If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above.
You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.
To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
Audio: Full Tom Felton San Diego Comic-Con interview on Deathly Hallows, Draco & more
SnitchSeeker has the full audio of the interview that news head katiebell and several other Harry Potter sites did with Tom Felton earlier today at the San Diego Comic-Con. The session, running at nearly a half-hour, can be heard below:
Part 1:
Part 2:
Photos of Tom taken during the session can be seen in high-resolution here:
The full transcript of the interview can be read below.
Quote:
So this is your first Comic-Con experience, and there’s like 7,000 people in there.
Tom: I’m still taking it all in. I’m a bit speechless at the moment. You guys don’t do things by half measures, generally speaking. We have a few things like this in the U.K., but nowhere near this scale. Someone told me it started like four years ago with like 60 people, and now it’s got like 120,000. Amazing. It’s great that there’s so much support from genuine, hard core fans. People that are really passionate about movies and comics and all the other fun stuff. It’s very exciting.
That was the first time you saw the [Deathly Hallows] clips?.
Tom: They’re like that. They keep it under lock and key and you never get to see anything. I was very excited.
It was very emotional, isn’t it?
Tom: Oh, they do get with those trailers, don’t they? You really get a feeling inside. It was very exciting to see and very emotional. Especially since it’s the last trailer. It’s one of those things that can easily present a tear. I enjoyed it. I thought it looked brilliant.
Because it’s the end now, there’s this very high expectation. Can you talk about that? It’s like your guys’ final shot.
Tom: Everyone, from the actors down to the crew, everyone really wanted to put absolutely everything into this. They wanted this to be their masterpiece, if you will, and that’s not just the director and producers, but also the cast. The extras that have been there for eight years, they all wanted to give it absolutely everything.
It was a real opportunity for people to go that extra level because were so many battles and depth, you know, a strong part of the story. It really gave everyone a great chance to step up their game a little bit. We’re all very excited and we’re all absolutely certain this is going to be best of the bunch.
How similar is it from what you remember filming to what you just saw on the screen?
Tom: They have an incredible ability to make even the most minute actions look incredibly elaborate. It’s kind of weird when you look back on it and you think, “I don’t remember doing this or doing that.” But, yeah, they have a great ability to do that. It’s very emotional. They do great with those trailers, man. What can I say? It’s a very good trailer.
Have you and Dan Radcliffe taled about doing any other projects together?
Tom: We’ve joked and said that the next thing we do, he’s going to be the villain and I’m going to be the good guy. Unless that somehow presents itself, I don’t really know. But we’ve had a lot of fun over the years, so fingers crossed.
There were new actors cast for Deathly Hallows. who did you get to work with and what was it like?
Tom: This was one of the first times I got to work with some of the adults. I never worked with Ralph, who played Voldemort. For one of the scenes in Malfoy Manor we had every kind of figure of the darkness in one room. It was kind of scary. New artists … I’m trying to think of a name that pops into my head.
Did you work with Emma Watson during the scene where Bellatrix tortures Hermione?
Tom: Yeah, was brutal. Actually, it was the same with Dan at the end, when he has his demise or supposed demise. It’s very hard to actually not see the reality. They’re very good actors and they really sell it. And Helena is the loveliest lady, but also the most cruel, evil person when she wants to be. Yeah, when they turned on, you wanted to kind of step to make sure nothing was happening - a credit to the performances. It’s going to really make the audiences grimace in their seat.
Draco has quite an interesting arc in the story. He doesn’t immediately turn in Harry.
Tom: I believe that a lot has been left to our interpretation, really, of how we want to perceive it. We’re never explained Draco’s actions – why or how he’s doing it. It was very exciting to take that on. David Yates had a very clear idea, but equally he shot a few different versions to see which one they’d prefer. I think basically they’ve gone along the lines of he wants to help, he doesn’t know that he wants to help, he just has the urge to try and do something.
Obviously his parental influences couldn’t be worse, especially at Malfoy Manor. The risk he’s taking by not actually giving Harry up is huge. They kind of save each other’s lives a few times. There’s no Harry and Draco hug at the end of it, but there’s a nice look on the platform at 9 ¾ at the end when we’re matured. There’s a lovely little moment where we kind of say … we say what’s unsaid, with a glance. That was a very cool moment.
What was the very last thing you filmed?
Tom: It was that. It was that with everyone else. I did like one shot with second unit by myself a few weeks later, but the last few days of real shooting, principal photography, was at Kings Cross Station when we were 36 years old or whatever.
Do you think fans are going to be happy with how that played out? Was it loyal to the book?
Tom: Yeah, certainly. One of the advantages, and the great thing we’re excited about, we weren’t going to try and cram all the great stuff into one film. Unless you want it to be a six-hour movie, it’s just not going to happen. So, as far as I know, and as far as what we shot, it stayed completely loyal to the pages, which we’re all very happy about. I’m sure the fans will be very happy as well.
What did you think of the way you looked in the epilogue scene?
Tom: Not good. The years have not been kind to me. It’s one of the greatest things at the end of the day just to rip it of and be, “Yes! I’m young again!”
Jade looked great as your wife.
Tom: Yes, bless you. It was cool. We were a little family unit for the day. We had my son. It was a bit weird, a bit out of this world. I just pretended I was Jason Isaacs for the day and took his fatherly role. It was fun. The prosthetics were a bit of a pain.
Did they take a family portrait?
Tom: Yeah. The set photographer, I’m pretty sure he would’ve. I want to make sure I get one of those. If we wanted to do, in 19 years’ time, we want to actually check to see how realistic it was. I’m hoping the years will leave me better than that, but we’ll see.
Was it hard to act like an older Draco as opposed to younger?
Tom: It’s funny, we did actually have training – aging training – because apparently 35-year-olds walk differently. Well, I didn’t really see that. The life has been sucked out of them. Everything’s heavy. It was more, to me, just about watching … I know Jason very well, and his fatherly presence is very peacock, chest out, very proud of his son, and just generally being a Malfoy, I guess, which kind of comes second nature to me. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.
What kind of film would you like to work with Dan on again?
Tom: A Brokeback Mountain-style thing that me and him … I’m joking. I’ve no idea. We haven’t thought of it. We could possibly do a cricket movie. We’re both die hard cricket fans - that could be one. Yeah I’m not too sure, really. Just something where we didn’t hate each other, that’d be good.
You just had a recent cricket match with Slytherin and Gryffindor – and Slytherin won!
Tom: Thank you, I’m glad you brought that up. We didn’t actually win, we smashed them. For those of you not familiar with this, we do a Gryffindor/Slytherin cricket match every year, and last year my team lost. Dan takes it very seriously - very, very seriously. So this year I thought, “I’m going to get back at him.” And we literally wiped the floor with his team. So yeah, very happy about that. Until next year.
What was your favorite scene that you filmed for Deathly Hallows?
Tom: The one on the platform at 9 ¾, we were very excited about that, obviously. A) It was our last scene and (B) we were going to look very, very different. But, probably the Malfoy Manor stuff, actually, as well as the Room of Requirement. We did some great stuff with setting that place on fire and running around. It was very, very exciting.
What was your favorite scene to film in the whole series?
Tom: Yeah, probably these last few ones. Malfoy Manor was great because I was the only youngster in the room, really. I was really in my depth of evilness as well as acting greatness. There are a lot of my heroes in that room, so I was very honored and excited to be there. It was great.
Would you ever do anything like Equus on stage?
Tom: Yeah, sure. It’s nothing I would say no to. Are you referring to getting the wand out or do you mean just getting up on stage?
Getting up on stage.
Tom: Yeah, happily. That’s what I did before any kind of film work, so yeah, I’d love to go back. West End’s always been a dream of mine, so, one day.
It was Dan Radcliffe’s birthday yesterday, did you do anything for him?
Tom: I think he’s out of the country, but we did do a little video for him. His lovely girlfriend put a video together of – his friend, rather – a video of comments, his friends, just general kind of fun stuff. So yeah, I think he was happy.
You’ve done a lot lately, being a spokesperson for the films and the park and everything. You’ve become associated now with the films as a face for Harry Potter. How does that work for you?
Tom: This [Comic-Con] was thrown on me, I tell you. I was told that all the producers are going to be here. XY and Z are going to meet you there. It was kind of at the last minute, “Yeah, you’re by yourself. Go and have fun. Represent. Hold the flag.”
I’m saying that I’m hugely honored that I get to be guy who does that and, especially now that we’re at our last stages, I consider myself extremely privileged to have the opportunity to show the footage. But also I’m a big believer in thanking the people that kept us going for the last ten years, and these people here epitomize that crowd. So it’s great that we now have the opportunity to say thank you.
We asked on SnitchSeeker’s Twitter if anybody had questions for you.
Tom: Oh Christ, what’ve you got? (laughs)
Warwick Davis sent one in.
Tom: Warwick Davis? Brilliant. All right, go on, for him.
Do you prefer milk or plain chocolate McVities biscuits?
Tom: We had this discussion, yes. In his book, he’s a big fan of … you don’t have chocolate digestives? It’s like a kind of cookie-based treat – chocolate on one side of it. Wait, a biscuit means something completely different over here, doesn’t it? Like a muffin thing. It’s definitely not that. Think of it as a cookie. But, plain chocolate, without question. He’s a big fan, I didn’t know this until recently. We’re both big fans of the McVities biscuit. Make sure he knows that.
What do you think Draco would make of the theme park and which rides, if any, would he go on?
Tom: We’ll, he’s a fairly miserable sort, so probably not a lot of anything. But, it’s very hard not to get excited about that place. I mean, I’m a theme park lover so I was in my absolute element. He’d probably get on the Dragons, I think. Have you been there or seen any of it? It’s amazing. They’ve done such an incredible job with the rides and the shops and all that kind of stuff. So yeah, I think even he would crack a smile.
What was the hardest scene to film in Deathly Hallows?
Tom: There is a lot of physical work in the Room of Requirement. When they started burning the place down, it got very, very hot, and we were climbing these huge mountains of chairs and desks and boxes. So that was quite physically demanding. I’ve never been so frightened in all my life. But it’s going to look good.
If J.K. Rowling wrote another Harry Potter book, what would you like to see happen to your character?
Tom: He could switch up, big time. Just go over to the Gryffindors and join in. I’m kidding, I’m kidding. I’ve no idea. Maybe Draco could break away from the family and start his own little thing up. I’m not too sure. I haven’t even thought about it. Good idea, though. I might start writing now.
What post production of the movie are you most looking forward to? Sets, music, CGI? What are you really anxious to see?
Tom: Well, the CGI is obviously an incredible part of it. Every year it gets better and we have an amazing team. Warner Bros have an incredible team of people that are there on the day, also obviously, spend months and months afterwards insuring this stuff looks fantastic. So yeah, that’s always a big excitement for me.
The score, the music, they hit the nail on the head every time. You get those shivers down the spine, even when they start with all the little xylophone jingles. Yeah, that always tends to be exciting as well. I guess the whole thing as a package, really. ‘Cause we shot it as one big film. There was no gap in the middle, so I’m intrigued as to how the films actually look as single units by themselves. That’s going to be very exciting, too.
What do you think of 3-D, especially in relation to Harry Potter? Do you think it works for Harry Potter?
Tom: Well I was told about six months ago that they were going to do it in post, they were going to put it in 3-D. Which is fairly new technology, I think. Before, they had to shoot in 3-D to do that. So yeah, I’m very excited. I was one of the Avatar [fans] that ended up going four or five times. I loved it. At first, to me the gimmick of 3-D was pretty naff, pretty gimmicky, but the subtleness of actually creating a new kind of definition.
Like super HD, or whatever they want to call it, like Avatar where things aren’t literally jumping out at you, it’s just kind of subtly layered. So yeah, I’m very excited for that. I’ve never seen myself in 3-D, so that’ll be cool.
We heard you just signed a record deal?
Tom: Yeah, not exactly the truth. Six Strings are a company that I’ve been talking to for awhile, but I’ve no really plans to release any album or anything like that. One of the things that we said we would do is possibly go into the studio and record some of the songs that I’ve already written and polish them up a little bit and see what they’re sounding like. So, it’s a possibly later on this year I might do a few feature tracks and let you guys hear them.
This whole deal of signing on a dotted line, that never happened. It’s a bit blown out of proportion there. Six Strings are a company that I have been working with. They’re a very cool group of guys. The long and short of it is they’re a group of guys who have said, “Look, we’re not going to push you into doing anything. We’re not going to make you record something. We just like the music and we want to arrange it so you have a chance to record it with your friends.”
I have four friends that I’ve been jamming with now for a long time. They’re very keen to record some of it. I’m quite keen. Equally, I’m not looking to shift career. There’s been some stuff in the media that I’ve insinuated that I’m looking to make something out of a pop career. Definitely not the case. It’s still passion, something that I do for fun. If I get the chance to record some songs properly then I’ll happily do so.
Did you manage to take anything from the set, after all was said and done? Did you get any memorabilia?
Tom: No, not a thing. We got some stuff. I didn’t take anything, it was all commissioned. I got a tie, a Slytherin tie, from back in the day. They wouldn’t let me have a Nimbus. They wouldn’t give it to me. They were fairly tight, to be fair. I did ask. I wanted my wand. I wanted my cloak, but no-go. But to be fair, I got my wand in Orlando in Ollivander’s. I did all that. That was cool. So I have that sitting at home.
You got the Draco Malfoy wand?
Tom: Yeah, we did the whole thing. He’d obviously been prepped, the guy, but yeah. He gave me Harry’s wand and he was, “Oh no, not quite right.” And then Ginny’s, and so forth and finally we ended up with my trusty wand. That was good fun.
What’s happening with Grace and Danger and In Between the Waves? Are you still planning on doing those projects?
Tom: Definitely not. Again, hot air. In Between the Waves, 100 percent not. I have nothing positive to say about that project or the people behind it. That’s all I have to say on that one, to be fair.
There are some great projects. We shot a film called The Apparition about six months ago with Todd Lincoln who’s somewhere in this madness. I’m going to try and find him later. I’m very excited about that. That’s with Ashley Green and Sebastian Stan. And I’ve actually just had my first day of shooting last night on Caesar Rise of the Apes, the Planet of the Apes prequel, with James Franco and Frieda Pinto. I’m very excited about that.
Do you play an ape or a human?
Tom: I don’t want to reveal too much. Yeah, I can reveal that. No, I’m not going to be an ape, but very, very excited to do that.
Is that being shot in Canada?
Tom: Yes, it is. Most of it, I think.
So, now with the LEGO Harry Potter, what’s it like to see yourself as a little LEGO person?
Tom: Pretty cool. There’s a few things I’ve ticked off childhood dreams on this trip. LEGO pieces is one of them, your own action figure, the theme park, video games, little things that, as a kid, you could never imagine actually happening. My friends and I take great delight in fighting each other with Draco and Harry, that kind of thing. To be fair, I’m not that good at it. I had a terrible thing when we went to EA Games, where they make all the games. Freddie Stroma, the guy who plays Cormac, he kicked my a** like four times. It was most embarrassing. I shouldn’t even be saying this to you. I demand a rematch one day.
If you could relive any moment of the last ten years on set, what would you choose?
Tom: Nothing’s really sunk in yet about what or how’s it feel like. I don’t know. It hasn’t sunk in what we’ve done. I mean, we’re very proud of what we’ve done. We’re very sad to see it go. Memories are far between. It’s really hard to pinpoint moments of your life over the last ten years. I’ll never forget the casting, working with Chris Columbus very early on. That was a lot of fun. He’s a great man who I have a lot to thank for getting me on board with the films, so I’ll never forget that.
Was there anything in these [last] two films that was particularly challenging?
Tom: Well, physically I had mentioned, you know, I’m not a hugely fit guy. I don’t run marathons or anything, so I got pretty exhausted doing a lot of the running, that sort of thing. As an actor-wise, the hard thing is between Daniel and I. There’s a bit in Malfoy Manor where I get right up to his face. We were cracking up. There was one point we’re, “Are we going to kiss each other?” We were having a lot of fun with that, to be fair. That’s the only issue we have, is too much fun.
What’s the funniest thing that happened on set of Deathly Hallows?
Tom: Again that’s one of those questions that to come to an answer is very, very tricky. I’m still holding onto that memory of Alan Rickman and standing on his cloak. I think it was the film before it. I’m not sure, it’s a bit of a blur now. He has that long cape and he made very clear, “Don’t step on my cloak.” And, naturally, the director’s like, “Get up closer. Get up closer.” So, I’m walking and looking down and stood on it and (grabs neck and lurches back) luckily he took it in relatively good humor.
13 Hours is going to premiere next month. Are you going to be at Frightfest?
Tom: I don’t think I’m going to be in the country for that one, unfortunately. I already have plans to be somewhere else.
During the final battle, what emotions are you trying to get Draco to portray?
Tom: It’s great, it’s a real mixture. I’m the only character that goes back and forth. He wants to be the good side, but really he belongs on the bad. There’s a great moment at the end where there’s this Western-style showdown between good and evil and I get dragged over from the good side to the bad. There’s a real sense of shame and his head is hanging low. He’s got all his peers from school looking at him thinking, “You b*****d,” kind of thing. It’s not a good moment for him. A real mixture, I guess. He’s sad that he can’t do more to help, and embarrassed by his father, I imagine - a whole host of emotions. It was good fun.
Oohh im so glad someone will be posting the transcript of the interview. I am so looking forward to it! Thank you so much in advance to type out 30 min worth!!!! I went over to comingsoon.net and saw what warner bros showed at comic con, oohh the 7 potters and snape telling voldemort of how to get harry at the durselys house and many more! *getting the goosebumps*
Anyways, nice interview. I was kind of disappointed not to see the rest of them there. Especially since this is the last(and first) time HP has been at Comic-con.
WHAT??? WHAT??? THEY SHOWED THE 7 POTTERS SCENE???????!!!!!!!! *rushes over to find vid* :
Edit: Okay, I did get a little over-excited....no vid coming out yet. *sigh*
Doohh. Im so terribly sorry!! I should have made myself clear, there was NO video shown anywhere there or online. Someone just typed word for word of what the trailer shown at the comic con . It was a great blow by blow info so id suggest you check it out, again there was no video. I am so sorry for the confusion!
Moooooooo. :) || Have a supermegafoxyawesomehot Christmas.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ronluvhermione
Doohh. Im so terribly sorry!! I should have made myself clear, there was NO video shown anywhere there or online. Someone just typed word for word of what the trailer shown at the comic con . It was a great blow by blow info so id suggest you check it out, again there was no video. I am so sorry for the confusion!
It's okay, I should have read your post more carefully next time.
I've heard someone say that vids of POTC 4 and another panel were up the day after they were shown, so maybe they'll post up vids tomorrow...or maybe not.
I can't stop laughing, i just started to imagine Dan and Tom working on a new project together in brokeback mountain -style xD Those two quys are just too hilarious
Great interview, i'm getting more and more excited about seeing Draco in DH. Tom's performance in HBP was perfect, i'm sure he's going to be great in this one too.
OMG! Outstanding job on transcribing the interview! Its surpassed more than what we could ask for here! If i could speak for us deafies, thank you so much! I enjoyed readung the interview with Tom! I luv snitchseeker site! Katiebell, many hands to you for doing such kudo job here! :-) so sorry if i am gushing here but snitchseeker deserves praises for their hardworking effort on this site! :-)
Lady Lem|DJ Melfoy|Braedeus ♥ Stumble|Bebé Melón|B2|Andee & Melsse|Melephone
Tom looks like he was melting like a snow cone in Phoenix. But yeah, California weather can be a bit of a shock since he's used to the English cold weather. I wish I could've gone, but maybe next year.
Ah, there he goes again with that "Sorry, lovely?" business. I must admit, that accent gets to me. Now, if I randomly ever get the chance to interview him, I might start to mumble on purpose just so I can get the chance to hear him say that in person.
Aw, I would adore a film where Tom would be the hero and Dan would be the villain! I can just imagine Tom saving the damsel in distress and Dan -ing right now...
"And Helena is the loveliest lady, but also the most cruel, evil person when she wants to be." And 'tis why I adore her to pieces.
"Jade looked great as your wife." Yeah, she looked gorgeous. I hope the years will be that kind to me!
"Are you referring to getting the wand out or do you mean just getting up on stage?" Enough said. That was hilarious.
"If I get the chance to record some songs properly then I’ll happily do so." Yes, it's definitely better not to rush a good thing. I play guitar and piano and if I was forced to rush on a deadline, J.K. Rowling style via for the HP books, I would produce some... eh, not my best stuff.
"In Between the Waves, 100 percent not. I have nothing positive to say about that project or the people behind it. That’s all I have to say on that one, to be fair." He knows what he likes and what works for his career, I suppose.
And as for his new film that's being shot in Canada: I MUST see it! I mean, Tom's work should be brill, but when you toss Freida and Franco into the mix, I MUST SEE IT!
Aw, don't worry, Tom! I downloaded the demo and I suck pretty badly as well. I fare pretty well on the regular HP games, though.
"There’s a bit in Malfoy Manor where I get right up to his face. We were cracking up. There was one point we’re, “Are we going to kiss each other?” We were having a lot of fun with that, to be fair. That’s the only issue we have, is too much fun." AW! This makes me miss acting even more. I haven't acted in so long, unless you count a ragtag skit last summer.
"There’s a great moment at the end where there’s this Western-style showdown between good and evil and I get dragged over from the good side to the bad." That will be amazing to watch in theaters. That's a huge challenge for an actor, but I suppose ten years of playing Draco has prepped Tom for an amazing performance.