The year 2008 has been a fairly busy one for British actor, director, and painter Robert Pattinson. Not only did he act in a couple of movies that came out in the last quarter of the year, but he also founded his production company, High Noon Prods., and began working on a new novel. In addition to all these activities, he also curated an exhibition that is now on display in London. The following is a collection of magazine scans from around the world that were published in the year 2008.
Australia
The Sydney Morning Herald ran a piece on the 30th of January 2008 entitled, “Robert Pattinson on why he turned down the Harry Potter job: ‘I need to find my feet’”. In it, the British actor discusses his reasons for turning down the role of Harry Potter in spite of being one of the most well-known fantasy characters in the world. The article states that “Potter didn’t feel right” and “It just didn’t feel natural” and that he was looking for a new challenge. The writer goes on to say that he finds his time on the set of the movie adaptation of the popular J.K. Rowling novel “very stressful” and that “I need to find the right place, the right atmosphere for me.”
UK
The Sunday Times published a piece on the 25th of January 2008 entitled, “Why I’m Suing Harry Potter For Copyright Infringement”. In it, author J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Studios head Kevin Tsujihara announce that they are taking Rowling to court for breach of copyright. The article states that the author’s lawyers have filed paperwork in Australia and the UK, as well as in New York, setting up a legal battle over the use of the Harry Potter name and characters. The Sunday Times speculates that the suit could be worth up to £500 million, as much as the entire run of the Harry Potter movies. In the article, Rowling accuses Tsujihara of “milking” the Harry Potter franchise for all it is worth while making seven movies with an ending that “felt more like a relief than the culmination of a story.”
USA
In the USA, Vanity Fair ran an interview with Robert Pattinson in their January 2008 issue. The actor discussed a variety of topics including the Harry Potter franchise, his acting career, and his painting. Here are some of the highlights:
- On the Harry Potter franchise:
- On his acting career:
- On his painting:
- Séguret talks to Pattinson about his painting hobby and the different techniques he’s learned:
“I was never a big fan of the books. I always thought they were a bit silly. I just didn’t get into them. I’m sure a lot of people felt that way about the films. They were really successful and it must have created a certain amount of embarrassment for Warner Bros. But after the film franchise finished there were more than enough Harry Potters to go around, so there weren’t really any losers. The films became a sort of legend. People really like to claim them as their own. The kids that grew up with them will always have a connection with Harry Potter.”
“I would have liked to have seen someone else play him, someone more independent and, dare I say, hip.”
“I don’t mind the tag ‘the next James Bond’, but it isn’t quite true. I’m not even particularly good-looking.”
“[Director Steven] Spielberg approached and talked to me about the role years ago. He even flew me out to Los Angeles to meet with him. But as far as I’m concerned, the part was already written when I walked into the meeting. It felt like it was meant to be me.”
“After my first two or three movie experiences, I realized that I didn’t want to do this forever. I want to focus on other things, like my fashion and my paintings.”
“I have a good time doing what I do, but it can also be very stressful. I’ve had to train a lot to be able to handle the pressure.”
“[Working with Spielberg] was great because he’s brilliant. It’s always a pleasure working with someone you respect so much. He’s a perfectionist and he holds everything he creates in high regard. You can’t help but do the same.”
“I never really liked my acting roles. I’ve kind of done them because I had to, to make sure I stayed in the limelight. But now that I’ve done some research into psychology, I know that my natural talents lie in another direction.”
“I think a lot of people will be surprised to hear me say this, but I really didn’t want to do a nude scene in Love Crime. It wasn’t forced, it was just kind of a spontaneous thing, but I can’t even tell you the number of times I’ve had to explain to people that it was actually my choice and that I wasn’t undressed or anything.”
“A lot of people assume that because I’m under a certain age, that I don’t know how to behave or what is appropriate. But this is not the case. I just want to be me, be comfortable in my own skin and not have to worry about what people think about me.”
“I have a different perspective now. I know what turns people on and I don’t need to pretend to be someone else. I just need to be me.”
“I started learning to paint five years ago, but I’ve only really dabbled in it. This was my way of doing something creative, something that relaxed me. It’s a passion that has really taken off. I enjoy learning about new techniques and trying new things.”
“I’m very interested in Chinese culture and I read a lot about it. They have a lot of talent when it comes to painting. Everything is so vivid and rich in colors. It’s a different approach to painting, more of a collective effort. One person starts and then everyone helps out. It’s very different from what I’m used to, but it’s definitely inspired me to want to learn more.”
“In a way, [my paintings] are a form of role-playing. I want to imagine what the characters would look like if they were real. It’s not just about the visuals, it’s about the feeling that you get when you’re in the presence of something unique and beautiful.”
“I love making art for people. It’s a nice way to show off your skills and get some recognition.”
“I get a lot of joy out of seeing my work in progress. It’s like having a child that you’re going to grow up with. It’s not always perfect, but you know it’s going to be good.”
France
The French edition of Figaro Magazine was the first to spot and spotlight Robert Pattinson in a solo cover story back in December 2007. The writer, David Séguret, discusses his time with the English actor and quotes him as saying that “acting is fun, but painting is where I truly shine.” Besides the cover story, Figaro ran feature articles about the 28-year-old in the spring and summer of 2008 and interviewed him on several occasions. Here are some of the highlights from these articles:
“I started off with just oil paints, but I quickly learned that acrylics could give my work a different feel. So now I use both. My subject matter varies from still lifes to landscapes, but everything has a feeling of peace. I’m interested in capturing the beauty that surrounds us, but I try not to focus too much on a specific place. To me, beauty is wherever you look. I always try to keep things light, even in my more melancholy paintings.”
“I love colors, but I don’t like when people call my work vivid or vibrant. I don’t want to seem too confident or like I’m trying to prove something, I just want to paint what I see.”
“To me, a good painting has something unique that you can’t really put your finger on. It’s not just about portraying reality, it’s about feeling more than you see.”