Costume Design and Final Thoughts

Hey bigig D Heat up another ten year old. This one deserved it. Yeah. Five against one. Very brave. Well, you're one to talk Maning in your sleep every night, att least I'm not afraid of my pillow Don't kill Cedric Who said boyfriend? He's going to kill me, mum. Where is your mum Where is your mum, Potter Is she dead?? Is She dead? Is She dead C Hello and welcome to Harry Potter The offfficial film podcast, where we deep dive into each of the films one by one. I'm Raranna Dylan, lifelong Harry Potter super fan, film critic, broadcaster, and don't call me nymphedora because That's not my name. On this show, we'll revisit each film with a quick recap, Not that we could ever forget, and then we'll dive deeper, discussing our hottest takes, calling out the tiniest details, and digging into the behind the scenes magic that made this series so very special. And you can watch every Harry Potter film along with us on HBO Max. Today we're diving into the first half of Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix Here with me to share her love of all things, Harry Potter is Front womoman of the rock band Against the Current and the voice behind gaming anthems such as Legends Never Die and Phoenix. It's Chrissy Castanza. Hi Chrissy. W. I'm so excited to be here. Thank so much for being on. I'm so excited to talk to you. Also, you have come with an amazing sort of deeath eater costume. I'm really going for my Bellatrix vibe today. It's gorgeous. L really like deep purples. you're giving real like sllytherin vibes, but apparently Slytherin. Well, I'm kind of a Slyindor. I try I'm a Slytherin rising. This is such a great term I am definitely a Gryffindor. I really tried to be Slytherin for a while. I had narcissa hair for a while. Re bleached underneath, which was I peeached then. it's been all downhill from then. but yeool ye Gryffindor Gryindor, What about your patronus? So I did the patronus experience last night again because I haven't done it in a while and I couldn't remember exactly what it was and I got the Osicat. And what was really fun about it is that the description that it gives you is that it kind of supervises you. It's always like watching over and like supervising. And that blew my mind because I have a cat named Obi And I always call him the supervisor. because he wants to know what you're doing. sits like he sits next to you and he stares at whatever you're doing. And so when I read that, I was like He's your patrunas. That is so cool. I love that in my mind. That is amazing. You're already like giving me the vibe that you're quite immersed in the worldter like physically Yes, I love. Do you have any like props or anything? I do. I was gonna try and bring my sort of Gryffindor today, but I was really worried about the security. I was like, is there a metal detector I have to go that area No. so it's like maybe I don't C sword. But I did bring technically a weapon. I brought my wand that I got at the studio tour and I thought it was very appropriate today because it's a theestral. It's aestral w one I've never ever seen a theestral wand before. I hadn't either. so when I saw it, I was like, I have to have this. This will be m. That's so cool. It really suits the outfit as well. I was worried about picking my wand for today How many ones do you have? Quite a few.. Great. goodood for you because one for every occasion. Yeah, exactly. Yeaha go with, you know, with your vibe If any of you want to try the Patronus experience or find out what your wand is, then head to Harry Potter. com for the whole experience. Do you remember the first time where you thought Oh God, Harry Potter is going be a massive thing for me. I knew from that first movie. I was like, this is gonna be my entire personality for the rest of my life. And has it been? It really has been. so yeah. What did you love so much about like being immersed in that world from the very beginning? I love magic. Sword and sorcery has always been my favorite kind of fantasy, so it was just, but this was the first time I think I experienced sword and sorcery in not a fairy tale way where it's so set back in time or it was in a medieval time. this was in the modern world. My owl could be coming with my letter any day. And so I was like just so ready for that to happen. I think one of the things that I've just always loved about it is it's always just felt Despite it being so fantastical, it feels so real. It's just one step away from your doorstep. Ititerally is's like a lay. Yeah.,' like an onion peeled back and're it's there. I know it's there. becausecause I can't see. I know it's there and I will find it. Yes. I will find it. It' get there. Also I feel like the beginning of the Order of the Phoenix is kind of a perfect example of that because we are we're back in the muggle world And we know that magic is one step away. and there are smuggles going about their lives and yet there is this like hint of darkness that's creeping in and it's just starting to sort of I don't know impact regular people as well. Yeah, especially in that opening scene when You know, Harry Ple is wandon Dudley and all the other kids are laughing And Dudl one is just like ye Yeah, they're like, he's got a stick and Dudley's like Oh, I've messed up. Yeah. OkayK, well let's start then because this film opens on Little Winging in the middle of a really brutal heat wave and Harry Potter is having a very bad summer Harry sitting alone in the playground, having not heard from his friends in weeks looking completely miserable, which given that he's having nightmares about Cedric Diggree and Voldemort feels pretty justified. Dudley and his gang choose this exact moment to show up looking for trouble. Harry loses his temper and pulls out his wand to scare Big D off. beforefore Dudley can retaliate, something far worse arrives. The temperature plummets, the sky darkens, and two dementors descend on Harry and Dudley Carry does the only thing he can do expecto patronum Harry's Patronus drives the demends away, saving them both, but leaving Dudley a little bit traumatised. And just when Harry thinks things can't get any more strange, Mrs. Figg appears the Dursley's slightly odd neighbor, who it turns out is a squib who's been secretly watching over Harry for years at Dumbledore's request Y What do you think about that reveal? 'cause it blew my mind. She was so cute though the way she just like paddles up and she's like, don't put away your wantry. She's really sweet in film, isn't she? sweet.'re just little lady, likeike where you been? Why didn't we know? She's so cute. u But it does make sense when she does say to Harry You know, you didn't think Dumbledore would just leave you unattended, right? You're just kind of like It is a good point, but also Dumbledore does so many questionable things throughout the whole Harry Potter sereries. Especially in this movie. Yes, especially in this film. But I do Catherine Hunter as Mrs. Fig, I just think ' she's like a proper, like a Shakespearean actor. She's so great on stage. She's played like the Witches and Macbeth Like she's just very cool character actor and just as soon as I saw her, I was like, off course she's Arabeella Fig. L she just has the voice down Yeah and like the sort of because in the book, she's very much described as a madcat lady. Like we're obviously gonna come on to cat ladies later. Yeah. If we're gonna have two madcat ladies, I wouldn't be in misses Fig's camp firmly What do you think about Dudley's costume in this? What's with the chain?ike what happened? I don't know when he became like, he's just like, you know, he's got like the shorts, the chain the unit shorts. Yeah, like it's hilarious. All I could think about, though is that because Harry always gets Dudley's hand mee down clothes's like, is he gonna be wearing that?ike Are we gonna be next year? Is that what Harry's gonna be wearing? Can you imagine Dan Radliffe like wearing those shorts? Just like down to his ankles It's also like such a great visual transition from like really light, like the really scorched earth, it's already bright to suddenly this really dark 's roll in the whole point of the Order of the Phoenix is we're really feeling the darkness creeping in from everywhere. This is the first time I think that the danger didn't feel whimsical at all in the opening of this The first four movies, danger still feels kind of fantastical in a way. You kind of feel like you're on a quest and you're overcoming it. This deentor attack just felt And it also doesn't happen at Hogwarts or within the wizarding world. So it's kind of to your point earlier, it's kind of breaking that veil between the wizarding world and the muggle world where it's All of a sudden the wizarding danger is here. Yeah, that's true. Yeah. Great use of breaking the veil as well, considering the film that we're in. Back at Private Drive, the drama continues. The Ministry of Magic has detected Harry using underage magic in front of a muggle, which is a big no no. A letter arrives announcing that Harry has been expelled from Hogwarts, and hilariously, it's a magical letter in front of the same muggle that Harry's accused of doing magic in front of I mean, also Does it not count at all that The Dursleys know of wizarding world Like I know it's in front of a muggle. Underage magic, sure, we got that. He did the underage magic, but in front of a muggle, isn't it The cool mugggle you're in kind of thing? I guess it's the ministry is just gonna find every single issue they have and throw at Harry, whether or not it makes sense. Yeah. I think that's the thing, right? I like that was so unfair. I know Paor Harry, but he's not gonna to go down without a fight. donon't worry. So are you ready for the rebellion to begin ready I'm in the DA. Let's do this violation of the decree for the reasonable restriction of underage sorcery, you are hereby expelled School of Witchcraft and Wizardry You are Will, Mathfelda Hopker Justice After Vernon takes a moment to gloat that justice has been served, he looks so iconic and his socks and sandals as well, Harry is left alone, miserable, and increasingly convinced that the wizarding world has completely abandoned him. Until late that night, the advance guard arrives. Madi, Tonks, Kingsley, and several other members of the Order of the Phoenix swoop Harry out of private drive and escort him through the night skies over London For me this scene where Harry's just kind of like alone in his room before they turn up is like the first time that we see him as like a man and not a boy. Yeah, and he just He looked so down and so sad and you really just feel for him and But he's still locked in that childhood bedroom at the same time. And you just start getting the feeling that he's getting a little bit too big for that space. I mean, he always kind of was being who he is and magical. There is this great set piece as well flying over London. And like, you know, for someone from the US, what does that kind of give you for this movie? London is so ennchanting to people from the U.S., I think. and then Harry Potter made it all the more so because you just really do feel I think for people from London, you're probably like, this is what streets look like.s what a city looks like. But for me, I'm like, this is what a city and Harry Potter looks like. you know, at behind any corner, there could be ph boot that leads to the ministry, which I know we'll talk about, but it's just every little ordinary thing looks extraordinary to us. and it's very beautiful and it's this freeing moment too for Harry because he's finally getting away from the Dursleys. once again, he's kind of always having to escape there. Yeah That's true. But it's obviously London, we see the landmarks in London all the time in so many movies, but there is just something so specific about seeing it on a broom for some reason. And I really love the route that they take I'm from London. I live there, I see these landmarks all the time, and it still feels really special seeing it in this way. The group arrives at number twelve Grimaold Place as the gloomy townhouse magically emerges from between two ordinary buildings. It's the Black family home which is now headquarters for the secret society, the Order of the Phoenix. Inside, Harry is reunited with Ron and Hermione thrilled to see them. Harry feels like he's been completely left in the dark understandably. He also meets Creature, the Black familyamily's deeply unpleasant house ellf, who appears to have inherited all of the worst personality traits of wizarding aristocracy. Downstairs, the adults of the order are discussing something very serious, so obviously the teenagers attempt to spy on them using Fred and George's extendable ears because if there's one that Hogwart students Excel at' eavesdropping I love that we're saying more of Fred and George's inventions. Yeah. The Weasleysizard Whzes. Say that five times Yes.. Yeah, I love them. It's so fun. And what is your first impression of Grimel Place? It's so cool the way it emerges between the buildings, but it also Even on the inside, it's very different than the tent at the Quidditch World Cup where it kind of looks small from the outside, but you go in and it's really expansive. Grimold Place kind of looks the same on the inside that it looks on the outside where you come in and everything's very contorted. It looks like a building that's trying to fit between other buildings. It's like really tall and skinny and creepy and narrow and you feel a little claustrophobic funhousey going through it Everything is so dingy and cobby and dusty and that as you say, as to the claustrophobia of the place. You get the idea that it would have at one point be very elegant. Yes. But still like austere. Yeah. in a way. this was never a warm No home. So eventually, Sirius explains everything that's going on. The ministry refuses to believe that Voldemort has returned Fudge is terrified of the political consequences, so he's begun smearing anyone who says otherwise, including Harry and Dumbledore. Meanwhile, Voldemort has secretly been rebuilding his army and worse still, he's searching for something that he didn't have the last time he tried to take power . Later, an absolutely thrilled to be on the underground Ath the Weasley escorts Harry to the ministry for a disciplinary hearing about his patronus incident. They descend through the ministry's visitor entrance, that bright red telephone box that transforms into an elevator down into the enormous wizarding government complex Inside it's Rush hour at the mininistry. Wizards heading to work enchanted paper airopplanes, flying between departments, and an atmosphere that feels both impressive and also maybe a little bit hostile. I really love the little moments of levity that we get throughout the order of the Phoenix, and Arthur Weasley on the Underground is one of my favorites. He is so charmingone should know everything about muggles. Right? Right? because that's literally his job, literally his job. No idea how to work the tube. No. When he finally or Harry, I guess scans his past oyster going backwards through it hilarious thing. Because Martin Williams, the actor is like he used to be on a show called The Fast Show, which is a sketch comedy show. So and it make that like knowing that now makes complete sense, right? The way that he's so funny. He's so good at physical comedy. What do you think about the ministrys so Exciting being inside like another very magical wizarding building. I think the ministry is really fun because this is we kind of go back to the whimsicality again with this. For example, all the letters being sent by paper plane. Arthur Weasy goes, Yeahah, used to be owls. like the mess. and you're just like Oh, and I those are some of my favorite things about Harry Potter in general. It is those moments where something is almost overly explained and overly mundane because it just grounds it in so much realism. You really think about it. All of a sudden, you're like this isn't a facade of world building. You're like, I can open every door and window. Yes. and there's something Yeah. And it feels so real and like all of a sudden, you're imagining the entire ministry just covered in bird poop. Because we've seen the allourery. L we know that it is covered in bird poop.. What's so immersive about the ministry in particular is that' a real practical set. you are walking onto this set as much as Harry is for the first time. And I think that's what's so great about these films is like when Harry in the Goblet of Fire was like, I love magic. Yeah. And we're all experiencing that with him together. We're all kind of walking in, what does the wizarding government look like? Oh, they look like this. we are finding out and it's so different from ours. And I think the design of it is so It's so incredible because it's once again just So realistic when you actually think about it. they talked about, I think Stuart Craig, the production designer talked about how when they were trying to think, like, what would this look like that exists in this underground in this almost sewer system? And they went to the oldest tube station in London and noticed all the ceramic tile. and even though it was pretty, it was also functional because it didn't absorb moisture, It was non porous. So that's how they actually built the ministry just in wizard colors So there's always this like duality of things where it's like, here's the wizarding skin of it, but here's also just The realistic, like what would people in this situation do? What material would they build something out of? But then also you have like the green flashes of the flue f and it's that again just like looks so great, like the contrast of the green but it's also we associate that kind of green with horror and evil and ye yeah, like it's a We kind of, I think when you just see like a little flame in the Weasy's house fine, when you see it on mas, there is, I think it immediately gives you a bit of ar, whichich is interesting. So Harry sits alone in the courtroom, but Dumbledore arrives just in time to defend him. Luckily, he got there three hours early. When Harry's questioned by the Minister of Magic himself about his dementor experience, Dumbledore calmly calls our hero, Mrs. Fig as witness One of the ministry officials, the sickly sweet and seriously sinister, Dolores Umbridge, gives her first H in the film and questions whether Harry really encountered dementors at all After a tense vote, Harry is cleared of all charges, but it exposes something very unsettling. The ministry would rather punish Harry than admit Voldemort is back And this is our introduction to Emelda Staunton as Dolorea's I Cge Is this like one of the best like villain reveals of all time I mean, I think Umbridge might be the best villain in The franchise. Yeah, personally., you know, I like love Baltimore. boy is she hatable Like that is just Wow, incredible played so delicately on that line of You can't exactly pinpoint when you figure out she's truly evil. You don't know exactly what it is because she's being nice. Because also she could just be like a ministry stooge, she just maybe she just loves fudge and she just wants to like get ahead at work and maybe she's just trying to stand out. And then obviously as the film goes on, you're like, oh my goodness, this runs deep. the evil runs deep. And the fact that she's not a death eater. No, it's not even that kind of evil. Yeah pure selfish evil. She's like meegalamaniacal. Yeah, right? Like she is so power hungry for both bothoth Fudge and herself. It's also the first time that we're really seeing the introduction of like the political thriller aspect of the Order of the Phoenix come in. againgain, like with the government, but also with the two sides. I guess we're kind of seeing little implants like Kingsley, for example, in the lift. We know that he is part of the order, but he's also part of the ministry like Arthur and we're kind of getting this idea of spies everywhere. Who is good? who can we trust? who is not Y which I love. So Harry tries to catch Dumbledore before he leaves the ministry, but strangely, the headmaster ignores him. So Harry heads to King's Cross to catch the Hogwarts Express While waiting for the train, Sirius appears as Padford to secretly see Harry off, giving him a photograph of the original orrder of the Phoenix. And in the image, Harry's parents, Neville's parents and others who fought in the last war, many of whom didn't survive. What I love about this film in particular is we continue to see the strength of Harry and Sirius's relationship. and I'm so devastated for Harry of course, but also I'm so glad that he gets to know what it's like to have this sort of mentor even for a short time Yeah, even that moment when they're still at Grimald place when Harry's like, then I want to fight and Sirius kind of gives him that like proving non that Yeah boy Yeah and you're just and you see like Harry swell with pride and then he knows Sirius shouldn't be at King's Cross, but I think he also just has that feeling of, you know, Sirus like, well, I had to see you off and you're just Oh someone showed up for this boy. especially the contrast of just watching Dumbledore completely blow him off. Yeah who is kind of prior to Sirius coming back. is Dumbledore is like we're thinking that's the father figure. Well he's really not. And why does he he just lets Harry down so badly?. I get so mad about this. Like Listen, I know Dumbledore has always got his own plans going on, but did he have to be so cold? He just showed up and defended him at trial. Everyone knows he's on Harry's side. So couldn't he have just been like, we'll talk at Hog. Yeahes like a little something something Yeah. Yeah, ye.'s a boy. Yeah. And he show so much Yeah He just watched Cedric die and he made his friends isolate him and you're just like Like what's happened this summer? Like Dumbledore was giving him like what of love at the end of the last film? He was like really understanding. Couldn't you just give him a hey by the way. Yeah. We need to lay low. Yes. Wet give him one little nud. We're not going to have a relationship this year FYI. That's what we need to say Like at Hogwarts, things do feel different. Even the theme tune like holds some kind of tentative fear Harry meets the wonderfully eccentric Luna Lovgood, who introduces him to the eerie skeletal horses pulling the school carriages. rals Yes, L the one. Like the one. Turns out the horses's carriages were never actually pulling themselves. So we meet Luna Lovegood. Yes. What do you think about Ivana Lynch's performance in this? I love her. and I don't even know if you could call it a performance because when you hear about how she was cast, they started by auditioning thousands of Lunas. Ivanaynch shows up And they just go, Oh, it's her. That's Luna. She is Luna. I also really love the festrals in this. we do like the design of the festrals, I think, they are some of the most interesting, intricate designs of any magical creature that we see. They're both kind of creepy and scary and a little bit intimidating, but they're still very ethereal and beautiful and majestic. Yeah, and it makes sense then when you hear only people who haveve seen death can see them because they just do kind of look like creatures of death. but in a very Also we see Luna reading the Quibbler.. So shout out to Mina Lima, who are the incredible designers of not just the Quibbler, but also so many like everything going forward now. They're amazing. They are. So inside the Great Hall, the welcome Feast is underway. Hagrid is mysteriously on eave and Dumbledore announces the arrival of a new defense against the Dark Arts teacher. There's always a new one, isn't there? Every year Dolores Umbridge, sent by the ministry itself, her forced and painfully cheerful speech about order and progress is so ominous. The ministry is interfering at Hogwarts and things are about to get much, much worse Back in the Gryffindor Con room, Harry's housemates aren't exactly happy to see him. I know you have thoughts about this. Many of them, especially shamus, believe the propaganda spread about him by the deadily prophet. Ron comes to Harry's defense, but why doesn't the rest of Gryffindor This seam It makes me so crossed, but it's There are so many moments where Gryffindor just like turns on Harry. and we see it so clearly here and it makes me so frustrated because they know him. I know. And it's also really frustrating too because It's deja voo from Gobblet of Fire where Rond didn't believe Harry for putting his name in the cup and then he kind of wakes up and goes, o, wait, like that's my best friend. Yeah And he wouldn't do that. Yeah. And everyone sees how dangerous this whole situation is. And then meanwhile Everyone's kind of forgotten about that and forgotten Cedric died and is like, no Harry must have had something to do with it. And then Samus is like, my mom and Harry just straight up goes, Well, your mom's stupid. Yeah like. Whoa. sassy Harry. So with his classmates turned against him, Harry continues to retreat into himself, isolation that is not helped by the fact that he's still being plagued by horrible Voldemort related nightmares During the day, things aren't any better. The students now in fifth year are preparing for their o W hes. They're ordinary wizarding level exams and the pressure is on. Umbridge's DADA class consists entirely of reading textbooks and discussing theory with no practical magic allowed When Harry points out that Voldemort is back and students should probably learn how to defend themselves, Umridge gives him detention. feels very nineteen eighty four. In her putridly pink cat filled office, detention with Umbridge is Uniquely horrifying, Harry's made to write the words I must not tell lies repeatedly, using a magical quill that carves the sentence into the back of his hand, using his own blood as ink dystopian, The message is clear, don't trust anyone who takes sugar in their tea or who likes scats. Yeah. sorry cats that much, maybe. I love a cat, but to to a new place. She got a lot of cats on that wall. You just get this weird juxtaposition of the bare bones classroom and then her like frilly hot pink office. And it just makes it feel so creepy and sinister. I never thought old lady could feel so P disturbing And my favorite thing is all the cats on the plates they actually spent two days filming all of those cats in different outfits. Wait, what? So they for two days straight just brought in forty cats and filmed them and some of them had little like handmade outfits and everything to make all of those plates. There's so many things in Harry Potter that they actually spent so much time going into a detail that we just don't even fixate on ourselves and it's just all of those layers are there. It's just every time you open a door to any cupboard in that moie it's just There's so much depth in it So later in the common room, Harry Ron and Hermione begin to properly reckon with what's happening under Umbridge's rule. The ministry is tightening its grip on the school. It's no longer just irritating, It's actually getting dangerous. Harry pushes Ron and Hermione's offers of support away and turns inward again. And in his isolation, he finds himself in this Really lovely quiet moment with Luna in the forest, who he finds barefoot talking to theestrelals and offering up the unsettling truth that Voldemort would want Harry to be isolated. Yeah. It is such an amazing scene for Daniy Rutcliffe and Ivar Lynch. Why do you think he can open up to Luna? Luna's an outsider like him and she's also kind of a lone wolf and I think Harry for as much as he's close with Ron and Hermione And even though they're with him every step of the way, they still will never experience what he's experienced and be in his shoes. I do also think he's holding a bit of resentment for the summer. This is why I'm so mad at Dumbledore though because Luna points it out beautifully like I were Voldemort, I would want to separate you. There is this weird kind of thing which if you look really closely, you might be able to see it, but they had to make Ivana Lynch wear fake feet this because obviously she would be so cold barefoot in the forest so they made her like naked fes. They are really good. like you can't really see them. Yeahbe if you like pause the movie and like zoom in. Costuming is so amazing. It is. And but also just adds because she talks about how her shoes are always being stolen. Yeah. She's being bullied. and the fact that they're calling her Loononey Comaye even calls her Loononey love goodood? Why do you think that the students don't take to Luna in the same way? Why do you think she is such a lone wolf? L This is me. I am me and I've always been me and I will never change. Yeah. She's so consistent throughout. The rest of the films, she just is who she is. And the fact that she does, she speaks the truth, she's in touch with what Harry iss feeling more than anybody else. And what we were just saying about having worlds that are like a layer away, there's the muggle world, there's this world, and then there is like the realalm of the undead. And it feels like she is maybe a bit more in contact with that more than anybody else And with magical creatures in general too. And in that sense, she's called at Hagrid. Yeah ye. Ituly is. There's this great match upp between Ethestreal chowing down on a steak and a sausage gobbling Ron back in the great hall. And Harry rejoins Ron and Hermione, who welcome him back with open arms. McGonagall and Umbridge clash in front of the students, making it clear that questioning Umbridge now means questioning the ministry itself She increasingly continues to wield ministry influence and is eventually appointed, self appointed, by Inquisitor, giving her unchecked power to inspect teachers and reshape the entire school. Umbridge interrogates professors, torments students, and even attempts to get Trelawny kicked out of Hogwarts. David Yeates makes such good use of montages in this movie, and we've just come to like one of my favorite ones Because you have obviously like it is supposed to be really dark and we're kind of seeing a lot of like nasty changes coming in. We get such great funny moments. Like Fil, just generally Filch. on this. but also snes Oiously. Can canan you do his name? Oviously? Oviously. I can't' so mass. He's so jilted Why do you think it's so important that we do get moments of humor throughout the kind of darker political tone of Order of the Phoenix? It's still a transition from the first few movies. so I think if it went fully dark so quickly, it'd be like We would also feel like we're in two different places. Yeah. You still want some of that whimsicality. We're still at a wizarding school. It's still amazing and it's still fun. And Fred and George do a great job of that later too, of just being like, we got to comedic relief this. Yeah our That's our job. Yeah. And also the montages are so great too, because this is the biggest book and we're putting it into the shortest runtime movie. So David Yates is like How am I going to All of this information that is somewhat necessary can really show the progression of Umbridge, seizing control of Hogwarts and fit that kind of just into a neat little box The atmosphere at Hogwarts grows more and more oppressive by the day, but Harry Ron and Hermione refuse to sit back and accept Umbridge's new regime. Sirius shows up in the common room fireplace again, this time to warn them that Fudge, still denying that Voldemort is back, instead believes that Dumbledore is secretly building an army to take control of the ministry Paranoid March. Sirius ominously warns Harry you're on your own. Just what every kid wants to hear. Yeah. This naturally gives Hermione an idea. If the ministry won't teach them how to defend themselves against the return of the Dark Lord, they'll simply do it themselves. Big Hermione energy. She really loves breaking the rules. Yes She does. a little rebel. And so the group of students secretly gather in the Hogs headad pub, where Harry reluctantly agrees to help train them all in real defensive magic. And with that, Dumbledore's army is born, which is just such a highlight of the film. I have socks with all of their signatures. Oh . It's also the first time that Hermione says Voldemort. Yes, which is so brave. Cute, so b. brave girl. She's so brave. She like really Voldemort, which is like really like ot it. It's kind of exciting, isn't it? Yeah., love that moment And that's when you realize like, oh, that's why she's a Gryffindor and Raven Claw. Why is this such a huge turning point do you think in the film? This is the first moment where we finally see Harry being accepted again by peers besides just, you know, Ron and Hermione. And once again, unsung hero of the film, where I feel like Neville is often an unsung hero. Luna is an unsung hero here because she's sitting there Everyone's kind of like, why should we believe you? Even Harry's like, why should you believe me? Like you know, he's not even really bought into this. And then Lun is just like Is it true you can make a patronus Yeah. Proru's a Patronus charm and Harry's Yeah, and then everyone starts rattling off his good deeds kind of piling on that. I love that. So sweet. but she does it in such It's such a skillful thing that she did She didn't stand up and go Hey everybody. Harry should do this, you know, or Harry can do this and we should follow him. She asks a question that forces everyone's opinion to change. I also love that we see the hufflepuffs and the Ravenclaws alongside the Gryffinds because we don't really see many of the Ravenclaws very often, apart from Luna. The DA has one minor problem they need a place to practice. Luckily, Neville stumbles upon the most useful room in the entire castle, the Room of Requirement, which I think is my favourite piece of magic in all eight films.. There, Harry begins leading practice sessions while Umbridge gains eager henchman in Filch and recruits Draco Malfoy and friends into an inquisitorial squad to help enforce her rules. That bit where like Filch is lining up next to Draco to get this batch pinned onto his chest veryy proud of kiss. The students practice constantly and quickly master spells like Expellamus, Stupefy and of course Epecto Patronum. Neville gains confidence, which is genuinely lovely to watch. Hermione is excellent straight away because of course she is. and R is Ron is present. Ron's there. He's doing his best. We support you this is when he says that he'll go easy on Hermione. And Hermione's like, U. Okay. When has this ever been a thing? Yeah When have you ever been better than me? Right. Shout out to the spell. I think it's diminuendo that I think Nigel maybe does and it turns like the practice mannequin's like really tiny. I was like, I wish they'd use that on the D death eaters. Can you imagine tiny little death eaters just like running around the hall of the prophecy they're tiny little spells. We also see Jinny's Rducto curse here. Jinnie is really coming into her own here.. In the past we've seen like these little glimpses of her kind of surrounded by her siblings. I love it in the goblet fire when she's like That is ghostly. Talking about like the dress ro dress ro. We're seeing a bit of sassy Jinny, but this this is the first time we see how powerful a witch she is herer Rducto curse is legendary. And also growing up in a house of all of those siblings and all of them boys must be really hard to make your own way and have your own moment. Yeah, that's so true. And also your fave, Neville. He really does come into his own here and you know when he does his Exll Ams charm and all of the students are like, Neve and they will like rush to him and they' so they're so proud of him and they're so pleased for him. And it's a good moment of seeing all the students kind of come back around where in the beginning they were all divided and fearmongering and kind of angry at each other and now they're celebrating each other again and working together. The Christmas break arrives and the students pause training to enjoy their holidays. But Harry's life becomes no less complicated, particularly when it comes to his feelings for Cho Chang. an emotional, mistletoe fueled kiss Great wing manning of requirement, leaves Cho in tears and Harry feeling all the feels. Ron and Hermione break it down for him the only way they know how. Ending of course, with Hermione reminding Ron, he has the emotional range of a teaspoon, which is genuinely a quote that I use so often.. And I for people who don't know Harry Potter They always think that I'm just being really funny and I'm like, I can't retain the credit for this, but it's such a great line. And's the first half of Harry Potter in the Order of the Phoenix. So what is your favorite kind of standout moment or scene in the first half of this? Oh boy, there's so many I mean, I really get very emotional when Neville casts Expelly Armis and he's like, I've never done it before. And you just have that moment and you're just like That's amazing. And then Arthur Weasley going backwards through the metro. like I'm just it's so funny and it's so hilarious. Yeah, it's just like those are the moments that just like bring joy again back to these films, which had started very dark. So I love those moments All right, it's time to check the pose is my favorite thing. and Owl has arrived from a fellow Potter fan. This is a doozy. There's a burning question from Read R from California. Why did Fudge say that dementors can't be seen by muggles? Who said anything about muggles seeing deemments? That's not relevant. By the way, who cares if muggles see anything This is life and death here. obbliviate them and let's just get on with it. Also, here's a foul politician. foul individual. Foul individual is in capital letters. Oh, of course. Foul individual. Foul individual. I mean yeah, let's go read. whyy isn't read here Great t. He's so angry. Truly though, why not obligate Maybe they did that later I don't know But why do they never obliviate the Durleys? Like I feel like Harry's life would just be a bit smoother if they didn't remember the whole Art Marge thing? Yeah. Do you know what I mean? It's true. Well, Harry can't do it though. No, but why doesn't Who? The ministry? I don't know. Well, they don't care about Harry's life. Carly. Evidently. Yeah. What about like Fge being a foul politician? He is. He's just kind of a coward He's a cow and he doesn't he just wants to keep hold of the power. Yeah. He doesn't want to lose his position as minister. He's really driven by fear and I think that just makes him a really bad politician. Yeah. We want to hear from you. Keep an eye on our socials at Harry Potter for your chance to send in your favorite moments, your burning questions, and all of your hottest takes So the midpoint of the Order of the Phoenix is punctuated by that great montage where Dumbledore's army is formed and the students begin to train. And we are required to discuss how the film shifts between comedy, rebellion, these really stirring emotional moments to balance and drive the story. So how do you think jumping between the DA's progress and Umbridge's inccreasing control helps to build momentum and make those stakes even higher It is a nice breather for a moment because it's so harsh when she has Harry use the pen or the quill with his own blood. It's so harsh and so dark so fast. So then we do get this moment for a second where we've kind of gone back to the stakes feel a little bit more whimsical for a moment. You know, we're just we're practicing spells with our friends and like surely the good times will last, right? L No way They can be disrupted and they're kind of besting Filch and Draco and Krab and Goyle And it's this great moment because you really start seeing The dynamics between the students again, you have kind of Choe getting distracted by Harry and dropping Ngel on the floor and like Nigel. Yeah, he just goes B down And you have Jinny kind of casting, you know, a really powerful spell for the first time. you have Neville succeeding. you just have all these little moments of them succeeding and then Philt and his little squad failing. And it's just a great lighthearted moment. But even though the stakes are increasing, you kind of feel o It's of fun fun stays. fun stays.es. How do you think that we're kind of playing into that whole political thriller side of this in the way that we see like the duality of the school? Because we are really split between the students and the teachers and you know, who is Team Umbridge? who is Team Harry, I guess, Dumb.ood guys. Yeah. how is that kind of played out through this particular montage It's really what they're doing is is learning spells that they do plan to use at some point. And you're becoming increasingly aware on why they might end up needing these skills, you kind of get the idea that this Hogwarts is just a mirror of what's happening in the wizarding world overall. Umbridge does represent the ministry and Hogwarts represents the wizarding population at that moment. Yeah, that rebellion, that whole idea of they are doing something to not only further their own education, but also they're battling against curable. Yeah, oppression, exactly. Talking about all of like the student dynamics It's the first time in this film that we see Harry truly galvanized. Like he is no longer alone. it's not just that they're on his side, but he feels like he's being useful. And I think that's the thing that really kind of drives him. It's like a way of feeling close to his parents as well. If he's not technically allowed to join the order, he's going to make his own order. Yeah. And I just think that's so cool. I love that we see Harry like finally stepping outside of his like real self inflicted isolation Y. and finally being like, okay, I' found my calling again. I found my moojo M. Working hard is important There's something that matters even more.. Believing in yourself Think of it this way. Every great wizard in history cor has started out. There's nothing more than what we are now. stududents If they can do it Why not us? In this film, we're introduced to a whole host of I think really quite stylish characters. We have Kingsley Shucklebt, We have Dolores Umbridge, Maybe not stylish, but definitely iconic. Sttyyled. Y styled. and Batriickx Lestrange. We haven't quite had a chance to discuss all of the costuming throughout our look backack series, so let's just take a minute to just gush. Do you have like a favourite outfit from any of the films Oh I mean, I love Bellatrix, I love her style. I love overall the storytelling that they did with costuming in this film in particular. There were so many subtle Things that were happening in the costuming that you might not even realize? Well, luckily for us, I had the opportunity to sit down with costume designer Janita Mim, so let's see what she had to say Janid Mim, welcome to Harry Potter the official film podcast. It's such a thrill to have you with us. Thank you So you joined the series on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which is kind of a massive tonal shift from the first two films. So when you came in, what did you most want to sort of change or influence about how this world looked and felt through the costume? Well when I joined I had a talk with Alfonso uaron. We decided that if the film was going to be a teenager film The kids should look different. They should really look like normal kids, each one of them should have a look depending of their personality, their social class, where they were coming from, and in a way that other children watching it could identify And that's what we did quite successfully because the response were Incredible. How did like Dan and Emma and Rupert get involved in the sort of decision making around their wardrobe? Were they able to have a bit of a say? Well, at the beginning I could do what I wanted because they were young enough. but after the let's say two, three films where they were searching Being like sixteen years old, the girls were much more involved in what they were wearing than the boys. The boys I could s quiet for a while. And then after that they started saying, no, I'm not looking good enough. it's not cool. The one was always adorable. And although he really he was looking terrible. He had terrible clothes Ron, you know, it was was I was feeling sorry. I was feeling sorry when I gave him that gown, you know for the ball elegance in black and white and they were looking at each other and being so happy to be so elegantly dressed up and Ron had a terrible gown with bs but it was always a very good sport and always accepted that it was for the part and wear it I mean, the yw ball, I think for so many people is such an iconic sort of turning moment for all of the characters because as you say, we are seeing them step into adolescence and we're seeing them in formal wear for the first time. So what was at the forefront of your mind when you were designing the outfits for I mean, Hermione is such a gge that gorgeous pink dress, for example It was a very difficult design for Imani dress because I had to do something romantic and in the same time very sweet sixteen. And it had to be also magical because well there are little wiz are. So it was a very difficult design But somehow You know what I mean? Sometimes you can spend hours, days on a design and doesn't come through And that one, the minute that I had decided that it was a change of colors, that it was going from pink to purple, that was a magical side of it. had I thought about the floating because again, she's an apparian. so it should be a little bit floating. and putting those elements together, I had to dress So, you know, it worked When you kind of get to Harry Potter in the Order of the Phoenix, the world feels like more controlled, more authoritarian. Did you approach that film with a different design philosophy from the very beginning? And how did David Yates talk to you about how to approach it It was a normal evolution becausecause the script was darker The costume went darker. We had decided that The film should be dark and the only light will come from Hbridge and brridgees in pink where everything is sort of brownish grays and the photography is remarkable. Yeah R red lights in cameraa. And you know, all the details were really shown in the light. It was beautiful and the fact that The light is coming from that really bad and sadistic person. It sort of show that the world is light by the badgies. and it's very symbolic. and that's how we did it. And I thought, I start, I want to have a progression in ubridged clothes. I start with something light and then little by little it is going to be a stronger and a hard pink. We are going to feel the venon of this woman going for the color of her clothes and the last costume is really like a very violent fuchia pink. I'd love to talk about Sirus Black because he is living in this sort of in between place. He's kind of He's supposed to be a bit of a mentor, he's a parent, he's an older brother, but he's also been locked up for years. He kind of hasn't really had a chance to go shopping. So how do you approach his look in a way that reflects his personality? When you have Gary old I remember the first costume I designed for him was the prisoner costume.. And it was and he said to me, I'm so happy that I don't have to have a magical thing with a pointed head to play that character. And then after that, he's at home. And then I think that you really like the very aristocratic of the path because the house is very beautiful and I think he wanted to to make a contrast with his first costume, which is a prisoner costume and when he's at home he's really a gentleman So we had all those elur jackets, this beautiful long Velur dressing gown. Yeah, we had him like like a denjie. I'd also love to talk about Bellrix because she is so brilliantly She's kind of you don't know whether she's wearing rags, whether she's wearing silk, how into fashion she is, or how much she's just thrown on. It's such a fascinating style. So tell me about Bellatrix and working with Helena Bonham Carter. She's wearing the most expensive rags in the world. because you know F firstirst, you have to remember that the cast we had Os Exceptional. We had the best toills that England I had a dress for her because I thought, okay, she's a fighter. She needs to have, you know a werior something But in the same time, she is somebody who belong to the aristocracy of the Wizar world I wanted something slightly medieval to give that old weo look. So I started getting into the corset and I thought, because we are in a Harry Potter, let's make it a leather corset. Little by little, the costume arrived and I wanted a cume which was like in pieces, pieces are put together, you know, like she could take off a sleeve or she could add sleeep. And then the rest It happened. She put a costume on and she started scratching it and then suddenly the costume became alive And that was her And you know, she started pushing her hair like that and she became Batrice And she had that she had that power I mean, it was just a pure acting job that I saw in front of me, It was brilliant, brilliant. And finally, sort of looking back across all of the films, is there like a specific piece of costuming that you kind of hold particularly dear or particularly proud of or one perhaps that was so unexpected in its reception from fans I love Luna and her dad And I get so many a questions about Luna and her clothes and what she wears. That girl had a quality which made her costume very easy. You know, she was making herself all this jewelry very v with the radishes and the carls and everything. and then she brought them f course you're going to wear them. I mean, everybody wear a carot around their ears. It's no problem, you know And she was really happy to be contributing to her costume. You know She did a mask a lion mask and help with that. She was a very creative little girl and her costume were very, very organic because of that, because of that of that kid, which was extraordinary. Good old Avana Lynch. Yeah, she is an amazing louner Yes, she is, is she is. Jenny, thank you so much for joining us. It's been such a pleasure to talk to you. It was really nice. I really enjoyed it. I really enjoy talking about one of the best time of my life. It was so creative. so wonderful to work. I spent ten years having the time of my life. It was great Are you ready for some trivia? No, I'm so bad at trivia. You ask me my first name and I'll forget it. but Chrissy, what is your first name? Jeff Okay, I'm ready. What was the design of Harry's I must Not tellell lies inspired by? Was it a papyrus font Was it be Mina Lima, or was it C Dan Radcliffe's own handwriting? Can you say these were easy I did not say that. Is it I don't know, is it Dan Radcliff's on handw? It is Dan Radcliffs I say It looks like it, but now I'm like doubting everything. Yeah, and I'm so glad it is because I always wonder about that. What challenge did the actors face when filming the first on screen kiss between Harry and Choe? Was it A it was filmed outdoors in the rain? Was it B the room of requirement set smelled awful or was it C Daniel fellt ill, causing the scene to be postponed. Daniel fell ill, causing the scene to be postponed. Yeah. Do you think he really was? Do you think he was like? I think. I I don't think he would have wanted. I think there was so much hight building up to it. And then to postpone it is makes it even more awkward. Yeah. That's so funny. Like it's so innocent. It is really wholesome What is Dumbledore's full name Oh God, I always forget it. Albus. Percival Wolfrred, Wfrred. Wolfrick Brian is that Brian Dumb. Yes. ye. Yeah. well done. I can't like I know the names with the order. The orers Yeah because shows up in the ministry. Yeah. But I love how he's like Alvis, like and then he gets to Brian and he goes Brian. It's like a bit of sauces on Brian Brian. littleirl. You can tell Gambon had a really good time with that. Heate, you said you weren't very good at trivy. You did so well. Thank you. You got them all right. Well, like with a little help. Yeah, all the points for Gryffindor. Well done.. If any of you out there want to try your hand at a bit of quizzing, then go to harry Potter dot com forward slash quiz to test your trivia knowledge All right, it is time for anything from the trolley D. That was just for you. Thank you. I want like a burning question from you or a hot t or something, and then I'm going give you a lovely sweet treat from the trolley.oo As a burning question or a hot takeake. Yes Cho Chang and Harry in the room of requirement Choell, what are we doing You're talking about your dead boyfriend and then kissing Harry Yeah. I think that's crazy. Is that not normal? No.ike Oh my God. It's been five minutes. It's been a summer. That's a really long time in these kids lives.y. That to me was like, and then when the room of requirement drops the missileletoe, I was like, no, no. But if the room of requirement is like, ing them along That means it's got to be the feelings are there Wait, are you cross with Cho for moving on too quickly from Cedric? I just feel like she's a little like flippy floppy. I think that's okay. She's I mean, Hermion explains it so well. She's like she's confused about her her feeling. she's obviously still grieving, but she's also She's still grieving because she's like think if he knew this stuff then he would have been fine. And poor Harry is like, I'm still in second to this guy who's dead He takes advantage of it, though, But still doesn't mind. like he's like consoling her about her dead boyfriend and then they're kissing. I just like, I'm like, guys, this is weird. You're so angry about this. Okay, you know what? you've feel so passionately about it. I'm gonna say, yes, I'm too frightened not to. haveave a sweet treat from the trolley. What are you choosing? I'm gonna do theizz fizzleizzle Fizzing Wisbees. Fizzing Wisbees. Yeah. I've never had these before. I I'm very excited about these. Look delicious tea fizzy fruit. I think you've chosen very well. Are you having something Ch? I am, but I have to give you my hot taste. Oh, So there's a theory that Dumbledore used a time turner to get to the ministry on time to make Carry's like appointment. Interesting. Because he says like, oh yeah, I arrived three hours too early. Why I think he just knew that they would pull some BS. Yeah, that's probably like the reason. But like I do like the idea of the time turner, but like as soon as he said that, I kind of just had the opinion They's like, I know you guys. You're going to try and screw over Harry. I'm going to be there to stop you. That's my hot take Thank you I might also join you in the physics mopies Cheers. Okay, well Trolley, EanEesco Be gone Well, we are halfway through the Order of the Phoenix, but the rebellion has only just begun. Next time, Chrissy and I continue on to the conclusion of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I'm so excited. We've got a huge battle scene coming up to talk about that is one of my favorite moments in all of the films. Oh my God, we're gonna have such fun Join us on our Film by Film Look Back throughrough the series and rewatch every Harry Potter film on HBO Max. And in the meantime, we want to hear from you. Share your thoughts and keep up with the latest from us on social media at Harry Potter. As we make our way through the series, we're going to be checking the comments to dissect your burning questions and of course your hottest takes. Until then, watch out for Nini and don't let anyone penetrate your mind Bye. See you next time ars there is a connection between the Dark Lord's mind and your own, whether he is as yet aware of this connection is for the moment unclear. Pray he remains ignored I mean, if he knows about it, then He'll be able to read my mind. Read it Proect. Unhinghinging. Harry Potter, the official film podcast is produced by HBO Max in partnership with Pod People. This podcast is hosted by me, Rihanna Dylan. Our head writer and lead producer is Angela Paladino, and our associate producer is Emily Mansfield. Our liine producer and production manager is Hannah Pedison, casting by Brianna Freyart Production design done by Liz Klkowski and her team, Kevin Fallon, Marcel Banks, Jeff Cross, and Emelia Casarez. Our technical director is In Sang Huang, along with camera operator Nick Gregorio. Our studio audio engineer is Frank Galvan. H makeup by Alie Elizabeth Production Assistance by Sam Sanders IV and Cameron Robson. Our video editor is Susanna Vasquez and the show is mixed by Carter Wogan and Marina Paes. From the HBO Max podcast team, Alison Cohen Serokarch, Michael Glockstatt, Becky Roe, Kenya Reyes, and Erin Kelly. pecial thanks to Emily Brandon and Reese Orgard from the Harry Potter Digital team Thank you for watching and listening and we'll see you next time