|
|
harry potter and the
prisoner of askaban
Harry with Hermione (Emma Watson) at the Shrieking Shack.
Hermione holding Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) at bay.
|
How have you come to terms with the demands of the special effects?
Actually, they’ve been a lot of fun. I have done special effects here and there, but never a film concentrated on special effects. I have to admit it was more fun early on when there was a learning curve, because I was learning so much. Then you want to try and apply that to everything and you are designing your storyboards. There is a point where it becomes very organic, more your nature, and then it becomes time-consuming! My job really was to stay out of the way of some very talented people - a great cinematographer, production designers and visual effects guys. They are the best: I am surrounded by great people. The tough thing is how long it takes. I heard that Ang Lee said, “This kind of movie is not so much about film-making as about endurance.” He was right.
Have your special effects evolved from the last film?
Yes, for instance, there is a Quidditch scene that takes place in a storm. It is a great scene and the Dementors are amazing. But what we wanted to do is a character movie with visual effects, not a visual-effects movie with some characters. The visual effects are really serving the story. We are trying to stay away from that emphasis.
With all these fantastical elements, do you see this as a fantasy film?
It is interesting you say that because no, I don’t. I was having a conversation with a friend yesterday in which I pointed out that it was not about that. What we are trying to do with this film is show the complete forlorn sentiment of Harry... People make the case that The Lord of the Rings is about similar things, but I am not an expert in fantasy.
Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) with director Alfonso Cuarón;
|
How have you found it working with your three young stars?
It has been so much fun; they are absolutely amazing. And it is a perfect moment to work with them on the movies: I know they are prepped and are starting to take themselves seriously as actors, becoming more serious about the craft. They have been very courageous also from an emotional standpoint. They are even willing to go into the internal turmoil.
There is an interesting parallel that they are growing up and going through the same things as their characters.
Yeah, that is priceless because of two things. One is they are very generous, because they lend that to the characters; and secondly, because there is lot of stuff that they cannot control and it allows you to mould it and make the decision to just let it happen.
|
|
