Director David Yates on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
via geekmonthly:
The arrival of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will bring with it the film series’ fourth director, with David Yates following the creative footsteps of Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets), Alfonso Cuaron (Prisoner of Azkaban) and Mike Newell (Goblet of Fire). Along the way, he’s attempting to bring his own style to the film as he helps to orchestrate the next stage in Harry’s evolution.
GEEKMONTHLY.COM: How challenging was it for you to come in to this series mid-stream?
DAVID YATES: I’d just finished shooting quite a complex epic grown up drama called Sex Traffic and I got the call about this. I read the book and, obviously, it’s very difficult not to be intrigued and interested when offered a chance to get involved, because the world is very rich and fantastic and some of the themes in this particular story are incredibly dark and grown up. It was very difficult not to want to join in, as it were. Even though the film franchise has been going on for four pictures now, the attitude of the producers was really to be kind of open to new ideas and new ways of pulling things in a slightly edgier, more emotional direction. Which is, of course, a good reflection of where book five is anyway and what Jo [J.K. Rowling] created in the first place. So you’ve got lots of the benefits and lots of the advantages of joining a franchise such as this as there is a production infrastructure in place.
GEEKMONTHLY.COM: And dealing with the kids continuing to get older has to be a real advantage as a filmmaker.
DAVID YATES: It’s a really exciting time to be at Hogwarts, because, as you said, the characters are older and they’re dealing with really complex things. The cast is more interested in pushing themselves and being pushed as actors. It’s the best of both worlds. You still feel that you’re making a unique film and it’s your film, and it’s a very one-off story, but at the same time you’ve been given this tremendous reserve of resources if you need it.
GEEKMONTHLY.COM: What would you say are some of the themes of Order of the Phoenix?
DAVID YATES: Jo’s work is full of really interesting thematic stuff. In our story, Harry’s having to deal with the whole issue of whether or not he’s being corrupted and been made bad by this connection he has with Voldemort. It’s classical. Anyone who’s ever been through those very turbulent, difficult teenage years where you find yourself growing angry and frustrated and those years are really formative, will be able to identify. They’re the years that can sometimes define you as a person. Some people can take that and develop in a positive way, and some people start on a route that ultimately leads them to difficult years. That’s what this film and story partly looks at - the very emotional and turbulent time when you’re growing up and you’re suddenly questioning everything about the world. You’re also discovering the world is quite a complex and complicated place, and all the adults around you don’t necessarily have all the answers; there might even be falling out amongst themselves about how to deal with issues and problems that are threatening them. And you discover how complicated you are within your own self. What Jo is brilliant at doing, ultimately, is exploring that universal truth regarding that transition to adulthood in this magical universe.
