Dan's Future

[GulPlum]

Comments on a few posts in one...

From:  Penny & Bryce 

> It does seem that Dan is continuing to attend his private school in 
> London while not filming though.  From what I've read, he's so far
> been able to devote a reasonable amt of time to continuing his 
> personal life. 
>   In other words, I'm not sure that filming has eaten up the
> majority of each year for him so far.  As the movies get longer, 
> this might change though.  I'm glad that the Radcliffes seem 
> concerned that he have other options, and Dan himself seems 
> centered & not convinced that acting his what he wants to pursue as 
> an adult.  I think he'll be certain he keeps his options open.

Absolutely. From all accounts, he is very much a normal 12 year-old 
and has been allowed to follow his interests and be with his non-
movie friends. As someone else said, though, he seems to lead an 
extremely sheltered life (right now, that can only be for the 
better!) 

Something I read somewhere (sorry about being vague!) indicated that 
his parents had withdrawn him from the private school he attended 
(mainly to stop him being pestered on his way to, from and at school) 
and he's now home-schooled when not on set - this is actually 
extremely easy by UK rules. It makes sense to me, at any rate, and 
sounds very plausible - it's what I'd have done if I was in their 
shoes!

I underline though, that my concerns aren't for now or next year, but 
when he has to start preparing for his exams. If the industry rumours 
are correct and GoF is done as two movies but with a single, long, 
production schedule, this is going to be hell on both the actors and 
the budget, because of the constraints of British child employment 
law. This is why I fear that Warners may be VERY sorely tempted to 
recast Harry (at the very least), especially if the Radcliffes put on 
the pressure to give Dan time off. The child employment laws run up 
to age 16 (the end of obligatory schooling) and as a 16 or 17 year-
old playing a 14 year-old is not impossible, Warners might want to 
save on the budget and the production schedule by finding a new 
Harry. The Radcliffes probably won't mind, but the issue will be 
whether the fans will accept it... The alternative solution will be 
to give in to the Radcliffes' demands and delay production, and thus 
not have a new HP movie for at least 2 years. But will Warners' 
marketing people allow it?

> He is very shy!  I find this very endearing.  He looked like he 
didn't 
> know what to make of Rosie when he did that appearance in the US 
last 
> fall.  I'm always amazed that shy people end up in acting careers 
of all 
> things -- being shy myself, drama is the last thing I'd do.

Shyness and drama aren't mutually exclusive - actually, most actors 
consider themselves (and are considered) that way, and IMO the best 
actors usually are quite introspective. The issue is that many people 
(myself included) don't have a problem with appearing in public, on 
condition that it's not AS THEMSELVES. It's quite clear that Dan has 
a natural flair and lack of self-consciousness in front of a camera 
when playing a part, but is quite uneasy when it's as himself, and he 
doesn't have someone else's words to say. On top of it, he seems to 
have a physical reaction to being over-excited: hyper-ventilating, 
etc. and that doesn't help.

> Great post Gulplum!

Ooh-er. Thanks. :-)

From:  "Morrigan //Vicki//" 

> It would be interesting to see what Rupert's and Daniel's parents
> look like, not that it would be completely conclusive by any means, 
> but we might get some idea as to whether they're likely to become 
> more or less Ron-and Harry-like. :)

I'm sure that the producers looked very closely at their fathers and 
asked about their adolescence to make just that judgment. :-)

> I think that the parents involvement in their children's careers 
> and the emphasis on the CHILD and not the money or career is what 
> makes the difference.

Absolutely, 100%. I know that Dan's parents are far from poverty, and 
reading between the lines, I gather the same is true of Rupert's and 
Emma's. From what I recall, the main problem Columbus had with Culkin 
wasn't with the kid himself, but his father, who was trying to make 
as money as possible with scant regard for his son's present or 
future welfare. Columbus learned his lesson well, and chose actors 
for HP where these issues were less likely to crop up. Apart from 
being better for the kids themselves, it makes film production 
easier...

> I also have to say that I'm quite jealous you were able to see the 
> Variety Awards. I have a sound clip of what Rickman said, but I'd 
> really like to hear Daniel's speech, or even better, see both! It 
> sounded delightful.

Be jealous no longer: http://plum.cream.org/HP/variety.htm
(yes, that's my site)