By the time we got to the second film, we were able to do tracking shots and the kids could shoot a master and have a conversation within those shots. I couldn’t get them to stop smiling, and it really became an exercise and acting class for me as a director. The first couple of weeks, all the kids were so excited to be part of the “Harry Potter” film, they were basically just smiling into the cameras. I could only really shoot, for the first three months, a close up of one of the actors before they would lose concentration. That’s why that film was filled with so many cuts. In the first film, there was not a lot of professional experience between the three leads. What was it like working with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as young actors? That was probably one of the most important things for her. Also, I was determined to keep the film with an entirely British cast.

She had been through meetings with other directors, and there was always talk about combining the first two books, adding cheerleaders to the Quidditch game, and all things she wasn’t into. As a result, she felt like we were in sync.

I explained where I saw the visual style of the film. We had none of that because it wasn’t on film at that point. We talked about the look of the film, production design, creature design. I said to myself, ‘I’ve got to make this film for myself.’ I didn’t think about the billions of eyes that would be on this film when it was released.ĭirector Chris Columbus says he was “determined to keep the film with an entirely British cast.” ©Warner Bros/courtesy Everett Cĭo you remember your pitch to J.K. I knew I had to deliver a film that would not only please fans, but also myself because I was a fan. Then when I finished, she said, “I see the film exactly the same way.” I thought, ‘Oh, my God, I’ve got it.’ That was a moment of pure elation, followed quickly by sheer panic. I flew to Scotland to meet with her and we talked for about two and a half, maybe three hours, to explain my vision for the film. Aside from Warner Brothers hiring me, I still had to meet with Jo Rowling. I knew I was taking on something fairly gigantic, and I’ve never been involved in a project that had so much scrutiny. And I would have millions of fans at my door just infuriated. I was very, I don’t want to say anxious, but aware of the fact that if I screw this up, I probably will never work again. I had every expectation that I would probably be fired within the first two weeks. Given the popularity of the books, did you feel pressure making the first “Harry Potter” movie?

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