David Yates talks HRH final scene, J.K. Rowling in new interview
Potter director David Yates recently spoke with Manila Bulletin about his experience making four of the HP movies, about Dan, Rupert and Emma's final scene together, J.K. Rowling, and his future plans. Here are some excerpts (he gives a bit of a spoiler about the end of Deathly Hallows Part 2):
You came into the series at sort of that middle point. When did you realize the magnitude of the fan base. And what did you think about it? It was probably a phase in the cycle around about this stage when you do your interviews and you meet the press and walk up the red carpet. Obviously, you notice the fact that it’s globally popular, but it’s just when the fans come from Mexico or Argentina and camp out all night, you realize what it means to them. And it’s a huge responsibility, actually. Also, there are massive expectations on every movie, and in a curious way, you do your very best with the film. And I’m very proud of this film.
On the last day with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, when they were on set together and filmed their final scene, what was that like? We shot the scene on the viaduct, outside Hogwarts, and it was really peaceful. It was a really sunny day. It was all backlit. And it’s a very tender scene where they sort of reflect on everything that’s happened, all the battles and everything, and they hold hands, and the camera falls away. It’s a really tender, lovely scene. I said to them, ‘Look, guys, this is the last scene we’re all going to do with you three together in front of the camera. So, it’s not just the last scene of these three characters in the movie, this is your last scene in this series of films. That’s what today is about.’ And it infused it with a kind of emotion which was really moving actually.
Did you ever talk to Jo Rowling about adapting these books and the choices you made, particularly in terms of its contemporary feel? We never had a big conversation about that because it was very present in the book. She read the script and she was totally cool about the way we’d adapted it. She was always just very enthusiastic about the whole first script, generally. But she’s been really helpful and we had a good chat about a couple of scenes in Part 2. I asked her, ‘What were you thinking when you wrote these scenes?’ And she was really helpful.
Jo was a producer on this film, so how was that? How was her expanded role on it? You know, it hasn’t really changed from the other movies, honestly. She’s just always our biggest supporter. And always very graceful and kind and I think, because she’s been there throughout, it was time her name was up there. She wants to be up there with us; it’s a real privilege.
Do you have another movie brewing after all this? I’ve got so many scripts coming in, I can’t tell you. In fact, I told them to stop sending them. [Laughs] Because I haven’t read any of them. They’re just all piled up. But I’m so ambitious, I can’t tell you. It’s a strange thing about Harry Potter because I don’t feel any sense of ownership, in a way. I don’t feel territorial about it. I feel it’s a bit of a national treasure that I’m curating. For everything I can enter, I try and do my very best. And I’m very proud of the work I’ve done. But post-Potter, my career sort of starts again really. And I won’t feel like I’ve made four of the biggest films in the world. I’ll feel like, ‘Well, that’s it. I’ve done Potter now.’ And I’ll have all these beautiful scripts and I can begin in a way. That’s my plan. And I’m going to do big things and tiny little things. And they won’t have wizards in them.
No wizards? No wizards.
You can read the whole interview here. Thanks to Snitchseeker for the tip.
The One Show on BBC1 in the UK tonight did a piece about the soon-to-be-opened WB Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter, the attraction at Leavesden Studios which gives fans the opportunity to explore the sets and the world of filmmaking behind the Harry Potter series. Warwick Davis, who played Griphook and Flitwick, gives viewers a look around:
March is Women’s History Month and what better way to start off the celebration then with a “Top Ten” list. Flavorwire, the cultural news and critique website, has compiled a list of the Top 10 Most Powerful Female Characters in Literature and our own Hermione Granger has been ranked as #2 right behind Jane Eyre from the novel written by Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre. Here is what the article said about Hermione:
In the Harry Potter books, Hermione starts as an insufferable know-it-all, blossoms into a whip-smart beauty who doesn’t suffer fools (except Ron), and ends up as the glue that holds the whole operation together. Hermione’s steadfastness and sheer intelligence (plus the fact that she’s the only one who has ever read Hogwarts: A History) save her two best friends time and time again, and she’s the only one of the three never to wholly break down in a crisis. Intelligence often translates into strength, but only when wielded by a steady hand — and Hermione just happens to have both, and compassion to boot. That’s our kind of girl.
Congrats goes out to Jo Rowling for writing such an inspiring and intelligent character who girls of all ages, yours truly included, can be proud to look up to. You can view the list of winners below.
Jane Eyre, Jane Eyre
Hermione Granger, The Harry Potter series
The Wife of Bath, The Canterbury Tales
Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games trilogy
Hester Prynne, The Scarlet Letter
Eowyn, The Lord of the Rings
Lyra Silvertongue, His Dark Materials trilogy
Janie Crawford, Their Eyes Were Watching God
Hua Mulan, The Ballad of Mulan
Lisbeth Salander, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series
When Pottermore was announced in the middle of last year, it caused a huge flurry of excitement in the Harry Potter fandom.
That excitement seems like a distant memory now though, since Pottermore has been stuck in beta for over four months longer than promised. As well as delays there have been bugs, downtime, and a lack of content for those who do have beta access, because only the first book is currently available. Fans have become rather frustrated and a bit of a backlash has begun. Get the whole story »
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March is Women’s History Month and what better way to start off the celebration then with a “Top Ten” list. Flavorwire, the cultural news and critique website, has compiled a list of the Top 10 Most Powerful Female Characters in Literature and our own Hermione Granger has been ranked as #2 right behind Jane Eyre from the novel written by Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre. Here is what the article said about Hermione:
When Pottermore was announced in the middle of last year, it caused a huge flurry of excitement in the Harry Potter fandom.
