Shorthand in Film(was dark films, but morphed)

[susanbones2003]

--- In HPFGU-Movie at yahoogroups.com, Karen <kchuplis at ...> wrote:
>
> 
> On Friday, March 10, 2006, at 08:22 PM, susanbones2003 wrote:
> 
> 
> kchuplis:
> 
> I've no doubt that Sirius will not be as "fulltime" sullen as he 
is in 
> the book. There has got to be a warmer welcome for one thing. Gary 
> Oldman is certainly up to the task of radiating warmth to Harry 
but 
> expressing impatience at being locked up. The other thing is that 
on 
> film, it is amazing how just small scenes can convey a lot. That's 
> almost a luxury that novelists do not have. The visual element 
makes up 
> for a lot. The writers have proved themselves fairly capable of 
this 
> type of thing.

Jen interjects:
I get what you mean about doing so much with just a little on-screen 
time. Just cracked open my new GOF-dvd and one of the first nice 
little bits that speaks to your shorthand idea is how they introduce 
Mad-eye in basically 3-4 sentences and some striking visuals. He 
comes in the Great Hall, the ceiling goes nuts, he dispatches it 
nicely, thank you very much and the kids to the heavy lifting about 
who he is and what he does. Ron calls him "Mad-eye Moody." Hermione 
gives us his real name and Ron tells us he used to work for the 
ministry as an auror. Dean asks what an auror is, and Ron responds 
with as few words as possible, "Dark wizard-catcher." It all took 
less than 30 seconds I'll bet. Moody/Crouch then gulps down his 
polyjuice potion and someone asks what's he drinking. In a very 
Rowlingesque clue-delivery form, Harry says "I don't know but I 
don't think it's pumpkin juice." (Or something close to that!)If 
Harry only listened to himself, he'd know already something's up!

I think I am onto a riff here. I'll think and watch some more for 
Karen's shorthand delivery of HP knowledge in film format...
Jen D.