HP Dateline Special

[Cindy C.]

Well, I can't see the film until Friday, so I had to go with the next 
best thing:  Katie Couric's HP special in the U.S.

The main HP related thing I noticed from the special is that the 
marketing people seem highly concerned about making sure adults who 
have not read the books come to see the movie.  They seemed to spend 
a great deal of time explaining basic HP concepts.  They spent almost 
no time explaining how particular effects were done, which is what I 
expected to see.

Dan's voice seems a bit deep, but not out of the ordinary for a child 
of his age.  I think he'll sound fine in CoS.

Richard Harris is the most boring person I have seen give a 
promotional interview in a long time.  Maybe he felt silly in his 
costume.  Who knows?  I think Luke and Penny may be right -- his 
heart is definitely not in this role.  They should have used the 
interview time on someone else -- the animal trainer, the special 
effects guy -- anyone else.

Dan has been well-coached about how to give interviews.  His answer 
to the "worst thing about being Harry" is -- nothing, it is all 
great.  He was right on message.

Emma needs a little more coaching.  She described Hermione as "awful."

Rupert is an old pro.  Self-effacing yet confident, with a good sense 
of humor.  And how can skin that soft be on anyone but an infant?  
Has he ever been out in the sun?  :-)

Jo was not in the special.  Maybe she is working on OoP.  Let's hope 
so.

Anyway, that will have to do until Friday.

Cindy (who has decided that the snake is a Burmese Python, like Alex 
suggested)