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Tim Burton Q&A
The director discusses 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' re-release and his forthcoming musical 'Sweeney Todd'.
Nov 17 2006
So are you pleased with Disney and Industrial Light and Magic's 3D rendering of 'Nightmare...'?
It's so perfect, I was so happy. In some ways it was halfway there already: the puppets are dimensional, the sets are dimensional, you're in a 3D world... That's what surprised me when I finally saw it – everything about it gets enhanced. It's not like somebody jabbing you in the face every three seconds; you kind of forget about it after a while and it's almost like this is the way it was meant to be seen. In fact, it's going to be hard for me to watch it in any other form.
Were you sceptical about the idea?
You know what? I wasn't, really. I've tried to protect the integrity of the film by not doing direct-to-video sequels – 'Jack Visits Thanksgiving World', blah blah blah – but I just knew. I mean, if we'd had the technololgy back then we probably would have shot it in 3D. Now there's more theatres that can project this kind of thing, the glasses look cooler, it doesn't give you a headache the way watching 3D in the past used to. It'd be interesting now to shoot a movie that way from the beginning because you'd approach it slightly differently.
Is it right that London's your home now?
Yeah. I've lived here a lot, on and off, so I thought I'd just make it more permanent. I'm much happier here: I like the weather, I like walking, I like being a foreigner. I felt like a forgeigner growing up in LA so now I feel comfortable being a foreigner. And maybe it's because I watched too many Hammer horror films, but I just feel like I'm living in one, which makes me very happy. I do like it when it rains. It depresses a lot of people but I get quite excited when it rains, I like it. Maybe it's because I'm from southern California.
And of course your wife [Helena Bonham Carter] is English.
Yeah, so it's convenient. It's weird though, our little boy is starting to develop a funny little English accent, which is amazing. Very cute. And weird. Really weird. I think it's the weirdest thing that's going on right now – I hear his little voice and it's like, 'Whoa'. He's got lots of 'Nightmare...' toys scattered around the house. Halloween every day in our house.
You're developing a movie of Sondheim's 'Sweeney Todd'.
Yeah, we start shooting early next year. I always wanted to do a horror musical so it's a good one for that. Just doing a musical in itself is a challenge but then you throw in a musical horror movie with blood about a serial killer and cannibalism and meat pies… It's a challenging combination there.
You're working with Johnny Depp again – your sixth collaboration.
It's always fun, and this is a new challenge so I think we're up for it. He likes to immerse himself and become a character – he's more a character actor than he is a leading-man type of actor, and that's what's exciting. He's not one of these guys that wants the glitz and glamour.
Will he be singing himself?
Of course!
And Helena [who plays Mrs Lovett]?
I think so, yes.
Does she have a good voice?
Yes, she does. She surprised me. She had to go through a rigorous auditioning process, though. Stephen Sondheim had a say in it. It was like we were doing 'The X-Factor' every day…
'Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D' opens at the Vue West End today.
User comments on this story
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- Veronica said...
- Can someone tell me where I can buy the DVD of 'Nightmare' in 3D? Posted on Dec 16 2006 08:50
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- Mrstimburton said...
- if Tim and Helena get married I'm gonna fly on over to England and kick BOTH of their asses! Posted on Dec 13 2006 02:37
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- mrstimburton said...
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okay. yes, I am totally obsessed with Tim Burton and truly lookng forward to Sweeney Todd (as well as Believe it or Not...a film starring Jim carrey about the life of Robert Ripley, and of course directed by Tim. The production agency recently canceled it, but I can wait a few more years XD), but I can't really picture it being a musical. To Johnny's credit, he has a pretty nice voice. It does piss me off, however that Tim keeps including Helena in his movies. Depp is amazing and his acting style fits Tim's movies perfectley. When doing casting, Tim actually didn't want Helena to be in Sweeney Todd, but she kind of forced him to let her be in it. I really really think they should break up cuz she's controlling his life...
srry to banter on and on a bit! (I'm a preteen...its wat we do!) I'm just really excited for Sweeney, and I think it's gonna be great...and definetly better than Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (which...even though it made alot of cash was pretty sucky)! Posted on Dec 13 2006 02:34 - Report as inappropriate
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- Nicole said...
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I agree to some extent with Katie.
I was fine with Depp, he's an amazeing actor and if he can pull of the vocals I look forward to what he's going to do with it. But casting his girfriend rubs me the wrong way. It feels like he just has a fall back cast and doesn't care much what the project is.
However I'm in love with Pattie LuPone's Lovette and there is no way anybody could replace her in my book, so I'm semi bias. Posted on Nov 18 2006 08:26 - Report as inappropriate
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- Katie said...
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...I'm not looking forward to Sweeney Todd.
Is Burton incapable of casting someone other than his girlfriend and best friend!!!!??? Posted on Nov 17 2006 23:57 - Report as inappropriate
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- Mario 4RBova said...
- I like much of Tim Burton's work, but am probably a bigger Stephen Sondheim fan. I'm wondering how non-singers like Depp are going to pull off the operatic songs in Sweeney Todd. Burton will certainly work some magical direction, but I'm holding my breath on the vocals. Posted on Nov 17 2006 14:37
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- Sergio Menezes said...
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I'm a huge fan of Tim Burton and think he's one unique and original talent. He's a true artist and goes beyond the duties of simple film director. His collaborations with composer Danny Elfman resulted in some of the most beautiful moments in film history, and the best example is this film "Nightmare before Christmas", so I'm really excited to see it back in the cinemas, and in 3 D !!!
Looking forward to see "Sweeney Todd" too Posted on Nov 17 2006 01:28 - Report as inappropriate
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