The Making of the Potterverse (15 page)

The Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland was used as the track that takes the wizards-in-training from Platform 9¾ to Hogwarts. (Fionna Boyle)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
got generally positive reviews from the critics, and boffo box office numbers. The film, made at a cost of $100 million (actually $25 million
less
than its predecessor, which is highly unusual for a sequel), had an opening weekend gross in north America of $88,357,488. In the end it would have a domestic take of $261,988,482 and a foreign gross of $615,700,000, totaling $877,688,482 worldwide. All told, the film did about $100 million less than
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
.

Both David Heyman and Chris Columbus shared their views that this film represented a further evolution in Harry Potter’s saga, just
as the novel had. Said Heyman, “We devoted a good part of
Sorcerer’s Stone
to setting up the world of Harry Potter. There was so much to introduce in terms of the magic, the settings and the characters. With
Chamber of Secrets
, Harry exudes a lot more confidence and strength right from the start.” Added Columbus, “
Chamber of Secrets
is darker and funnier and it takes Harry’s character to a new place. The first film was about Harry realizing that he’s actually a wizard. In contrast to the color and larger-than-life characters that surrounded him, Harry was somewhat passive and didn’t come into his own until the third act of the film.

Daniel Radcliffe revealed that he felt a connection to Harry’s growth as a character. “He had developed so much,” said Radcliffe, “I had to develop myself, too, and now I have two instincts — Harry’s and my own. So when we were filming each scene, I asked myself, ‘How would Harry react to this?’ and I tried to get that feeling across on screen.” Added Columbus, “Daniel took on an enormous responsibility when he was cast to play Harry Potter, and he has risen to the challenge and totally matured as an actor. He’s become a real leading man in the truest sense of the word, as well as becoming a real hero and probably a bit of a heartthrob.”

Daniel Radcliffe was not the only recipient of praise from the filmmakers. Of Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, Columbus enthused, “It’s remarkable to see how far they’ve grown, not just physically but in their acting. The kids’ performances are more mature and, quite frankly, they are even better than they were in the first film.” Heyman concurred, “One of the wonders of this process for me has been to witness the maturation of Dan, Rupert and Emma. The children seem more confident and able to draw upon a wealth of new experience for their characters. Yet at the same time, they have maintained their enthusiasm, sense of wonder and their youthfulness.”

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
brought with it a number of visual effects challenges, which the filmmakers discussed at the time of release. Chris Columbus offered high praise for visual effects supervisors Jim Mitchell and Nick Davis. “With Jim and Nick,” he said, “we found a team that really understands what I call the reality of visual effects. They understand our desire to transport people to a place they’ve never been before, but at the same time, make certain that they absolutely believe what they are seeing.” One challenge for the film was the creation of Dobby the House Elf, a computer-generated creature. Said Columbus, “I wanted Dobby to be a character that felt very real and it’s one that the audience would fall in love with. Jim and Nick created an adorable character who feels like he genuinely inhabits this special world.”

The giant spider Aragog presented another challenge, as Nick Dudman from the film’s creature department detailed: “We were asked to create a walking, talking nine-foot spider with an 18-foot leg span. Each leg had to be manipulated by a different team member, and the whole contraption operated on a complex combination of aquatronics [underwater pneumatic air rams] and a series of computers with video monitors. The entire creature weighed three quarters of a ton.” Of Aragog, Daniel Radcliffe enthused, “I remember the first shot we did in the Spider’s Hollow. Rupert and I went over this ledge and suddenly there’s a gigantic spider waiting for us. It was so realistic, we were both genuinely terrified.”

At the time of
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’
release, a press conference was held featuring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. Chris Columbus met with the press as well. What follows are edited transcripts of those sessions.

(Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley)

QUESTION:
There’s a line in this movie that Kenneth Branagh says: celebrity is as celebrity does. You guys are all celebrities now. What’s the last year been like for you? Is there a good story you can tell?

DANIEL RADCLIFFE:
The best thing so far for me was at the premiere [of
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
in London], where I met Ben Stiller. That was really cool. And then I went to the New York premiere and I met Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon. So that’s probably been the best bit so far.

RUPERT GRINT:
Getting recognized is pretty cool. One time I got recognized up a mountain, when I went to Switzerland. That was cool.
EMMA WATSON:
Probably the best thing is going to really, really cool premieres and getting to pick really cool outfits.

QUESTION:
Daniel, Chris Columbus said that you’d developed as a leading man, a hero and even a bit of a heartthrob since the first film. Do you feel like a heartthrob, and do you have girls coming up to you now?

DANIEL:
Personally, I can’t actually see it, but if other people can, great.

QUESTION:
Can each of you pick one thing that you think will happen to your characters later on in the books?

EMMA:
She will be something really clever. She’ll be a doctor or something. She’ll be really academic in her job.

DANIEL:
Does it have to be about my character? I think these two (Hermione and Ron) are going to get together. That’s my prediction.
RUPERT:
I was going to say I hope (Hermione and Ron)
don’t
fall for each other.

QUESTION:
Can you describe the kind of fan mail you get? Are any of the letters particularly funny or do they creep you out?

DANIEL:
I’m just amazed at the amount of effort [that’s put into the letters]. Around my birthday time I got lots of presents. Just the effort that was put into them was unbelievable. It’s so amazing.

EMMA:
For my birthday someone gave me a massive, big, white cuddly bear about as big as me. They sent it in a post to me. I just think that was completely amazing if they’ve never met me. It was just really weird.

RUPERT:
It was my sister’s birthday and somebody got her something as well.

QUESTION:
Chris Columbus won’t be directing
Prisoner of Azkaban
. Are you excited about having a new director or are you a little nervous?

DANIEL:
I think the most important thing to mention is that Chris is still going to be around. He’s going to be the producer, so he’s still going to be there. I think with the new director it’s going to be exciting and it’s going to be a different and a new experience.

EMMA:
Daniel said everything I want to say. But Chris is still going to be there, so it’s not like he’s going forever. Alfonso [Cuaron] is a really, really nice guy and I think it’s really exciting to be working with somebody new as well.

RUPERT:
I’m going to miss Chris as well, but he’s always going to be around and Alfonso is really good.

QUESTION:
This movie has more action and it’s darker than
Sorcerer’s Stone
. Do you think some younger kids will be frightened by some of the scenes, like the spider sequence?

DANIEL:
I personally don’t think so. It’s all in the book and if you take away the darkness from the film, then you haven’t done the book justice. And so, if they’ve read the book, I don’t think they’ll be scared of it at all.

EMMA:
I think the fans will be really, really happy with it. I think [for younger viewers] it just depends on the parents.

Emma, Daniel and Rupert do the press interviews for
Chamber of Secrets.
(Suzanne Plunkett/AP Photo)

RUPERT:
It’s pretty scary. And as Emma said, it’s up to the parents if they want to put their child through that.

QUESTION:
What’s the best thing and worst thing about playing these characters?

DANIEL:
I think the best thing, without a doubt, is playing a character that has inspired children all over the world — and adults. Honestly, I don’t think there is a worst thing.

EMMA:
It’s the acting, which I really, really enjoyed. Even when you take away the glamor and attention and premieres and everything, it still comes down to the fact that you’re acting. [It was also great to] be with fantastic directors, actors and just the people I worked with.
RUPERT:
For me it was coughing up slugs and coming to New York. Both were the best.

QUESTION:
What did you do during down-time on set with each other?

RUPERT:
We did loads of funny stuff. I just can’t remember any of them.

DANIEL:
When we weren’t filming I just basically locked myself up in a very small room and watched films.

EMMA:
When I’m not filming, I’m at school and I play lots of sports, do a lot of art and hang out with my friends most of the time.

QUESTION:
Daniel, in the second film Harry comes back to Hogwarts as a sort of a celebrity based on his achievements in the first film. That’s both good and bad for the character and his life at school. Does your own life reflect that experience at all? When you went back to school were you liked or disliked by some people because you were famous?

DANIEL:
I’ve moved schools. All the people that I’ve met have been absolutely fantastic. There’s no jealousy. I haven’t been bullied or anything. Everybody’s been really nice.

QUESTION:
The three of you seem to be such great kids, but have you guys ever had a fight? Did Chris ever have to come in, be referee, say “Make up; it’ll be better tomorrow”?

DANIEL:
I threw Rupert through a window. . . . No. We’ve never had a fight.