This is the first full-length biography of the visionary Hollywood filmmaker Tim Burton, director of Batman, Batman Returns, Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Peewee's Big Adventure, Tim Burton's The Nightmare before Christmas, Ed Wood, Mars Attacks!, and Sleepy Hollow. More than an examination of his body of work, this book takes an in-depth look at Tim Burton's personal life, which until now the reclusive director has managed to keep under wraps. Author Ken Hanke examines the frail, wild-haired fellow whose unique, introverted feature films are passionately admired by many and dismissed by others. How does he command the respect of so many big names in a creative industry not much known for good judgment? How has he managed to carve out an impossibly personal and quirky body of work within the confines of the most mainstream venues of establishment Hollywood? You'll learn about: * Tim Burton's unhappy childhood; to this day he has no relationship with his family * the real reason why Tim Burton left Disney after Ed Wood * his collaborations with talent such as Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Vincent Price (his idol), and Danny Elfman * the autobiographical elements in Edward Scissorhands * Tim Burton's often disastrous involvement with other people's projects * the ramifications of excessive power-- the Batman Returns debacle * the collapse of the Superman Reborn project