"It All Ends" said the banners at the movie theater I was at last night. This seems like kind of a gloomy way to celebrate the end of a franchise, no? Anyway, it's turned into Harry Potter Week on this blog (a little early, but what the hell), for the last time. I'm seeing the movie Monday night, with my teenage nephew in tow, and will have a report Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, here are a few charming quotes from a "Harry Potter oral history" in London's Guardian newspaper today:

Tanya Seghatchian (co-producer/executive producer): I watched Emma Watson's screen test and wrote in my notebook: "Perfect! But she is rather beautiful." We did wonder if we should give her a more bucktoothed look, like she has in the book. I remember the first press conference when these three kids were unveiled. They'd been hidden away in a hotel the night before. Rupert was the big surprise, because he was such a natural.

David Heyman (producer): One of the reporters asked Rupert how much he was making. He replied: "I don't know what it is in Muggle money, but I can tell you in Knuts and Galleons."

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Rupert Grint, actor (Ron Weasley): Dan said he could set fire to me and I wouldn't react. Actually, that happened once. I was standing too close to a candle and my T-shirt went up in flames. I just started laughing.

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Stuart Craig (production designer): When I met Jo [Rowling], I asked about the geography of Hogwarts. She immediately took out a pen and paper, and made the most extraordinarily complete map on a sheet of A4. I was still referring to that map 10 years later on the eighth film.

Matthew Lewis (actor, Neville Longbottom): On Deathly Hallows Part 2, I had a big scene with Ralph Fiennes. It was the first time I'd met him. He didn't say much before, but throughout the entire reading he didn't take his eyes off me. I was frightened, man! When he did his monologue, it took all my effort just to stop my jaw from dropping. I suddenly had this tunnel vision while we were shooting - it just became me and Ralph. He does that. He fires you up.

David Yates (director of the final four films): For the very last shot, Dan, Rupert and Emma had to run and jump and throw themselves on to this giant blue mat. I thought that'd be a really appropriate way to end it: a leap into the wide blue yonder. After I yelled "Cut," Dan gave a speech. So did David Heyman and I. It was very emotional.

And have I posted this trailer spoof before? Can't remember. Anyway, it's fun. Happy weekend, all.