How Quentin Tarantino Keeps You Hooked — Directing Styles Explained

Summary

This video script dissects Quentin Tarantino's signature directing style, highlighting his unique approach to storytelling through natural dialogue, production design that emphasizes contrast, bold use of color to set tone, and emotional cinematography. It also explores his editing techniques that build anticipation and fear, sound design that emphasizes on-screen action, and memorable music choices that defy expectations. The script serves as a guide for aspiring filmmakers to understand and emulate Tarantino's techniques.

Takeaways

• 🎬 Quentin Tarantino is known for his unique directing style that keeps audiences engaged and surprised.
• 📖 Tarantino's storytelling is characterized by natural dialogue and unexpected plot twists.
• 👥 His characters often have distinctive appearances, like unique costumes or props, to establish a visual identity.
• 🌈 He uses bold primary colors to set the mood and tone of his films, and to make strong emotional statements.
• 🎥 Tarantino's cinematography is designed to elicit strong emotions, often playing with camera placement and movement.
• ✂️ His editing style builds anticipation and fear, sometimes by lingering on reaction shots or using uninterrupted takes.
• 🔊 Tarantino's sound design is a mix of authenticity and exaggeration, often emphasizing the on-screen action.
• 🎵 Memorable music tracks are a hallmark of his films, often chosen for their ability to defy expectations or for personal appeal.
• 🔄 He frequently uses music to cut against tones and expectations, or to make scenes entertaining.
• 🚫 Tarantino sometimes avoids music during moments of rising suspense to heighten the tension.

Q & A

What is Quentin Tarantino's approach to directing?

Quentin Tarantino considers himself part of the audience and often leads viewers in one direction before making a sudden turn to surprise them.

How does Tarantino create effective dialogue?

Tarantino creates dialogue with a unique style that builds natural voices and leads the audience in one direction before revealing the entire picture.

What is the significance of leaving loose ends in Tarantino's storytelling?

Leaving loose ends in his storytelling allows Tarantino to move from an interesting conversation to an even more interesting situation.

How does Tarantino use production design to steer tone and mood?

Tarantino uses production design to create contrast and exaggerate visual elements, such as props, costumes, and facial hair, to establish a visual identity for his characters.

What is the role of color in Tarantino's films?

Color in Tarantino's films serves as an emotional trigger, often using bold primary colors to build mood, tone, passion, and energy.

How does Tarantino approach cinematography?

Tarantino's cinematography is robust and built on eliciting emotions, using techniques like lighting, camera movement, lens choice, and framing to toy with the viewer's emotions.

What editing techniques does Tarantino use to build anticipation and fear?

Tarantino builds anticipation and fear through his edits by stretching out moments and lingering on reaction shots longer, even if it means using uninterrupted takes in the edit.

How does Tarantino's sound design differ from traditional choices?

Tarantino's sound design is a mixture of highly authentic and cheeky choices, often emphasizing visuals with extreme or outlandish sound effects.

What is unique about Tarantino's use of music in his films?

Tarantino's use of music is often tied to his personal favorites, including songs from his favorite films and childhood memories. He often avoids an original score and uses music that flips viewer's expectations.

How does Tarantino build films that are both sophisticated and accessible?

Tarantino builds films that are sophisticated and accessible by using natural layered dialogue, production design that creates contrast, bold use of color, robust cinematography, unexpected editing, sound design that emphasizes action, and music that personally inspires him.

What is the significance of the 'Royale with Cheese' dialogue in Tarantino's films?

The 'Royale with Cheese' dialogue exemplifies Tarantino's unique style of dialogue, which is natural, engaging, and often leads to unexpected twists.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Quentin Tarantino's Directing Style

The script introduces Quentin Tarantino's directing style, emphasizing his ability to surprise audiences with unexpected plot twists. It highlights his approach to storytelling through natural dialogue and sudden shifts in scene dynamics. The paragraph also discusses Tarantino's use of production design to establish visual identities and create contrasts, exemplified by the distinct costumes in 'Reservoir Dogs' and the transformation of Django in 'Django Unchained'.

05:00

🖌️ Production Design and Color Usage

This section delves into Tarantino's use of production design and color to convey different aspects of characters and their stories. It mentions the contrast created by props and costumes, such as the Hattori Hanzo sword in 'Inglourious Basterds'. The paragraph also explores how Tarantino uses color to trigger emotions, set moods, and define characters, as seen in the bold color choices for characters like Django, Kiddo, and Shoshanna.

10:01

📹 Cinematography Techniques

The script analyzes Tarantino's cinematography techniques, focusing on how he uses camera placement, movement, and framing to elicit emotions and build tension. It provides an example from 'Inglourious Basterds' where Tarantino toys with the viewer's emotions through Over-the-Shoulder (OTS) shots and medium shots to create an atmosphere of isolation and suspense.

15:01

🎞️ Editing and Sound Design

This part of the script discusses Tarantino's editing style, which often builds anticipation and fear. It describes how he uses uninterrupted takes to keep the viewer connected to the character's emotions, as seen in a scene from 'Inglourious Basterds'. The paragraph also covers his sound design, which is a mix of authenticity and exaggeration, creating a unique auditory experience that complements the on-screen action.

20:02

🎵 Music Selection and Its Impact

The final section of the script focuses on Tarantino's memorable music choices, which are often tied to his personal favorites and defy expectations. It mentions his use of music to cut against tones and expectations, as well as to entertain, using 'Reservoir Dogs' as an example. The paragraph also notes how Tarantino avoids music during moments of suspense, creating a distinct auditory experience in his films.

🏆 Tarantino's Signature Filmmaking Techniques

The concluding paragraph summarizes Tarantino's filmmaking techniques, which include naturalistic dialogue, production design with contrast, bold use of color, emotive cinematography, unexpected editing, emphasized sound design, and music selection that plays against viewer expectations or is absent in moments of suspense. It invites viewers to share their favorite Tarantino techniques and encourages them to follow the channel for more content on filmmaking.

Keywords

💡Quentin Tarantino

Quentin Tarantino is a renowned filmmaker known for his unique style of directing, characterized by nonlinear storytelling, sharp dialogue, and a mix of extreme violence with dark humor. In the video, his directing techniques are analyzed across various elements, such as dialogue, production design, and color, showing how he keeps viewers engaged and subverts their expectations.

💡Dialogue

Dialogue in Tarantino's films is known for its natural, engaging, and sometimes quirky nature. It often builds tension or leads to sudden twists. The video emphasizes how Tarantino’s dialogue creates distinct character voices and leads the audience through conversations that unexpectedly turn into dramatic situations, such as in 'Pulp Fiction' where a discussion about a Quarter-Pounder with Cheese contrasts with the impending violence.

💡Production Design

Production design in Tarantino's films is crucial for establishing tone, mood, and visual identity. The video explains how Tarantino uses contrast and exaggeration, such as in 'Reservoir Dogs' where the gang's black suits create a narrative boundary between characters. His bold design choices help to accentuate characters’ personalities and the film's themes.

💡Color

Color is used by Tarantino to evoke emotions and establish mood. The video points out how he uses bold, primary colors in scenes of revenge or tension, like the royal blue in 'Django Unchained' or the canary yellow in 'Kill Bill.' Color serves as a narrative device to signal emotional states and transitions in his films.

💡Cinematography

Cinematography refers to the visual techniques used in filming, such as camera angles, lighting, and framing. Tarantino’s cinematography often focuses on building tension and emotion, as shown in the video’s breakdown of a scene from 'Inglourious Basterds,' where shifting camera shots and breaking the 180-degree rule heighten the suspense during a tense conversation.

💡Editing

Editing in Tarantino's films is used to manipulate pacing, build anticipation, or stretch moments of suspense. The video describes how he often lingers on a reaction shot or extends scenes, such as in 'Pulp Fiction' where the tension of injecting Mia with a shot is drawn out, creating an intense emotional buildup.

💡Sound Design

Sound design in Tarantino’s films often emphasizes the visual action with exaggerated or stylized sound effects. The video discusses how Tarantino uses sound for dramatic effect, like the over-the-top sound effects in 'Kill Bill,' where every action, from gunshots to a mug being kicked, is heightened to add a cartoonish sense of violence.

💡Music

Tarantino’s use of music is iconic, often using tracks that are unexpected or seem mismatched with the visuals, creating contrast. The video mentions his choice of the song 'Stuck in the Middle with You' in 'Reservoir Dogs,' which plays during a violent scene, demonstrating how he uses music to defy expectations and add layers of meaning to the film.

💡Suspense

Suspense is a key tool Tarantino uses to keep audiences engaged. The video highlights how he builds suspense through cinematography, editing, and sound, such as in 'Inglourious Basterds' where the tension slowly rises during a conversation, or in 'Pulp Fiction' when the life-or-death moment of Mia’s overdose is stretched out, creating intense viewer anticipation.

💡Subverting Expectations

Subverting expectations is a hallmark of Tarantino's directing style. He leads audiences in one direction, only to flip the narrative suddenly. The video explains how Tarantino uses this technique in dialogue and plot, such as building what seems like a routine conversation before introducing a shocking or unexpected turn, keeping the audience on edge.

Highlights

Quentin Tarantino is known for keeping audiences on the edge of their seats.

Tarantino sees himself as part of the audience and enjoys surprising them with unexpected plot turns.

Tarantino's directing style will be broken down across seven areas of focus.

Tarantino creates highly effective and unique dialogue.

He often leaves loose ends in his storytelling.

Tarantino builds situations that suddenly flip, catching the audience off guard.

He writes natural dialogue that builds unique voices for his characters.

Tarantino uses production design to steer tone, mood, and provide story details.

He likes to build contrast and exaggerate with his production design.

Tarantino gives his characters a trademark outfit to establish a visual identity.

Color for Tarantino is an emotional trigger and he often uses bold primary colors.

Tarantino's cinematography is robust and built on eliciting emotions.

He uses editing to build anticipation and fear.

Tarantino's sound design emphasizes the visuals with extreme sound effects.

The music in Tarantino's films is memorable and often defies expectations.

Tarantino's films are sophisticated yet accessible due to his unique storytelling and visual techniques.

Tarantino's directing style is characterized by long scenes with hidden elements.

He uses unexpected editing opportunities to build fear, anticipation, and energy.

Tarantino's music choices are personal and often play against viewer expectations.

Transcripts

Some directors have a knack for keeping viewers

on the edge of their seats.

And our next director is no exception.

"Being the director,

I've always considered myself a part of the audience.

You could leave the breadcrumbs that would indicate

that you were going to go the way all the other films had gone,

and then all of a sudden you make a quick left turn,

and they're not prepared for that."

"How you like that?!"

We will be breaking down the directing style of

Quentin Tarantino.

[Intro Music]

"Come on, let's get in character."

[Music]

It's impossible to define a director's cinematic style

by just looking at a single aspect of their work.

So we're going to show you how Tarantino approaches

his decisions across seven areas of focus.

So that you can see how every little decision

makes up the entire picture.

"Au revoir, Shosanna!"

Remember to subscribe to our channel.

And click the bell icon to stay in the loop for new videos.

Our first directing element - Story.

Tarantino creates highly effective dialogue

that has a unique style.

"-You know, what they call, a Quarter-Pounder with Cheese in Paris?

-They don`t call it the Quarter-Pounder with Cheese?

-They got the metric system. They wouldn`t know what the fuck is Quarter-Pounder is.

-What do they call it?

-They call it a Royale with Cheese.

-Royale with Cheese?"

And leaves loose ends.

"-You're gonna be takin` Mia Wallas out on a date?"

-It is not a date."

He moves away from an interesting conversation

to an even more interesting situation.

"How are you boys doing?"

He builds situations that, suddenly, flip.

[Music]

Right when we think we understand the scene,

he pulls the rug out.

"-Mommy I`m home.

-Hey baby, how was school?"

This is classic Tarantino.

"Say auf Wiedersehen to your Nazi balls."

[Shooting sounds]

If you want to build a story like Tarantino,

write natural dialogue that builds unique voices.

"Now, this is the world's smallest violin playing just for the waitresses"

Right scenes that lead the audience in one direction,

and then reveal the entire picture.

"Hey! Now lay your palms flat on that tabletop!

If you lift those palms off that turtle shell tabletop,

Mr. Punch is gonna let loose with both barrels of that sawed-off."

To learn more, make sure to check the description below

for a link to helpful tips

that will make your dialogue stand out.

Our second subject - Production Design.

Great production design

is one of the best ways to steer tone, mood,

and provide story details through visual choices.

Tarantino commonly does two things with his production design.

He likes to build contrast,

and he likes to exaggerate.

It can be a prop,

facial hair.

a costume.

Tarantino likes to give his characters

a trademark outfit,

a uniform.

It establishes a visual identity.

Take,for example, the gang in "Reservoir Dogs."

Everyone is wearing the same black suit,

except for two people,

Joe Cabot and his son, Nice Guy Eddie.

"All right, everybody cough up some green food."

The suits create a narrative boundary.

"You lost your fucking mind."

With the enlisted men on one side

and the officers on the other.

What about a less subtle example?

"You may choose your character`s costume."

Like with this scene from Django Unchained.

He stands out,

and this helps to build contrast from his former self.

But also from the plantation owners.

He is loud and proud - Django Unchained.

"Remember me?

I like the way you die, boy."

[Music]

Tarantino also does this with props.

"That really was a Hattori Hanzo sword."

Take this scene from "Inglourious Basterds."

Where both men have pipes.

But one is exaggerated.

The difference in imagery gives

you insight into how these men each lead very different lives.

But also the power imbalance.

Lastly, it provides a bit of liberty

in a scene that is anything but.

So, remember,

if you want to use production design like Tarantino

find opportunities for visual contrast,

and don't forget to exaggerate your points with bold design choice.

Make sure to check the description below for a free production design worksheet.

Our third subject - Color.

For Tarantino, color is an emotional trigger.

[Gunshot sounds]

[Laughing]

While he will experiment with black and white footage

from time to time,

he generally wants his colors to pop.

When characters are in a mission, often out for revenge,

this will be draped in bold, primary colors,

like the royal blue Django,

or canary yellow with Kiddo,

or scarlet red for Shoshanna.

But he also uses color to set a mood.

Take a look at the opening scene from "Jackie Brown."

The first color we see are shades of blue.

Blue can keep us cool.

It can bring us down,

mel off us out.

But when Jackie enters the frame, we get a shock of more blue.

The security x-ray machine awash with blue.

The color choices bold,

and it tells us that Jackie is a bold character.

The color sets the tone for the entire film

and let us know who we're dealing with.

A bold woman, tired of the old hustle,

and ready for a new one.

So, remember,

if you want to approach color like Tarantino,

use bold primary colors

that build mood, tone, passion and energy.

Make sure to check the description below for a free ebook

where we provide countless examples,

and explain the science of color for you

to use in your own projects.

Our next subject - Cinematography.

Great cinematography is a combination of many different techniques

like lighting,

camera movement,

lens choice,

and framing.

"But this one is a fucking madman."

Let's look at the opening scene from "Inglourious Basterds."

"Well, I'm very familiar with you and your family.

I have no way of knowing

if you are familiar with who I am?"

In this moment, he frames Hans with an OTS medium shot.

"Are you aware of my existence?"

-Yes."

LaPedit is in a single medium shot.

LaPedit is isolated.

Then we come back to matching OTS`s.

The mood has shifted.

We can relax.

Now, we're just doing paperwork.

"I would, disturb you for smoking my pipe?

- Oh,please, Monsieur LaPedit.

This is your house, make yourself comfortable."

Tarantino is toying with our emotions.

"What have you heard about the Dreyfuses?"

When LaPedit mentions rumors.

"Only rumors. -I love rumors"

LaPadit is lying.

So remove back out of the OTS.

It does single medium shot.

"We heard that Dreyfuses

had made their way into Spain".

When LaPadit mentions the children...

"and the children"

...Tarantino dollies across the lines.

He breaks the 180-degree rule.

Then everything flips.

Hiding underneath the floorboards is the Dreyfus family.

As tension grows,

we switch to medium close-ups.

Each of which dolly forward, building suspense.

"I might add also

that any information that makes the performance of my duties here

will not be met with punishment."

And eventually eases into a close-up.

"-You're sheltering enemies of the state, are you not?

-Yes."

Game over.

...adieu.

[Gunshot sounds]

So, remember,

if you want to approach cinematography like Tarantino.

Find opportunities to elicit strong emotions from the viewer

with camera placement and movement.

This will help tie the viewer's emotions to both the characters

and the plot.

Let's move on.

Editing.

Tarantino build something through his edits.

Often, it's anticipation.

In other cases, fear.

"Get your ass in that car."

Take this scene from "Inglourious Basterds."

Shosanna is at a very uncomfortable dinner.

She'd like to leave.

"So young lady, you are to close your cinema for a private screening tonight."

Tarantino knows we want the dinner to end as well.

So right when Landa arrives, he cuts to Shosanna's face.

"-Ah, Landa, you are here."

"-Emmanuelle, this is Colonel Hans Landa of the SS.

He`ll be running the security for the premiere."

The entire scene focuses on Shosanna.

"... have a word with Mademoiselle Mimieux.

-What sort of discussion?"

Even why Lando and Zola argue,

he never cuts away from her.

He elected to use an uninterrupted take in the edit.

Because he knows, it'll connect the viewer even more to Shosanna.

Because we fear for her.

"But your reputation does precede you.

Should Mademoiselle Mimieux or myself be concerned?

-Hans, the boy means no harm...

... he`s simply smitten.

And he`s correct. Your reputation does precede you."

But what about the anticipation?

Part of achieving this effect is by stretching moments out.

Take the scene from "Pulp Fiction."

Mia is dying.

"-She's O.D.in`? -She's fuckin` dyin` on me, man!

We know how important this moment is.

Mia will die

and Vincent will become a grease spot.

" Do you know who Marsellus Wallace is? -Yes.

If she croaks on me, I am a fucking grease spot!"

Vincent need to give her a shot to the heart.

"-Come on, men, hurry up.

-Fuck. Okay,okay."

So Tarantino stretches it out in the edit.

"All right count to three.

All right ready. One.

Two.

Three.

So, if you're editing like Tarantino,

find opportunities to build fear in the viewer,

even if it means lingering on a reaction shot longer.

Find ways to build anticipation.

"Where were we?"

Edit for emotion.

And be bold.

Want to learn how to make the perfect edit for your story?

Make sure to check the description below for the link

to Walter Murch`s Rule of Six.

Where Murch breaks down the workflow for making a cut

that helps to tell your story.

Moving on.

Sound design.

[Whistling]

Tarantino's sound choices,

are often a mixture between highly authentic

and cheeky.

You sound design is there for emphasis.

Take this scene from "Kill Bill."

"-You want some coffee?

-Yeah, sure."

The sound design in this scene,

creates an over-the-top

almost cartoon-like effect.

Listen to each sound carefully.

"Very funny, bitch.

Very funny."

The Gunshot Echoes out,

carrying the initial drama through each cut.

"Very funny."

When Kiddo kicks the mug.

We hear the sound

almost like a baseball bat connecting with a golf ball.

Then as the knife is drawn,

we hear the emphasize sound of metal

as if she would have medieval knight.

Capped off by the sound of the knife cutting through the air.

Along with a screech from Vanita`s head,

sliding down the cabinet glass.

There is a sort of levity behind the violence.

If there was ever a way to summarize Tarantino.

"Hey, what`s going on? You hear that?"

Violence meets levity.

"-Now throw out your other pistol.

-I ain`t got another pistol.

-Will you better shoot another pistol at your ass

because if you don't throw one up here in the next two seconds,

we're gonna kill this bitch.

See? Told you."

If you want to approach sound design like Tarantino...

...don't be afraid to emphasize the visuals

with extreme

even outlandish sound effects.

Next, our final category.

Music.

[Music]

The music tracks in Tarantino's films are memorable.

His energy is tied to music that he personally loves.

Memories from his favorite films

and his childhood.

He loves spaghetti westerns.

His choice in music often feels wrong.

Inappropriate.

[James Brown & 2pac - "Unchained (The Payback/Untouchable)"

And thus he is able to defy expectations.

[Music]

Tarantino was so concerned

with music in his first film "Reservoir Dogs."

He spent the entire music budget on a single song.

This song.

Stealers Wheel - "Stuck in the Middle with You"

This scene shows how Tarantino uses music to do two things.

Cut again tones and expectations,

and to make scenes flat-out entertaining.

[Stealers Wheel - "Stuck in the Middle with You"]

This is a fun song.

It's catchy,

very different from the visuals on screen.

Tarantino chooses music that he enjoys.

And for the vast majority of his films.

He avoids an original score.

When Tarantino finally did use a score,

he worked with the original spaghetti western composer - Ennio Morricone.

[Ennio Morricone - The Hateful Eight OST]

The other remarkable thing about Tarantino's music

is how he avoids it.

Especially during moments of rising suspense.

"I did have something else I wanted to ask you.

But right now, for the life of me, I can`t remember what it is.

Oh well, must not have been important."

If you want to use music like Tarantino,

don't feel like you need to find a composer or build an original score.

Find music that you personally love.

And use it during moments that flips the viewer's expectations.

So how does Tarantino build films that are sophisticated

and yet accessible?

He builds stories with natural layer dialog

and long scenes with hidden elements that throw a wrench in the gears.

He uses production design that creates contrast and emphasis.

He uses primary colors

to make bold statements and set the tone.

His cinematography is robust

and built on eliciting emotions.

He looks for unexpected editing opportunities to help build fear,

anticipation and energy.

With sound design that emphasizes the large actions on screen.

He uses music that personally inspires him

and plays against expectations

or he avoids it.

"-You really want me to shake your hand?"

- I insist."

There are more Quentin Tarantino filmmaking techniques,

which didn't we touch on?

Which your favorite?

Share them in the comments.

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You know something viewers?

I think this just might be my masterpiece.

"I think this just might be my masterpiece."

[Music]