Posted by Hider on 10-01-2008 14:10:56 PDT

Note: While this doesn't specifically relate to Neville, it is related and I thought all of you would be interested to hear about this.

Source: Ace Show Biz

While conducting interviews for his new film "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas", producer David Heyman has offered some reasons and explanations to answer several "Harry Potter" fan sites' questions over "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince". Through it, it is revealed that the battle at Hogwarts and Dumbledore's funeral have to be eliminated to avoid repetition as well as provide the right ending to this sixth film.

Explaining his reason for the battle omission to Snitch Seeker, the filmmaker spelled out, "The reason why we left out the Battle at Hogwarts is because we have a battle at Hogwarts in the Seventh film and we are avoiding repetition." He then added on Dumbledore's funeral scene, "Dumbledore's funeral was something that I really loved and is a fantastic part of the book and part of me would have loved it in the film. But we decided that while we loved it that what we came up with was the right ending for the film that we had made."

Heyman also gave time to address the impact of characters cut to the last two installments of "Harry Potter" franchise, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I" and "Part II". "Inevitably there will be certain things that we will probably have to introduce and emphasize in the Seventh film," he answered The Leaky Cauldron's question. "Before we read the Seventh book there had been things in the earlier films that we had not realized how important they were."

"There was an example in the Fifth film when we were considering cutting Kreature but Jo [Rowling] said to me..."I wouldn't do that if I were you"...She didn't tell us why, but she said we would be advised to keep him. And of course in the Seventh book Kreature is an important character. It has been a while, for example, since we have seen Dobby and I suspect we are going to have to make more of Dobby in Seven than we might have done. I think we have done a pretty good job of what we need in terms of the plot." The written scripts of all the Q&A with Heyman can be read at Harry Potter's Page.

Dealing with a darker matter than previous "Harry Potter" films, "Half-Blood Prince" resolves around the ever growing threat built by the evil dark wizard, Lord Voldermort, to the wizarding world. Being the only one who has survived his attack years before, Harry accompanied by his two loyal friends, Ron and Hermione has to prepare for his ultimate battle while the walls that used to keep him and his friends away from danger may not be a safe haven anymore.

The sixth movie adaptation from "Harry Potter" book by J.K. Rowlings, it stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Bonnie Wright, Michael Gambon, Tom Felton, Alan Rickman, Helen McCrory and Hero Fiennes-Tiffin. The flick coming out on July 17, 2009 is directed by David Yates and written by Steven Kloves.

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Posted by Hider on 08-14-2008 11:44:57 PDT

Source: Market Watch

BURBANK, Calif., Aug 14, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that it has moved back the release date of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to Summer 2009. The sixth installment of the blockbuster Harry Potter franchise will now open day-and-date domestically and in the major international markets on July 17, 2009. The announcement was made by Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros.

In making the announcement, Mr. Horn stated, "Our reasons for shifting Half-Blood Prince to summer are twofold: we know the summer season is an ideal window for a family tent pole release, as proven by the success of our last Harry Potter film, which is the second-highest grossing film in the franchise, behind only the first installment. Additionally, like every other studio, we are still feeling the repercussions of the writers' strike, which impacted the readiness of scripts for other films--changing the competitive landscape for 2009 and offering new windows of opportunity that we wanted to take advantage of. We agreed the best strategy was to move 'Half-Blood Prince' to July, where it perfectly fills the gap for a major tent pole release for mid-summer."

Jeff Robinov, President of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, confirmed, "The release date change does not alter the production schedule for this or future Harry Potter films. Post-production on Half-Blood Prince was completed on time, and the studio's release plans for the two-part Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will not be affected by this change. We know Harry Potter fans are eagerly anticipating seeing the final chapters unfold onscreen. In fact, the good news for them is that the gap will now be shortened between Half-Blood Prince and the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

Commenting on the release date change for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, David Heyman, the producer of all the Harry Potter films, offered, "When Jeff Robinov explained the rationale behind moving the release date of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to July 2009, it was immediately apparent that this offered us the potential to reach the widest possible audience. I am extremely proud of this latest film and of the work of David Yates and our incomparable cast; I believe we have developed and pushed the series further still. We are all looking forward to sharing it with Harry Potter fans around the world, even if we have to wait just a bit longer."

David Yates, the director of both Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and who will also helm Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, added, "It has been a joy to work on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Dan, Rupert and Emma and all our returning young cast continue to blossom, and our new cast members bring fresh color and life to Hogwarts. Even as we put the finishing touches on this latest film, we are already beginning preparations on the final two films--we start filming in February--and I am excited to bring this remarkable series to the exciting and moving conclusion its loyal fans deserve."

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Posted by Hider on 07-02-2008 11:33:15 PDT

Source: Yorkshire Evening Post

Previous winners include motormouth DJ Chris Moyles and Leeds beauty Nell McAndrews - but you don't need to be famous to win a Yorkshire Achievers Award.

The accolades, now in their 16th year, recognize outstanding under-35-year-olds from across the region who have made an impact nationally or locally. Their success could involve a triumph over adversity or accomplishing great things in business, sport, education or the arts.

Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis and artist Darren Baker, both former winners, were joined by 2007 Youngster of the Year Jack Marshall to launch this year's search at ITV Yorkshire in Leeds.

Matthew, 19, whose big-screen performances as Harry's faithful pal Neville Longbottom landed him last year's Achievement in the Arts Award sponsored by the Yorkshire Evening Post, said: "It was incredible – it meant a lot to me. And being asked to do this, to be asked to come along and open it up is fantastic."

Matthew, who grew up in Horsforth but now lives in Burley, has recently finished filming Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince – out in November. In February he starts work on Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final film which is being split into two parts.

Huddersfield artist Darren, Management and Enterprise Achievement Award winner in 2005, set up his own business five years ago with a grant from The Prince's Trust and has now been commissioned to paint the Queen's portrait later this year.

Other past winners include Leeds chart-toppers Kaiser Chiefs, Spice Girl Mel B, cricketer Michael Vaughan and singer Gareth Gates.

The awards, set up and sponsored by McCormicks Solicitors of Harrogate, have raised more than £500,000 for leading children's charity NCH.

Nomination forms are available from www.yorkshireyoung-achievers.co.uk or from Zoe Ward on 01423 530630. The closing date is Friday September 12 and the winners will be revealed at a dinner on November 6.

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Posted by Hider on 10-19-2007 11:21:35 PDT

Source: The Leaky Cauldron

MLF WEBMASTER NOTE: Because of length, only the related questions have been pasted below. Click the source link for the whole article.

Tonight, the one thousand grand prize winners (and their guests) of the Scholastic's Open Book Tour Sweepstakes along with a companion got the chance to see Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling read from "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," answer questions and sign books at New York City's Carnegie Hall. We have exclusive information this evening on the myriad of "Deathly Hallows" questions she answered as well as in-depth details on a number of subjects she spoke about.

Q: Did Neville ever find love?

Of course. ... To make him extra cool he marries the woman who becomes, eventually, the new landlady at The Leaky Cauldron, which I think would make him very cool among the students, that he lives above the pub. He marries Hannah Abbott.


Q: How did you decide that Molly Weasley would be the one to finish off Bellatrix?

I always knew Molly was going to finish her off. I think there was some speculation that Neville would do it, because Neville obviously has a particular reason to hate Bellatrix. ..So there were lots of options for Bellatrix, but I never deviated. I wanted it to be Molly, and I wanted it to be Molly for two reasons.

The first reason was I always saw Molly as a very good witch but someone whose light is necessarily hidden under a bushel, because she isn't in the kitchen a lot and she has had to raise, among others, and george which is like, enough... I wanted Molly to have her moment and to show that because a woman had dedicated herself to her family does not mean that she doesn't have a lot of other talents.

Second reason: It was the meeting of two kinds of - if you call what Bellatrix feels for Voldemort love, I guess we'll call it love, she has a kind of obsession with him, it's a very sick obsession ... and I wanted to match that kind of obsession with maternal love... the power that you give someone by loving them. So Molly was really an amazing exemplar of maternal love. ... There was something very satisfying about putting those two women together.

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