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Michael Goldenberg on working on 'OotP' 
APRIL 10, 2007 at 7:36 AM
Posted by GERI
Source: The Leaky Cauldron
Michael Goldenberg
, the screenwriter of the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie recently gave an interview in which he discusses meeting JKR, adapting the book to film, Quidditch and more.
Below are some snippets from the interview, which you can read in full here:
It's not just David Yates, and David Heyman, and I, and the actors. It's however many thousand people are working, doing backbreaking labor, and endless nights, and killing themselves to get this prop done, or that set painted, or that special effect finished because they love these movies, and they really care about these movies. And these movies are their legacy. They're damn proud of these movies, as they should be. ... Believe me, we care as much as it's possible to care.
Mr. Goldenberg on cutting down the book for film:
Even though the book is the longest book, as far as the actual amount of narrative material and story, it's not that much different than the other books; there's just a lot more detail and some sub-plots and digressions, but in terms of the main story, it seemed pretty manageable. I mean, the heartbreak is always, "What do you have to lose? What can't you find on the floor?
But David Yates and I worked from the beginning. We both like really dense films which are very generous in the same way books are so generous, and look for every opportunity to get everything we could in there. And where we couldn't, to sort of pay homage to, to have it somewhere in the background or to feel like it could be taking place off-screen. Because we both grew up with those kinds of films where you can watch them again and again and see the details and we're both pretty hard-core geeks, ourselves.
On cutting Quidditch and Ron from the movie:
I know there was some controversy about the Ron-Quidditch sub-plot. I hated to cut anything. But in that case, because it wasn't really central to the story and there's so much else to deal with, we all felt pretty early that was something that might not make the film. But on the same token, the spirit of that story, and Ron growing as a character and Ron facing challenges and coming into his own in the same way that Harry is, we tried to get that into the film in other ways, as much as possible. So, you feel like, if not the details of that story, at least the spirit of it is present in the film. I feel like we've done that.
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Student
Points: 284
Jehess says:
Why no Quidditch,well you know how they are they always miss chunks of importaint things that are i the books out, am i right or am i right?
Posted Apr 15, 2007 at 1:12 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2028
JAYSTARR says:
This is very odd that a screenwriter has to go to a writer? All you have to do is place the story (book) into a screenplay format. I think, he just wanted to change a few things or did not understand the writers point of view.
Posted Apr 15, 2007 at 7:09 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1047
GeeMessy says:
He makes a good point.
I would love to see everything in the movie
but that would be a 15 hour movie
I like that he says the movies are their legacy
very nice.
Posted Apr 16, 2007 at 5:36 PM EST
Witch
Points: 732
Dumbledores~Fave says:
It's not fair that they cant fit everything into a movie - This is exactly why I love reading - you get the whole story not what they can squeze into a film!
Posted Apr 25, 2007 at 1:42 PM EST
Heiress of Gryffindor
Points: 3481
Nienna Narmolanya says:
Haha, I didn't even know who Michael Goldenberg was before I read this! Wait screenwriter... I probably did! Was he in the interviews in the second disc for the CoS DVD set? Hmm, anyway, he should totally be David Goldenberg - he'd fit right in with Davids Yates and Heyman, huh.
Haha, hardcore geeks? I like them. GAH, I WANTED TO SEE RON AND THE QUIDDTICH! DID THEY CUT THE DETENTION SCENES TOO?
Posted Apr 28, 2007 at 10:36 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2463
undisputed760 says:
You have to be very forgiving with these films because even though i'm sure not a lot of us would mind it, they cant make the movies 8 hours long o fit everything in.
Posted Apr 28, 2007 at 11:21 PM EST
Witch
Points: 952
im freeeeeeeeee says:
I agree with him I think he has a good point of view on these things I just wish he read the books he would have a better idea of the character.
Posted Apr 29, 2007 at 2:31 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2171
bonniewrightrulz says:
Nice to see he isnt boasting about himself and is appreciating other's work.That's always a good sign of a good screenwriter.
Posted Jun 28, 2008 at 1:26 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2171
bonniewrightrulz says:
Nice to see him not boasting about himself.And that he his crediting the work of his crew.Thats always a good sign of a good screenwriter.
Posted Jun 28, 2008 at 1:48 PM EST
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