Magic Beyond Words: The JK Rowling Story (TV 2011)

An inspiring look at JK Rowling's rise to become one of the most influential writers-from her humble beginnings as an imaginative young girl and awkward teenager to the loss of her mother and the genesis of the Harry Potter phenomenon.

Director:

Paul A. Kaufman

Writers:

Jeffrey Berman, Tony Caballero,

Stars:

Poppy Montgomery, Emily Holmes, Antonio Cupo

4 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Poppy Montgomery	...	Joanne K. Rowling
Emily Holmes	...	Diane Rowling
Antonio Cupo	...	Jorge Arantes
Janet Kidder	...	Anne Rowling
Madison Desjarlais	...	Joanne Rowling at 17
Andy Maton	...	Christopher Little
Aislyn Watson	...	Joanne Rowling at 8
Marie West	...	Aine
Lisa Norton	...	Jill
Paul McGillion	...	Pete Rowling
Sarah Desjardins	...	Diane Rowling (13-15)
Christine Chatelain	...	Bryony
Wesley MacInnes	...	Sean Harris
Patti Allan	...	Mrs. Morgan
Greigh Laschuk	...	Dr. Neil Murray

Storyline

An inspiring look at JK Rowling's rise to become one of the most influential writers-from her humble beginnings as an imaginative young girl and awkward teenager to the loss of her mother and the genesis of the Harry Potter phenomenon.

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Plot Keywords:

domestic violence | christmas | train ride | school | single mother | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 July 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Biography of J.K. Rowling

Filming Locations:

6742 224 Street, Langley, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Commotion Pictures, Lifetime Television, Media Max Productions

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

In the film, when J. K. Rowing looks at the first edition printing of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the back cover shows an illustration of Dumbledore with a long, white beard. In reality, the back over of the first edition showed an unspecific wizard (possibly Dumbledore) with a short, brown beard. The illustration of Dumbledore seen in the film wasn't added until later editions of the book.

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Quotes

JK Rowling: What do you think,will you ever see Harry Potter in there? Not bloody likely.

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Soundtracks

"Something Very Wrong"
Written by Richard Cummins
Performed by Richard Cummins
Courtesy of Electro-Tone Records

User Reviews

Just...awful

As a former Wyedean student I'm not sure where to even start... The entire film is just shockingly researched from start to finish. Any fact finding has evidently been done by a couple of researchers sat at their office desks in America typing associated words into Wikipedia. As a former student of Wyedean, I can tell you now that the school is absolutely nothing like it is portrayed in the film. The film makers seem to have somehow got the idea that Hogwarts would be based upon Wyedean regarding looks, but in seven years of education there I do not once recall coming across any of the high ceilinged corridors or ornate beams pictured in the film. There were other numerous factual inaccuracies about England in general, such as the sweet trolley on the train, and the fact that Rowling is advised to hire an 'attorney', which is frankly a mistake an 11 year old wouldn't make. Perhaps the most frustrating moment in the entire film, for me certainly, was the line 'Being head girl at Wyedean just means least likely to go to jail', which was not only astonishingly inaccurate and very untrue, but downright insulting to the school and its staff and pupils.

This is the point where I say 'so forget the inaccuracies, just watch it, it's a good Sunday afternoon trash film to pass the time', but I'm not going to, because its terrible even as that. I have no idea how this film ever made it onto any kind of screen.