Insight
Direction
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Interviews
Average

Whilst the HARRY POTTER TV series is set to launch on Christmas Day, HBO has decided to treat us to a documentary for Easter. Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic takes us behind the scenes of the HBO series in a 30-minute documentary. It features animatronics, film sets and exclusive interviews with actors such as John Lithgow, Paapa Essiedu and Janet McTeer.

Short but intense. That’s how I’d best describe this documentary. Thirty minutes is more than enough, given that we still have eight months to wait before the first episode airs. As I’m particularly keen on behind-the-scenes secrets, I was delighted to learn more and see how the series will carve out its own identity compared to the films.

From pages to screen

A first glimpse of the Great Hall, the Ravenclaw crest and the shops on Diagon Alley; the documentary shows that nothing is left to chance and, above all, that everything is genuinely created to minimise the use of CGI. It’s fascinating to see these teams creating real magic in the most realistic way possible.

But what really fascinated me was the way they brought the magical creatures to life. Dugbog, Jobberknoll, Flobberworms and even Fire Crabs breathing real fire! The animatronics are of an exceptional standard; it’s reassuring to see the care that’s gone into these little details and to finally see these fantastic beasts on screen.

I’m amazed by the attention to detail and the new ideas. Take the Chocolate Frog, for example, or the packaging of the other sweets. It’s so beautiful, so different and so well done.

A team of passionate people

What really stands out in this documentary is just how passionate the teams are about what they do. The people in charge of the various departments are true fans; in some cases, they are even former crew members or relatives of former crew members who worked on the films.

That is precisely what makes this documentary so compelling: it reassures us and tells us that J.K. Rowling’s work is truly in good hands. Giving a voice to these teams who work behind the scenes – and what a fabulous and moving ending.

A documentary packed with detail

Although the 30-minute runtime may seem a little short, the documentary reveals many small details that we haven’t seen before. The auditions of Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin and Alastair Stout, for example. But also new locations such as Dumbledore’s office, the Hogwarts courtyard, the Hogsmeade Railway sign, and so on.

I really enjoyed the fact that it revealed some things whilst saving the best for later. After all, we still have eight months to wait! I would have been a bit disappointed to see it all at once and so early on, but I didn’t feel that way at all. On the contrary, the documentary managed to build even more anticipation.

Interviews with the actors

And what a pleasure it is to finally hear the actors talk about this project, which will have taken up 10 years of their lives. Narrated by our very own Rubeus Hagrid, Nick Frost, the documentary gives us the actors’ first impressions of filming the series.

It’s so heartening to see these actors, who already have so much experience, being so captivated by the film sets. But it’s also lovely to see them getting on so well and having fun with the younger actors.

There was a real sense of it being like a school, or even a family, and I have no doubt that’s exactly what it will become.

Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic is now streaming on HBO Max