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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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Princess of the Heliopaths
Points: 5276
Ginny Weasly says:
WOW!! I mean it was a dumb thing to do...but think of all the people who actually believed him. i didn't think that was the title when i first heard it...but then again i didn't think that Half Blood Prince was the real title of the 6th book either....it kinda had to grow on me for a week or so.
Posted Jan 22, 2005 at 11:04 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 707
dalenorth says:
Well, that's the sort of thing I would do. I suppose it kind of annoyed me though that he done it but it was very clever.
Posted Jan 22, 2005 at 1:53 PM EST
Student
Points: 279
beatrizM says:
So, he did a DUMB thing, but at leats he is sorry, and he admits that Jo is great, so thats cool
Posted Jan 22, 2005 at 7:29 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1127
Elrond says:
Ah well, at least this bloke was brave enough to confess and give an interview on top of it, however lets have no one doing that again, please!!
Posted Jan 23, 2005 at 12:04 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 20
grangergirl says:
It was a pretty good hoax. hard to believe it wasnt planned out more thouroughly.
Posted Jan 23, 2005 at 2:37 PM EST
Student
Points: 246
ToriLuv704 says:
*mixed feelings* Hmmm... both stupid and smart. I could have never even thought of doing something like this. And all in two hours? But i still can't beleive he would even dare. ahh.. at least it's all over and no harm done in the end. And I'd just like to add these last thoughts: I don't think JKR would have released her title untill she was ready. All she had to say was that it wasn't Pillar of Storage . ( What a horrible name!!!! ) So I don't think we should thank this guy for doing this. I think we would have found out soon enough.
Posted Jan 26, 2005 at 4:54 AM EST
Points: 18
Queen_Pansy says:
i thought it was the funniest! the title was funny, i laughed, it really isnt that big of a deal. Get over it people. We know the real name now, so its all good, you'll live.
Posted Jan 26, 2005 at 7:49 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 35
VerusLumen says:
How could he not think he'd be getting some major attention from the Potter fans? That's like walking around the UT campus with a bullhorn yelling "TENNESSEE SUCKS"! Hello!! Chalk one up on the "not bright" category, buddy.
Posted Jan 27, 2005 at 12:07 AM EST
Squib
Points: 142
Mad-Eye Gilly says:
this guy is a genius! (in a manner of speaking) Ok, he did a hoax, for a laugh, thinking that no-one would believe him, cos lets face it - The Pillar Of Storge - that sounds ridiculous! But low and behold look what happened! Yes, fans have been angered, along with the great J.K. herself, but thanks to this person, a chain of events ensued allowing us to know the real title along with many facts about the book - making every fan ever more eager for the upcoming release.
Anyway, I found this event rather amusing, as did J.K. herself in the end - just check out the posts on her site. Whenever she hears of any ridiculous rumours, she quells them by saying "that's such a Storge!
Posted Jan 27, 2005 at 1:54 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 482
HP4Evr says:
That is a cruel joke, but I'm glad the person who did it told the truth!
Posted Jan 27, 2005 at 5:44 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 37
book_addict says:
i still think it was a dirty trick. sure he was only "having fun", but lots of fans got really excited, thinking it was the real thing! i mean, come on! the title doesn't sound like anything JK would come up with. "If I had not started the hoax, would we all know the real title to book 6 right now?" i think JK would have released the title when she was ready.
Posted Jan 27, 2005 at 8:11 PM EST
Witch
Points: 982
~Kathy~Evans~ says:
Well he's a talented hoaxer...I didn't really belive that would be the title, and anyway he didn't really think it would be that big...I mean, Pillar of the Storge?! I don't think so, and anyway at least he had the guts to admit it and apologize. And in a way, maybe she told us the title because of the hoax and maybe not, but she cleared up that neither Harry nor Voldemort were the Half Blood Prince in compensation for the joke so, I'm not really angry...come on people have a giggle or two, we know the truth now!
Posted Jan 31, 2005 at 6:59 PM EST
Student
Points: 240
Dark Forest says:
I can't believe these people trying to pull off scams and hoaxes,what is wrong with them.
Posted Feb 2, 2005 at 5:33 PM EST
Witch
Points: 536
severus410 says:
Come on people,it was just a joke.It was pretty clever of him/her really,doing all that stuff with the graphics and stuff.And because of it we learned two new things...the title and that the HBP is neither Harry nor Voldemort!
Posted Feb 3, 2005 at 2:37 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 21
kayokochan_88 says:
Geez that person is dumb. I can't believe they would hoax us like that. At least we were loyal to the end. We know JK is better than that. That is such a stupid title. Spank the monkey!
Posted Feb 5, 2005 at 8:55 PM EST
Hermione's House-Elf
Points: 4189
hermioneisahottie says:
It is kinda funny, but not funny enough to merit messing with the minds and emotions of so many Harry Potter fans across the world. Man, it must suck to be the person that so many Harry Potter fans hate...
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 2:46 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 23
OmiaWalker says:
Frankly, this makes me laugh. Yes, there was fuss. Yes, it necessitated a press release and generated more than a little frustration for fans and author alike, but COME ON.
We got a bit of fandom wank theatre, and JKR gave us a tidbit. It isn't Harry or Voldemort! That cuts out a pantload of wankstrionics. (Ooh, I think I just invented a word.)
Fine. The guy was a toad. But kiss the toad and you get the prince who earned us our snippet. Deep breaths, everyone!
Posted Feb 6, 2005 at 8:54 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2315
Ovlac says:
I don´t understand all your post (my english isn´t very good), buy I don´t forget that person that plays with the feelings of a lot of people.
Posted Feb 9, 2005 at 8:10 AM EST
Squib
Points: 173
honorcode says:
I belive that JKR would have still released the title at the same time even if he didn't start all of this.
Posted Feb 10, 2005 at 10:29 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 55
RockyTop says:
I agree with Justin.p.n Just because he useed UT as an example. ***Notice the name.
Posted Feb 11, 2005 at 4:30 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 55
RockyTop says:
P.S. oops i also forgot to mention the dude is a Florida Gator so what do you expect? HaHa, A little college football joke.
Posted Feb 11, 2005 at 4:32 PM EST
Student
Points: 223
Speed Reader says:
Harry Potter and the Pillar of Storge was an entry in the rumors section of her website. I didnt know that had turned into something big. He is an idiot, but how could anyone believe that strange title and believe someone who isnt even working for Rowling.
Posted Feb 12, 2005 at 7:09 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1059
.:harrylover:. says:
He must be smart to be able to do that.. i thin that evry harry potter fan who know a thing or two about the books would have known that the pillar of storge was a hoax.. i mean please!! the pillar of storge.. gimme a brak.. i wouldent hawe bought it if someone slapped me in the face with it.. i think it was qite fun;)
Posted Feb 13, 2005 at 9:24 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1059
.:harrylover:. says:
But it was good that he told the truth.. i dont think i would have found it so fun afterward if he hadnt.. it would have been a mystery..
Posted Feb 13, 2005 at 9:26 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1059
.:harrylover:. says:
Ha!! first post on this page.. (sorry, just had to write thsi)kinda awsome!!! tihi.. GO DAN; EMMA AN RUPERT!!!
Posted Feb 13, 2005 at 9:28 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 78
Declan Leau Potter says:
OK random posts ::harrylover:: erm three in a row! Carries on...
Well I think that he was clever and smart as a few others. I believe that people should forgive him as well everyone has done stupid and inconsiderate tings in their time and should be forgiven. He only started the rumour and didn't mean for it to go that far! XD! It was funny in his own sort of psychotic way!
Posted Feb 15, 2005 at 3:20 PM EST
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