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 Pottermore Twitter page just sent out some exciting news. The first book in the series has now been updated with brand new exclusive content from JK Rowling: excerpts from some of the Hogwarts library books!
I’ve had a look around and found two book excerpts located in the ‘Moment’ pictured below, titled ‘Harry Becomes An Outcast’. And there a couple more are in the ‘The Library’ and ‘Hagrid’s Secret’ moments.
Go and have a look for yourself and see what you find! Pottermore.com
Following the public opening a few weeks ago, Pottermore CEO Charlie Redmayne has been giving a few interviews here and there, revealing some interesting facts and predictions.
Speaking to The Guardian, Redmayne insists that when released, Chamber of Secrets will be a much richer experience than book 1, which some users were a little disappointed with. From the article:
Redmayne also acknowledged issues with Pottermore’s community and promised change – although everything will continue to be moderated. “The community elements are too restrictive at the moment and we will be easing them up. Within a community, you need to be able to communicate,” he said. “In the next few weeks we will enable people to communicate more, but to do so in a completely safe environment.
The site will also become more interactive, he promised, revealing that work is currently underway on launching the second book in the series, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. “It won’t be the next couple of weeks but we’re working to get it live as soon as possible,” he said. “What is going to become a given is that there will be a lot more interaction added. When book two goes online – and we’re working on that at the moment – it will be a real step up from the stuff in book one. There’ll be more from Jo, and more interactivity. And we will grow this over the seven books – you will see it becoming a broader and broader and richer and richer experience,” he said.
A few days ago, Warner Bros. and Universal revealed the exciting news that the world is to get a third Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, and it will be located outside America for the first time. The location will Universal Studios in Osaka, Japan, and is set to open in late 2014.
This is in fact earlier than the already announced new park at Universal Hollywood. Weasley twins actors James and Oliver Phelps were in Japan to assist with the big announcement. You can see photos and and a brief video of that below, thanks to Snitchseeker.
We will bring you all the news on this in the coming years, and we also hope a Harry Potter park will arrive in Europe some day too! You can read the full press release at the bottom of this page.
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Following the public opening a few weeks ago, Pottermore CEO Charlie Redmayne has been giving a few interviews here and there, revealing some interesting facts and predictions.
