[HPFGU-Movie]concerns about PoA and future films

[artsylynda at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/21/2003 3:55:48 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
HPFGU-Movie at yahoogroups.com writes:

> can you picture 'the dream team' in their twenties, 
> playing school kids?
> 
> ~Faith~
> 

oh yes, absolutely! It happens all the time.  Most TV series or films in the 
US that feature "high school" kids (which is what our kids will be playing 
when they're in their twenties if they're still doing HP films) are played by 
actors in their twenties.  "Smallville" (a TV series on the WB network) stars 
Tom Welling who's at least 23, but he's playing 16.  "Beverly Hills 90210" 
which I never watched, but you may have heard of, was a TV series with a 
whole group of young people who were supposed to be in high school, then 
college and adult life, but they all started out over 18.  "Friends" is 
supposed to be people in their twenties, but the actress who plays "Phoebe" 
just turned 40!  They hire actors over 18 as often as possible so they can 
use them for longer hours, with no tutoring problems and no law requiring 
them to only work so many hours per day (3 or 4, I've forgotten), which 
severely limits filming time.  These are US laws (and shows), it may be 
different in Britain, I don't know. In films, the only child actors playing 
their age are usually 13 and younger, most often playing kids even younger 
than they actually are.  Once the character is age 15-up, they are usually 
played by actors who are over 18.  So I see absolutely no reason why our kids 
can't continue to do the films even into their twenties.  It's an accepted 
convention, and will make filming go faster once they're past that age when 
their time is restricted.  

As for their education, American child actors tutored on the set often wind  
up in Harvard or other such very hard-to-get-into schools, and do well there 
despite breaks from school for filming.  I don't know how they do it, except 
that they must be more mature and goal-oriented than the average kid their 
age.  I think it's amazing and highly commendable that they're be able to get 
a good education while still working (if that's what they want to do).  Jodie 
Foster and Brooke Shields are two who immediately come to mind as having gone 
to Ivy League colleges while still making films.  Our kids can do it if they 
want to.  

And as for Tom Felton wanting to go fishing -- quite honestly, Draco doesn't 
have that many scenes in any of the books (or movies).  It shouldn't be a big 
dent in Tom's schedule to shoot those scenes.  If he had to be replaced, it 
wouldn't be as big a blow as if one of the main characters were replaced, 
although I'd prefer to keep the cast intact.  If Dan were the one who wanted 
to fish instead of act, that would be different.  He carries each film on his 
own shoulders, is in nearly every scene, so he has much more of a workload 
than anyone else.  If he wanted more free time, that would be a serious 
problem.  I'm glad he seems to be enjoying himself so much.  My first 
reaction when I saw the publicity photos from the CoS DVD release was, "Dan 
looks like he's having great fun!"  Rupert was making faces, which seems 
normal for him (he seems to be quite a funny guy), Emma was "posing" so she 
must have had some recent modeling training or is modeling herself after 
someone (Britney Spears or a model, same pose works either way).  But Dan 
just looks joyful in nearly every picture.  Since he's the one who has the 
most work to do, I'm glad he's still so happy!

Lynda 
* * *
"Don't let  the Muggles get you down." Ron Weasley PoA


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