The Seahawk

Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: Lifestyles

Media Credit: Cameron Storey | THE SEAHAWK Sophomore Kristy Johnson surveys the film festival on campus.

"It was always our intention to make a film that respected the fans. One that didn't portray them as nerdy, but as real people," director of "We Are Wizards," Josh Koury commented about the making of his documentary. "We Are Wizards" was screened at Cucalorus 14 Nov. 14.

Koury's documentary focused on the fan-base of the internationally acclaimed Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. The many realms of that fan base were exposed in this 80-minute documentary.

The online forums are often hotspots for young adults to be able to discuss the series and anything related. In the film, one of the managers of "The Leakey Cauldron" comments on the power of online forums: "It's giving the fans the stuff to obsess about."

Heather Lawver, the creator of "The Daily Prophet," an online newspaper, started the site to help children excel in creative writing. Lawver was actually the coordinator for PotterWar. This was the worldwide strike against Warner Bros. for trying to inhibit the freedom of the fans of Harry Potter. Lawver proclaimed that the petitioners would boycott all Harry Potter things, except the books,because their problem was not with J.K. Rowling. The following became huge and Warner Bros. soon felt the numbers in their pockets. Sales of their Harry Potter-clad products had dramatically decreased.

While filming, Koury said he saw that the fans were "ultimately very supportive of each other." This much was apparent throughout the film, since every fan seemed sincerely enthusiastic.

Brad Neely, a comic artist and fan of the Harry Potter films, was also featured in the documentary. Neely is best known for his alternative audio discs for the first Harry Potter film, titled "Wizard People, Dear Readers." This running commentary is supposed to be played over the movie to offer different comments on the character's actions, thoughts, names and a unique take on the dialogue exchanged. It is quipped as "An Unauthorized Retelling."

"We Are Wizards" also exposed the new genre of music born from Harry Potter enthusiasts: Wizard Rock. A band called Harry and the Potters was the first of these bands to get public recognition and an enthusiastic fan base. Paul and Joe DeGeorge, the brother duo, both dress up as Harry during their shows. One is Harry in year 4 and the other is Harry, year 7. Their "Harry" perspectives are also reflected in their lyrics, which range from comments on Snape to the depression following the disappearing of Black.

As Harry and the Potters became popular, one of the DeGeorge brothers said, "everyone started picking names." Other wizard rock groups include Draco and the Malfoys, The Whomping Willow, The Hungarian Horntails and The Wands.

Draco and the Malfoys, also shown in the film, portray their lyrics through the perception of Draco; they are the evil Wizard Rock. One of their more popular songs, "My Dad is Rich," is Draco bragging to Harry about how his dad is alive.

Throughout the film, it is apparent that there are many fans of Harry Potter and everything associated.

"We knew early on that there was a large fan community, but we had no idea just how large it really was until we actually began filming. I think it was a big surprise for all of us," Koury stated.

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