Burton's 'Barber' Talk

The Film Society of Lincoln Center feted director Tim Burton at Gotham’s Rose Hall on Wednesday, naming the offbeat helmer “The Demon Barber of Cinema” in honor of his new film adaptation “Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”

Although Burton hasn’t made any of his enemies into pies as Sweeney Todd has been known to do, he has had his share of troubles, which he discussed with interviewer Richard Pena during the evening's Q&A.

The helmer wryly expressed admiration for one-time subject, “worst director in the world” Ed Wood. “There’s a weird sort of poetry to it,” said Burton of Wood’s work. “You’d watch his movies and day would accidentally turn to night, and you’d be like, ‘wow, that’s avant-garde filmmaking. You could have made big money in Europe.’ You get the French medal of honor for that kind of thing. He’s not the worst director in the world — the worst director in the world is somebody you’ve never heard of.”

Burton also spoke of his collaboration with Johnny Depp on “Sweeney.” “We tried to make it like an old horror movie where there’s a lot of music under the action. It changes everything; it changes the way the actors walk across the set.” said Burton.  (S. Thielman)