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JULY 1, 2004 at 1:51 AM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: HPANA
After making international headlines and enduring the wrath
of Harry Potter author JK Rowling herself, the person responsible for releasing a false title -- Harry Potter and the Pillar of Storgé -- for the series' sixth book offers an apology and explanation in an interview with HPANA.
The real title of book 6 -- Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince -- popped up on Rowling's official site just days after the hoax (perhaps because of the hoax?). It has since been confirmed by the author.
The prankster, a 19-year-old male student at the University of Florida, speaks:
Firstly I would like to offer two apologies. I owe an apology to all of the Harry Potter fans that I lied to; I never thought my hoax would go so far and I felt awful when some of you got so excited about knowing the title. I am sorry. I also would like to apologize to J.K. Rowling, as I did an awful thing by impersonating her. I consider her a literary genius.
In the end, the hoax was all in good fun. I thought the title was rather funny and had hoped that at least some people would get a good chuckle out of it.
And now, explained in full, here's what happened -- straight from the horse's mouth:
Do you have any official connection to JKR, Warner Bros., or the book publishers?
No, I have no connection to them whatsoever.
What made you think of doing this, and specifically, the timing of it?
I had recently finished a re-reading of Order of the Phoenix and it got me excited about the Harry Potter series again. As a result of that excitement, I stumbled upon JKR's website for the first time and was fascinated by the unopenable door. I also thought it was great that she was dispelling some of the rumors about the series. Somehow I put two and two together and the hoax clicked in my mind.
The timing of the event was never planned; it was simple dumb luck on my part that I released the hoax at the start of a weekend so that it [became] more effective.
How did you do it?
A hobby of mine is computer graphics/video editing, so I knew I could produce a realistic video. I realized that this was exactly what I needed to make the hoax believable.
I used two programs: Adobe Photoshop and Adobe After Effects. In Photoshop I edited and manipulated pictures from JKR's site, and in After Effects I animated them into the finished video. I did not use [Macromedia] Flash at all. The blue bars (see image) at the bottom and top are a result of me changing the aspect ratio of the video without distorting it so that I could compress it into an MPEG file. I whipped the video up in about two hours.
As far as the "message" was concerned, I just tried to mimic JKR's style as much as possible. I came up with the title Pillar of Storgé, trying to formulate something with a hidden meaning that people would be able to figure out. It's an ugly title, but I'm quite fond of it.
What did you expect as a result of the hoax? Did you think it would receive the worldwide press it garnered?
I NEVER expected this much attention. I even wondered if anyone would believe it at all. My original goal of the hoax was that a rumor about the title would slowly creep through the Harry Potter community (much like the Green Flame Torch rumor), and that JKR would eventually dispel it as a myth (perhaps releasing some real information while doing so) on her site.
I never wanted the attention of all the Harry Potter fans; there was a clear and specific reason for the hoax and it involved the attention of only one woman. I was highly amused by the fervent guessing of the meaning of the title by eager fans and by the international press that it received.
Finally, a closing thought from the anonymous mountebank: "If I had not started the hoax, would we all know the real title to book 6 right now?" Read The Leaky Cauldron's analysis of that question. In the meantime, consider what an astute reader over there observed: Rowling said on her site that "as a little bonus, and compensation for having been messed around by Mr. or Ms. Storgé, I shall tell you one thing without making you shift any bricks at all: the HBP [half blood prince] is neither Harry nor Voldemort."
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Ravenclaw Ghost
Points: 9469
Pearlescent says:
Ooooh... It's idiots like that that really burn my biscuits!!! And it's really pathetic to me, that some peeps just sit around and do this kind of junk all day. It's so dumb. I hope he learned his lesson.
Posted Jul 2, 2004 at 8:06 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1782
Juno Puddifoot says:
*tsk tsk* ah well, live and learn I guess for that person.
Posted Jul 3, 2004 at 5:28 AM EST
Student
Points: 273
Lily's heir says:
who cares any more about that...now the real title is out?
I don't know....
He is simply a poor person, who wants attention!!
If you ask me, it's enough pain, that Jo is so angry with him :)
Posted Jul 3, 2004 at 9:44 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2022
Lac_Ov_Imajinashun says:
That's terrible that he would do such a thing. and i think he's just saying he didn't mean it. I feel bad for JK Rowling, that someone would make such a mockery of her books. WHAT AN IDIOT!!!!!!! He deserved to get in trouble.
Posted Jul 3, 2004 at 10:57 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 315
Linnen Potter says:
Geeze, what SLIME! How dare he do this and think he's some kind of martyer in the end.
Same school as me too? Urgh, where ARE those transfer papers?!
Posted Jul 3, 2004 at 11:57 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 488
iluvTOM13 says:
I kinda feel like socking him in the stomach, but...no, wait....I just wanna sock him in the stomach! Unfortunately, I can't. But my brother is going to attend University of Florida next year...hmm...
Anyway, SHAME ON HIM!
Posted Jul 3, 2004 at 12:44 PM EST
Student
Points: 286
MeetYourMatch says:
Oh my lord. What an idiot to do that.
Posted Jul 3, 2004 at 3:23 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 75
Slytherin rocks! says:
ugh! I can't believe he did that!
Posted Jul 3, 2004 at 5:13 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 454
crazy4hp says:
OK, i think it started as a joke and ended like this. Personally i would have not minded it at all and just said that the title was a hoax. We got the real title though.
The thing that the HBF is neither harry nor voldemort i think its neville or maybe ron. Its just a thought, it just came in my mind and i said it.
i wish the book will be released earlier.
Posted Jul 3, 2004 at 5:20 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 483
Gemmy says:
Good that he apologised, that was decent of him. Well, my theories, that I am sure will travel like wildfire (l o l) is that the half-blood prince is MARK EVANS! The boy mentioned briefly in chapter 1 of OotP, having Harry's mum's maiden name and being 10.....?
Posted Jul 4, 2004 at 5:36 AM EST
Weird Sisters Cellist
Points: 2842
Sachi-hime says:
Good theory, Gemmy! Well... I suppose that's possible. I'm just waiting for JKR to answer that poll question on her site!
Posted Jul 4, 2004 at 4:20 PM EST
Squib
Points: 185
Matchbox20 says:
God what an idiot! i actually beleived him. i feel soooooooo stupid. but what was i thinking pillar of storge.
Posted Jul 4, 2004 at 6:04 PM EST
The Chosen Hobbit
Points: 2447
Enisnitch Baggins says:
Well, i guess "half blood prince" sounds better. I hate the word 'Storgé', i just cant spell it....
Posted Jul 5, 2004 at 4:23 AM EST
Witch
Points: 502
maggie_and_mags says:
Hey while the guy may seem quite bad for doing that sort of stuff, you have to admit he's pretty smart. The writing style was like Rowling's, and he had almost everyone fooled with the pictures and everything.
Posted Jul 5, 2004 at 9:07 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 306
Trillium says:
Id like to say, good job with the video. Next I'd like to say, thanks for helping us get the REAL title. Now, stop making hoaxes and everyhting will be fine? ok? Haha. Just Kidding.
Posted Jul 5, 2004 at 1:38 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 25
SlytherinChick88 says:
I dont like what he did. But he does have a point that we do know the title. Now we have something to think of for the next year or so.
Posted Jul 5, 2004 at 5:05 PM EST
Witch
Points: 733
PotterHoney says:
Well, I guess he got what was coming to him...and I'm sure glad that his title was indeed a hoax! I hope he doesn't do something like this again though, or somebody like him!
Posted Jul 5, 2004 at 10:56 PM EST
Astro Zombie
Points: 2577
Fallen Bomb says:
Well, that's interesting. I never thought he'd speak out. I still think it's a good hoax. That guy made an almost convincing video.
Posted Jul 6, 2004 at 12:40 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 603
Padfoot7 says:
You make me so mad. I truly believe you are the encarnation of the devil on earth. You are truly evil and God shalleth dealeth with thou how art Godeth feelseth.
Posted Jul 6, 2004 at 7:47 PM EST
Transfiguration Professor
Points: 2990
Choralee says:
Nice explaination...
So, not Harry or Volemort. Will it be a new character? Or someone we already know. Maybe Neville...
Posted Jul 6, 2004 at 10:23 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1369
luv4permboy says:
I'm just really glad that the half blood prince is not Harry or Voldemort. HOw did he get that video out in the open. I haven't seen the video yet.
Posted Jul 6, 2004 at 11:37 PM EST
Auror
Points: 3746
Professor Moody says:
I was excited to find out the new title, however i was disapointed by the title. When i found out it was a hoax i was releived. I am mad he did this. I dont think we would know the real book six title if de didntdo the hoax though.
Posted Jul 7, 2004 at 11:10 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 12
Ginny_Potter says:
Well, I generally don't agree with hoaxes usually but I'm pleased we got the title eventually. he is a clever man but he'll do best to put his talents to good use in future!
Posted Jul 7, 2004 at 11:33 AM EST
Professor of Astronomy
Points: 3288
Prof Aurora Sinistra says:
Well it's awful nice of him apologize to the fans and to jk... but geezzzzz.... it really wasn't that nice... I'm glad that not all of us potter fans thought that his title was real... he was very creative though.
Posted Jul 7, 2004 at 2:46 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1894
Hermione5 says:
Brave chap he is!!
Anyway what does 'Storgé' means? Is that a name of an ancient place?
(Please if you answer, mention my name at first, so HPANA will be sending me the answer in e-mail.Thanks.)
Posted Jul 7, 2004 at 3:33 PM EST
Squib
Points: 198
simdave2000 says:
I don't mind. Well, I mean, I kind of mind. It was a bit mean, but true Potter fans knew it was fake from the start (I know I did . . . ). I'm actually quite impressed with his video, it's really very good. But, to do it well, he would've needed to pay attention to the way he wrote the message. To American-y (no offense to any Americans, I'm an American too!). Ah, well. Good try for him, bad luck for us.
Posted Jul 7, 2004 at 9:51 PM EST
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