In "Tim Burton An UnAuthorized Biography" I get the feeling that Ken Hankereally admires Tim Burton. This admiration isn't a superficial, "gosh he's weird and different" type, but a respect for Tim's artistry. Ken also realizes Tim's strengths (visual approaches and his ability to satirize and poke fun) and weaknesses (narrative, closing himself off from his friends and collaborators).

The book is structured so that three chapters are devoted to each of Tim's films - from VINCENT to ED WOOD (with some brief info on SLEEPY HOLLOW). The first chapter of each film focuses on the pre-production stages, how Tim got involved with the film and what was going on in his life at the time. The second chapter focuses on the production, analyzes the film (with great depth) and the third concentrates on the fallout of the picture, it's critical reaction and what it meant in the overall scheme of Tim's career.

Ken never allows the reader to fall into worship of Tim Burton. Frequently he reminds us that although Tim has created stunning films, he is not a man without faults. Quite a few chapters mention the problems between Tim and BATMAN production designer Anton Furst (who commited suicide later), and the rift that NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS caused between Tim and Danny Elfman. Ken Hanke also makes many positivereferences to Elfman's music and writes on the delicate and fruitful relationship between the director and composer - how a Tim Burton film isn't complete without music by Danny Elfman.

To be honest I wish I could write more - but making notes at 3 a.m. isn't really a possible. "Tim Burton An Unauthorized Biography" is the kind of dream book for Danny Elfman/Tim Burton fans. The kind that you can't put down because it's of such great interest.  Fans of Burtons who can't miss an article in a magazine or an interview on television about Tim should find themselves relishing every page!

THE AUTHOR ON HIS BOOK...
"I came to Tim Burton in a very roundabout way--I went to see PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE only because Danny Elfman had written the music for the film. Having been a long-time admirer of Danny and Oingo Boingo (partly originating from the bizarre coincidence of an old girlfriend of mine marrying Boingo drummer John Hernandez), the music was the hook. But I left the theatre a fan of Tim Burton as well as a fan of Danny! This was not only the most visually original American film I had seen in ages, but I truly felt that Burton had tapped into some aspect of the world as I had myself known it growing up. (My subsequent discovery that Burton was a mere four years younger than me pretty much confirmed this suspicion.) Each film that followed only served to stengthen my admiration for Burton until, following a 1993 article on his career through BATMAN RETURNS, I decided that I really wanted to do a book on Burton and his films.

This proved to be no easy task. A number of publishers thought Burton's body of work was too small to stand up to this kind of treatment. The book almost saw light of day as part of a series of books on directors for another publisher (who shall remain nameless), but fell through--as did the entire series--when they announced they would only do books where the author had 100% unfettered access to their subjects. Unfettered access to the notoriously private Tim Burton? Forget it. Finally, Renaissance Books decided to take a chance on the project and here, couple years later is the result. I think I did right by Burton (and Danny) both as an artist and as a person. Certainly I tried to present as complete a picture as possible, but if I have only succeeded in conveying my own enthusiasm and admiration for Burton and his films, then my efforts were not fer nuthin'. Now, if only some daring publisher would ask me to do a similar book on Danny Elfman..."

- Ken Hanke

ABOUT AUTHOR KEN HANKE...
Ken Hanke is a freelance writer, specializing in writing about films and filmmaking. In addition to TIM BURTON: AN UNAUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY OF THE FILMMAKER, his other books include KEN RUSSELL'S FILMS, CHARLIE CHAN AT THE MOVIES, and A CRITICAL GUIDE TO HORROR FILM SERIES, as well as individual chapters in THE FEARMAKERS (James Whale, Roman Polanski, David Cronenberg, Stuart Gordon) and THE SLEAZE MERCHANTS (Sam Katzman, Edward D. Wood, Jr., John Waters). He has contributed to such magazines as FILMS IN REVIEW, FILMFAX, PHANTASMA, VIDEO WATCHDOG, and SCARLET STREET. He also serves as Associate Editor on SCARLET STREET. He is currently finishing up a bio-bibliography on Bob Hope and starting on a "new-and-improved" book on British filmmaker Ken Russell called NYMPHOMANIACS, NUNS, AND MESSIAHS: THE FANTASTIC WORLD OF KEN RUSSELL. (More on Ken and some of his writing can be found on the SCARLET STREET website - Scarlet Street, the Website of Mystery and Horror... and there is an interview with him at: Amazon.com.

OTHER TOPICS COVERED IN THE BOOK...

• Tim Burton's unhappy childhood; to this day he has no relationship with his family.
• His failed first marriaged and his current one to actress Lisa Marie.
• The real reason why Tim left Disney after ED WOOD.
• His collaborations with Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Vincent Price and Danny Elfman.
• Tim's inexperience and directing BATMAN.
• Tim's break up with Henry Selick over JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH.
• Tim's sometimes disastrous involvement in other people's projects.
• BATMAN RETURNS and Tim's unprecedented control over the film.
• The collapse of SUPERMAN REBORN.