Note to Warner Brothers: THAT IS A MAGNANIMOUSLY GOOD IDEA. Why didn't you think of this before?

What makes this relevant to "Movie Soundtracks" is that it means Patrick Doyle has just become a prime candidate for speculative composer.

Personally, I think that sounds like just as fine an idea as having Cuaron direct. i'm trying not to think too hard about it, because I don't want to get used to the idea of Cuaron in the director's chair only to get my hopes blungeoned by reality. But still, it's exciting to think about...

<<KENNETH Branagh is hotly tipped to direct the third Harry Potter movie when current helmer Christopher Columbus hangs up his wand after finishing the current movie, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Branagh, who is also starring in the current film as Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, is one of three candidates in the frame for the job, widely regarded as one of the great directing gigs of the decade.

While negotiations are far from complete, a source close to Branagh says: 'He would like to do the job.' A decision will be reached over the next four weeks.

Branagh faces competition from Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron, whose CV includes the hit Y Tu Mama Tambien (And Your Mother Too) and the magical screen version of A Little Princess, and Callie Khouri, screenwriter of Thelma and Louise.

Recent reports suggested that Columbus was sick of England and wanted to return home to California with his family. In an exclusive interview, he tells me the real story.

'It infuriated me to read that,' he says. 'I'm not leaving Britain. I'm here for another 13 months at least to help the transition. The reason I won't be doing the next movie is that from an executive producer standpoint - which is my role for the third film - my services won't be required 24 hours a day. I would like to have dinner with my family every now and then.'

His family have been living in London for the past three years. Having been shooting for 200 days straight, the break will also allow him to recharge his batteries.

'When you're not shooting, the schedule is still heavy,' says Columbus, 'The process has made me a better film-maker and I am extremely open to the prospect of directing the fourth in the series.'

Meanwhile, the decision about who will take over for Harry Potter III (The Prisoner of Azkaban) will be made in the next month by four key people: Columbus himself, producer David Heyman, JK Rowling and screenwriter Steve Kloves.

'All of these people you mention are in the mix,' confirmed David Heyman, 'plus a few others. We're looking for somebody who embodies many qualities: to handle kids and a project of this size and to continue the magic that Chris has brought to it.'

'There isn't just one single quality,' adds Columbus. 'You have to have the ability to handle actors - some of the best actors of our generation are in the films, but you also have to deal with visual effects and these two things rarely go hand in hand. I'm also looking for someone who is not afraid of the darkness and the humour.'

Both Columbus and Heyman agree that while Harry Potter has set certain standards that must continue, there is room for a new director to make his mark. Within limits.

'We don't want to put nipples on the Batsuit, as it were,' says Columbus.
>>

That means Patrick Doyle's chances of scoring the film are even higher.

How do we (speculatively) feel about a Potter score by Patrick Doyle? Should he reuse Williams' themes, or start his own? How true should he stay to Williams' style? Do you think he can create something as good or better than the first score?

If Doyle did indeed do the score (I'm trying very hard not to sound like I think it's set in stone) I think it would be a good idea to keep the familiar "Hedwig's Theme" around, and possibly Voldemort's as well, but construct his own thematic structure around that, and possibly give Harry himself a new theme. And I also think Doyle could easily do as good a job or better than Williams. Partly because of sheer talent, and partly because both Cuaron and Branaugh seem to me to have a better understanding of when not to use music than Columbus does. (E.g., the scene where Harry picks up the first letter from Hogwarts.)

Thoughts? Brian must have some words of his own to add, and I know Marian's going to have something to say about it.

Kirk
NP - Triple Quartet (Steve Reich)

quote:

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Originally posted by James:
Thoughts? Brian must have some words of his own to add, and I know Marian's going to have something to say about it.

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How did you know?

I'm of course a huge fan of both Branagh and Doyle - but I'm not sure I'd really want either to do Potter.

Their close collaboration of course allows for scores that fit the visuals extremely well - particularly since Doyle is on the set all the time and writing the score while they're still filming (and I'd love to see Doyle in a small cameo in the film, too). But I don't think Branagh has ever directed children.

My main concern is the score though. While Doyle is great, he's clearly different from Williams. And few novel/movie sagas are as much about continuity as Potter. I'd really love to see Williams do ALL the movies (though I fear that's probably quite unlikely), because of all the recurring themes in the different novels. They're too much connected with each other to change the type of score without getting something really different from the previous films.

Williams has created a real framework for the first score. A main theme, two themes for Harry, relating to certain aspects of his character (family theme & "Harry the wizard" theme if you will), a Gryffindor theme, two Voldemort themes (I still don't see what their different purposes are). At least the two Harry themes offer lots of possibilities for expansion in the later movies, and I'd say Voldemort's themes do, as well.

And I wouldn't want to see Branagh split with Doyle and work with Williams instead. And I also wouldn't like to see Williams push out a Doyle score yet again (and again for a Columbus movie, too).

But if Williams doesn't want to do it, then I think Doyle is a pretty interesting choice - and Branagh too, in that case. Would be nice to see him keeping Williams' basic themes, though I can't imagine how Doyle's takes on them would sound.

Jeron

Now mind you I LOVE John Williams. But I think Columbus screwed over Doyle on "Stepmom" only because he had a release date that was pushed back and could get Williams to write a score. (I don't recall ever hearing anything bad about what Doyle did for that film.)

I think Doyle would have been a great choice from the start for Harry Potter and if Curon or Brannagh do indeed take over the directing chores for the series.

(Sorry...got interrupted in the middle of my post)

My only fear about Broughton scoring the series would be that he would use Williams themes. Now while that isn't a bad thing...I just would prefer someone of Broughton or Doyle's stature to write all new music.

Normally I prefer the theme(s) in a series to be uniform as much as possible...but as one can tell from the latest "Star Wars" doing a series that long can be wearing on a composer.

I think the reason the Bond series has worked so well is that there is really only one theme that is used and not a group of themes.

James

(possibly to add more later...as work is suddenly busy)

I think the choice of director will land with someone as devoid in personal style as the producers can find. Someone who does "Columbus Lite", which in turn is "Spielberg Lite".

Think Brad Silberling (CASPER) caliber.

Anyone remember Branagh's raging FRANKENSTEIN remake? This guy doesn't fit into moulds -- I think Warner's is quite happy with the way things are running. Why hire a director who will change all that.

For the composer, I kind of agree with my alter ego, I'd like to see Bruce try his hand at a Potter film, or someone like Mark McKenzie, or even Jeremy Soule (he did the computer game score) I think there are some very good composers out there who could just as good of a job as Williams.

We'll see I guess.

--The Seeker of MovieMusic, Bri Guy

Now all I need to hear is that he's bringing Emmanuel Lubezki and Patrick Doyle along for the ride....

Kirk
NP - Steve Reich: Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices, and Organ

quote:

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Originally posted by rkeaveney:
Anyone remember Branagh's raging FRANKENSTEIN remake? This guy doesn't fit into moulds -- I think Warner's is quite happy with the way things are running. Why hire a director who will change all that.

Ryan

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Yup. Especially after what happened to the Batman franchise...

quote:

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Originally posted by Bond1965:
To be honest...Doyle should have scored this series from the start.

- - I think Doyle would have been a great choice from the start for Harry Potter and if Curon or Brannagh do indeed take over the directing chores for the series.

- - I just would prefer someone of Broughton or Doyle's stature to write all new music.

Normally I prefer the theme(s) in a series to be uniform as much as possible...but as one can tell from the latest "Star Wars" doing a series that long can be wearing on a composer.

I think the reason the Bond series has worked so well is that there is really only one theme that is used and not a group of themes.

James

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AGREEING 101 % WITH JAMES
and also with Kirk
(you never saw that coming, did you, Kirk ?)

I just hope Cuaron will become as rich and powerful as George Lucas and ultimately be able to make SPECIAL EDITIONS of the both previous POTTER films with completely new Patrick Doyle scores (getting rid of the obnoxious Williams music entirely) - and also some additional scenes to improve the lousy dramatic direction of Chris Columbus.

It's a possibility

Lucas knew that too, that's why Empire and Jedi still uses Williams.

He is at least intelligent enough to know that Williams' has more than enough historical proof under him, that his music significantly add to effectiveness of his movies. It's for that reason that Columbus will chose Williams first and foremost, until such that Williams refuses for whatever personal reasons.

It was this that I believe Columbus jumped back to Williams over Doyle, when the situation provided itself.

Furthermore, there are many directors who would love to work with Williams, and for those who gets the job of directing already having Williams on board, someone who is so picky in his choices of movies to do, therefore making him very difficult to obtain, but then the director decides to change composers, well, there isn't much intelligence to throw a prized and already proven composer of the very Harry Potter series that had gone before, and then change just for the sake of it?

Hmmmm, well, that's not like throwing the baby with the bath water, but throwing the baby and keep the bath water!

The director to Angela's Ashes has described that, to have Williams score his movie is like winning the lottery. How many of us throw away a winning lottery ticket!!???

So, in reprisal, Williams will continue to score, until such that he won't/can't do them anymore. Until then, no other composer will be involved.

Jz