Alfonso Cuaron is the man behind the magic of Azkaban. The third film is the first Potter movie he has directed.
It looks and feels a lot different to the first two. Lizo chats to Alfonso about the responsibility of making the biggest movie of the year.
Lizo: What made you want to take on this movie?
Alfonso: When I was approached I was a little hesitant! I didn't know the books, I hadn't seen the films. I had all my prejudices like - 'I'm ashamed to squeeze the money out of parents and children'.
But then I read the books! And I realised why these books are so well-received worldwide and I fell victim of the charm of this book.
Lizo: What was it like meeting JK, what was her advice like?
Alfonso: She said I should stay faithful to the spirit of the book not literal. That was entrusting me a lot of freedom. But freedom and responsibility is the same thing - I was like 'oh gosh - am I being faithful to the spirit?'
The amazing thing with JK as a collaborator is she doesn't stop you doing anything. The way she approaches it has nothing to do with 'I like' or 'I dislike' it's 'this makes sense' or 'it doesn't make sense in this universe.'
I give you an example: There's a scene where Malfoy wants to see Buckbeak being executed. It's where Hermione punches him. And there's a sundial. We thought we need something there. I said 'Let's put a graveyard there'.
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