"If we turn our heads and look away and hope that it will all disappear then they will - all of them, an entire generation of people. And we will have only history left to judge us."
Although JK Rowling's fourth filmic adaptation is not out in cinemas until mid-November, we have all the latest on-set news to keep you satisfied.
As the thickest of the four boks, the creators not only had to contend with a bevy of new characters (including pesky journalist Rita Skeeter (Miranda Richardson) and eccentric professor Mad-Eye Moody (Brendan Gleeson)) but also bigger and grander events in the form of the Quidditch World Cup and Hogwart's Triwizard Cup Tournament, which involves fire-breathing dragons, an underwater lake sequence, and a colossal maze.
The crew filmed on locations all over England, from Scotland to Eastbourne, and revealed at a recent press conference how Goblet of Fire was both challenging and gratifying to work on. Surprisingly, many of the visual effects were physically created before they were enhanced computer graphically. The 30 foot tall maze that features in the Triwizard Tournament was actually built at Pinewood Studios before it was replicated to feature in the Scottish valley where Hogwarts is situated. Of more epic proportions, the crew had the mammoth task of constructing a 40 foot long dragon, which could roar, lash its tail ferociously, and breathe fire the same length as its body. Lifelike silicone dummies of the children were created for the lake scene, able to move and emit bubbles from the mouths when underwater. CGI effects specialist Nick Dudman asserted that the reasons for building much of the bigger 'props' physically rather than computer graphically was simply because it was more cost effective and less time consuming. Similarly, the elaborately grotesque appearance of Mad Eye Moody was created through prosthetic make-up rather than in post production as the studio originally requested.
The maze, lifelike dummies and fire-breathing dragon, however, proved to be undemanding in comparison with the underwater lake scene. The sequence (filmed in a vast tank) was especially problematic, as the chlorinated water rusted, bleached, and even disintegrated much of the equipment and costumes!
But not all elements of the film proved to be so costly and laborious. Unit publicist Vanessa Davies divulged how not all the props were extensively designed and fashioned: "there were seven hundred and fifty trophies in the trophy room. Some of them were hired but... some of them were made, and some on our set were actually made out of plant pots!"
Davies also commented on the new direction the film has taken. While a marked difference in style existed between the third film and the earlier two, the fourth film is to be a continuation of this darker, dramatic look. In keeping with the film's spectacular vision, Davies hints that the Hogwart's Yule Ball is sure to be resplendent, with everything from furnishings, to the walls, to the floor frosted in silver.
After the immense success of the first three films, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire looks set to surpass all previous expectations.
Disclaimer: Veritaserum is run by fans and is for the fans. We are in no way official and are not affiliated with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., EA Games, Scholastic, or Bloomsbury. We do not own any of the characters in the books, movies, or games.
