opening scene of PoA

[Susan Atherton]

Matt Huber:
> ummm...The potter series has a traditional opening crane shot of 
>Privet drive.

Moi:
Er, no it doesn't. Matt, go back and watch PS again and tell me where the crane shot of Privet Drive is. Pre-titles it's McGonagall and Dumbledore dropping Harry off with the Dursleys; post titles it's Harry in his cupboard, then into the kitchen. The first exterior shot of Privet Drive is when they set off for the zoo, and it's not a crane shot.

Dan Feeney:
My opening would stun the audience, like Jackson does in the trilogy -
 they wouldn't be expecting it, it would "set the tone" WAY better 
than by letting the real subject of the film sneak up, as it were, 
and it has more art to it.

Me:
If they could find someone who could do for HP for Jackson did for LOTR (coughgilliamcough), then I would be ecstatic. LOTR fans who hate the movies purely on principal still cannot deny the movies are amazing in terms of craft. I don't know about anyone else, but the moment the Battle of Helm's Deep began in TTT, I could barely breathe, I felt like I was there. Plus, Jackson loves these movies like they're his children - the FOTR extended DVD is the DVD dipstick by which all other movies should be measured. He spent hours in the editing room and back on location making sure the DVDs and sequels were perfect. 

We need a director who will show the same amount of devotion to HP. Alright, so they are seen as kid's books rather than masterpieces like LOTR. They still mean a huge amount to the fans. PoA is my favourite book, and I will be distraught if it is handled in the same slapdash manner as the first two. Someone lock Columbus up (maybe in Azkaban) until book 7 has been filmed, he cannot be allowed to spoil the following films. And while you're at it, throw Kloves in there too. 

Dan:
We see 
it from the perspective, as in the books, of those who have assumed 
SB's guilt for 12 years. It puts us exactly where we're supposed to 
be, so that we know we are somewhere else by the end of it. 

Me:
I like your opening a lot. Same format as PS - the Sirius/Peter confrontation pre-titles cutting to Harry post-titles with a "Twelve years later" card (am thinking unfortunately they will cut the lovely first chapter where Harry is opening his birthday presents - I'd imagine they'll go straight for an owl appearing in his room in the morning with the Hogsmeade form). 

They could have one shot of Sirius looking menacingly at Peter, Peter sobbing loudly "James and Lily, Sirius! How could you?" and then the street blowing apart (with "HP and the PoA" shining out of the explosion) at the beginning; and then as Sirius tells the story in the Shack, continuing the flashback with the explosion fading to show Peter transforming and scurrying down into the sewer, as Sirius is taken away.  Oooh, I do like that. I think most of the Shrieking Shack should be told in flashback, it'd be easier to understand and would give Oldman more to do.

Matt:
>Thus >the opening shot will be a crane shot of #4 privet drive, most 
>likely zoming in through the window of Harry's room with him lying 
>in bed reading the Muggle paper with Sirius' picture on the front, 
>then the scene continues with Harry being called to dinner and 
>having the Muggle news in the background talking about the escaped 
>convict, which flows nicely to a small discussion of it with the 
>family, which segways to Aunt Marge, which begins Harry's 3rd year 
>adventure.

Me: 
Sorry, Matt, but this is just transcripting the book, as Dan said. That shot is exactly what Columbus would do (possibly excluding the shot of Harry's room - bit extraneous, they're trying to keep the running time down, remember). This movie needs to be handled with care - it's very important to setting up the rest of the series. CoS was the last movie that didn't really matter - from PoA onwards we are getting into important clues and significant characters that need developing. If we don't learn to love Sirius now, why will we care when he dies in OoP? It's not like he has a huge role in GoF or OoP - no, our affection for Sirius comes from his righteous anger at Peter and his crushing sorrow and remorse towards Harry for his part in James and Lily's death. I still can't read the bit where he says "I would never have betrayed James and Lily. I would have died first" without welling up (nor the bit where he asks Harry to come live with him, either).

As for my own idea of the PoA opening scene? Well, I'm quite fond of Oldman in his cell, thin as a rake, reading the Daily Prophet (we don't see the cover), before standing up, walking over to the bars, putting a hand on them, and then, and only then...smiling. 

BAM!! Cut to Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban.

Not as good as yrs, Dan, but maybe mine for the trailer :)

Susan
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