Talking about about Harry

TV Direkt, October 2003

[Beneath title] What’s going on with Harry Potter ? Instead of the end of this year, the new Harry Potter film “the Prisoner of Azkaban” release is due mid 2004 in our cinemas. We have some behind the scenes footage.

[Page One] The filming schedule was not very lucky. First, the filming was postponed because a fire desroyed the Scotland set in Glencoe. Finally in February, the filming began and a few weeks later, because of heavy rain, an entire bridge fell down. And then the 1300-ppl-team was disturbed by mini-flies. And if that’s not enough, here’s more: Vandals thought it would be funny to cover the entire Hogwarts Express with Graffity and damaged Hagrid’s Hut. Harry is the most loved boy-wizard in the world, - are there any potter haters out there or was this simply a little prank?

Though the filming for Prisoner of Azkaban is not going as well as expected, the team has another thousand problems; like illumination problems or wasted camera angles which give the whole team a lot of time pressure. The 130 million dollar third adventure was scheduled for release at the end of this year but was unfortunately postponed until the 3rd of June 2004. To end the filming we’ll need the magic of the filmmakers, because there is still Postproduction and Dubbing to be done.

After Chris Columbus left the Harry Potter set with the phrase: “Too tired for film three” everybody has relied on the Mexican Alfonso Cuaron (Great Expectations 1997). He began the work with new Ideas.

[Page Two] He wanted to transform Chris Columbus’ perfect Potter world in a more realistic one. The stress and the bad luck they had on the set so far brought a lot of depression and a lot of time pressure, although the dark mood is a thing which has to do with the dark story that is told. Harry, who’s 14 now, is going through puberty with voicebreaking and all. To bring Harry’s character to the screen in this third installment, Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe gets into the mood by listening to the Sex Pistols, the Strokes and the Dandy Warhols.

The big wizard Harry Potter is in hormonal stress (puberty). Does that have any effect on the plot?

“A lot of nudity and a lot of sex!” jokes director Alfonso Cuaron. But seriously: “The hormones are like pollen in the air.” Furthermore, the actors are in puberty too. Emma has a sign on her door reading: Beware: Babe inside. Of course, she’s 13-year-old.

We will be very excited to see the third installment (according to fans the best of the series). Voldemort reminds Director Alfonso Cuaron of a combination of George W. Bush and Saddam. “Both like to manipulate people!”

The special effects team has been working on the Dementors for about six months now.

The film is full of stars: Gary Oldman plays Sirius Black who has to do with Harry’s parents’ death. Dumbledore's role was taken over by Michael Gambon after Richard Harris died and Emma Thompson is due to play the eccentric Sybill Trealawney.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed. Anyway, when the new Harry Potter film starts again on the big screen, all the bad luck will be forgotten and it will bring magic into the millions of fans hearts!!

[Text in the lilac round on the right]

1. Cleaned of filth the Hogwarts Express looks like new
2. Hagrid’s hut, circled by curious people
3. Dark athmosphere: In Scotland’s Highlands
4. Dan Radcliffe’s double is needed in a lot of scenes
5. Fire on set: The crew must put it out
6. Radcliffe likes to do easy stunts by himself
7. prepareing for a scene: Alfonso Cuaron and Hermione actress Emma Watson

Thank you Vivi and sabine for your help with the translation!