The filmmaker behind ‘Beetlejuice,’ ‘Edward Scissorhands,’ and ‘Batman’ was honored by his films’ stars Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton.
Following the premiere of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice at the 2024 Venice International Film Festival, filmmaker Tim Burton received the 2,788th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The star is located at 6600 Hollywood Boulevard, in front of Hollywood Toys & Costumes. The area is quite special and nostalgic for Burton. In his speech, he recounted how he used to ride the bus from Burbank to visit the establishments.
“Tim Burton is a director, an artist, widely regarded as one of cinema’s most imaginative and visual filmmakers,” said the emcee, Tony Potts.
READ ALSO: Cinematic Legacy: Marvel Stars Gather For Kevin Feige’s Hollywood Walk Of Fame Ceremony
Burton’s partner, actress and model Monica Bellucci, was there to celebrate his career milestone. His friends Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, and Danny DeVito were also present at the event.
Creative Partnership
After the introduction, Ryder was the first to share stories about her relationship with the filmmaker.
“Tim has such a beautiful and unique understanding of the human heart,” she began. “He knows the heartache of the misunderstood, the strange, and unusual. He doesn’t just understand them, he celebrates them.”
“To work with Tim is like being invited to wander through his heart and imagination. It’s the ultimate cathedral and one of my most cherished and sacred places to be. I am eternally grateful for the time I have spent there.”
Keaton, who has known Burton for over 30 years and has worked on five projects with him, also gave a speech.
“It just feels good to be around art and to be a part of it,” the actor said. “It’s rare and it’s an experience I get to have every time I’m on a set with Tim.”
“There’s just an openness to ideas and creativity and there’s also this wonderful lack of pretension,” he added.
At the end of his speech, Keaton quoted Casablanca, commenting that he wished he had said it when he first worked with Burton. “Tim, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” the actor said.
Unparalleled Artistry
Burton grew up in Burbank, California and attended the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where he studied character animation.
It was his early works at the school that captured the attention of Walt Disney Productions. He eventually gained an apprenticeship at the studio, getting his start at directing animated shorts.
Following his stint at Disney, the director made his feature film debut in 1985 with Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, with its main star Paul Reubens choosing Burton himself.
His next big project was Beetlejuice in 1988, where he first worked with Ryder and Keaton. Both of his early films grossed tens of millions despite working with a low budget.
These back-to-back successes led him to directing Batman (1989) and its sequel Batman Returns (1992). Though fans doubted his casting of Keaton as the superhero, the movie still became a box office hit.
One of his biggest contributions in film was helping to reinvigorate the stop-motion industry. His stop-motion works include the cult classic The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, and Frankenweenie.
Known for his gothic horror and fantasy films, Burton went on to direct films such as Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland, and many more.
In 2022, Burton directed and produced Netflix’s Wednesday, his first foray into television since the 1980s. The series starring Jenna Ortega was a hit, becoming one of the streaming service’s most watched shows.
Banner image via Instagram @beetlejuicemovie.
