In a new interview with Empire Harry Potter producer David Heyman talks about an early cut of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the BAFTA award and more. Some snippets may be read below.
What about Part Two? Is that rough-cut at this point?
Yeah. I’ve seen a very, very early cut. It’s very exciting. No visual effects, no music, no sound effects, and it’s really exciting. But it’s early days and the film continues to take shape and will continue to take shape over the next many months. I think it will be a great ending to the series. It was a really long shoot; we shot over 260 days on this one.
But you obviously found solutions in the end for the scenes that everyone was worried about, the King’s Cross scene and the flashbacks.
Well, in a way this is an easier structure than Part One because it’s quite defined. In terms of the King’s Cross scene, I think it does work and it’s very moving. We actually did it once, and then re-did it a little bit because we needed to refine something, and I’m pretty glad we did. It’s a very quiet, moving scene, but I think it leaves the series on the right note. The only flashback really that one thinks about is the Snape flashback, when Harry goes into the Pensieve to see Snape’s story, and that’ll be defined, but it’ll be very moving.One of the things I love about David Yates’ work is that he’s very concerned with the life of the characters. Yes, there’s a lot of action as the series comes to an end, yes there’s boom-boom-boom as it comes to an end, but he also takes time for the humanity. That’s what I like about Part One is the luxury of having that time to spend with the characters. Even in this, which is more action-packed, there’s time to cover that, which is great.
In a new video interview with the Telegraph David Heyman discusses his 10 years working on the Harry Potter series. Watch the interview below and read some snippets from it below.
He is proud to receive the outstanding achievement award, named in honour of legendary film-maker Michael Balcon. “It’s really wonderful that it’s the whole franchise being recognised and it’s a collective award. Each film has anywhere between 2,000 and 6,000 people working on it and so really the award is for each and every one of us. We are like a family.”
On the wall of Heyman’s Soho office is a poster for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, signed by its three young stars. If proof were needed that the actors and their characters are not dissimilar, it is here. It is also testament to the fact that, without Heyman, there would be no Potter phenomenon. “You’re a WICKED producer!” writes Grint. “To David, thank you is not a strong enough word for my gratitude,” is Watson’s neatly written message. And from Daniel Radcliffe? “Thank goodness I went to the theatre. Love, Dan.”
In a new video interview with BBC, Harry Potter producer David Heyman discusses the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award that he and JK Rowling will be accepting on behalf of the Harry Potter series this Sunday at the BAFTA awards.
We’ve been making these films for 10, 11 years now and the whole journey’s been absolutely fantastic. But to get this recognition from BAFTA is something remarkable, unexpected and a treat. We don’t make films for the legacy. We make films to make the best films possible. The most important thing is that the audiences enjoy them. So far they seem to have enjoyed them. The fact that we get awards like the Michael Bokon award is a huge honor and something that every member of the cast and crew will treasure. But that’s really the icing on the cake.
We’ve seen people grow over the 10 years of Harry Potter and learn their craft. It’s been a great training ground for so many. So hopefully those people will continue to work and grow within the industry. I think that films working on films generates new talent and hopefully we’ve been part of that.
I think in some ways we’ve grown as the visual effects have grown. You look at the visual effects in the first film and frankly they’re a bit ropy. You can see as the quality of the visual effects has improved, so they’ve improved in our films. And I think in terms of British visual effects in particular, we’ve been a part of that growth and development.
Harry Potter has been unique. I’m sure I will never be part of anything quite like it again. There’ll be other unique and special experiences in my life and in my career, I’m sure. I hope. But there’ll be nothing quite like Potter. If something were to come along again and I were fortunate enough to be part of it, I’d grab it in a heartbeat. But I think it’s unlikely. For me, I’ve been involved with it since 1997. I’m treasuring these past 14 years. They’ve been amazing.
The Harry Potter series will be receiving the award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema at this year’s Orange British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA). JK Rowling and David Heyman will receive the award on behalf of the franchise during the ceremony at London’s Royal Opera House on Sunday 13 February 2011.
Finola Dwyer, Chair of the Film Committee commented, “As this great British film success story draws to a close with this year’s eagerly anticipated final instalment, it’s fitting that BAFTA honours the Harry Potter films and their contribution to the British film industry. We’re delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate with JK Rowling and David Heyman at the Film Awards.”
Producer David Heyman said, “On behalf of the over 2000 people who worked in front of and behind the camera on each of the Harry Potter films I would like to say how honoured we all are to receive this Award. And thank you to Jo Rowling for entrusting us to bring her magnificent books to the screen.”
Daniel Radcliffe who plays the eponymous hero remarked, “I am thrilled that the Harry Potter film series is being honoured with this Award. I have loved every minute of making these films and to me the real heroes are the crew and the huge team of craftsmen that have made all eight of them possible – this Award is a testament to their incredible work.”
Emma Watson who plays Hermione Granger said, “This is a huge honour! I am so proud to have been part of the incredible team both in front and behind the camera that made these films. Thank you to Jo Rowling for writing such wonderful books, to David Heyman for shepherding us all through the past ten years and to all the loyal fans who have been with us throughout”
Rupert Grint who plays Ron Weasley added, “Thank you so much BAFTA for this amazing Award. We have spent half our lives making these films and are so proud of the pleasure they have given the fans and the contribution they have made to British cinema.”
In a new interview with USA Today Tom Felton, David Yates and David Heyman talked about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.
The second film comes out July 15. “The very last one’s a big old epic, with lots of battles and dragons and goblins. It’s going to be operatic. And then it’s over,” says director David Yates.
“The decision to split this into two was purely a creative one. By doing two, there’s more detail and more time to engage with the characters in the way that we do,” says producer David Heyman. “It allows the audience time to bring themselves to it. The audience has the time to project their own feelings and engage with the characters.”
Asked if he’s feeling nostalgic, Yates says, “I don’t think we ever took it for granted. We’d sometimes joke about what we’re going to do when it’s all over. We’ll never have this amount of resources again. We’re going to have to go back into the real world, after living in this bubble.”
“One of the greatest gifts that Jo Rowling and the whole franchise has given (the actors) is that we can really end up making a kid’s night just from saying hello,” Felton says. “I was 12 when we started shooting; 13 when it came out. I’m 23 now. It’s been a long journey. You don’t see people growing up, not when you’re there. It’s only when you look back at the films. … Look at Daniel! He was bloody tiny. My face was like a basketball. But those angelic features seem to have left me,” he jokes.
“The last film will be it. It’s never going to be like this again. You never take this for granted,” Heyman says. “You want to do the end justice, so there’s a little bit of anxiety.”
Thanks to TLC for reminding me that I forgot to post this yesterday.
FirstShowing has released a 40 minute long interview with Harry Potter producer David Heyman where he talks about his 10+ years producing the films, Deathly Hallows and so much more!!
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