Paul Thomas Anderson Directing Style Explained — 7 Ways He Builds Real Characters in Real Worlds

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Paul Thomas Anderson directing style explained — how PT Anderson directs a movie, covering his most recent films and the singular ways he creates authenticity.

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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to PT Anderson
01:02 - Evolution of Style
01:58 - Story
04:37 - Production Design
06:24 - Color
08:35 - Camera
12:53 - Editing
17:35 - Sound
21:23 - Music
24:56 - Takeaways

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If you’ve been tracking PT Anderson’s career, you may have noticed a significant stylistic shift between Punch-Drunk Love and There Will Be Blood. That is why we broke up his Directing Styles videos into two parts — he’s basically become a different filmmaker.

In Part One, we covered his first four films and their hyperactive, formalist style. This time, we’re covering his latest five films which are more observant, letting the performances become more interior.

One thing that remains consistent between these eras is his themes based on family. A new layer to these stories is his protagonists, who have an extraordinary amount of ambition, which becomes the greatest roadblock in their search for family.

With his production design, Anderson is clearly aiming for authenticity. All of these films are period pieces, so their worlds needed to match. Using real locations, vintage costumes, and everything else necessary to recreate the past.

Color also is used more for atmospherics than any sort of overt symbolism. Exceptions are the Master’s glowing red pajamas and Reynolds’ pink socks, which illuminate tiny corners of their personalities.

PT Anderson’s cinematography in these films is much more observational. Close-ups linger on the characters’ faces as a direct way to understand their inner turmoil. Wide shots give us a full-body performance of the characters surrounded by their environment. And the push-ins keep an observational distance but unobtrusively bring us closer to the characters.

Furthering these techniques is how PT Anderson and his editors assemble the shots. Long takes give us an uninterrupted perspective that places us in the space with the characters. The other noticeable editing technique is how we get glimpses into their thoughts, memories, and visions.

Since Anderson is focused on authenticity, the sound he uses is exactly that. He barely uses ADR and even realized the benefit of shooting on location in films like Phantom Thread, where the “sound” of the location could give the scenes a layer of authenticity.

Finally, music plays a major role in Anderson’s storytelling, both in his early and latest work. Jonny Greenwood’s symphonic dissonance or his lush romanticism gives these already complex characters additional layers.

Overall, there is no other filmmaker quite like PT Anderson, whose dedication to creating real, authentic characters in real, authentic spaces.

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♬ SONGS USED:

Life on Mars - David Bowie
Proven Lands - Jonny Greenwood
Nothing is Good Enough - Instrumental Version - Aimee Mann
Alethia - J. Greenwood
That's As May Be - J. Greenwood
Open Spaces - J. Greenwood
Shasta Fay Hepworth - J. Greenwood
For the Hungry Boy - J. Greenwood
Stumblin' In - Chris Norman
The Chryskylodon Institute - J. Greenwood
House of Woodcock - J. Greenwood
Cherish - The Association
Fratres (Version for Cello & Piano) - Avro Pärt
Catch Hold - J. Greenwood
Greensleeves - Mason Williams
Spooks - J. Greenwood
Tomorrow May Not Be Your Day - Taj Mahal
Back Beyond - J. Greenwood
Time Hole - J. Greenwood
Alma - J. Greenwood
Blue Sands - Chico Hamilton
The Hem - J. Greenwood
Dreamin' on a Cloud - The Tornados
Oil - J. Greenwood
Atomic Healer - J. Greenwood
Sometimes I'm Happy - Johnny Guarnieri
Shasta Fay - J. Greenwood
Changing Partners (feat. Helen Forrest) - J. Greenwood
Licorice Pizza - J. Greenwood
Harvest - Neil Young
Sweetness of Freddie - J. Greenwood
I'll Follow Tomorrow - J. Greenwood
Never My Love (Remastered Version) - The Association
Overture - Jon Brion
Future Markets - J. Greenwood
Let Me Roll It - Paul McCartney and Wings
De-Tuned Quartet - J. Greenwood
Henry Plainview - J. Greenwood
Able-Bodied Seamen - J. Greenwood
Vitamin C - Can
Journey Through the Past - Neil Young
Sandalwood I - J. Greenwood
Application 45 Version 1 - J. Greenwood
Les Fleurs - Minnie Riperton
Lisa, Listen To Me - Blood Sweat & Tears
[What A] Wonderful World - Sam Cooke

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