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.
Adding to their push to get Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 nominations in the awards season early next year, Warner Bros has released firstly this banner showing the moment late on in the film where Hagrid is carrying the body of ‘dead’ Harry. On this are quotes from film critics praising the film, and a list of the categories and people that they are pushing (Best Picture: producers David Heyman, David Barron and J.K. Rowling; Best Director: David Yates; Best Adapted Screenplay: Steve Kloves; Best Cinematography: Eduardo Serra; Best Actor: Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint; Best Supporting Actor: Ralph Fiennes and Alan Rickman; Best Actress: Emma Watson; Best Supporting Actress: Helena Bonham Carter and Maggie Smith; Best Original Score: Alexandre Desplat). This list is less a few of the names that appear on the website.
Also, WB have produced this second video (the first can be seen here) to promote the film to awards voters. While the first was very emotional, this one is more epic and action orientated, but still interspersed with quotes from the movie’s rave reviews. Thanks to Snitchseeker who uploaded the video to Youtube from an ad on Hitfix. Get the whole story »
At the recent Harry Potter Home Entertainment Celebration at the Universal Orlando Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Potter fansites Snitchseeker and Mugglenet were lucky enough to get a spot on the red carpet and each got some really good interviews with the cast and crew of Harry Potter. See some below, including David Heyman, David Barron, and Rupert Grint, and view lots more from Mugglenet on their Youtube page. Interestingly, in the last video with David Heyman, he mentions early plans for expansions at the Wizarding World theme park. Rupert Grint also gives some info on his upcoming projects, including singing in Postman Pat, and working on Jessie Cave’s crazy Flat Whites videos.
Harry Potter: The Quest recently released the following video, which gives us a look at the casting of Evanna Lynch as Luna, with some great new footage of her screen test with Daniel Radcliffe.
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