PotterCast 125: "Conference Call" Transcript

News Talk (0:00 - 14:29)

John Noe (JN): Doing the best we can week two without Melvin. It's PotterCast 125.

Sue Upton (SU): Woo! (applauds) Hey! Hey, everyone. It's Sue.

JN: What's going on? (SU: And John.) It is Sue and me.

SU: John!

JN: John Dawlish.

SU: That's right, Mr. Canon.

JN: Here with another installment of PotterCast buck twenty-five. That'll buy you a Coke at my school, I think.

SU: That's terrible. It is. I remember when it used to be a quarter, man.

JN: Oh! (laughs) You don't remember when it used to be a quarter.

SU: (laughs) I do, too! I am way old and it used to be a quarter.

JN: Susie.

SU: It's true. It's true! Inflation. It's all Fudge's fault. I blame him. It's the government.

JN: Everybody's always blaming Fudge. (SU laughs) But anyway, we've got an interesting show this week because this one's all about the fandom and it's the first of a series of, "What's Up, Fandom?"

SU: What's up?

JN: And we are talking about the conventions amongst other things, mostly the fan conventions, namely Portus, happening in Dallas, Texas. Right, Sue?

SU: Yes, it is in July (JN: Yeah.) and then in August it's Terminus. Squee!

JN: Terminus. Terminus happening in Chicago (SU: Mm-hm.) and we have the organizers from both those events on. We have an interview with them. But before we go any further than that, we have to hear from our awesome friends at Borders.

SU: Yay!

Borders Ad:
SU: Haven't read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows yet? Don't worry, Borders is here to help. Pick up your copy of this summer's smash hit soon. You won't be able to hide from the spoilers forever. You can count on Borders to have it in stock and ready to take home tonight, along with the audio book version. Even if you've read the book, the Harry Potter fun doesn't have to end yet. Visit BordersMedia.com or click on the Borders banner at the top of the PotterCast page to find out more.

JN: Awesome.

SU: Yeah.

JN: (sings) I love the Borders. Okay.

SU: I love Borders. I was just there, actually. You know what? I was looking for toys. Snape toys.

JN: (laughs) Really? I thought you had all the Snape toys you needed.

SU: Well, I can't find Kung Fu Snape. He is gone AWOL, he's missing. Someone kidnapped him.

JN: No way!

SU: Yes.

JN: When did this happen?

SU: It's just been recent. I don't know where he's at. He's gone.

JN: Oh, no.

SU: I'm thinking something nefarious has happened to him.

JN: Poor Kung Fu Snape, he's like a celebrity now, (SU: I know.) on YouTube.

SU: I'll find him.

JN: As if he wasn't already one.

SU: (laughs) Oh, Snape, Snape. Speaking of Snape, (JN: Oh, golly.) Snape. Let's think. We can see all about Snape, though. You know the big news of the week. You know what happened, John?

JN: I don't know anything about what happened because I am not up on my Snape news.

SU: Well, it's not about Snape, but we get to see Snape and Harry and Ron and Grawp and everybody because in the UK, the people have now are lucky to receive Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix DVD, although we in the United States have to wait. (sighs)

JN: I know! What's the deal? We predicted wrong that they would change their minds.

SU: (laughs) And wrong one more month ago. Not until December 11th.

JN: I'm going to wait a whole month!? I'm going to fly over to London before I wait a month.

SU: I mean, okay, this is hysterical because this is what the big news is. On the DVD, if you put your DVD on the extras, you can buy the two-disk thing I believe there is a link that takes you to a special site and you get to see a Half-Blood Prince sneak peek. Two clips! (JN: Whoa.) Two clips.

JN: Two clips of what? Anybody get to see that? (SU laughs) Was there any chance it went illegally on YouTube?

SU: I literally timed it and it literally took less than three hours for fans to have that up on YouTube. (laughs)

JN: No kidding?

SU: No kidding. I timed it, I'm like, "Okay, here we go." And it was less than three hours, it was awesome, but, oh! They're building a whole orphanage. A huge, there's an interview with Stuart Craig on it and this is a spoiler, so if you want to wait until you get it in December, well, stop listening. But Stuart Craig, our friend Stuart Craig, the production designer (JN laughs) and you can see he shows the sketches and they built a street in London on the back lot there at Leavesden and they’re (JN: Yeah.) building this huge orphanage. I mean goodness sakes.

JN: They said that it was based on a building that they found and I had to look at this concept art quite a few times because at first I thought it was this huge university almost but apparently it's just a building at the end of the row, here's the orphanage. (SU: I see.) The rest of it on the sides is the London streets or whatever in England. I guess there's other cities than London over there, but (SU: Well, yeah.) I always say London.

SU: It really did strike me as a very Dickens- I love Charles Dickens (JN: Yeah.) and that. But the thought that the fact is that they're spending this enormous amount of money building this set. (JN: Mm-hm.) I thought was really cool that they're going to put some serious time into that scene because obviously it's so crucial. But I was like, "Wow!"

JN: Totally. It's going to be an extremely awesome scene. And, I just wish we could actually figure out who's going to be staring in that scene, other than Mr. Gambon Dumbledore.

SU: Yeah, we don't know. They still haven't bothered to announce who is playing young Voldemort. Although, we did get casting announcements on who was going to be Lavender Brown.

JN: Yes, (SU: Yes.) that was pretty huge.

SU: It was pretty huge. Her name is Jessie Cave and she's twenty years old. She's an older woman.

JN: Look at Ron! Look at Rupe.

SU: I know. And, we...

JN: Oh, Rupe. Rupe will be fine.

SU: Yeah, he'll be fine.

JN: Are you kidding that guy?

SU: And, we also heard that Helen McCrory has been cast as Narcissa Malfoy.

JN: Why does that name sound familiar?

SU: Why does it sound familiar? Hm. Deja-vu all over again. Wait!

JN: Wasn't she originally cast as Molly Weasley?

SU: No, she was cast as Narcissa's sister Bellatrix. But she had to drop out because she was pregnant. Remember that?

JN: Oh, geez. (SU: Yeah.) I guess it's coming back to me.

SU: Yeah. You know, instead of casting somebody new, 'cause there had been a lot of names banded about, they went back and said, "Okay, well, you can't do Bellatrix. How about play her sister?" (laughs)

JN: (laughs) They had her in a folder. (SU: I guess so.) She was in the maybe folder (SU: Maybe.) for potential actresses.

SU: I mean, seriously now. Come on!

JN: I'm sure she'll do great.

SU: I think so. She's a very accomplished actress, you have to say, she is, and she'll be fine. But, I just thought that was just kind of funny. But, at least we know now that we've pinned down that Narcissa's going to be there and Lavender. And, on the other glimpses that we saw on the Half-Blood Prince scene, we also saw the cave. We saw Dumbledore and the cave.

JN: Really? (SU: Yeah.) It was real quick, wasn't it?

SU: Yeah, it was real quick he was there. And, then we also saw that, remember 'cause our readers had sent in the reports from the Lacock filming, and Dumbledore's, what's that a glove. Did you see this green hand?

JN: I must have missed it.

SU: There's a real quick shot of Dumbledore, and he holds his hand up like he's grabbing his beard or something, the actor Michael Gambon and he's stroking his beard, and you can see it's a green, it looks like a glove. (JN: Cool.) Yeah, I was like, "Wow."

JN: That will be cool.

SU: I think so. And, another sneak peek, we saw Won-Won's Keeper uniform. So, Quidditch is back, baby! Woo hoo! (laughs)

JN: And, they've upped the equipment or something? (SU: Yes.) They've got more padding on these guys now. It will be more physical?

SU: Yeah, I guess so. The other sneak peek was an interview with the costume designer, who's been with them for a long time, and she was talking about how she's styled them up a little bit. And, they showed the shot of Ron's uniform, and Harry's uniform. And, he's got a helmet.

JN: Very cool.

SU: The Slytherins have a new kind of stylish look, but then (inaudible)

JN: They get to wear silk for their sporting goods because they're just that fancy. (SU laughs)

SU: Nothing but the best for Death Eater wanna bees. There you go.

JN: Totally, totally.

SU: You got to work it.

JN: Gosh, was there anything else going on here, cool in the news.

SU: Yeah, well speaking of Michael Gambon, I just want to say that he is camping it up. Because I just can't, (JN: Oh no.) I have to say this because I know that every time we mention this, but…

JN: Is Dumbledore still gay?

SU: He still is.

JN: Oh, go figure.

SU: And, he's doing knitting and he's having a good time with it. And, David Yates said that Michael Gambon is a wonderful, or he was speaking about Dumbledore actually, and said, "He's a wonderful character, Dumbledore. Graceful, wise, powerful, quirky, perfect sense of humor, loves knitting."

JN: Yeah. (SU: You know?) I just find it quite ironic, and quite amusing (SU: Yeah.) that here we are after so many films with Gambon, where he doesn't give a rat's butt about the books and how Dumbledore's written in the books. He just reads the scripts (SU: Yeah.) and goes home, doesn't watch the film and be done with it. (SU: Yeah.) But, now suddenly (SU laughs), new information Dumbledore's gay and he's dancing around the sets and telling jokes.

SU: I know. It's like okay. But, Mr. Yates goes on and says, "There's a jumble. The sexuality is just another thing." Which is great, that's what we want, but then the more alarming note to me was a quote from producer David Barron who said that, "Dumbledore would remain the character Michael Gambon has already established." (SU and JN laugh)

JN: Thank God. I would not want any discontinuity (SU laughs) by him suddenly getting clued in, but whatever.

SU: It's just, I don't know. But then, those of us are kind of alarmed that, "How dare you, Harry! Take away my knitting." I can just see him, I don't know. (JN and SU laugh)

JN: Shaking Harry about his knitting pattern.

SU: (laughs) I don't know.

JN: Crazy. Well, I will refer everyone back to episode 124 when we clued the fans in on how to accept (SU laughs) Gambon and the five stages of (SU: That was awesome.) Gambon's performance.

SU: Yes. You just have to work through it, people! Work through it. (JN: Yes.) You know, it's funny. Oh, so, okay. So, they had the DVD release in London and it was a big thing. And now we've saw a whole bunch of new interviews and among the little things that we've learned that Imelda Staunton is hoping to return as Umbridge for Deathly Hallows which I think is...

JN: I would hope so!

SU: She was- you watch her again on these clips and you just get- (JN: Yeah.) one of the things that you get on the DVD is a deleted scene- and of course those have already made it onto YouTube, too. I mean within just, boom! (JN: Oh, geez.) That's a big surprise. And (JN: Come on, people!) you can actually see there's an extended version- extended cut of her in the forest when she takes the- you know, (JN: Hm.) and it's quite chilling, I actually thought. I wish they had kept that whole scene. I thought it could have worked. It just really, really got the level of her- (JN: Yeah.) just, (sighs) yeah.

JN: Are there really only two deleted scenes?

SU: Well, no. There's ten, but...

JN: Oh, okay. Good. I was going to say cause what's ABC Family gonna run if there's not an extended version of this thing? (SU: (laughs) Yeah!)

SU: But I watch those all the time when they're on- they put them back in. I mean, the other day they had Chamber of Secrets on with all the deleted scenes.

JN: I know! When are they (SU sighs) gonna put those to DVD?

SU: Oh, from your lips to Warner Brothers' ears.

JN: My ruddy VHS tape is getting warn the heck out.

SU: I know, I know. (JN: I swear.) It's so much better. Especially Chamber of Secrets. It's so much better.

JN: It needs some fuller experience. (SU: Yeah.)

SU: Oh, by the way, you can pre-order now the DVD for those of us that have to wait (JN: Heh. Yes.) more weeks 'till Warner Brothers decides okay, Americans, largest market in the world...

JN: I'm sure there's a reason (SU laughs) for it that is just, you know, way over our heads. (SU: Yeah.)

SU: Well, it's over my head because I can't- it makes no sense to me, but... (laughs)

JN: Yeah, well, (SU: You know.) there are worse things in the world, I suppose.

SU: There are. There are. Oh! One more thing, our friend Matt Lewis, he's an assistant director on Order of the Phoenix. I did not know. (JN: What?) I know! I know! That's what he said!

JN: Good for him!

SU: I know! Isn't that cool? I just think, you know...

JN: We have to work on getting another interview with him then.

SU: I think so. We can say, "Hey Matt, give us the scoop."

JN: I have to- I have to pick up the Matt phone.

SU: Yeah. The Matt phone. (JN hums "Batman", tune) (laughs)

SU: Is that how it goes? It doesn't go...

JN: He throws the fat suit off, (SU laughs) fixes his hair, dashes down to the studio. (SU laughs)

SU: Gets off as- I hope...

JN: Podcast headquarters.

SU Oh! I hope he has good news for us about his hair in this new movie. I just am hoping. Cause he...

JN: Just let the poor kid (SU laughs) like, you know, not have to wear a fat suit to school everyday.

SU: I know. I know, I mean.

JN: It's hard enough to be Neville.

SU: I know! Oh! (JN: Well.) One more thing, I have to say this, Luna Lovegood, I love her, and her jewelry now is from Noble Collection on- they make these beautiful prop replicas. There's the radish earrings that I'm just all excited about.

JN: That's sweet. And one of her rings.

SU: And her rings and the Butterbeer necklace. Now, what is the deal with that ring? What is that thing? Do you know what it is?

JN: She likes to make the beaded jewelry. Those earrings weren't the only things that she's designed and she has a whole slew of things that she wears (SU: That's so cool.) on a regular basis and it's cool stuff and they let her wear the ring in the movie (SU: Yeah.) and I guess they really took a liking to it too. (SU: Yeah.) And put it up on the Noble Collection.

SU: That's awesome. That is number one on my wish list, I'm telling that right now. That even leaped ahead of the Marauder's Map. I just- I'm like- I saw that- (JN: That's cool.) ugh. Oh! I also wanted to just remind people too that Jo wrote that Tale of Beedle the Bard, which all proceeds are going to charity. (JN: Mm.) The catalogue is available now. You can order it from Sotheby's online. It is a forty-eight page- it has images and excerpts of the text. So, people are complaining, "Oh, we're never going to hear the new canon from Jo." Well, I think, if you buy this catalogue, you're gonna get some of what she's selling in the charity auction. And all the proceeds from the catalogue sale go to charity too. (JN: Awesome.) Yeah, very good. And (JN: Awesome.) I think the rest of the week (JN: I think...) has been pretty quiet. Right, John? (laughs)

JN: Well, I think that's a hell of a lot to be happening for our lull between (SU: Yeah.) everything else. (SU: Yeah, I think so.) So, we have an interesting week of interviews and a big old mailbag this week (SU: Yay!) as well. (SU: Kristin! Woo-hoo!) And special K will be back and we're taking your questions about what's going on with our crazy fandom today. All right, let's move on here now with our first interview with Bekki from HPEF, talking to us about Portus convention.