Afternoon my lovelies,
Whilst sipping on my cup of fancy tea, I say fancy because it’s from the delightful Botham’s of Whitby (not far from where I was brought up and over this time I found it’s lovely to have a piece of home); I write this appreciation post filled with love and admiration for a man whose inventive creations and imagination not only inspired my childhood and single handedly got me through my teen years, but continues to influence me even now I’m in my thirties. Mr Tim Burton.
Now oh my goodness, now where do I start?
So if you’ve met me and assumed that my affinity with Tim Burton started as a young’un (or you happen to have read my previous blog post), then yes you’d be absolutely correct! My adoration for Tim Burton began as a very small child when I wasn’t even old enough to know who he was! I just have childhood memories of watching Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice and being completely mesmerised.
This is also like my love for Richard O’Brien, but that’s a conversation for another time…
I digress!
Growing up as a bit of an oddball watching his movies instantly made me feel like I wasn’t alone. Finding that connection with his characters I truly felt he understood me and that he was telling me that I may not have found my community of people yet, but I would. I eventually did, although it took an incredibly long time. If you’ve not found you people yet, take it from me my lovelies persevere!
I suppose what I’m trying to say is, when watching his movies I felt a gravitational pull as I became transported to worlds where the underdogs, misunderstood beings and the oddballs were now the heroes and heroines of the film. They weren’t just seen as “the weirdos”, which is exactly what I was.
Now I’d be lying if I said the style of his movies didn’t influence the way I dress. When I was a teen, I would dress head to toe in black and at one point my entire wardrobe was just a sea of black clothing (including socks and underwear, I’ll have you know!) I stepped away from it for a long while and at one point I made the realisation it wasn’t the colour black that was the problem, it’s because I wasn’t pairing it with white and grey. Monochrome became my colour palette!
I basically stole the wardrobe of Moira Rose, haha and I’d never watched Schitt’s Creek!
Being a bit of a self-confessed eccentric (understatement), I choose to dress myself in an array of black and white polka dots and stripes, not forgetting a signature pop of red lipstick. It’s now become a bit of a trademark look I suppose, his movies and illustrations taught me to fully embrace my weird and to love being the quirky individual I am. So I did!
As I take another sip from my tea (delicious), I can now reflect on all those times when I felt no one would understand me with a smile because I knew Tim Burton would. I found immense comfort in his movies and illustrations that they’ve stayed with me this entire time and now I have a partner who shares just as much admiration for him as I do.
Fast forward to 2019.
Sitting before Tim himself (fighting back all my emotions and I would have succeeded too if my hands weren’t shaking the entire time). He was being interviewed for a podcast at the BFI and was exactly how I imagined him to be. A tailored suit which wouldn’t be complete without his iconic hair, glasses and of course a pair of striped socks. We were then treated to a viewing of Ed Wood (with an introduction to the movie by Burton) which we watched in 35mm. I was in Tim Burton’s house and I felt at home, sat amongst a field of people who all felt the same way I did!
I got to see my flippin’ superhero in person! It was magical. What made that moment extra special was that the following week I had tickets to Nightmare Before Christmas live concert, where more crying ensued.
So for those who feel drawn towards the weird and wonderful, Tim I not only salute you but I thank you from the bottom of my heart! Embrace your weird.
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