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.
Jan
04
Warner Brothers has released another two videos promoting Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 for the 2011/12 awards race.
Both have clips from the film, with text giving some critics’ comments and stating which awards it has been nominated for so far. The first video has background music from the chilling ‘Lily’s Theme’ from DH2, while the second has a voiceover reading out the critcs’ comments and award nominations.
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Jan
02
Even though she did not receive an Oscar in 2011, 2012 plans to be much more rewarding for Academy Award nominated actress Helena Bonham Carter. The Harry Potter and The King’s Speech star, who played Queen Elizabeth in the Oscar winning biopic and received the nomination for that role, was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s New Year Honors list that was published on 12.31.11 according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Among the exclusive group of entertainment industry professionals joining Bonham Carter in receiving the coveted CBE honor, are comedian Ronnie Corbett, Australian entertainer and writer Clive James, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire creator Paul Smith, former Oasis front-man Liam Gallagher, and record producer Steve Lillywhite (who has worked with U2 and the Rolling Stones).
The Queen’s honor list is released twice a year, on her birthday in June and on New Year’s Eve, and it recognizes outstanding achievement and service across the UK. Congrats to Helena on this amazing accomplishment.
Dec
31
It is New Years Eve and 2011 is coming to a close, so it’s time for a quick reflection on what an incredible year it has been for Harry Potter.
This year we’ve had the announcement that the Wizarding World theme park in Orlando will be be expanded, and that a second park will be built over in Hollywood. JK Rowling began her Pottermore project, giving us new material and prolonging Harry Potter for years to come. We found out that Leavesden Studios where the films were made is being turned into a museum that fans will be able to visit. And of course we had the release of the epic and emotional final film in the series, Deathly Hallows Part 2, ending a decade-long era.
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