My kids are really in to Harry Potter. Replica wands, loads of lego, books, DVDs, props…most recently tickets for a tour of the studios…oh they love it!
But whether you love it or hate it, I think there’s a lesson here for all of us about a) a structured and coherent marketing campaign and b) holding-on to a vision of doing things properly.
Clearly there has been some serious thought put in to phasing the release of films, DVDs, merchandise and network TV releases of the Harry Potter machine. It seems that just as there looks like being a hiatus in the excitement, something else happens. And now that all 8 films have been released on DVD and Harry Potterworld is open and the studio tours are about to start talk is starting of an adaptation of JK Rowlings short stories “The Tales of Beedle the Bard”.
As for doing things properly, it would seem that the attention to detail for the whole film series has been outstanding…even by Hollywood standards. JK Rowling kept an incredibly tight grasp on what she would allow, English actors, made in England, how the sets looked and would be shot, how the screenplay was written…and nothing has been left to chance. Even down to programmes being helpd by spectators in the Quiddich world cup being designed as if they were real programmes!
But, the end result is the most successful movie phenomenon of all time, netting JK over £500 million pounds…and climbing.
Not bad for a girl who only 15 years ago scrabbling around to pay her rent and buy a cup of tea! Such a meteoric rise make me suspect that she modeled the evil Voldermort on herself!