SUBMITTED BY Lynnith

January 16, 2004 — In a brief interview with Entertainment Weekly, Alfonso Cuaron spoke on directorial choices, the fifth Harry Potter book, and breaking up the monotony. Read on for the goods - thanks to HPANA for the transcript!

Why HP3?
The moment I read the book, I was hooked. It's a myth for our times. You read about Fudge and the Ministry of Magic -- that's Tony Blair! And Guantanamo is not that different from Azkaban. There are Dementors over there, too. [Smiles impishly]

You've made some cosmetic changes to J.K. Rowling's world. Is she cool with your renovations?
Really cool. She actually encouraged me: "Please don't be literal." At the same time, we wrote a scene where there was this organ, and tiny people were jumping on the keyboards. She said, "Nope, no tiny people at Hogwarts."

While you were shooting, Rowling's fifth book was released. What was the reaction on the set?
There are what I call "the Harry Potter Talibans" here -- they read it in one weekend. I promised I was not going to read it, because I'm a little over-Harry Potterized. The day the book came out, I saw it and said f--- it, I'm just going to see how it opens. Next thing you know, I've read it all.

So you're having fun?
Loads. Though after so many bluescreens, you just snooze. The other day, I joked, "Give me a sex scene! Somebody, please: Get naked!"