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.
May
10
This is looking like the year for awesome Harry Potter memorabilia. The Telegraph has just released some exciting new information. The original manuscript of Harry Potter and the Philosopher/Sorceror’s Stone will be on display for the world to see. The British Library is hosting the Writing Britain: Wastelands to Wonderlands exhibit from May 11 until September 25 of this year. The pages from the story where Harry gets on the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 3/4 will be on display as well. If you will be in the London area during this time and would like to purchase tickets, you can do so here. That would be an awesome thing to see. How do you feel about the manuscript being shown? Would you try and visit?
May
05
With the huge console debut success in 2011, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 in now available on iOS devices! If you have any Apple products, such as the iPhone or iPad, you can now purchase them through iTunes. The game retails for $4.99 and you can buy it in the iTunes store or here.
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 was so highly viewed, IGN gave it an 8.0, that I am sure that Years 5-7 will not disappoint. I personally own Years 1-4 and loved it, so I will definitely buy Years 5-7 and let you know how it is! Have you purchased or played either game? What did you think?
Happy Cinco de Mayo to all who celebrate!!!
May
05
This month’s issue of Interview Magazine is changing up some things. Harry Potter alum Daniel Radcliffe interviewed Helena Bonham Carter, another Harry Potter alum. Radcliffe asked Carter how she got ready for her part as Bellatrix Lestrange in the HP films. Below is an exerpt from the article.
Dan: Your Harry Potter character, Bellatrix Lestrange, is one of the scariest characters in the books. But I think it’s fair to say that she is very playful and quite sexy as well.
Helena: When they sent the part, I thought, What am I going to do here? Because, actually, on the page, she wasn’t all there, so I thought, Well, you’ve got to be noticed. And Bellatrix-kids were terrified of her. So I think, Okay, I’ve got to be scary. But then also, if you’re with the kdis, you want to have fun being naughty.
Dan: Do you think you take inspiration from kids a lot? Because I do. They’re very honest in how they act and how thye are in the world.
Helena: Oh yeah. They are. And I also think there’s a lot of Peter Pan about me anyway. I never really wanted to grow up. I grew up really young. I moved out when I was 13- that’s when I started acting. Dad was really ill-he was pretty much paralyzed- so there was a part of me that felt like I had to become responsible.
Get the whole story »
