especially fond of Vincent Price.

"Tim began drawing at an early age, eventually attending the California Institute of the Arts. He was awarded a fellowship from Disney to study animation, which led to his working for Disney on films such as The Fox and the Hound and The Black Cauldron.

"Disney also allowed him the freedom to work on personal projects. His love of Vincent Price brought about the six-minute short Vincent, a black and white film he made in 1982 as a tribute to Price. His first live-action film was the 27 minute short Frankenweenie in 1984. The film was judged unsuitable for children and never released.

"However, Frankenweenie was seen by actor Paul Reubens, who thought Tim would be ideal to direct his first movie, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. The film was a hit, and Tim became instantly popular. However, he did not make another film for three years, feeling that many of the scripts offered to him were merely spinoffs of Pee-wee. The film that came along was Beetlejuice, which Burton considered to have so many artistic and quirky opportunities that he couldn’t say no!

"Beetlejuice also scored as a hit, and Tim’s name in Hollywood was solidified. He was then entrusted with Batman starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson. The film was the most financially successful of the year (1989), and Tim’s biggest box-office hit up to that time. Following three hit movies, he was given the green light to make any film he wanted.

"That film was Edward Scissorhands. It marked his first collaboration with Johnny Depp, and is hailed as one of his most emotional, esteemed and artistic films to date. Following the Batman sequel, Batman Returns, he went on to make The Nightmare Before Christmas, which has become a popular holiday classic.

"Tim then reunited with Johnny Depp for Ed Wood in 1994. The film was a box-office flop, but it netted Tim some of the best critical reviews of his career. Martin Landau won an Academy Award for his acclaimed peformance as Bela Lugosi. Mars Attacks!, despite big-name actors like Jack Nicholson and Glenn Close, was another financial disappointment and received mediocre reviews.

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"Then came another reunion with Johnny Depp and another hit. Sleepy Hollow also starred Christina Ricci and Casper Van Dien, and was praised for its art direction. Tim’s next film, Planet of the Apes, starring Mark Wahlberg (2001) was a remake of a classic. Although the film scored at the box office, it was not a hit with critics. It was during the making of this film, however, that Tim met Helena Bonham Carter, who became his life partner and frequent collaborator. They are still together and have a son, with another child on the way.

"With 2003 came The Big Fish starring Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney. The film was both financially and critically successful, giving Tim another well-received film. And in 2005 came yet another Depp collaboration, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Once again remaking a classic film, this time Tim succeeded admirably. Although some people preferred the original version starring Gene Wilder, many wildly applauded Depp’s quirky and outlandish performance as Willy Wonka.

"2005 also brought The Corpse Bride. With Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter doing the lead voices for this animated film, audiences loved it, although the critics were less overjoyed. Most felt the film was style over substance. This brings us up to Sweeney Todd, yet another collaboration with both Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. A lot of success has surrounded the collaborations between Tim and Johnny."

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