AR has read the books, well, at least DH!

[Carol]

Alla:
> 
> And in my opinion too, however I would never blame the actor for portraying the character in such a way that it contradicts the original material IF this is what director wanted from him/her.
> 
> Do I think that Dumbledore shaking Harry in GoF is one of the most idiotic scenes ever written by playwriter and accepted by the director? You bet I do. Do I blame Gabon for this scene? Not at all. I blame Kloves first and foremost and I blame the director. Do I think they would have changed the scene if Gambon read the books and said oh no, Dumbledore would have never acted like that? No, I would never believe that. In my opinion of course. <snip>

Carol responds:

It seems that actors can and often do suggest changes in a script, but how and why they ask for changes may determine whether they're acted on or not. Here's an article by a scriptwriter informing actors about how to request a change and get the writer and director to listen:

http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2009/07/actors-how-to-give-notes-to-writers.html

Personally, I think that if a respected and established actor like Gambon or Rickman requested a change, the writer and director would listen. If, for example, Gambon had read the book and pointed out that in the book, Gambon didn't shake Harry or yell at him because he had faith in him (and doesn't want his students manhandled, as we see in OoP when Umbridge shakes Marietta), the director would at least have explained why he wanted it that way and maybe filmed the scene in alternate versions (his way and Gambon's/JKR's way) to see which worked better. From there, it would be up to the director and script editor, but at least the actor's view of his own character would be considered. Actors aren't slaves to a director's will, at least not in most cases. IIRC, Dan Radcliffe or Emma Watson(?) said that Yates asked them about their characters. After all, they've been playing those roles for years and he's a relative newcomer.

Carol, who thinks that any director worth his paycheck will listen to his actors and that not doing so will ruin the rapport on the set