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2006 Podcast Tour – These are a collection of podcasts sponsored by Scholastic, Inc., Rowling’s American publisher.  This series was completely in 2006 and were taped around the United States to discuss the series with fans.  No review available.  There is no real interviewing of Rowling or the cast, but reliable sources to the Harry Potter world talk and answer questions. 

Biography: The Harry Potter Kids.  45 minutes, online video.  Originally aired December 19, 2007.  Biography profiles the three main cast members of the movies; includes interviews, short biographies, and career information on each one.  The entire video is in several parts.  No review available.  This is a thorough overview of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson.  This special starts from the first movie and growing with them until the most recent.  A nice glimpse into the lives of the actors.

“Creating Harry Potter”: an online video series by 60 minutes.  This series explores the author and her ideas about the series.  It also gives glimpses into the world of Harry Potter.  No review available.  This series includes exclusive content with the author.  It is more than just a sit-down interview; Rowling takes the viewer through her ideas, her papers, and her childhood.  

Dateline special: Prisoner of Azkaban. 10 minutes, online video.  Dateline interviews some of the cast to discuss the third movie of the series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.  No review available. Gives a short glance into the third movie including the cast, the story, and the production.  This clip is helpful for those who want to see some behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.    

Discovering the Real World of Harry Potter: 72 minutes, DVD format by Questar, 2001; found on Amazon at $13.99.  This documentary is divided into six chapters and includes interviews with two authors of books about the series; also includes some special features.  Amazon also offers an editorial review of this work: “The bestselling stories of a boy wizard have left millions spellbound. Discovering the truth behind the fiction, British actor Hugh Laurie narrates this public television documentary (not authorized by J.K. Rowling) to provide historical and scientific context to the Harry Potter tales. ... In true documentary form, style outperforms sizzle, which more likely will appeal to older Potter fans, ages 12 and up. Beautifully filmed and scripted, here is an intriguing complement to the Harry Potter books and motion pictures.”

Harry Potter and Me – 43 minutes, online video, 2002.  This is an A&E biography of Rowling through the creation and execution of the series.  This video includes shots of Rowling’s now infamous notes.  This is also shown in several parts.  No review available.  This interview really covers very little about the details of the series, but is a good introduction to the life of Rowling, the birth of the series, and her inspirations. 

Harry Potter and the Source of Inspiration – 13 minutes, online video, 2000.  Stephen Fry interviews J. K. Rowling on launch day of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.  Covers a variety of questions about the books and the films.  This interview is in several parts.  No review available.  The video itself is not the greatest quality, but the audio is still good.  The location of the interview is also unique as it takes place on the Hogwart’s Express.  J. K. Rowling is candid and endearing in this interview. 

Harry Potter: the Final Chapter – 42 minutes, online video, 2007.  Dateline’s Meredith Vieira interviews J. K. Rowling and the main characters of the cast.  Discusses the final book and Rowling gives reasons for the choices she made throughout the series.  No review available.  This interview is interesting and insightful, answering many questions readers asked throughout the series.  Children and Vieira alike posed questions and Rowling answered these thoroughly and honestly.  This interview also touched upon Rowling’s history and how it affected the series as a whole.  This could be considered one of the most revealing interviews Rowling has given because it takes place after the end of the series. 

The Harry Potter Podcast – 93 minutes, online audio, 2007.  J. K. Rowling participates in her first podcast interview.  This is an in-depth fan interview covering a broad spectrum of topics.  Covers a variety of questions and larger issues surrounding the series.  No review available.  Rowling has a strong interest in the fans of her books and this is seen in her interviews with this site.  She is open and honest about the series, herself, and the phenomenon.  This is a thorough interview that answers what the fans really want to know.  Fans must listen to this!  

J. K. Rowling: a Year in the Life – 49 minutes, online video, 2007.  A documentary that follows J. K. Rowling through important Harry Potter events in 2007, including finishing and publishing the seventh book.  This documentary explores her past.  This interview also expands on the epilogue of book seven.  It is presented in several parts.  Unreality Primetime reviews the documentary: “The documentary paints an intimate portrait of a woman at the height of staggering success which sometimes overawes her, who never expected the international fame that her books have brought her, and provides an honest, poignant and often humorous insight into her past, her personal life and her devotion to her writing and the character she describes as her own hero, Harry.” 

Web Exclusive: JK Rowling – 19 minutes, online video, 2007.  An interview with J. K. Rowling where she discusses the choices she made regarding Dumbledore, some information about the characters’ lives after the final book, and her plans for the future.  No review available.  This interview is important to watch to learn more about the character of Dumbledore.  This interview gives basic information and for truly invested fans, reveals very little.

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