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Exclusive: Tim Burton Says He’s “Technophobic” And Jack Skellington Came From Subconsciousness
Interview With Artist
The World of Tim Burton is hitting London, UK, for the first time, and Bored Panda received exclusive access to review the highly anticipated exhibition, which will be open to the public on Friday (October 25). The major exhibition includes 600 items from Tim Burton’s 50 years of creative output, some of which have never been on public display in the UK before. The iconic filmmaker spoke about his process and technique during a Q&A on Wednesday, October 23.
Highlights
- The World of Tim Burton opens in London on 25th October with 600 items.
- Tim Burton described himself as 'technophobic' despite relying on tech.
- Jack Skellington emerged from Tim's subconscious as a creative puppet.
- Tim never considered the audience while developing films and said he found his success shocking.
- The upcoming exhibition includes items from Burton's archives and key film studios.
In response to some burning questions, the filmmaker shared that he wasn’t very “verbal” early on and used drawing as a way to express himself. He described it as “therapeutic.”
He recalled that when he first drew his beloved character, Jack Skellington, he didn’t even know what it was at the time. It was simply an expression of his subconsciousness, evolving into something akin to a “puppet.”
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The World of Tim Burton debuted in London, and Bored Panda was there to ask the iconic filmmaker some burning questions
Image credits: Steve Schofield
When asked by Bored Panda about the recurring themes of “monsters” and characters who “don’t fit into conventional society” in his creative works, he spoke of certain “feelings” that are ingrained in one’s DNA.
“These kind of feelings are, you know, not just me … a lot of kids grow up feeling that way and this is just the way I felt. And once you feel that way, it never kind of leaves you,” he said.
“This is just characters identified with and no matter what you’re doing, those feelings stay with you,” the gothic visionary went on to say. “Even as you get older, you can have kids, you can have relationships, whatever. But it’s funny how those kind of things kind of remain in your DNA.”
Image credits: Andréa Oldereide/Bored Panda
The filmmaker shared that he wasn’t very “verbal” early on and used drawing as a way to express himself. He described it as “therapeutic”
Image credits: Tim Burton
While answering a question about his most “personal” work, the enigmatic filmmaker said during the Q&A that it’s “hard for [him]” to pick a favorite.
Nevertheless, he mentioned Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, and The Nightmare Before Christmas.
“There’s things in everything and it’s hard for me to pick, but I think those are ones that come springing to mind,” he told the audience.
Image credits: Andréa Oldereide/Bored Panda
Tim Burton recalled that when he first drew his beloved character, Jack Skellington, he didn’t even know what it was at the time
Image credits: Andréa Oldereide/Bored Panda
Tim also revealed that he never thought about the audience while developing a film because he simply didn’t know who they were.
“I never really knew who the audience was so I never really targeted anything. I was always surprised whether kids or adults or anybody liked it,” he said. “So I truly never thought about who the audience was.”
“I’m shocked if a film is a success,” he added. “I’m shocked if it’s a failure.”
Image credits: MGM Television Entertainment Inc
The major exhibition includes 600 items from Tim’s 50 years of creative output
Image credits: Andréa Oldereide/Bored Panda
Tim mentioned Edward Scissorhands as one of his favorite works
Image credits: Andréa Oldereide/Bored Panda
Image credits: Andréa Oldereide/Bored Panda
The World of Tim Burton will open on Friday (25 October)
Image credits: Andréa Oldereide/Bored Panda
While talking about the ever-expanding world of modern technology, Tim described himself as a “technophobe,” even though he relies on it to make his critically acclaimed movies.
“I found strangely that my soul and my body resists it … I get depressed. I get lost. I go down my own personal rabbit hole and so I avoid it. It doesn’t make me feel good,” he said about technology.
“Technology can be fun … maybe it’s just from a different era but I just get more disturbed by it but it doesn’t make me feel good as a person. So I don’t do it.”
Image credits: Tim Burton
The display also features hundreds of Tim’s expressionistic sketches and drawings, which he has created prolifically since childhood
Image credits: Tim Burton
Some of the items highlighted in the exhibition were the Catwoman suit from 1992’s Batman Returns and Wednesday Addams’ viral Rave’N dance dress.
Moreover, the display features hundreds of Tim’s expressionistic sketches and drawings, which he has created prolifically since childhood.
The hundreds of emblematic items were loaned from Tim’s extensive personal archives, key film studio archives including Paramount, Amazon MGM Studios, and Warner Bros, as well as the private collections of Tim’s collaborators.
Image credits: Tim Burton
The hundreds of emblematic items were loaned from Tim’s extensive personal archives
Image credits: Tim Burton
The World of Tim Burton will open on Friday (25 October), just in time for Halloween. It showcases Tim’s remarkable output, with over 18 of his films individually spotlighted in the exhibition.
The exhibition comes to London after a decade-long world tour across 14 cities in 11 different countries since 2014. Its London display marks the final time the exhibition will be staged.
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