production scheduals & alternative plotting

[Aberforth's Goat]

Cindy wrote,

> What's this?  We have a film student in our ranks?  Ali, I'd love to
> hear your thoughts about Mr. Columbus' direction and the adaptation
> of the book and how a "Wildgoose" production might have been
> different, if you have time.

Me too! That was a terrific post, Ali; sure hope there's more to come! (And
I'm feeling a tad embarrassed to about my own under-informed rants on the
same topic!)

> Now that you mention it, I do recall one rather "wonky" thing that
> must have come from spotty planning.  When Harry's letters start to
> arrive, Dudley is wearing his Smeltings uniform.  I don't believe
> there was any mention of Smeltings, so the viewer is left with the
> strange costuming decision to have Dudley wearing a straw hat to the
> breakfast table.  I assume they filmed the "Smeltings" discussion,
> but cut it out later, leaving the "wonky" costume in because they had
> to.

Glumph - I'd almost forgotten that one. Very wonky indeed. American
youngsters will presumably conclude that straw hats and funny outfits are
what *all* Brits wear to breakfast. Honestly!

* * * * * * * * *

I've been thinking about the difficulties connected to the hut-on-the-rock
scene and found myself wodering whether it would have been better to move
the whole scene to Privet Drive. The wind-whipped island thing is fun, of
course - but I can't think of any reason it couldn't have been played out at
the Dursleys' house. That would have been less confusing and should have let
them develop the story at a more reasonable pace.

Baaaaaa!

Aberforth's Goat (a.k.a. Mike Gray)
_______________________

"Of course, I'm not entirely sure he can read, so that may not have been
bravery...."