Wes Anderson

'Wes Anderson 's films are concerned with home and family ties: the old ones we do our best to escape from, and the new ones we build for ourselves in an attempt to fill the gap'. The Telegraph on Wes Andersons movie style.
His modern, alternative style is distinctive and chances are if you know of Anderson's past films, you can spot one of his films within the first minute of it. With his distinct colour palette that links everything from the production design to the outfits , Anderson set of flourishing visuals that give his films the specific fantastical feeling they all have. His framing is nearly almost stationary, his shots are always still and doesn't like panning, if something is moving he will move with it. His work contradicts the rules of film of placing the main object to the side of the shot, but he puts it in the centre. Most film directors tend to shy away from placing the actors in the centre of the frame, his fascination with symmetry but this makes Wes Anderson such a distinct director. The hazy-hued shots enables us to peer into the directors unique world of retro quality that's give his films as nostalgic feel.

Here are a few of his films:
-Fantastic Mr Fox
-Rushmore
-Moonrise Kingdom
-Grand Budapest Hotel
-The Royal Tenenbaums


Artist and Wes Anderson enthusiast Hamish Robertson says, “Anderson's colour palettes are integral to his cinematic ‘world-building’. His eye for art direction and fantastic attention to detail creates the appropriate space and tone for his characters to exist in – and for the viewer to lose themselves in. They ultimately become their own visual language, the way character themes are elaborated in cinematic scores, allowing an immersive visual experience whether the sound is on or not.”






When looking at a director we need to answer a question, this is mine;


When looking at Wes Anderson films what is it about them that distinguish them from others?
points to focus on:
Symmetry
Colour Palette
Music
Re-occurring Actors
Family Centred


This link takes you to an article of 12 reasons to make you love Wes Anderson :
http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2014/12-reasons-to-make-you-love-the-films-of-wes-anderson/



This is the script from my video on Wes Anderson:


Wes Anderson is an American film director and screenwriter who is known for his unique, artistic, unmistakable movies. The meticulous colour schemes, quirky characters, dialogue, still camera shots and geometric concepts are elements which distinctively separates them from every other film. His pitch-perfect musical choices and the blending of European art-house traits with a stylish, modern view point attract the alternative audience and more recently the mainstream public. His films are concerned with home and family and are probably the best modern example of directors. Moreover, the audience can best understand his characters and stories by being more aware of previously missed technicalities. Artist and Wes Anderson enthusiast Hamish Robertson says, “Anderson's colour palettes are essential to his cinematic ‘world-building’. His eye for art direction and fantastic attention to detail creates the appropriate space and tone for his characters to exist in – and for the viewer to lose themselves in. They ultimately become their own visual language, the way character themes are elaborated in cinematic scores, allowing an immense visual experience whether the sound is on or not. "
   Symmetry is a massive part of his films, most directors put the main subject to the side of the frame, but Anderson places the focal point exactly in the center of the shot and the background is as symmetrical as possible but also looks natural. He loves to compose his shots with perfect symmetry, from his breakout hit Rushmore, stop-motion fantastic Mr. Fox and his most recent The Grand Budapest Hotel, he consistently organizes the element in the frame so the most important thing in the center. Directors were taught not to do this, as an asymmetrical shot is more natural.

Anderson’s films are consistently unique and vivid where they continually have a specific colour pattern throughout each film. Sometimes its not always noticeable at first, for example The Life Aquatic, he uses scheme of colour continually throughout the layout, background and with characters which create a unique and visually compelling combination. The colours are readjusted and edited to fit the theme of Anderson’s style, they are retro styled colours to give the films an alternative and nostalgic theme. Moonrise Kingdom is probably the most naturally coloured film.

Actors that regularly occur in films of the same director draw the same audience back in and are easily identified as a Wes Anderson film. Bill Murray has racked up most screen time with him, appearing in seven of his films. Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzmann are also other common actors. He uses actors which are counted as friends, so there is harmony and the film can get the best outcome.

Anderson’s stylistic choice sparks scrutiny by many but is also loved, his work has provoked much discussion, and because it is so different to other contemporary directors this is why his work has stood out from others and many have warmed to his style. He is the master of storytelling and visually outstanding, most casual mainstream movie goers haven’t heard of his but passionate alternative film fanatics are very fond of his films, but his work is becoming more known to the common public eye.