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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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Witch
Points: 629
Leila Krum says:
I don't hate him! He was pretty creative with the video and all; he made me laugh a bit. You guys should not be taking these things too seriously; it was a little innocent prank, Fred & George style :) . So thank you Mr. Storgé, for making me a little paranoid.
*usagi*
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 7:11 AM EST
Squib
Points: 151
itsallaboutdan&emma says:
Wat on earth did he do it for anyway? It was stupid and i dont understand how he could be so stupid! Even though i did not believe it, others did and it gave people false hope.
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 7:17 AM EST
Weird Sisters Guitarist
Points: 3573
Prof. Sk8ergirl says:
Tis guy is the world's number one jerk.....how dare he even try t impersonate JKR.....he certainly desesrves some punishment.....
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 7:29 AM EST
Curse Breaker
(Moderator)
Points: 3786
Galilea says:
I think he did this with intent to have his 15 minutes of fame. He'll be lucky if someone doesn't sue him for this hoax.
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 7:30 AM EST
Student
Points: 294
Moaning.Myrtle says:
[font size="2"]Look, This guy took TIME to do this. There is no way anyone can convince me that he didn't do it for the attention. He knew how much Potter fans grabbed at any piece of information they receive.
[font color="red"]He knew what kind of attention he was going to get from this, and that makes him an idiot in my eyes.
[font color="black"]He played not only with the emotions of the millions of true HP fans, but he also [font color="green"]P*&^ [font color="black"]me off.
I agree with what JK said. From her prospective to sit there in front of her computer and see this jerk at work would be funny, cause she knows the real title to the book, but I know for sure that it also must have caused her some concern. The fans could have easily thought that the information on her site were not true.
I am glad she cleared that up. So everyone knows that the information you get at JK Rowling.com is true and accurate. Next time we will all know for sure that if it was not confirmed by JK it's probably some idiot at work.
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 7:46 AM EST
Student
Points: 294
Moaning.Myrtle says:
[font size="2"]Look, This guy took TIME to do this. There is no way anyone can convince me that he didn't do it for the attention. He knew how much Potter fans grabbed at any piece of information they receive.
[font color="red"]He knew what kind of attention he was going to get from this, and that makes him an idiot in my eyes.
[font color="black"]He played not only with the emotions of the millions of true HP fans, but he also [font color="green"]P*&^ [font color="black"]me off.
I agree with what JK said. From her prospective to sit there in front of her computer and see this jerk at work would be funny, cause she knows the real title to the book, but I know for sure that it also must have caused her some concern. The fans could have easily thought that the information on her site were not true.
I am glad she cleared that up. So everyone knows that the information you get at JK Rowling.com is true and accurate. Next time we will all know for sure that if it was not confirmed by JK it's probably some idiot at work.
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 7:57 AM EST
Squib
Points: 100
Lonely Boggart says:
Okay, well, that guy was pretty stupid for setting up the hoax. I didn't think it was funny at all! I also had my suspicions while the hold thing was going on. There's really no way you can hack into that site. Storgé, though...pretty creative!
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 8:32 AM EST
Witch
Points: 910
BlueFlame says:
I agree with all the people here who said it was a "Fred and George" thing to do. I mean yes... he kinda was pushing it with the title but we can laugh now right? Plus he apoligized and revealed himself, if you ask me that was brave- he could get attacked by thoasands of angry potter fans.
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 8:49 AM EST
The Labyrinthine Brain
Points: 3337
DevilsSnare says:
This person was very creative in thinking this up. It obviously too a lot of work and fooled a lot of people so it was a good hoax. Even though I hated the hoax and I don't like the person for doing this...no real harm was caused. Just don't do it again!
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 8:49 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 95
Ani Tonks says:
Okay, I just think it's funny... If a guy did that to guy my attention, I'd be listening! That's good stuff. I can understand why some people would be really mad, though. Good thing I'm not in a position of responsibility concerning this case. If I were a judge or something, I wouldn't know whether to laugh or yell at him...
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 8:58 AM EST
Prof. of Muggle Studies
Points: 4236
Elishka says:
Somebody hire this kid! At the tender age of 19 he managed to fool a whole lot of people with a few simple computer tricks! He's brilliant!
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 9:00 AM EST
Obliviator
(Moderator)
Points: 8468
Prof. Dish says:
Well, at least he sounded sincere. But for making so many people mad, included JKR, he sounds pretty intelligent and well-rounded. I think it was a pretty good trick, and I for one didn't believe the title because JKR didn't confirm it herself. Just goes to show everyone that we shouldn't believe everything we read or see until it's confirmed!
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 9:07 AM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 8909
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
Well I admire a person who can come forward and admit to his/her mistakes or the uproar they caused. Overall, I think no harm done and it kept us all busy. Who knows we might not know the real title now, if he had not pulled off the hoax.
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 9:12 AM EST
Unspeakable
Points: 3920
stocco says:
"If I had not started the hoax, would we all know the real title to book 6 right now?"
He is right. If he hadn't done this hoax, we probably wouldn't know ANYTHING about the Half Blood Prince. And we probably wouldn't know that it isn't Harry or Voldemort that the HBP is talking about.
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 9:27 AM EST
Metamorphmagus
Points: 37939
tonks black says:
Ah, well seeing as it was a joke and nothing more, i think JKR might let it go, and maybe ask that person who made the video look so realistic do something on her site, maybe, since they seem to have computer skills. :)
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 9:47 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1002
ronluver90 says:
There are such big idiots in our world. Atleast he came out and apologized to JKR and the HPANA community. But still, what an idiot!!!
Stocco, you're right, we probally wouldnt even know what the title is and the the HBP isn't Harry or Voldemort.
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 9:47 AM EST
Head Boy
Points: 468
siriushp says:
haha, I think that is is kind of funny. I don't really mind because it's not as if it were something super crucial that really hurt anyone. It was just a fun joke.
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 10:00 AM EST
Squib
Points: 136
Misha says:
At least he was man enough to come forward and admit his mistake. Although, he went to a lot of trouble to perpetrate this "hoax."
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 10:05 AM EST
Points: 646
tetet says:
What are you? why you little troublemaker. you shouldnt done that it really upset the fans. next time don't let it all out (your feelings).
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 10:06 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1059
DarkMagic13 says:
That wasn't very nice of him for making up a title because alot of people believed it. I'm glad the guy apologized though because that was very notable of him.
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 10:20 AM EST
Slytherin Sugar Daddy
(Moderator)
Points: 5054
Andy Lestrange says:
Weve had things like this happen before, and we all should have been clever enough to realize that this was a hoax. And like a former poster said, "Just go to the source." Which is nothing but JKR.
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 10:26 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1303
wahnaroo22 says:
Well, at least he apologized. He did have me going there for about a day! It was pretty brilliant, even if it was wrong.
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 10:29 AM EST
Squib
Points: 130
LuvPotter says:
I don't think that this stupid kid knew it was going to get this far, he now knows not to do it again. I'm still mad at myself for believing him though!
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 10:59 AM EST
Witch
Points: 774
snickerdoodle_131515 says:
Sure, I love a good prank, but this went a little far. He said that he never meant for the title to get all of this attention, and that he just wanted J.K. to call it a rumor and give us the real title. That's what we got, but the hoax also had good timing. At first I hoped that the title was real, because Harry might see his parents and Sirius again.
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 11:01 AM EST
Squib
Points: 126
Ninina says:
Well, i´m just glad to hear your apologie young man!
Not many people accept their mistake.
I didn't take it seriously...but many people did!
I hope you don't do it again...because then you'll be in serious trouble!
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 11:01 AM EST
Chief Magic Investigator
Points: 4910
EagleOwl says:
You really kind of have to feel sorry for this poor guy, that he has nothing better to do than dream up a hoax like this. Very clever, although it doesn't seem to me like too many people bought into it- I saw the original thread he started on the Mugglenet COS forums, and most people who responded to it thought it was fake from the start. If I wanted to get the attention of someone, I certainly wouldn't attempt to do it by impersonating them, faking something of their creation and ultimately pi$$ing them off. Hope he learned a lesson from this. My advice to Mr. Storge- grow up and get a life!
Posted Jul 1, 2004 at 11:09 AM EST
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