[HPFGU-Movie] Re: Setup for OOTP

[Richard]

At 17:11 30/11/2005 , susanbones2003 wrote:

>Richard,
>I've wanted to ask you, concerning the continuity, do you feel the
>movies stand alone since they are being written and directed as stand
>alones? I know you mentioned it's very possible Jo had her mitts on the
>GOF script but was it simply to protect future plot lines and then
>hands off?  I mean in your opinion of course...I am beginning to wonder
>if she is in some way distancing herself from the films. I saw nothing
>of her during all the opening hoopla and I know her hubby was ill, but
>still, it seemed unnaturally quiet from her. I do understand the forces
>that move film-making may be too strong even for her to sway one way or
>another. What do you think?

Before I say what *I* think (for what it's worth - my opinion is 
objectively no more valid than anyone else's), a few things from those who 
know.

I listened to (some of) the latest Leaky Cauldron podcast earlier today, 
which included an interview with Mike Newell. He said (and I think I quote 
correctly) that Warners had encouraged him to treat the movie as a 
standalone entity without worrying about continuing plotlines, but without 
being "irresponsible". I really liked that word in this context. As long as 
the movies don't actively *contradict* each other, anything goes.

 From what was said at the time Columbus was making the first film, I got 
the distinct impression that JKR was most concerned about how things *look* 
- both from what she said, and from what Columbus et al said about her, she 
didn't care too much about what was left in and left out of the script, as 
long as it didn't mess up the continuing story. But it seems that she was 
most adamant about placing various elements in their "right place" 
visually, rather than the "right place" in the story.

I mentioned in another message that I saw Clemence Poesy going on at some 
length this morning about her experiences on the set. She underlined again 
that, as far as she knew, JKR made one visit to the set to check how things 
looked, but otherwise left Newell and his team to their own devices.

One surprising thing she mentioned though, which I don't think we've heard 
before, is that JKR was present at the first script read-through by as much 
of the assembled cast as was possible (given everyone's other commitments). 
The next day, Newell made a few changes.

OK, on to my opinions. I'm not sure I'd agree that JKR is "distancing" 
herself from the movies, but I do think she's deliberately taking a 
hands-off approach, having gained confidence in the production team. She 
was much more involved in the first film because, apart from having to 
consult on her world's general look and feel, let's remember that there 
were only four books out at the time, and we knew a lot less about the 
various threads underlining the individual plots than we do now.

Furthermore, as regards the "hoopla", she involved herself more deeply with 
the first one simply because it *was* the first one, and clearly required 
her imprimatur for all kinds of reasons. I get the impression she doesn't 
enjoy the rigmarole surrounding the premieres, etc., and that she's glad 
that the GoF roller-coaster didn't need her help in any way.

Each of the three directors to date (and certainly Kloves and Heyman) have 
acknowledged JKR's assistance when required, and it seems to me that both 
she and they feel at ease with the amount of input she has. At the same 
time, I think a deliberate and concerted effort has been made by both sides 
to make it clear that the movies are the movies, the books are the books, 
and neither should be considered a replacement for the other.

The movies *have* to stand alone, and in particular PoA, GoF and OotP, 
which are/were released at 18-month intervals, with an attendant drop in 
hype between releases, and the valuable teenage demographic getting older 
and potentially losing interest. I suspect that Heyman & Co would like to 
release the last three movies as close to each other as possible, with no 
more than a year between them. Partially to keep up the momentum, partially 
to avoid the Trio getting too old and partially (being realistic rather 
than cynical) wanting to avoid the possibility of some of the older adult 
actors meeting Richard Harris's fate before the series is done.

At the same time, though, the movies should not waste time or internal 
coherence reiterating plot elements from earlier in the series or setting 
up for the future unless strictly necessary. The movies don't need to lay 
down the same clues, or in the same order, as the books, although I'm sure 
that if (my eternal gripe) the adapters  knew the details of what was 
coming up, they could write something more appropriate to the different 
medium from the outset - although even the smallest deviations from JKR's 
plotting have met with derision from some part of the fandom or another.

Overall, given the constraints under which the movies are being made, I 
think they are doing an admirable job of keeping the whole thing 
homogenous, despite, for instance, the changes in visuals (e.g. uniforms 
and Hogwarts geography), not to mention a very different 
Dumbledore,  between the first two movies and what follows: it'll be 
interesting to see if Peter Yates changes anything more (although I'd 
expect not).

--
Richard, who's beginning to ramble (again...)