Tim Burton Style magic?

Struggling with an effect? Any tips (without giving too much away!) you'd like to share?

Moderators: nickj, Lady of Mystery, Mandrake, bananafish, support

Tim Burton Style magic?

Postby Danny Jay » Feb 27th, '12, 15:26



Hey everyone :)

I am interested in developing a new character (not replacing my current.)

I am looking for a kind of eerie, dark, clock-work and gothic feel. I been doing research and am learning dance styles such as robot/dime-stops/isolations for effect.

The Character is going to be silent, move with dime-stops (imagine someone dancing the robot), and the effects would all mostly aim for eerie (as supposed to completely scary..most of the time. ;) )

A near example of what I am aiming towards is:

My current character, is a more confident version of myself. This is the first `fictional` character I am developing. As such, I am looking for as much advice as possible for the development stage. This could be resources on Magicians, Movie Scenes, Movie Characters, Related Books on Character Development, Costume Design, Dance/movement styles etc.

I know I am looking for allot of advice in one thread, so to break it down a bit, how would you guys reccomend designing and looking for costume? I was thinking something like this, with a bit of pale makeup and (maybe) a hat:Thanks allot guys! :)
- DJay.

Last edited by Danny Jay on Feb 28th, '12, 01:26, edited 4 times in total.
User avatar
Danny Jay
Junior Member
 
Posts: 21
Joined: Feb 9th, '12, 17:16
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom

Re: Tim Burton Style magic?

Postby Lord Freddie » Feb 27th, '12, 16:39

I can't offer much help other than to let you know that the Bicycle "Tragic Royalty" cards are very Burton-esque in their look.

www.themysticmenagerie.com

"You're like Yoda ..... you'd sell out to a Vodaphone advert if the money was right."
User avatar
Lord Freddie
Elite Member
 
Posts: 3657
Joined: Oct 8th, '06, 15:23
Location: Berkshire

Re: Tim Burton Style magic?

Postby daleshrimpton » Feb 27th, '12, 17:01

I think you should be looking for Steam punk, rather than Tim Burton ( Since tim changes his style quite a bit)
Add a bit of Gothic.... and presto! you have what your thinking about. :)
ebay steam punk, and you will find hundreds of usefull stuff.

you're like Yoda.you dont say much, but what you do say is worth listening to....
Greg Wilson about.... Me.
User avatar
daleshrimpton
Veteran Member
 
Posts: 7186
Joined: Apr 28th, '03, 08:49
Location: Burnham, Slough Berkshire

Re: Tim Burton Style magic?

Postby mrz0mbie » Feb 27th, '12, 17:41

You don't want a costume store for a shirt like that mate, you want to check out the goth/industrial shops. Have a butchers around Afflecks Palace in Manchester, I'm sure you'll find at least one shop stocks that

User avatar
mrz0mbie
Senior Member
 
Posts: 311
Joined: Oct 27th, '10, 00:29
Location: Liverpool

Re: Tim Burton Style magic?

Postby Danny Jay » Feb 27th, '12, 19:28

Exactly, last place I want is cheap costume-shop ware.

Actually just got back from afflecks, didn't have much luck though :(

User avatar
Danny Jay
Junior Member
 
Posts: 21
Joined: Feb 9th, '12, 17:16
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom

Re: Tim Burton Style magic?

Postby Chris Black » Feb 27th, '12, 23:28

There is a costume place on tib street somewhere that do stuff for stage productions, not 100% sure where it is though... I would guess you'd be better offgetting something like that custom made, or starting with a standard shirt and customising it yourself. There's some weird stuff in China/Hong Kong on ebay... worth a look.

User avatar
Chris Black
Senior Member
 
Posts: 430
Joined: Jul 20th, '11, 13:37
Location: Manchester, UK (35:EN)

Re: Tim Burton Style magic?

Postby magicbob123 » Feb 27th, '12, 23:34

I beleive there are two costume shops in the arndale, one is called the secret corner and the other bigger shops name slips my mind, although its harder I myself prefer to look in charity shops and the like as sometimes you look at an item and think "BY GOD JUST CHOP THE ARMS OFF THAT AND I HAVE MY STEAMPUNK WAISTCOAT!!!" however I would look on ebay for pocket watches and such other little effects as your unlikely to find such things floating around without a hefty price tag.

magicbob123
Full Member
 
Posts: 76
Joined: Jan 1st, '12, 13:18

Re: Tim Burton Style magic?

Postby Chris Black » Feb 27th, '12, 23:59

User avatar
Chris Black
Senior Member
 
Posts: 430
Joined: Jul 20th, '11, 13:37
Location: Manchester, UK (35:EN)

Re: Tim Burton Style magic?

Postby Chris Black » Feb 28th, '12, 00:14

User avatar
Chris Black
Senior Member
 
Posts: 430
Joined: Jul 20th, '11, 13:37
Location: Manchester, UK (35:EN)

Re: Tim Burton Style magic?

Postby Danny Jay » Feb 28th, '12, 00:56

Need to make as clear of an idea though before I can get something custom-made.

ive fallen in love:The kind of thing in that picture is what I'm going for. :) - it a bit of a hard fashion-style to define.

User avatar
Danny Jay
Junior Member
 
Posts: 21
Joined: Feb 9th, '12, 17:16
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom

Re: Tim Burton Style magic?

Postby Heckler » Feb 28th, '12, 10:21

Dark-Angel (theDarkangel.co.uk) do a lot of Steam-punk goth clothing, I've bought a beautiful duster coat and a Coach-man's coat as well as various waist-coats from them.

AE Williams do very nice pocket watches and check out Alchemy Gothic for jewellery and a few steam punk pocket watches.

User avatar
Heckler
Senior Member
 
Posts: 447
Joined: Mar 11th, '11, 16:58
Location: Brighton (38:AH)

Re: Tim Burton Style magic?

Postby Part-Timer » Feb 28th, '12, 21:07



What, no pants? :twisted:

Steampunk and/or gothic are the styles you're interested in, with maybe a bit of "regular" punk (and perhaps cyberpunk?). Steampunk in particular is very in at the moment in the arts and crafts world, so if you fancy making some props, you should be able to get plenty of inspiration. Steampunk outfits are Victorian-inspired, so maybe have a look at places that sell Victorian/Western outfits (there was a great site someone posted about on here a while ago, but I can't recall its name). They should be a good source for things like suitable neckerchiefs/cravats and waistcoats.

Part-Timer
Elite Member
 
Posts: 3085
Joined: May 1st, '03, 13:51
Location: London (44:SH)

Re: Tim Burton Style magic?

Postby Danny Jay » Feb 29th, '12, 13:28

Would just like to thank everyone for their advice so far, most of which has been orientated around costume. What would you guys also recommended in as far as showmanship for a silent character? I mean, I'm quite a confident, fast-talking, party-like performer. but now I'm also hoping to portray a darker, slower, more mysterious, eerie, puppet-like, silent character? Are there any good inspirations and/or books for this?

Thanks again! :)

User avatar
Danny Jay
Junior Member
 
Posts: 21
Joined: Feb 9th, '12, 17:16
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom

Re: Tim Burton Style magic?

Postby daleshrimpton » Feb 29th, '12, 13:57

watch movies. That's where your initial idea came from.
By the way, Loki's original act, was part Beetlejuice, part joker from batman. Phillipart also used the Beetlejuice/batman thing in his act, but with Grand Ilusions.

By the way, Slower isn't the way to go. your audience will get bored waiting for stuff to happen.

you're like Yoda.you dont say much, but what you do say is worth listening to....
Greg Wilson about.... Me.
User avatar
daleshrimpton
Veteran Member
 
Posts: 7186
Joined: Apr 28th, '03, 08:49
Location: Burnham, Slough Berkshire

Re: Tim Burton Style magic?

Postby Danny Jay » Feb 29th, '12, 15:46

When I say slower, I mean slower by my normal standard. My everyday character is mostly pretty fast. It's like if Hans Klok tried to do a `slow` metamorphosis act, he'd just be at moving everyone else's regular pace. ;)

User avatar
Danny Jay
Junior Member
 
Posts: 21
Joined: Feb 9th, '12, 17:16
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom

Next

Return to Support & Tips

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 9 guests