2.23 - HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE (2001) & Introductions

We kick off 2017 with a new franchise, and it’s one of Rob’s favourites! After some discussion of why Sam may or may not be a fan, we get into some talk about establishing narratives, introductions, and why the story involves a great meta-textual metaphor for growing up.

This Week’s Watching
ROGUE ONE (2016): Gareth Edwards, Felicity Jones, Diego Luna
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (2016): Antoine Fuqua, Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt

Recommendations
THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE (2005): Andrew Adamson, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977): Stephen Spielberg, Richard Dreyfuss, Teri Garr
MRS DOUBTFIRE (1993): Chris Columbus, Robin Williams, Sally Field
LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (2001): Peter Jackson, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen

Footnotes
J.K. Rowling’s literary predecessor, whom Sam mentions at the start, is the late Diana Wynne Jones, whose Chrestomanci series of books covers some of the same ground as HP. On the subject of books, we also mentioned Jill Murphy and The Worst Witch. There’s a good introduction (hah!) to the panning shot Rob talks about, as well as various other camera techniques, here. Here’s more on J.K. Rowling’s meticulous approach to plotting and, finally, a plug for Peter Jackson’s NZ film company (not that he needs one!), where Rob worked in the mid-2000s.