Discussion: The Trailers

Andrew: Another question we should talk about - Matt and I were discussing this yesterday. The trailers - okay, so we have a trailer for Part I. Now I'm thinking that there will be a trailer for Part II at the end of Part I. Because it's six months beforehand, and that's usually when the trailers come out for the films. At least six months before the film comes out.

Matt: Yeah.

Andrew: Now Matt, what's your argument, which is absurd?

Matt: It's not absurd!

[Ben laughs]

Matt: I just think that since six months usually the rule when they release the theatrical trailer for a film - or no, teaser trailer - they're just going to debut it for Part I of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the first part. Do you know what I'm talking about?

Ben: I don't think that's really that absurd. I mean...

Laura: I don't think that's a bad idea at all.

Ben: I mean, it'd be a nice little preview at the end, if they put it at the end of the movie just as a...

Andrew: But Matt's saying you'd put it before the movie.

Matt: Well see, Andrew was telling me that people who haven't read the book or don't know the story would be confused, when they haven't seen the first part yet and they're watching the trailer for the second part. Yet...

Andrew: Matt's saying the preview for Part II would play during the trailers of Part I, before Part I even plays.

Ben: Absolutely not. Sorry Matt, that's absurd.

[Andrew and Ben laugh]

Laura: I think it's more likely that they would play it after the film.

Andrew: Right.

Ben: Yeah. That way would tend to make sense.

Andrew: It just doesn't make sense. See, but I do understand what you're saying, Matt, because a trailer's a trailer and normally a trailer would be played at the beginning. But in this case, I just don't think it would work. But at the same time, you have to think that since they are going to be playing this Part II trailer in movies that aren't Harry Potter, how do you set that up? I mean, you really do have to create two separate plotlines for the film, so it's completely understandable.

Laura: They could have flashbacks from Part I, like a few seconds at the beginning of the trailer.

Andrew: Oh, I hate flashbacks! Flashbacks in trailer are the worst, because in trailers you want to see the new stuff, you don't want to see stuff you already saw!

Ben: Well, I mean, a brief flashback.

Laura: Yeah.

Matt: They're filming the whole movie at once, though. So they're probably going to...

Andrew: Yeah, but obviously they're going to film all the scenes in Part I first, and then...

Matt: They don't do that, they didn't do that for Lord of the Rings.

Ben: Yeah.

Andrew: Oh, really?

Ben: That's not how they do it, I don't think that's how they do it.

Matt: They film - they film like the first - they filmed Movie 3 before they started filming actually the first scenes in the first movie.

Ben: Well, I mean, I'm guessing when they film a Harry Potter movie, they don't start at the beginning, I mean, there are certain scenes that probably - I mean, it all depends. They have someone who plans it all out, I doubt they say, "Okay..." Because, imagine if you have two scenes in the Great Hall, they're probably going to do all the Great Hall scenes at once or something, you know? I'm guessing.

Andrew: Yeah, that would - yeah, that would make sense.

Matt: Mhm. Well, because they tear down whatever they film that they don't need anymore. So it's just smart to say that they would film all the Great Hall scenes, all at once and then go to another set.

Andrew: Well, but the Great Hall is permanent, that's one of the permanent fixtures.

Matt: Okay, well, I'm sorry...

Andrew: I do see what you're saying, though, I do understand what you're saying.

Matt: The Weasley House.

Andrew: Sure, sure.

Matt: Sure.

Ben: Sure!

Matt: I'm so going to rub it in if they debut it first, before the movie. Just telling you that.

Ben: Yeah, yeah. If I was a betting man, I'd put all my money on that not happening.

[Laura laughs]

Andrew: Ben, that's my thing!

Ben: I'm sorry.

Andrew: I don't go anywhere near your Gimme a Butterbeer thing, so...

Ben: Oh, don't you even!

Andrew: [laughing] What? What?

Ben: Don't you even! Don't you even think about it!

Andrew: [laughs] What! Don't you even go near my - thing!

Ben: No, but that's not a butterbeer, though. That's like - I don't know. Give me a butterbeer.

[Andrew laughs]

Matt: How about this, how about this - instead of a trailer debut after the film, how about a five-minute preview or little clip of the next film?

Laura: Ehh...

Andrew: [movie trailer voice] And now, your sneak peak at Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II!

Matt: Like, they give you the first chapter of the next book at the end of the epilogue in a book series.

Ben: Yeah - why didn't they do that? I mean, why didn't Jo do that with Deathly Hallows? Not Deathly Hallows, but with the other books?

Matt: She probably hadn't written it yet.

Laura: Is - yeah.

Ben: Probably because it's not practical.

Laura: I don't think it would usually be the authors who would do that. It's usually the publisher that adds it in. And it's usually done on books that have been out for a while. Like I don't think they've actually...

Ben: Books that are...

Laura: Yeah.

Matt: What about Twilight?

Ben: And books that are not really as...

Laura: Yeah.

Ben: Good or as popular as Harry Potter.

Andrew: Yeah.

Laura: Yeah. The thing is, they want to keep the suspense up for Harry Potter. So...

Ben: Well think about Harry Potter. I honestly believe - I've been thinking about this more and more - and I was talking to a girl who goes to my high school the other day, and I was like, "People who have not read Harry Potter have missed out on the biggest cultural phenomenon of all time."

Andrew: Yeah.

Ben: They're absolutely insane for not having read it, because it's just one of those things that everybody loves! I have not met someone who has read the books, and is like, "Those really suck." Everyone's like - it's always praise, it's always, "Wow! I couldn't put it down!" and, I don't know. If you haven't read it, you suck. Plain and simple.

[Andrew laughs]

Laura: And I mean even if people picked it up and started reading it now, it's not the same. You know?

Ben: No, definitely not! Because think about - like I said, I always talk about how we are living in such a unique time, because we knew what it was like to not know how Harry Potter ended. You know? It's kind of like the people who were around when Lord of the Rings was first coming out. They didn't know how it ended and so it was really a unique time. People missed out. I didn't, but sucks to be them.

[Laura and Micah laughs]

Andrew: I was thinking yesterday, that this is really - when this announcement was revealed from the L.A. Times yesterday, this is really the biggest thing we're going to have in a while.

Laura: Oh.

Andrew: And I say that completely unenthusiastically because these big news days are always so great in the fandom.

Matt: Yeah.

Andrew: I mean, it is kind of a shame. What else do we have to look forward to? The Dumbledore being gay thing - I hate to bring it up again, but it came out of nowhere and it was such a big thing in the fandom. It felt like a huge news story. I was running down the streets of New York City and I was skipping! Wasn't I, Laura?

Laura: Yes, you were.

[Andrew and Laura laugh]

Andrew: Singing it through the streets!

Ben: Andrew, I'm sorry, but I wouldn't tell people that.

Matt: Yeah, I was just thinking I wouldn't say that.

Andrew: We're all friends here.

Matt: Probably not something you want to reveal!

Ben: Well I mean, here's what's going to happen; we'll wait a few months and when Jo decides another character is gay...

Andrew: [laughs] Yeah!

[Laura laughs]

Ben: Then we'll flare up, and that's what will happen.

Andrew: Isn't it amazing that she has that power, though? She can create so much activity and hype out of just one little thing.

Ben: The next thing will be James Potter was a serial killer bo profession. Or something insane...

[Andrew and Micah laugh]

Ben: ...that shakes the foundations of the fandom.

Micah: She like to...

Laura: We always wondered what his job was.

Andrew: That's true. Micah Tan?

Ben: I had a question - oh Micah go ahead.

Micah: I was just going to say, she likes throwing things out there. Look at Aberforth.

Andrew: [laughs] Yeah!

[Laura laughs

Andrew: There's always these random little things!

Matt: Yeah.

Micah: Did you honestly think I was going to let it go by without mentioning him and his goats?

Andrew: No. Because you love those goats...

Ben: I've got a question.

Andrew: ...more than Aberforth.

Ben: I've got a question, guys.

Andrew: What?

Ben: I don't know if you guys ever talked about this - if we talked about it and I wasn't on that episode, but did the gay thing with Dumbledore kind of give a lot of field to the Christian Right and the people who hate Harry Potter?

Andrew: It did.

Ben: Do you know what I mean? It's just like, Harry Potter's already about witchcraft and now there's homosexuals in it! So if your kids read Harry Potter, they're going to become witches and homosexuals! You know?

Andrew: Yeah.

Laura: Gay wizards.

Andrew: That's true.

Laura: You know what? The thing is though, I feel like with people who already have that view towards Harry Potter, you can't reason with them anyway, so you might as well just go all out with it. Kick Dumbledore out of the closet and just make a rude hand gesture at the idiots and...

Andrew: [laughs] Yeah.

Ben: Do you guys know what we haven't done in a while? Called Laura Mallory.

[Ben and Laura laugh]

Andrew: Called Laura Mallory! Oh no. I don't really want to try to call her but...

Laura: No!

Andrew: Well...

Ben: But I love her though! She's so sweet.

Laura: It's ten o'clock! You can't call her!

Andrew: It's ten o'clock. Well, you know...

Laura: She's probably put her kids to bed...

Andrew: Let's just do it, just for fun, I mean...

Laura: Oh! You guys, don't do that.

Andrew: We've done it so many - Why?

Matt: Don't do it!

Laura: It's too late. [laughs]

Andrew: It's too late! You're concerned about the time of night?

Laura: What?

Ben: It's Laura Mallory, come on!

[Andrew laughs]

Laura: It's rude!

Andrew: It's rude, it's rude!?

Ben: Let's wait a few hours.

Andrew: Good idea.

Matt: Laura, what's the curfew in Georgia, anyway?

Andrew: Yeah! It's like 7 PM.

Laura: Well, everything closes at like 8 o'clock, so she's probably fast asleep by now.

Andrew: Ooh, snap.

Matt: Ooh.

Andrew: But - yeah, let's not call her, actually. We've done that enough.

Calling Jamie

Ben: Let's call Jamie though. I miss Jamie.

Andrew: You want to call Jamie?

Matt: Yeah, let's call Jamie.

Laura: Yeah, it's not like he...

Andrew: We'll call Jamie.

Laura: Yeah, it's not like he hasn't called you at odd hours of the morning.

Andrew: Jamie does call me at odd hours of the night!

[Everyone laughs]

Ben: What time does he call you?

Andrew: Oh, he'll call me - well, actually he'll call me when it's 4 AM his time. Because he's having fun in England. Jamie - see, here's the thing with Jamie; I asked him to be on the show today. He has a thesis paper to complete and he's been working all...

Matt: For his major.

Andrew: For his major. It's very important. And he has been working on it for the past few days straight and he said, "No, I've really got to finish this." so - I didn't tell him we were going to call. I don't know if anybody IMed him and told him we were going to call, but let's just see what happens.

[Phone rings]

Andrew: These English phones!

Jamie: Hello?

Andrew: Jamie?!

Laura: Jamie!

Jamie: Hey! What's up?

Andrew: Jamie...

Ben: How's your thesis, dawg?

Jamie: Uh, it sucks, dawg!

[Laura laughs]

Jamie: Is this live on air?

Andrew: Yes, this is live on air! [laughs]

Jamie: Oh all right. I won't say what I was going to say about my thesis then.

[Andrew and Laura laugh]

Jamie: I can't talk about that. In other words - no, in that case, it's going very, very, very well. Yeah, I'm really enjoying it.

Andrew: Good, good. Are you working on it right now or did we wake you up?

Jamie: No, you didn't wake me up. What I'm doing actually, is I'm taking a break from my thesis to write a two thousand word paper that also has to be handed in in ten hours.

Andrew: Oh.

Ben: That's a nice break.

Andrew: Yeah, that's good.

Jamie: Sorry? What?

Ben: I said, "That's a nice break, isn't it?"

Jamie: It is a very nice break, yeah. All I can think about is, it has to be handed in by twelve, so I can't wait til 12:01 when I can go and enjoy myself. But with this paper, I've been trying to work out what, in my degree, I can screw up and still come out with a good mark. And this paper fortunately, I can put it on the list of things I can screw up. So I don't think I'm going to spend too much time on this. I'm going to go back to the stuff that's actually important.

Andrew: Okay. [laughs]

Jamie: What's up?

Andrew: We know you're busy but before we let you go, since this is a live show, we're talking about the movie split, can we have your thoughts real quick?

Jamie's Thoughts on the Movie Split

Jamie: It's cool. [laughs]

Andrew: It's cool? That's what J.K. Rowling said! Oh my God! All you English people.

Ben: Jamie, for some reason you sound like you're strapped for time. It sounds like you waited til like three days ago to start your thesis or something maybe.

Jamie: Well, Ben, Ben, I can tell you haven't been on the show for long, your A-game material is pretty low.

[Andrew laughs]

Jamie: Do you think you could come out with something better for Episode 138? I suggest you get some practice in or something. You know...

Andrew: Jamie is very stressed.

Ben: You can tell how stressed he is, guys. It's okay, Jamie. You don't have to turn bitter towards me. It's okay.

[Jamie laughs]

Andrew: Anyway...

Jamie: No, no, I think it's cool. I think it's cool. I think Warner Brothers has finally realized that people just want to see awesomeness, which normally translates to more and more time spent on preparing battle and for example the bridge collapsing, that sure is going to be expensive but it's going to be worth it, because everyone's going to love it. I'm pleased with two films. Two trips to the theatre, two premieres.

Andrew: Exactly!

Jamie: You know?

Andrew: Exactly, man.

Jamie: Two's always better than one, right?

Andrew: Right! Exactly. Nobody can lose in this situation, right? Everybody's making money, everyone's podcasting longer, everyone's running their websites longer.

Jamie: I'm sure there's a few people who aren't happy, Andrew.

Andrew: [laughs] Well I'll tell you what. You come up with a list of people and we will discuss that on the next show you're on.

Jamie: Wow. Okay.

Andrew: We'll...

Jamie: I'm going to come up with a list of everyone who's unhappy.

Andrew: [laughs] Well, I was saying the crew would probably be unhappy, but I mean, everyone is making more money...

Jamie: True.

Andrew: Who loses?

Jamie: True. What's up with you guys then?

Andrew: We're just podcasting. Being celebs.

Jamie: Really?

Andrew: I have to say, Jamie, everyone's very excited that you're on right now. I'm not looking at the chat but everyone was hoping you were going to be on the show today.

Jamie: Well, I'm pleased to be half-back. Kind of back.

Andrew: Half-back. [laughs]

Jamie: Back, yeah. It's great.

Andrew: Back, but on the telephone.

Matt: Is this really a surprise, Jamie, that we called you?

Jamie: Well, it said 'unknown,' and I know that Skype says 'unknown,' but recently I've been telling Ben I've been staying up late doing my thesis and that I'm stressed, and most people would be consenting to my cause, but it could have been Ben calling me to try to rile me up, a couple of times.

Micah: Well, you just generally pick up phone calls from unknown people, don't you?

Jamie: Well, it's not particularly dangerous.

[Everyone laughs]

Andrew: It's not dangerous unless someone gave out your number - Ben!

Jamie: No! If someone gave out my number, that would suck.

Andrew: Ben gave out my phone number, so...

Jamie: Well, actually...

Andrew: I still get calls.

Ben: Miker?

Jamie: I didn't say that, Ben.

[Andrew and Micah laugh]

Andrew: Anyway, Jamie...

Ben: I love you, Jamie. I love you.

Jamie: Whatever.

[Andrew laughs]

Ben: You know you love me! Don't even go there! You know you love me!

Jamie: Don't even go there, man! You American men! Dude...

[Andrew laughs]

Andrew: Anyway...

Ben: Sorry, guys. He's obviously stressed out, forgive him please.

Jamie: I am stressed out! I am stressed out! I keep getting these moments of panic when I'll go into a comfort zone and I'll be like, "I love my life." And then two seconds later I'll remember I've got to write a million words before twelve o'clock.

Andrew: Yeah.

Jamie: It sucks, it sucks.

Andrew: Yeah.

Ben: Well, maybe if you had started sooner. I hate to be Captain Obvious...

[Andrew laughs]

Jamie: Perhaps, Ben, perhaps...

Ben: I'm just kidding! I love you. I love you. I'm kidding, Jamie.

Jamie: You've already said this, but I know I should have started earlier. It's ridiculous saying that it's like if someone...

Ben: I know, but it's fun to watch you get riled up.

Andrew: Guys, leave...

Jamie: But I'm not riled up, now, Ben. I feel sorry for you!

Ben: We'll call it that. It's okay...

Andrew: All right, we'll end it here before you guys are FaceBook poking each other in a poking war. Jamie, we'll let you go. Best of luck with your thesis, dude, seriously.

Jamie: Thank you, thank you.

Andrew: Unlike Ben, I understand that it's important.

Jamie: Enjoy the show. Bye!

Andrew: Bye, Jamie.

Laura: Bye, Jamie.

Micah: Bye.

Andrew: Ben, why do you have to do that to him? He's stressed!

Ben: Okay, you don't understand. Every time Jamie gets on AIM, he messages me and tries to rile me up.

[Andrew laughs]

Ben: So I rile him back.

Andrew: Funny, funny. Anyway...

Ben: It's a total war we have going on. We love each other though.

Andrew: I know. We know you guys do. Anyway, glad we got him on. He answered pretty quick too. I was expecting him to take forever to answer.

Ben: Guys, you know who we should call?

Andrew: Who?

Ben: Kevin Steck! I haven't heard from him in a while!

Andrew: Kevin Steck?

Ben: Yeah!

Andrew: No, Kevin Steck will never be on this show again.

Ben: [as Kevin] Andrew, I am here!

[Everyone laughs]

Andrew: Kevin Steck is joining us! Hey!

Ben: [as Kevin] I think Deathly Hallows is a good movie. Thanks. Bye.

[Andrew and Matt laugh]

Andrew: Well said!

Matt: It's like a voice-mail message.

Ben: Oh, Kevin's actually going to be on in the next half-hour?

Andrew: No! No.

Ben: Oh, no way.

Andrew: That'd be silly.

Matt: You're such a tease!

Muggle Mail: Potter at the Oscars

Andrew: [laughs] Okay, so let's wrap up this discussion a little bit and then we're going to take a break and regroup here. One last e-mail I guess we'll talk real quick about - Oscars. Ashley, 27, of Salem, Oregon wrote in via the MuggleCast feedback,

"Exciting news today! I was hoping that the seventh movie would get some recognition from the Academy a la 'Return of the King'. How do you think splitting the movie in two will affect its chances of winning gold? I feel like, especially with the first part in November and the second part in May instead of the other way around, the chances are slim and the movie will get any nods at all."

Won't get any nods at all - I guess she means.

"Interested to hear what you all think. Love the show!"

I don't know. Matt, you're up on this Oscar stuff. What do you think it means?

Matt: To be honest, I don't really think it applies to Harry Potter. With just the acting. Because it's not a really character - well-acted on the kids' parts, I hate to say. Maybe they would just get nods. They would definitely just get nods for the first film.

Andrew: Yeah.

Matt: Part II is too late for Academy Awards because it'll be released right after the Academy Awards of 2011. It's really the only speculation we could probably have mostly is whatever happens in part one of the movie.

Andrew: Good point.

Laura: Am I remembering correctly or did it get a nod for Prisoner of Azkaban special effects?

Matt: Yeah, well, that's what I'm saying...

Laura: Yeah.

Matt: Nods for special effects and set design and costume.

Andrew: But it won't win.

Matt: I'm thinking mainly with actors or director - I mean, no offense to David Yates - since none of the other films have gotten a nod. And I believe that every single director were awesome directors regardless of people's opinions on how the Harry Potter film went. They're all really great directors and they didn't even get one nod.

Andrew: Yeah.

Laura: Yeah, I'm with you on that one. I don't see Harry Potter as ever getting any big Oscar wins or anything like that sadly.

Andrew: No.

Matt: But wasn't - I think John Williams was the highest for getting a nod for Best Film score. I think that's the closest we'll get for a popular genre for people that get nods for.

Laura: I don't know.

Matt: Wasn't he nodded? I think he was. For like, "Hedwig's Theme." I think that was nominated.

Andrew: Yeah, I think you may be right. Hey, we're going to take a break now, but before that Laura and Ben have got to hop off because it is midterms time and they have some studying to do.

Laura: That's right.

Andrew: So, Laura and Ben, thank you for joining us this evening.

Laura: Mhm.

Ben: I'm glad to be back, I'm glad to rear my - not ugly, but pretty head, I guess?

[Everyone laughs]

Ben: Thanks again. I'm glad to be back guys. I'm glad to do this. It was fun. It was a lot of fun.

Andrew: It was fun!

Ben: It's good to talk about Harry Potter again.

Andrew: It was. Yeah.

Laura: Yep.

Andrew: And I guess we'll see you when the next gay character is announced.

[Laura and Matt laugh]

Ben: Yep! See you then!

Andrew: All right, thanks guys!

Ben: Bye, everybody!

Laura: Bye, everybody!

Andrew: Bye, Laura. Bye, Ben. Love you!

Laura: Love you too! Bye!

Andrew: All right, everyone. We are going to take a quick break, but when we come back we are going to introduce two more hosts that are going to be joining us and we'll be taking your calls. It's 10:04! MuggleCast Live! We'll be back in just a few minutes! You're listening to MuggleCast Live!

["Have a Nice Day" by Bon Jovi plays]

["See You Again" by Miley Cyrus plays]

Back To The Show

Andrew: MuggleCast Live! 10:14 Eastern on the Eastern coast, as I just said. Welcome back to the show everyone! A couple more people have joined us since the break. First up, Eric Scull!

Eric: Hi, everybody!

Andrew: Eric Scull! How are you doing, buddy? How was Lost?

Eric: Lost was okay. There were sort of two big reveals. I liked the first one and not the second.

Andrew: Oh! Can you spoil it for everyone?

Micah: Don't spoil it!

Andrew: No, no! Spoil it for everyone. [laughs]

Eric: I'm not going to spoil it. Not going to spoil it. Lost is available on iTunes tomorrow for $1.99.

Andrew: [laughs] And how much is Apple paying for you to say that?

Eric: You know, I wish they were paying more than, one penny. And they're not even paying a penny. So, I wish they were paying more than nothing.

Andrew: [laughs] Okay.

Eric: Free plug there.

Andrew: Okay, next, the other person who is joining us this week - this is like a double whammy. I'm loving this show. We're getting some people back!

Micah: But it's funny, because we kind of...

Andrew: Spoiled it already!

[Andrew and Micah laugh]

Eric: We're supposed to be going.

Andrew: Kevin Steck has returned.

Kevin: Hello!

Matt: Yay!

Andrew: Kevin! Kevin Steck!

Kevin: Can you guys hear me?

Andrew: Yes. We can hear you. How are you doing?

Kevin: Pretty well.

Andrew: It's been a while. How long has it been, Kevin? I forget.

Kevin: Oh, it's been months!

Andrew: Months, yeah.

Kevin: Probably four or five months.

Matt: At least a week.

Andrew: [laughs] At least a week!

Kevin: Yeah.

Eric: I call Kevin every week, and I say, "Dude, I miss you."

Andrew: Do you really?

Eric: I do!

Kevin: Yeah, he's crying all the time.

Friendly Reminders from Eric Scull

Andrew: Speaking of that, Eric, calling people - I don't like bringing personal issues on the show, but it was Sunday morning. I'm resting peacefully because I put MuggleCast up the night before and I always rest peacefully the night after I release MuggleCast - and I wake up around 9:30 to my Apple iPhone ringing. It's Eric Scull. I don't answer it because I'm half asleep, I'm like "Whatever." I roll over and go back to bed. I listened to your voice-mail and you called me to tell me to put my clock forward an hour. Why?

[EVeryone laughs]

Eric: Well, Andrew, I actually...

Micah: Don't you know the iPhone is smart enough to do that, Eric?

Andrew: [laughs] Yes, exactly.

Eric: Wait, this is two separate questions! Is the iPhone actually smart enough to do that?

Andrew: Yes!

Eric: Damn it! Okay, fine.

Andrew: Well, it's a cell phone! All cell phones do that!

Eric: Right, right, of course, the iPhone. What does that thing not do? Okay, but seriously - well, Andrew, when I had first called you - which was when I went to Andrew Sims in my little contacts - I didn't - I had to touch the buttons to do that. I couldn't just touch the screen...

Andrew: Right.

Eric: ...like iPods.

Andrew: Right.

Eric: I'm very happy with my phone. It's a Motorola KRZR. When I called you, I had other intentions entirely. I was going to tell you something. I forget exactly what I was going to tell you.

Andrew: Oh, I see.

Eric: But, see, by the time I actually - I had something in mind to tell you and then by the time the voice-mail went on I was like, "What am I going to do?" so I decided then to tell you what I had just found out, which was that the time...

[Andrew laughs]

Eric: Actually, yeah, you know what, Andrew? I'll lie and it'll be a better story. I knew you were sleeping in and I just wanted to remind you...

Andrew: Oh, thank you.

Eric: That you were - that morning - you were going to sleep in an extra hour longer than you'd planned to.

Andrew: Thank you. That's very kind.

Eric: Sure.

Andrew: But let's get right back into our DH discussion, being split in two. Kevin and Eric, I don't know if you guys heard, but the movie is going to be split in two. I don't know if you guys knew this.

Kevin: I heard, definitely, yeah.

Andrew: Kevin, we'll start...

Kevin: It's been all over the news.

Kevin's Reaction

Andrew: Yeah, it has. Kevin, we'll start with your reactions.

Kevin: I like it.

Andrew: From a computer programmer's standpoint, from the standpoint of a minority of Windows users in this Skype chat, how do you feel?

Eric: Including me! Including me.

Andrew: Yeah. Including you.

Kevin: Linux. And Linux, come on.

Andrew: And Linux, of course. How do you see this split?

Kevin: I like it because I think they'll have more time to devote to the last movie. I think it could do nothing but good.

Andrew: Yeah. And Eric?

Eric's Reaction

Eric: I think a lot of people are upset about the four month difference, which I have no problem with - in releasing in the movies, I mean, that kind of made sense to me when they said D.H. would be split and then one's releasing, what? In November 2010? May 2011? Is that what the deal is?

Andrew: That's correct. That is correct.

Kevin: Yeah, it is.

Eric: That's six months apart.

Matt: Yeah. It's six months.

Eric: All the same, no. I think David Yates directing again is another good sign to me. I really like the Order of the Phoenix movie. I thought at least he can handle the material pretty well.

Andrew: Yeah.

Eric: So actually I just think exactly what everyone I guess has been saying on the show - gives it more ability to focus and keep everything in, gives it more time - and it was about time they announced something. If you look at MuggleNet's main page, almost - I'd say at least sixty percent of those articles are somebody whispering to someone else at the last minute, "Yeah, D.H.? Psst!"

Andrew: Yeah. And the funny thing is that, just that morning, SnitchSeeker reported that Matt Lewis revealed it to someone too and after that I was thinking to myself...

[Eric laughs]

Andrew: ..."Okay, W.B.! Come on! It's time. You've had at least four leaks at this point from crew, from your own cast...

Eric: Exactly.

Andrew: ...from these tabloids and then Barron and Heyman were - we discussed in that interview with them a few weeks ago, it's like "Come on! It's time! Just do it!"

Eric: Everybody was saying it.

Andrew: Be Nike and just do it!

Eric: Just do it. Exactly. Just like Nike. I have to tell the listeners just now that they've been saved from a two and a half minute spiel which would have said exactly what you just said, Andrew, in your twenty-five seconds or so - which is basically just what everybody's whispering - it's just W.B., just do it. So, I'm very happy with this announcement.

Andrew: Me too.

Matt: Mhm.

Andrew: Me too.

Lengths of the Movies

Matt: But what do you guys necessarily think - because in some of the interviews they said about being split in two I don't know if it was David Barron or Steve Kloves, but they mentioned that the split is giving them a more chance to relax. I seem to think it's going to be more kind of hectic that they have actually more stuff to do.

Kevin: Well, I think the relaxtion would come from the fact that they don't have to pay as much attention to what details they integrate into the films. They're given, basically, double the time for a single book.

Andrew: Mm.

Kevin: But now they don't have to be as nit-picky about which details they choose to exclude and include into the movie.

Matt: Yeah.

Kevin: Takes the pressure off a bit.

Eric: Well, that's the other question though. Will they use the time? I mean, are we looking at two two and a half hour movies here? Two two-hour movies?

Andrew: We...

Eric: Because if they do two ninety minute movies or the battles - that'll be horrible...

Andrew: We did discuss this earlier...

Eric: ...then I'll have an issue with it.

Andrew: ...Micah?

Micah: Um. No, yeah, Eric, we talked a little about it before because Alan Horn, who's the President and, I guess, Chief Operating Officer for Warner Brothers was quoted in that L.A. Times article as saying, "They will have at least an hour and half more to work with now." So I don't know how you would take that...

Andrew: Telling.

Micah: ...as far as how long...

Eric: Okay.

Micah: ...the first movie will be but you're guaranteed that the second movie will be...

Matt: Mhm.

Micah: ...at least 90 minutes, so.

Matt: And they haven't even really confirmed that both movies will be the same length.

Micah: I don't...

Andrew: Presumably they would.

Eric: No, I don't think you can until the finished cut product...

Andrew: I think presumably they would be though, wouldn't they? I mean...

Eric: Same length? Or...

Andrew: Yeah, because I think you're trying to find some balance. Although, I guess I can see how the second one would be longer because also you're including...

Eric: It depends how they cut it.

Matt: I think what will really - when they said hour and a half extra, I think they meant that the second one will be at least an hour and a half if not more.

Eric: Or 90 minutes. The good thing about this is instead of worrying about what makes the cut, you know in the news articles they say - there were some things in Book 7 you just can't take stuff out of - because there's no other movie to explain it, you know. So, instead of worrying about what makes the cut of the films, you're now worried about what makes the cut of the first film or what makes the cut of the second one. You're basically guaranteed that whatever they deem important is - a lot more things are able to make it into the movies.

Kevin: I also find it hard to believe that they would split the movie and make each ninety minutes long, because...

Eric: Yeah.

Kevin: ...they could have fit that into a single movie. They have to justify splitting it into two movies.

Eric: My feelings.

Kevin: I think time is their justification.

Micah: Right. I mean, what do you guys think about the standard now? I mean, they - we were talking about this before but the bar has been raised massively now. I mean, they have really no wiggle room, no room for error, because they're taking this upon themselves to split it into two. They have to get everything in possible.

Eric: How - how so?

Micah: What do you mean?

Eric: I mean - oh okay. So you're saying that they have to get everything in now. What exactly are you saying when - when you say that?

Micah: Well I'm saying that you're looking at the fact that they took the movie and they're splitting it into two parts and...

Matt: They don't have an excuse.

Micah: Arguably they're both going to be longer than two hours. They don't - exactly Matt. They don't have an excuse for not including something major or - or the fans want in this film.

Eric: Okay.

Micah: They cannot afford to not do that.

Eric: Okay because you're foreseeing an army of fans that are very upset that they're going to have to wait six months extra, plus the addition of a movie ticket cost, you know that sort of thing or not.

Andrew: Basically. No that's pretty much it.

Micah: I'm just talking about it including everything possible in these final two films.

Eric: Yeah. They have to make it worth our while I think.

Matt: They know that they - that we're going to be completely judgmental, I mean just by us alone. We're totally going to have way more expectations out of this movie.

Eric: Actually I have less. I'm really happy that they did this and I think it was dragged on so long that maybe when I first heard it I wouldn't have liked it and I think I probably did say I didn't like it. Now I'm feeling like maybe it's the better thing to do because we haven't really tried this with any of the movies before. Yeah do I wish they would've maybe done this with the earlier movies, maybe. But you know this is Book 7, I mean Movie 7 is a movie on its own. So we'll see how this happens. We'll see how this works.

Andrew: Yeah, should we talk more about...

The Cast

Matt: What do you guys - oh sorry.

Andrew: No go ahead please. No you probably had a better question, I insist.

Matt: Oh, I was just thinking how big this cast is going to be because are they going to include - are they going to do all the casting all at once? Because this is like two movies and they introduce Griphook. Didn't Verne Troyer who played Mini-Me - is he playing Griphook?

Eric: I heard that.

Matt: Because he played him in the first movie.

Eric: Oh did he?

Micah: Right, you're looking at an all inclusive cast I think.

Andrew: Yeah.

Micah: I mean they're bringing everybody back.

Eric: But for which part, is the other question?

Kevin: I think they would do it for both parts.

Micah: Well...

Kevin: It seems to me what they're going to do is they're going to film it all at the same time...

Andrew: They are.

Kevin: ...and then cut it down the center just like they did with - I think Lord of the Rings did that. Where the movies were all filmed...

Matt: They didn't - I don't think they included the cast members that weren't introduced yet.

Kevin: They don't - they don't have to. But they can film it all at the same time.

Matt: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Eric: That's not exactly what I'm saying. I'm saying when the movie itself is cut - if the movie follows the book, Movie 1 is going to be really drawn out and boring and Movie 2 is going to have the dragon from Gringotts and the attack at Hogwarts you know what I'm saying? They might have to rearrange Book 7...

Matt: I agree.

Eric: ...to accommodate sort of, well...

Andrew: No I think that's a good point because you do have to find a balance of action and - and drama in each one.

Eric: In each of these films. Since no that there are two.

Matt: But they're two different films.

Andrew: It doesn't matter though. With every movie you still need action and a pinnacle.

Matt: There is, there's the wedding scene, there is the Horcrux scene...

Eric: Seven Potters.

Matt: ...there's when Harry goes to his house, there's going to be a climactic scene right there.

Eric: Right.

Matt: It just - they have two different tones if you think about it. There's a way to cut the movie into two different tones. Like the second part is going to be a very big blockbusterish kind of fighting sequences because they have Voldemort, they have Hogwarts, they have all those scenes together, they have Gringotts. The first one is going to be more like Harry finding closure with himself and his family and a lot of things. And - and...

Eric: But that doesn't happen until the end of the book.

Matt: Well I'm just saying though, he visits his - his family's house and there's closure there because he finally visited. There's just going to be different feelings for each film.

Kevin: I agree.

Micah: I mean it goes back to what I said before, you're looking at Harry essentially learning in the first movie and then actually taking more action in the second movie and I don't know how you would name those films subtitle-wise but you know. I just think that it's - it's going to be interesting to see how they divide it up because as you were saying Matt it's two totally different sort of atmospheres but in the end I just hope that they get it right because I - I still go back to the whole point of there's no margin for error right now.

Matt: There isn't.

Andrew: The bar is - the bar is too high, yeah.

Kevin: Do you think...

Eric: I think - sorry, Matt?

Andrew: It was Kevin.

Kevin: It's okay. I was just going to ask, do you think that they had the six months gap because of a DVD release or are they planning to release a DVD in between for the first half so people can watch it in transition to the second?

Matt: I think it's mainly for the holiday seasons. Most of the big movies come out either in Christmas break or Summer. And that's when the book...

Kevin: That's true.

Matt: ...was released - that's when each of the movies was released too. Order of the Phoenix was released in Summer. Half-Blood Prince was going to be in the Winter season.

Eric: Well one, two and four, and now the first part - well one, two, four, six and the first part of seven are releases in November. Only four - I mean sorry only Movie 3 and what Movie 5?

Matt: Yeah.

Eric: And seven Part II is going to be released in June or this Summer whenever that is.

Matt: It's definitely Winter break - one of the bigger holiday seasons. Christmas break has always been very popular. So it makes sense that they start with winter just to get everything started.

Eric: Plus that's when the book is set.

Matt: Sorry?

Eric: That's when the book is set. If you look at - if you want to split the book up in the middle you get the sort of July through maybe January to February would make the first movie and the second movie would be...

Matt: Yeah. That makes sense, yeah.

Eric: It'd be kind of the same time of the year. It would be cool to see if they...

Kevin: Like chronologically?

Andrew: Yeah.

Click here to go to page three