Why Releasing The Harry Potter Making-Of Documentary Now Was A Smart Move
The new Harry Potter TV show doesn't even come out until December, but HBO just dropped a making-of documentary. This is why I think it was really smart.
There's so much history tied to this franchise that showing us this behind-the-scenes look in Finding Harry: The Craft Behind The Magic now makes everything feel more familiar. It helps us start accepting these new actors as the characters we've grown up knowing and loving, even before the show premieres. We got a glimpse into the casting process for the trio, including some audition footage. I could really see the vision with Arabella Stanton as Hermione. With Harry, there was this quiet confidence in Dominic McLaughlin’s audition that didn't necessarily came across in the teaser, but really did here. Hopefully, that carries over into the actual show.
The documentary also gave us a look at the costumes, the sets, and the various magical creatures being introduced and how they’re bringing them to life. I thought it all looked really cool. Some fans criticized the chocolate frogs online, saying they look too realistic, but I think it adds to the magical, whimsical, and quirky nature of this story. Harry is just learning that the wizarding world exists. What might seem weird to a muggle or a regular kid is normal to wizards. That sense of magical discovery adds to the idea that this is a different world so things are going to be a little strange.
One concern I still have is the lighting. The teaser felt dark, stark, and very HBO-prestige, which drained some of the magic and energy for me. But in the documentary, everything looks warm, colorful, and magical. This is the world I want to see. Hopefully, the show will use stark lighting for the muggle world and more of a whimsical, warm look for the wizarding world. The documentary just looked so much better than the teaser and you could really feel the magic coming through. Of course, this begs the question if people will even watch a series that has already been marred with controversy since it was announcement.
Finding Harry: The Craft Behind The Magic is streaming now on HBO Max.
