Before Warner Bros. took the stage at CinemaCon, I got to speak with Harry Potter producers David Heyman and David Barron on the red carpet. With the final installment set to hit theaters in July, this was the final time they would be promoting Harry Potter to theater owners. Thankfully, the pair brought some incredible footage from the final installment (read about it here) and after watching, I think the last chapter will be the best.
During the interview, Heyman and Barron talked about how they decided what footage to show, they confirmed the final installment would be in 3D, revealed that Part I is heading to Blu-ray in 3D and some of the previous films might as well, confirmed Part II is loaded with action, and Heyman said that the last chapter “will be the shortest film.” After the interview ended, he told me it would be over two hours, but I don’t think much longer than that. Hit the jump to either read or watch the interview.
Finally, due to some audio issues (which I didn’t know about until I started to edit) I’m offering both the full transcript and the video. Don’t worry, this will be fixed tomorrow.
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Collider: How did you guys decide what footage you wanted to show the theater owners today?
Heyman: Well part of it was what was ready, quite frankly. Because we’re still very much editing and also still very much doing the visual effects. So a lot of the visual effects being shown here will be very rough, and the footage is still rough. But we just showed some exciting bits and some really good dramatic scenes.
Barron: What the movie’s about.
Heyman: To let people in, a little bit.
When you guys first presented Harry Potter, I believe it was last year but maybe 2 years ago, but you guys actually showed a scene from Harry facing Voldemort for the final time. And it was in the very beginning of the footage you showed, and for me, I gasped, because I couldn’t believe you were showing this.
Barron: (laughs) Just teasing.
Heyman: You had to wait a little while before you actually saw it in the film.
Are you showing anymore of that scene today?
Heyman: No
Barron: There’s one shot of each, I think.
Heyman: Yeah there’s a couple of shots, but we’re not showing cut footage.
You guys decided not to do the 3D conversion for Part 1, but you said 3D for Part 2. Is Part 2 still being released in 3D?
Heyman: Yes it is. The reason we didn’t do it on the first part was because we didn’t feel that we could do it justice. And actually the 3D would actually compromise the film, so we didn’t have the time.
Barron: We were diving into 3D for the first time, it was a new world for us, and so we didn’t get off to a fine start. There wasn’t time to do it properly, and so Warners very very kindly supported us. I’m sure they were wishing it was not the case, but they were hugely supportive to not put out something that we weren’t happy with.
You mentioned that you guys were eventually gonna release Part 1 in 3D whether it be on Blu-ray or a re-release theatrically.
Heyman: We’re doing Blu-ray.
Barron: It’s going really well.
Heyman: We’re in the process of doing it right now and we’re really excited about the quality, we feel it adds something to the film and is really immersive as opposed to taking out, which I think a lot of 3D can do. And it’s been great for us going through that process to lead into the theatrical because I think we’ve learned an awful lot.
Barron: We have learned a lot.
Heyman: David Yates is approaching 3D from a character point of view.
Barron: It’s a storytelling aid. Rather than being a special effect gimmick where it’s like “Oh that’s cool.” We’re using it to help tell the story better.
Heyman: It’s probably gonna be more subtle than on some films, we’re not gonna have tons of stuff flying out the screen, we’ll have some but not much. The depth will not necessarily be as great as some films. But it will make the film feel larger, be more immersive, and I think it will add to the stories as opposed to take away.
Do you guys ever envision a 3D conversion of the earlier films and also the theatrical re-release of them in 3D?
Heyman: We haven’t’ talked about it but I won’t be surprised if that happens. I don’t know about theatrical but I suspect in 3D that will go on.
What’s the running time of the final film?
Barron: It will be one of the shortest films.
Heyman: It will be the shortest film.
So what does that mean?
Heyman: We don’t know yet, because we’re still editing.
Barron: It’s not a short film, but it will be shorter than the others.
When I spoke to you guys last time, you mentioned that the last film was much more of an action film. Is that still the case?
Heyman: It’s not non-stop action, but it’s a lot of action. But, one the the things that makes Harry Potter so special is it’s not just action, not just magic, it’s characters, humanity and truth.
Barron: And a strong emotional core.
Heyman: And that’s what this film has: a real strong emotional center. So yeah there’s a lot of action, and it’s a really thrilling ride, and it ends with the final confrontation with Voldemort with Harry, but most importantly it’s a film that moves you and it makes you really involved and invested in the characters.
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I am so excited for this. I first started with Harry in ’98 when I was 7 years old. When this last film comes out I will be 20 and my childhood will officially close. I am sure I will not be disappointed.
I am so excited to see this movie. I can’t believe the last one is almost here. But the wait until July is going to be killer.
DH1 will ultimately go down as one of the lesser Potter films-
There is still a lot to cover in part 2- the news of this short run time scares me a bit-
I’m not surprised it’s the shortest of them all. I mean it’s 1/3 of the book–it’s bound to be a shorter film. But I do notice they’re adding things (the “why do you live” scene comes to mind), so they must be pushing for a longer running time. I would imagine, without adding anything, the film would run for about 1hour 50mins. With everything they’re [probably] adding, it’ll probably be about 2hrs 10mins, which, like they said, is not a short film. It’s just much shorter than the others.
Also, I’m disappointed they’re releasing it in 3D. I want to see it in IMAX, but now that can’t happen without seeing the 3D as well. I don’t HATE 3D, but I feel like it makes the film less engaging because you’re focusing on the 3D aspect (even though it’s barely noticeable after the first twenty minutes).
The last one was the shortest of them all, once you subtract the HOUR OF CAMPING. After that snooze fest, I’ve got zero confidence in the finale.
What is wrong with the camping. If something is in the book and put in the movie it is perfect. There is a lot of camping and it should feel a little boring at times, if they did it right.
THIS GOT TO BE APRIL FOOLS.. about the short length
To say I’m excited for this film would be a severe understatement. This story and these characters have been apart of my life for over 12 years now, and although it feels very odd to have it all come to an end, I have no doubt that this will be an incredible, thrilling, and moving finale.
That better be one crappy april fools joke by Mugglenet.
you fuc*ing idiots! don’t cut harry/ginny moments. you ruined harry potter 7! i’m willing to sit 3 hours if you put the best from the books including ginny! no wonder why you were being snubs on the oscars and whatelse! so many useless scenes and cut so many good scenes and important ones! and you stupid hired an idiot british director!
Everyone is willing to sit through a 3 hour movie. Warner Brothers doesn’t understand this. If something is going to make them a little more money they will sacrafice quality for it. They have proven that with every Potter movie after CoS.
Right now DH1 will be remembered as one of the greater films though.
PLOT SPOILERS FRO THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN’T READ (haven’t read the book)
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How can it be the shortest film? 3/4 of the story in DH happens in the last few chapters. At a minimum each of the following extremely important parts should take the following times. It doesn’t make any sense.
Shell Cottage – 10 minutes
Gringotts – 30 minutes
Getting to Hogwarts/About Horcruxes or Hallows – 10 minutes
Aberforth – 5 minutes
To Ravenclaw – 7 minutes
The Battle (actual battle sequences) – 30 minutes
Room of Requirement – 10 minutes
Chamber of Secrets – 5 minutes
Snape’s death – 8 minutes
Snape’s memories – 15 minutes
Harry’s Walk into the forest – 5 minutes
Scene with Dumbledore in ‘King Cross’ – 10 minutes
Back to Hogwarts – 5 minutes
Final fight between Harry and Voldemort – 10 minutes
After Voldemort dies – 7 minutes
Epilogue – 10 minutes
Shell Cottage needs more than 10 minutes between burying Dobby, questioning Olivander and making the plans for the raid on Gringotts, there’s a lot to be covered. Snape’s memories might be more condensed than in the book. Harry’s walk into the forest including calling back his parents, etal might take a little longer. Don’t forget that he had to stop on the way and and tell Neville about the importance of killing Nagini.