Regarding the DH Epilogue and 'Aging' the Actors

[connielane]

Thanks to a new-ish interview with Daniel Radcliffe, there is a fresh debate about how to film the Epilogue. Being something of a film buff, an enthusiastic fan of the HP films, and someone who is fairly adamant about the original actors being in their roles if the Epilogue is filmed, I thought I'd offer my thoughts.

Regarding Makeup Effects
First, this is not the 1980s. Makeup effects have come a long way in recent years. Second, it's not like Dan, Rupert, and Emma will be playing 100-year-old versions of Harry, Ron and Hermione. They're supposed to be late 30s - they wouldn't need *that* much makeup, and they certainly wouldn't need prosthetics. Maybe a little padding to indicate (slight) weight gain, but not creepy skin molds and such.

The Benjamin Button Effect
I don't know if any of you have seen the trailer for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but what I've seen of the aging - the backwards aging, at that - of Brad Pitt is nothing short of a miracle. And it's done mostly with special effects, not makeup, so that it's Brad's performance, even when his character is a baby. This might be a lot of trouble to go to for such a relatively small scene at the end of DH, but it's something at least worth exploring.

A Visual Aid to How It Can Be Done Right
A movie came out a few years ago in which two actors in their early twenties had to play characters over a span of over twenty years. This was, in my opinion, one of the best jobs I've seen of aging characters, asking less of the makeup artist and more of the actor.








Obviously, they can't very well put sideburns and a 1970s porn-stache on Dan and Rupert (though it would be entertaining in its own way, y/y?), but I think I've made my point.

Plus ... dude. Weren't a whole bunch of people saying just a few years back that the kids were looking too old to play the parts and that they'd look like thirty-year-olds by the time these movies were done? Not me, of course, and not anyone on my flist, I don't think. But ... I don't think it will be difficult to convince us that these characters are nineteen years older.

Comments

[masterofmystery.livejournal.com]

I forgot about Brokeback there; that's definitely a good example of well-done aging. I don't think it should be a problem at all; and seriously, I can imagine them asking Dan and Rupert to grow out some facial hair (which everyone has already seen, so that's no big fuss), and Tom's hairline is receding pretty nicely already, so there isn't a huge fuss there. It's more about the acting than anything else, like you said.

I fear for Emma Watson.

[connielane.livejournal.com]

I actually think, in a weird way, she might be the most convincing as an older version of her character.

[masterofmystery.livejournal.com]

How, though??

[connielane.livejournal.com]

She's always felt - since PoA, at least - a little older than she's supposed to be, and I think that could be part (I repeat, part) of what people find awkward about her performance, even if they don't realize it. So playing older than she really is might counterbalance that in some way.

Plus, I don't share the opinion that she's such a horrible actress. Meryl Streep she's not, but nor is she Sofia Coppola.

[masterofmystery.livejournal.com]

Given her performance in SS and CoS, and perhaps even HBP, she's definitely no Sofia Coppola. At least there's a plus side there, lmao.

[emmacmf.livejournal.com]

Oh, I can totally imagine Rupert with a porn!tache.

I don't understand all the fuss - they way your face looks is essentially set in your late teens/early twenties. All they need to do is slap on couple of crows feet, give them a different hairstyle, and they're done. No need for grey hair and loads of wrinkles.

[connielane.livejournal.com]

Yeah. The only other thing I can think of that affects a person's appearance as they age is the way their weight is distributed. So maybe a little padding in the boobs and butt area for the girls and the gut area for the guys - but not so much that you can really tell.

[emmacmf.livejournal.com]

Yeah - you just have to look at how Dan has filled out between the London and New York Equus runs.

I don't care how they do it, just as long as they do! It wouldn't be right to see anyone else play the characters.

[miss-eponine.livejournal.com]

I think it'll be fine. It'd be weirder to cast new actors as the older versions like some people had suggested.

[connielane.livejournal.com]

I know, right? It would be like completely different characters.

[danabird11.livejournal.com]

I agree with everything you said. Can you imagine what an emotional let-down it would be to end the final movie with a bunch of strangers?? No thanks!

[sixth-light.livejournal.com]

I remember seeing photos from a shoot in one of the Vogue magazines where they took the same actress and shot her at ages 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60. Only the last was unconvincing, and that only if you discounted Botox. In conclusion: it's pretty damn amazing what makeup, lighting, and clothing will do.