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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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Dragon Rider
Points: 4414
~MalfoyPotter~ says:
No Quidditch... Awww man. Quidditch has always been an exciting part of the HP movies. NOw it has vanished. Hope that the other parts will make up to that!
~MP~
Posted Apr 11, 2007 at 3:01 AM EST
Student
Points: 255
half*blood*princess says:
Oh that would be such a hard job! i wouldnt want to cut anything! Oh i was really looking forward to seeing ron + quiddich! it would have been great! oh well...
Posted Apr 11, 2007 at 3:26 AM EST
Grillows Girl
Points: 2785
Miss Baltimore Crabs says:
I hate when people complain that they cut parts, when really it isn't their fault... they have to. I don't mind that there's no Quidditch this year. because they're right, it's not exactly central to the main plot.
Posted Apr 11, 2007 at 4:56 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 545
phoenix fire flame says:
Thats pretty crap that they are cutting ron's quidditch i dont agree with that but with cutting down the movie thats alright cause if it goes for too long it would get to boring to just sit there and watch in one time.
Posted Apr 11, 2007 at 5:00 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1998
brenpotterfans says:
I'm glad I got to read about what Michael Goldenberg has to say about the movie. I'm very happy to hear he has been a fan of the books for years. Although my favorite characters' Quidditch scene is being cut out I understand why and I am really looking forward to seeing the movie.
Posted Apr 11, 2007 at 11:17 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1771
Patronus** says:
I was actually looking forward to seeing ron playing quidditch badly!! Hee hee hee.....never seen him on a broom and t would have been a nice change!
I can't beleive there is no quidditch,......they amongst many of the other sub-plots are some of my fave bits!
Posted Apr 11, 2007 at 12:21 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 54
HarryPotterGEEK;<3 says:
Cool intervieww.
Can't waitt til the HPOotP actualy comes outt!!
YAY..=))
-Nikkiii<333
Posted Apr 11, 2007 at 3:36 PM EST
Prime Hunter
Points: 4291
Orbster says:
I can see why Quiddich is cut off. I like it. But its very novel material and not movie material. Unless the movie is about Quiddich. As long as they don't add anything JKR didn't write or intinuate in the books. But i trust Michael Goldenberg. He wrote the script for Peter Pan 2003 and he did a great job being faithful to the story and the characters.
Posted Apr 11, 2007 at 4:13 PM EST
Squib
Points: 182
kidwitalife says:
I really disagree, I think they should put in Quidditch and Ron. That's just stupid of them to cut out that. Quidditch is my life and your cutting it out? C'mon!
Posted Apr 11, 2007 at 5:49 PM EST
Antipodean Snow Goddess
Points: 2941
Tikihaha says:
I don't envy him his job - what a task! I'm glad he made mention of the hundreds of other people whose efforts are combined to make the Harry Potter movies magical....
Shame about the quidditch though, but I agree that it's not really central to the plot.
Posted Apr 11, 2007 at 8:32 PM EST
Prof. of Cultural Literacy
Points: 4245
PowerGranger says:
I enjoyed this article so much. We really couldn't ask for a better "interpreter" of OotP, I don't think, based on the very thoughtful comments Goldenberg made in this article. He couldn't be more of a fan of the books, or of OotP in particular, so I'd say we are in very, very capable hands. I cannot wait to see the finished film!
Posted Apr 11, 2007 at 8:55 PM EST
Delusional Army Soldier
Points: 4091
ILoveHP! says:
So this is the REAL interview then? Well... I don't really know Michael Goldenberg but I hope he's done a good joB!
Posted Apr 12, 2007 at 3:54 AM EST
Delusional Army Soldier
Points: 4091
ILoveHP! says:
Well I kinda like Mr. Goldenberg! He's a big fan himself!
Posted Apr 12, 2007 at 3:57 AM EST
Witch
Points: 804
Elphaba_Thropp says:
I hope this film works well. I'm really disappointed about the Ron/Quidditch scenes have been cut and I hope that they include the fred, George and Harry vs Malfoy fight. I like that bit.
Posted Apr 12, 2007 at 6:33 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2656
Grintster says:
And because they totally omitted everything about Ron becoming a Prefect and the new Gryffindor Quidditch Team Goal-Keeper -- this installment will suck big time for me!
I remember when Rupert and the Phelps twins visited Italy, some Italian fans were already humming a "Weasley Is Our King" tune -- even if no melody has been composed for it! That is how much a lot of fans worlwide are anticipating for it to be included in the movie because they love seeing Ron finally gaining confidence, achieving and coming on his own, and how young people can identify with the experience, and become inspired by Ron's success. It would have become a wonderful highlight of the film for its inspiring message.
The series is imparting a lot of good messages for the youth, which is delivered by characters other than Harry. Yet they choose to truncate or replace these scenes that have positive messages, with only what they think will "sell" better. I wonder why they go for commercialism over moral responsibility, when they can go for both. And this is where they fail, this is where they make a big mistake.
Posted Apr 12, 2007 at 10:56 AM EST
Witch
Points: 959
Professor Granger says:
I guess I never fully realized how hard it is to make a book into a movie. There are a lot of things that we fans get upset about if they get left out, but I guess we just have to realize that some of it must be sacrificed to make the rest of the movie and plot progress smoothly in the alloted time period. I bet Phonix will still be an awesome movie no matter what!
Posted Apr 12, 2007 at 11:52 AM EST
Witch
Points: 852
nejicanspin says:
I hate to make this sound like a broken record, but what does a screenwriter do???
Posted Apr 12, 2007 at 5:52 PM EST
Witch
Points: 966
Weasleyismyking!/R/Hrfrv says:
I wanted Ron to play Quidditch so bad just to hear "Weasley is our king"...how sad. But I'll have to wait and see the movie.
Posted Apr 13, 2007 at 12:17 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2350
mad_eye muggle says:
Nice interview.It's too bad that they cut the quidditch scene.I love that scene where their chanting "weasley is our king".That would be a great scene to watch.
Posted Apr 13, 2007 at 3:35 AM EST
Student
Points: 225
loyal2voldemort says:
I love quidditch. I want quidditch.
Posted Apr 13, 2007 at 11:28 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1252
Angelina blu Johnson says:
YAY, i like managable. Although i hear they have cut out quite a lot of things from the actual book, but meh, were all fanatics here so we are all going to criticise. All i can say is well done for taking on the job anyway. It can't be easy for the directors doing something like this.
Posted Apr 14, 2007 at 12:26 AM EST
Malfoy by Nature
Points: 12497
WickeDraco says:
Man, I still haven't absorbed how there won't be any "Weasley is our King" in the movie. It's a real pity.
Posted Apr 14, 2007 at 2:09 AM EST
Witch
Points: 580
*SlytherinEmpress* says:
I'm still quite depressed that they cut the quidditch out, but i suppose it isn't really that vital to the plot of the movie.
Posted Apr 14, 2007 at 3:44 PM EST
The Chosen One
Points: 9926
Gryffindor Dude says:
I'm so excited for this movie haha. It's going to be awesome with all the awesome people working on it. I hope they do a good job.
Posted Apr 14, 2007 at 4:30 PM EST
Lips of an Angel
Points: 26375
Sublime says:
Awww, i love quidditch!!! its awesome to watch... but i guess, its not really that important, so i undersatnd why they cut it...
Posted Apr 15, 2007 at 12:03 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 403
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
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