Pottermania and DVDs

According to a report by the Hollywood Reporter, Warner Brothers took the #1 spot in DVD sales for January-June 2003 all because of a certain boy wizard.

Mary GrandPre

American edition Harry Potter artist Mary GrandPre has provided artwork for the Cincinnati Opera's Summer Festival, as previously reported.
Thanks to HPANA for pointing us to the link!

Men Over Thirty

Fashion experts from Esquire magazine offer their list of inappropriate behavior for men over thirty, which includes staying in bed past 11 AM or wearing a watch costing less than £100. Says fashion editor Simon Tiffin: 'We were inspired by the sight on planes, trains and buses of too many grown men reading Harry Potter.Continued...

Report Says GoF to be One Movie

Thanks to the many readers who pointed out the end-of-page paragraph that was slipped into the Newell appointment announcement, and which holds quite a bit of important information:

Afraid of alienating die-hard Muggles by cutting scenes, the studio and scribe initially had talked about breaking the book into twoContinued...

PoA Cast Prepares For "Wet Quidditch".

The North Devon Gazette has article on Reed Chill Cheater, a North Devon company that has just finished a large order of innovative thermal suits for the PoA film!
“Apparently it is for an incredibly wet Quidditch game,” said owner Chris Reed.

Another On-Set Report From PoA

A big "thanks" to Dave at The Snitch for letting us know about this new report AND the pictures with it!

Pictures of "Hogwarts"

HPANA has a link to some great photos of Lacock Abbey, which served as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films.

From the Filming of PoA

Our fellow HP site, The Snitch, has posted a new report from a recent visit to the PoA set.
Yes, robes will be making an appearance in PoA, as we've said repeatedly...!

Harry Potter DVD Up For Award

The DVD of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is on the ballot for the Viewers Choice Award at the 6th Annual DVD Awards. The awards will be presented on August 20th, so if you're going to vote, vote now!
Thanks for the tip, Annie!

Harry Potter In 2003

Allison Hayward, of The National Review, gives us a tongue-in-cheek look at what she would write for book 6: Harry Potter and the Magic Campaign.
Thanks for the tip, Elaureth!

(Editor's Note: I'm loving the Rancho Hogsmeado!)

And from Neil Gaiman ...

The just posted commentary from Stephen Price notes that Gaiman hasn't commented on similarities between his work and the Harry Potter series; this August 2001 January Magazine interview with him includes questions on the subject.
Thanks to wharfle for pointing out the link.

Some Harry Potter Fans Ask, "Who's Hamlet"?

Okay, it's not that bad! The BBC does report, however, that a recent poll showed people were better acquainted with JK's work than Shakespeare's. The short article takes a look at pop culture and its effect on classic literature.
Thanks, Geoffrey!

Talent Creates, Genius Borrows?

An article from Stephen Price on similarities among literary works, imitation as flattery, and plagiarism, with discussion that includes the Harry Potter series:
A boy with glasses and black hair grows up with a foster-father, in a setting of deprived urban dreariness. He's bright, but lonely, living life throughContinued...

Harry Potter: Pop Culture?

Not according to Denver Post Critic-at-Large Kyle MacMillian, who quotes one of the top op-makers at the New York Times, Frank Rich:
"The children entranced with Harry don't need a fast cinematic cut to whip them to attention, with an MTV lash, every few seconds," he writes. "They are perfectly happyContinued...

BBC with Quotes from Newell and Heyman

Thanks Richard, for pointing us to this BBC article that quotes Newell and Heyman on Newell's appointment:

Newell:

"I'm very excited about directing Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire...As audiences have become more familiar with both the books and the movies, there has been an increasing challengeContinued...