The Art Of Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Leah Gallo (book review).
I have seen and reviewed the 2016 Tim Burton film ‘The Art of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.’ However, I have not read the six books by Ransom Riggs, also published by Quirk Books.
This book primarily focuses on the film’s creation and features photographs more than it does actual art. One significant point made in this book is the extent of director Tim Burton’s involvement in every aspect of his film. He was instrumental in selecting the perfect building for the school exteriors, which happened to be a castle in Belgium, while the interior sets were constructed in London.
This allowed for the creation of slightly larger rooms to accommodate the film crews. Burton tends to prefer sets brimming with props, finding it easier to remove items than to add them into sparse settings. However, it does make me wonder about the prop makers who devote so much time to crafting items that may not ultimately appear on screen.
This book provides a unique insight into Burton’s working process and filmmaking in general. It’s no surprise that he enjoys working with the same crew from film to film. However, as it’s often said, while a director may make a film every three years, production staff are typically searching for new jobs every nine months or so.
I hadn’t fully appreciated how much filming in the UK was done in the South West and Blackpool. It seems they shot scenes in the Bristol Channel, which is notoriously choppy. It’s therefore unsurprising to hear that some of the crew experienced seasickness.
This book leaves readers with a deeper understanding of the intricacies of assembling a film production, particularly in the Tim Burton style. Books like these are usually released when the film comes out but often end up remaindered a year or so later when the next big film hits the screens. Regardless, if you’re a fan of books about films, this one deserves a place in your collection.
GF Willmetts
May 2023
(pub: Quirk Books, 2016. 193 page illustrated large squarish hardback. Price: ISBN: 978-1-59474-943-8)
check out website: www.quarkbooks.com
