Alice în Țara Minunilor – interviu cu Tim Burton

Interviu realizat de Rob Carnevale

TIM Burton ne împărtășește câteva dintre provocările creării filmului „Alice în Țara Minunilor” în 3D, în
colaborare cu Johnny Depp pentru a șaptea oară și de ce a acceptat să participe din nou la Cannes în
această vară.
Ne mai spune de ce niciodată nu-și citește propriile review-uri și de ce încearcă să stea departe de
Internet cât de mult posibil...

Î. De ce ai vrut să faci Alice în Țara Minunilor?

Tim Burton: Cred că ceea ce m-a intrigat cu adevărat a fost oportunitatea de a face o versiune 3D a
filmului Alice în Țara Minunilor. Părea combinația potrivită de material și mediu. Acum câțiva ani nu știu
dacă aș fi fost la fel de interesat de el. Pur și simplu m-a fascinat natura halucinantă a acelei lumi și
uneltele care veneau la pachet cu efectele. Au mai fost 20 de versiuni ciudate ale lui Alice cu care nu am
rezonat niciodată... pentru mine, se străduiau prea mult să reprezinte literal cartea. Cărțile sunt
minunate, dar sunt doar povești absurde, iar fiecare versiune avea cam aceeași problemă – copilul
enervant trece de la o întâlnire ciudată la alta. Cam asta era și nu mi s-a părut nicicând captivant. Cred
că mai interesant pentru mine a fost impactul pe care aceste personaje le-au avut asupra culturii
populare și felul în care mulți muzicieni, scriitori și ilustratori au incorporat acel vizual în munca lor. Asta
este ceea ce numesc eu fascinant. Și asta este ceea ce mi-a plăcut la scenariu. A preluat personajele din
Alice, dar le-a pus într-un context ușor diferit. Și, de fapt, am încercat să ne adâncim psihologic în ce a
făcut Lewis Carroll – am folosit personajele pentru a ne explora universul viselor, iar felul în care am
folosit aceste personaje sau alte personaje fantastice – ca metafore și simboluri ale problemelor reale cu
care lumea se confruntă. Așadar, asta-i ce mi-a plăcut la filmul ăsta.

Î. De ce îți place așa de mult să lucrezi cu Johnny Depp?

Tim Burton: Pentru că nici lui nu-i place să se uite la el. Nu cred că s-a uitat vreodată la un film pe care
l-am făcut împreună – și asta-mi place pentru că arată că nu are vanitate. Nu există: „Oh, partea asta nu
mă flatează!” sau „Hei, e cariera mea în joc!”, iar asta e eliberator pentru mine, chiar incitant. Și asta e
valabil și cu Helena – niciodată nu-și vizionează filmele. Asta denotă că ei se bucură de ceea ce fac. Îți dă
energie și apreciez asta. De fapt, momentan chiar mă neliniștește când oamenii tot vor să se uite la ce
am făcut. Îmi spun în sinea mea „Of, iar începem...” (râde). Se economisește mult timp când actorilor nu
le pasă cum arată – crede-mă, poți economisi câteva ore pe zi.

Î. Dar nu crezi că uneori ei învață uitându-se la ei înșiși?

Tim Burton: Unii învață, alții nu. Cunosc doar foarte puțini care să se uite la ei și să învețe. În general,
le face rău. Îi îndepărtează de perseverența necesară unui actor.

https://www.timesnewroman.ro/monden/doliu-in-lumea-cinematografiei-cristi-puiu-a-anuntat-ca-mai-
face-un-film/

https://www.forbes.ro/cel-mai-nou-film-al-sofiei-coppola-va-avea-premiera-mondiala-la-new-york-
180516

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Q. You’ve said that you like it when actors surprise you. What did Johnny and Helena do this
time that surprised you?
Tim Burton: Well, with Johnny we’ve done so many films that each time he’s doing something different.
But always something that’s important to both of us is to find the humanity in a character. There’s a
certain tragedy to the character and a certain kind of pathos that I really felt strongly about, that he did.
It’s not a big demonstrative thing… it’s just the simple stuff he does in a way. That, to me, is the thing
that helps ground it and give it a foundation. Helena is also the perfect person for The Red Queen. Even
the distorted look that we gave her somehow suits her!
Q. Why do you always see her as a witch, or a murderer or the Red Queen?
Tim Burton: I think she enjoys it [laughs].
Q. Do you ever worry that Johnny might not want to work with you again?
Tim Burton: We don’t think about it. I think that’s part of why it continues. People say we’ve made
seven movies together. We’re like: “If you say so!” It’s not like I know him so well that it’s assumed
we’re going to work together. It’s important to us, and any person, to keep that edge, to keep that
challenge going and to keep things fresh and moving, to do something slightly different that way. So,
that’s the key thing for both of us – that artistic edge you want to keep filling.
Q. Was he always first choice for The Mad Hatter?
Tim Burton: Well, that’s a given. I used to have to fight to get Johnny in a movie because they didn’t
think he was a box office draw. They liked him but they didn’t… he wasn’t Tom Cruise. But I worked with
him on several occasions. Once he did Pirates [of the Caribbean], then I never had to talk the studio into
it. I didn’t even have to say his name. They said it before me. Prior to that point, however, it was hard.
Q. Would you like to discover someone else?
Tim Burton: Yeah, but I’ve worked with new people on this. Mia [Wasikowska, Alice] is new. I’ve never
worked with Anne Hathaway before. She’s another one… I sensed Anne’s another one who’ll go for it.
She’s got that quality that he does and I love that. I sensed that in her. So, I’m meeting new people all
the time.
Q. Did you take a hands-on approach with the designers to create the creatures?
Tim Burton: I worked with several designers. Especially on something like this, it’s such a puzzle-like
kind of thing. There were so many elements that went into it, and a lot of different influences. Finally,
they’ll come up with something that I feel close to.
Q. Did you want it to remain similar to the creatures in the original?
Tim Burton: Well it’s funny… so many great illustrators have done versions of Alice. But the definitive
one are those [John] Tenniel drawings. And even though we didn’t make them look like that, I was
always looking at those for the spirit of them. For all the great illustrators, those Tenniel ones are the
ones I feel most connected to. So, we were always looking for the spirit of it somehow.
Q. Do you have a favourite character?
Tim Burton: Well, I like them all! Those characters are so strong and that was the goal… to do them
justice, so I feel quite good that I kind of like them all.
Q. Do you read your own reviews?
Tim Burton: I don’t really. I guess from the beginning of my career I usually get really horrible reviews.
People always think I get really good reviews, but I don’t [laughs]. You get some good… you get some
bad… But they’re things you can’t control. They’re just out there. That’s why I don’t go on the Internet
much – because you can go down a dark hole looking at stuff. Once, I clicked on my name and freaked
out. It’s too bizarre, it’s too weird, it’s too unsettling.
Q. What’s the strangest story you’ve read about yourself?
Tim Burton: Well, the one that comes to mind is by a German journalist who wrote that Helena Bonham
Carter and I lived in two separate houses connected only by a tunnel! It sounds very dramatic… I
thought that was funny and I just let than one be.
Q. Do you let your kids help you create your movies?
Tim Burton: Of course. I think anybody who has artistic aspirations… you can learn a lot from children
because they see things new every day. That’s the beauty of what you want to achieve as an artist –
seeing things in a different way. Kids are constantly saying things that are funny and surprising and their
observations are just… you know, they’re like little artists themselves.
Q. Why did you accept the invitation to be a judge at Cannes this year? You seemed so
unhappy the last time you were there…
Tim Burton: But I learned something from that. I was unhappy but first of all it’s a real honour. And you
know what? I’ve just been in Wonderland for two years. When I finish a movie I tend to get kind of
depressed. I’ve been in kind of this green hole for that time, so I think it’s just a way for me to re-
connect with movies. I know Cannes now, I’ve been there a few times so I get it now. I’m kind of excited
by it now because it’s kind of like its own weird Wonderland on its own. I’m just excited to really connect
with cinema. I think the spirit of any film festival is just to be open, to see things and let it affect you.
Q. Do you watch your own work much? Which are the films you’re most proud of?
Tim Burton: I don’t really look at stuff ever again… much. People have said before: “They’re always
your children… ugly or not.” But I think there are some that are maybe a bit more personal, like
[Edward] Scissorhands or maybe Nightmare [Before Christmas], which is something I designed a long
time ago. But I’ve enjoyed each one. I enjoyed Big Fish, I’ve enjoyed this one… I mean, you have to feel
passionate about whatever it is you’re doing and you have to make it personal. If it’s Edward
Scissorhands, which is an original thing for me, or Alice in Wonderland, which is a known thing… you still
have to feel like it’s your own.
Q. What’s next for you?
Tim Burton: Nothing… I need a break.
Q. So, what gives you pleasure away from cinema?
Tim Burton: I’ve been away from my family for a long time. Now, being home, I’m just so happy to see
my kids. They’re so amazing and surprising and weird and stuff. I’ve had so little time of that. But after
about a week I may well go: “Get me out of the house!” Right now, I’m just trying to be a human being.