|
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."
Reader Comments (403)
Your Thoughts
click to write...
Copyright © 2002-2009 HPANA. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 
HPANA is an unofficial fan site, in no way affiliated with J.K. Rowling,
Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Publishing or Warner Bros. Entertainment. All
trademarks and copyrighted material are the property of their respective owners.
About HPANA | Movie 6 | Send a news tip | Contact us | Privacy policy
226-250 251-275 276-300 301-325 326-350 351-375 376-400 401-403
Squib
Points: 164
natalie_2005 says:
wow i didnt know anything about this but came upon the story while browsing the site. I suposse he didnt set out to hurt anyone, however if he'd just put the rumor on some other site then meybe it wouldn't have got so out of hand i think it's because people trust jk's site. Bit of a stupid thing to do though.
Posted Mar 31, 2005 at 4:47 AM EST
Squib
Points: 105
Padfoot369 says:
How stupid do you get? Does this guy know how big Harry Potter is? I hope he got some sort of fine for exciting us all. However, his computer skills can't be all bad
Posted Mar 31, 2005 at 8:43 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 10
mcgryffyn says:
i thought it was a pretty good hoax but i was suprised that so many actually believed him. Besides, I think it is better to ponder about who the "Half-Blood Prince" was than just wondering what it is.
Posted Mar 31, 2005 at 4:17 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1801
FatMike says:
Wonderfull, it was a little joke which got out of control.
Quite fun although...
Posted Apr 3, 2005 at 11:46 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 96
Hermy-one Prophet says:
Well at least we all know the real title, and i feel sorry for this guy. He probably just thought it would be funny and is now really embarassed and disliked by people who he doesnt know.
Posted Apr 3, 2005 at 3:48 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 361
*lilys eyes* says:
I feel really sorry for J.K. Rowling who was probably getting excited about telling everyone the title of book 6, then to have someone spoil it, (imporsonating her? arrrg...) that went a bit too far, but all the same it was a pretty good name to come up with, I admit I was pretty convinced it might have somthing to do with the archway Sirius fell through, but yeah the hoaxer deserves to be embarrassed and sorry! Shame on you!
Posted Apr 3, 2005 at 5:30 PM EST
Witch
Points: 569
Princess Lo says:
i do think it was mean, but i dint even hear about the pillaro of storge thingy until now.
but like he said, i'm also kind of GLAD that he did it, otherwise we might not know the name of it!!
anyways, i think he was stupid to do it,and it was mean, but also a little funny at the same time.
Posted Apr 4, 2005 at 10:06 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 435
Nemesis Chamberlain says:
Bad boy! What talent, however.
Posted Apr 5, 2005 at 3:45 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 405
DracoLover says:
Wow! I never knew there was a person behind the piller of storge name creation. Well, I'll admit it, he has a lot of talent, and I give him props for that. And I actually think he did a bit of a good thing. I mean, we all know the real title and probably a bit earlier then JKR would have given it out; if not for this boy.
Great job on the graphics and all. He's goin places!
I hope he didn't get in trouble, because if he did, that would just be idiocy!
Posted Apr 6, 2005 at 11:23 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 14
slytherinhunny88 says:
I'm not sure why everyone is getting all upset. Its all in fun and games, it was just a joke that got out of hand and he apologised. He must be very smart to pull that off.
Posted Apr 7, 2005 at 4:54 PM EST
Squib
Points: 125
CS says:
I must say the person was very smart to pull that off, but the people who fell for the title "Pillar of Storge" aren't that smart. I mean, that's nearly as riddiculous as the idea of releasing the next one as "Harry Pothead and the _________" (That's a JOKE.). I'm surprised that anybody fell for that. Well, congrats to the person who pulled it off!
Posted Apr 10, 2005 at 2:45 PM EST
Squib
Points: 167
Miss Eeylop says:
I bet he was rolling around on the floor with laughter after seeing the effects of what he had done. I know that my friends and I can barely contain ourselves when we play jokes on each other...and it is nothing of that magnitude. Although he was probably thinking it wouldn't be anything of that magnitude either.
Posted Apr 13, 2005 at 11:35 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2093
rregan says:
I never really heard about the title untill way after the whole thing happened. I cant believe someone would do that, I mean it must have been sort of funny on his part though. I guess hes just lucky JKR is the good, nice person she is, if not she could have sued him.
Posted Apr 13, 2005 at 4:38 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 418
amazed3in1 says:
I heard about this, but I didn't really see it for myself. Must be pretty smart to pull it off, but then again...
Posted Apr 14, 2005 at 9:59 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 71
Lily J. Potter says:
It was a pretty good joke. But you need to relize there were some people who didn't fall for it. The Pillar of Storge just didn't seem Rowling enough for me. And it wasn't on a J.K.'s web page or scholastic's, just chat rooms and their are loads of rumors in there. Overall I belive that this person is very brave to come forward and admit it though. This might go down as one of the best internet hoaxs ever. It fooled alot of people.
Posted Apr 16, 2005 at 10:53 AM EST
Witch
Points: 737
Morgan Evans says:
That is really horrible!! I can't believe someone would do something like that!! I don't understand how that even came to his mind!! I don't know!! (sigh) I'm happy he was so excited about the sweries after reading OTP but that he went that far and pulles something like that is totally beyond me!! I hope JK gave him an ear full and a kick in the bum after doing it!! She must have been so hurt hta someone would make up such a convincing and harmful (to the book) rumor!!
Posted Apr 19, 2005 at 4:49 PM EST
Squib
Points: 195
lxlWilliamlxl says:
Im very anfry with them, i vcant believe this.
Posted Apr 22, 2005 at 11:16 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 608
.Daniel says:
You cant just start a rumour and hope that it doesnt travel around the world!!!!!! I mean that was pretty bad. He sounds sorry but still....that was bad.
Posted Apr 23, 2005 at 8:57 AM EST
Witch
Points: 823
Jynx says:
I do think rumors are bad, but this one started out just as fun and a way to squeeze information out of JK. I know a lot of fans would try to get as much information out of her as soon as they could, and this was just his way of doing it.
Posted Apr 25, 2005 at 4:25 PM EST
Squib
Points: 102
CassandraLavendar says:
Who on earth believed "HP and the Pillar of Storgé" to be the next title of one of JKRs books? I think you should trust her taste a bit more! I find the accent over the "e" of Storge especially revolting and as unRowlingish as it is possible to be (sorry about the little quote ;o9)
Ok, Mr/Ms Storgé pulled a few legs and it got out of hand, but I do not think this is really mean. I find making up stories about people like JKR, who have achieved something so wonderful as getting children to read instead of watching stupid TV shows all day, is much worse, e.g. that her husband will stop working now they have enough money.
Posted Apr 26, 2005 at 8:52 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1357
swiffy says:
I laughed for hours! I love pranks and hoaxes. When I stumbled upon Storge I thought it was a rather strange title and it turned out to be fake, didn't it!
I know a lot of people hate this guy now, but I don't, he was just having a bit of fun!
Go whatever-your-name-is!!
Posted Apr 26, 2005 at 2:14 PM EST
Student
Points: 241
rooinek says:
Oh, well. Not much we can do about it. And let's face it.........HP fans are so desperate (me included) for any info at all, we should have seen this coming. At least it provided us with something to talk about.
Posted Apr 27, 2005 at 3:30 PM EST
Squib
Points: 158
XxXTenbatsuXxX says:
I have to admitt that was a good but i knew the name of the book from my aunt so i knew it was a lie.
Posted May 1, 2005 at 9:28 PM EST
Squib
Points: 164
vintalite says:
I agree if it was not for that rumour JKR would probably not have published the title of the book.Anyway It was funny.The title I mean.
Posted May 3, 2005 at 7:22 AM EST
Princess of Anime
Points: 7530
Allenoray Mozart says:
Wo! I didn't know fans actuall thought that was the real title! I thought it was just a rumor (so I treated this Harry Potter and the Pillar of Storgé as one)
Posted May 3, 2005 at 5:20 PM EST
Witch
Points: 902
magic is everywhere says:
If that was the title I would find it very hard to believe, I also took it as a rumour :)
Posted May 4, 2005 at 2:51 AM EST
226-250 251-275 276-300 301-325 326-350 351-375 376-400 401-403
Back to top of page