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 first photos from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’s director Mike Newell’s version of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations has been released. This adaptation has several Harry Potter alums such as Ralph Fiennes and Robbie Coltrane. The photos below are of Helena Bonham Carter, who plays Miss Havisham, and Jessie Cave, who plays the elder Biddy, who are also in the film. The BBC Films title currently has no set release date. Thanks to Snitchseeker for these.
Continuing with the Q&A of other celebrated actors, Francine Stock interviewed Ralph Fiennes at A Life in Pictures. On Sunday, December 11th Fiennes sat down with Stock and recalled his entire life’s work of movies. He tells of how he was informed in his childhood while reciting Shakespeare that he “has the ability”. And years later he has had a plethora of different roles. One such role was of Amon Goth from Schnidler’s List. When a chilling scene involving his maid appears on the scene, he lightens the mood with telling how he was so excited to get Steven Spielberg to engage with him in his audition.
Inevitably, Stock brings up Fiennes’ long-running role of Voldemort of Harry Potter fame, and Fiennes – to everyone’s surprise – performs the “Avada Kedavra” jokingly on the host. After being uninvolved with the Harry Potter franchise, his sister Martha was the one who told him to take his role seriously.
With his directorial debut in Coriolanus opening in early 2012, Fiennes revealed his curiosity in directing for almost four years. Fiennes wanted something that was not only a challenge to direct but one that would be relevant to audiences. He decided as he is finally approaching 50 that he only has one life to live. The official UK trailer is below with Coriolanus opening in the UK on January 20th.
We have a new audio interview with Severus Snape actor Alan Rickman, from NPR.org, which you can listen to below. Alan talks about many things from his career, from Die Hard to Harry Potter to his new Broadway stage show. He also responds to phone-in questions and emails from listeners. Enjoy it, as it’s not often we get to here much from Mr Rickman.
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Inevitably, Stock brings up Fiennes’ long-running role of Voldemort of Harry Potter fame, and Fiennes – to everyone’s surprise – performs the “Avada Kedavra” jokingly on the host. After being uninvolved with the Harry Potter franchise, his sister Martha was the one who told him to take his role seriously.
