“It’s Not A Disguise, It’s Magic.” Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) Directed By Hayao Miyazaki

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Exclusive: Katherine Waterston Talks Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them

Katherine Waterston speaks about her role as Tina Goldstein in Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them.

How did you react when you found out you’d been cast as Tina Goldstein and would be part of a whole new era of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World?

I was thrilled to get the job. First and foremost, I loved the character so much and had such a good time exploring her in the auditions. You can get a little attached in that process, so it sometimes feels a bit like a heartbreak or a breakup when you don’t get the job because you don’t get to spend any more time with that character [laughs]. I was so fixated on getting to play this character and just loved her so much that, honestly, the size of this film and what it means to so many people didn’t really enter my mind initially.

Then, it slowly dawned on me that I had been invited into this massive pre-existing entity, which was quite an overwhelming realization. My first memory of the Harry Potter series was my little brother just falling into those books and not resurfacing until he was done. That J.K. Rowling got an entire generation reading is extraordinary – I'm amazed, thrilled, and proud to now be portraying one of that phenomenal writer's characters.

When you were finding your way into the character, how much of Tina came to you intuitively and what aspects did you have to dig a little deeper to find?

To me, it all feels intuitive. Obviously, there are clues in the script and you search for them and use them as best you can. But I think connecting to a character is like connecting to any human being – either you like them or you don’t. You might not be able to list the reasons why you love your best friend, or what attracted you to them; it’s just something that you feel – a connection, an understanding, or a curiosity that makes you want to get to know them. With Tina, it was her internal struggle that caught my attention.

She seemed to totally doubt herself and to suspect that she wasn’t good enough and, yet, simultaneously, she possessed a confidence, a conviction that she could be great. She’s on a confidence rollercoaster— when she fails at something, it confirms the worst suspicions she has about herself, and when she succeeds at something, it confirms the greatest hopes she has for herself. I just found that quality – that seesawing between insecurity and confidence – really beautiful, and a condition, I think, that any human being can relate to it.

What’s it like then for her to interact with Colin Farrell’s character, Percival Graves, who is a much higher-ranking figure at MACUSA [the Magical Congress of the United States of America], where she works?

Graves has the job that Tina, in her wildest dreams, hopes to have one day. He’s respected at work, successful, has authority, skill, and confidence – Tina admires him, she’s in awe of him, maybe even has a little crush on him.

Tina’s first encounter with Newt Scamander, played by Eddie Redmayne, puts them somewhat at odds with each other, but what do you think it is that draws them together as the story unfolds?

They start to recognize that they’re both outsiders and both a little bit odd, I suppose, and I love that. It’s really tough to be weird until you find other weirdos [laughs]. I think that is beautifully woven into the story from the moment that they notice each other. In many ways, they’re both just starting to become the people they will be; they’re kind of dipping their toe in.

Something I think is interesting about the film is that it’s a coming-of-age story about adults. Even though Newt, Tina, Queen, and Jacob are technically all adults, in their own individual ways they are each a bit stunted, but as they come together – maybe even because they come together – they, finally, begin to ‘come into their own.’

How about Tina’s relationship with her sister, Queenie, played by Alison Sudol?

Really, until these men come into their lives, Tina and Queenie are everything to one another— sisters, best friends, parental figures. They were forced, I think especially Tina, to grow up quickly because they lost their parents young, but despite that painful fate their dynamic is very youthful and sweet. As the older sister, Tina definitely feels Queenie is her responsibility and is very protective of her. Of course, Queenie, being a legilimens, can see that Tina is, beneath the surface, very vulnerable and in need of protection, too.

Do you have a favorite beast?

Pickett. Of course, they’re all so amazing but yeah, Pickett’s my guy.

Can you talk about working with costume designer Colleen Atwood on Tina’s wardrobe in the film. Did that process help inform the character for you?

Absolutely. It was a dream to work with Colleen. She doesn’t just put you in clothes that fit well or look good; she really understands character. It’s detailed, smart work, and I loved everything that she made.

What’s so great about Colleen is that she’s a real collaborator. She comes in with her ideas, and I come in with mine, and we find our way together. I really wanted Tina to wear trousers. That was my idea and something that seemed right to me – that Tina didn’t have much time for herself and, because she lost her parents suddenly, she was thrust into this parental role. I thought she maybe couldn’t be bothered to go to the shop, nor did she have the time, nor would she feel comfortable spending any money on herself. So, we started to build this concept together and then Colleen, obviously, developed the clothes.

The whole look, we thought, would be something she could’ve found in her parents’ wardrobes and thrown together herself. So the trousers are ill-fitting because they were her dad’s, and she has to take them in at the waist; but, when she takes them in at the waist, they go up too short in the leg. The shirts are her mother’s, so they’re sort of Victorian, rather than current to the period of the ‘20s. Even the shoes are men’s shoes because they belonged to her father. That was where all of that came from – this idea that she was trying to cobble together a look that would give her a responsible, effective aura [laughs].

Also, I do think she definitely has a little tomboy streak. She’s dressing for comfort – to be able to move freely around in the streets – and, also, a little to hide. All of these things we talked about, as well as, obviously, how to play her look in contrast to Queenie’s.

Looking back, do you have a favorite scene to play, or a moment during production that was particularly fun or memorable for you?

Perhaps my favorite day on set was a scene with Tina and Newt on a dock. We were on location in an enormous hanger originally used to build zeppelins. It’s the biggest single storey building I’ve ever seen in my life, and had this incredible energy to it. We only shot a few takes of that scene, but that was one of my best memories. It was just one of those days that felt electric.

flamingos (by confusor)

“Arren! Life without death is not life. Refuse death, and you refuse life as well. Listen to me Arren. No man nor anything in this world lives forever. But only to us is it given to know that we must die. And that is a precious gift. This life that is our torment and our treasure dus not endure. It is a wave on the sea. Would you force the sea to grow still, to save one wave? To save yourself?”

— Tales of Earthsea, Sparrowhawk

A couple of my unfulfilled dream - Roland & Aranella

Tinker Bell And The Lost Treasure - “Outtakes”

YES NEWT

WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT TALES OF EARTHSEA??

WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT THIS MOVIE??? WHY DID I HAVE TO DIG SO HARD TO FIND OUT THIS ONE EXISTS IN THE FIRST PLACE???

SPOILERS FOR VISUALS BUT LOOK AT THIS

IT’S LEGIT SO GOOD???

IT’S GOT NEUTRAL GIRL DESIGNS

IT’S GOT MEN BEING SOFT AND CRYING??  LIKE STRAIGHT UP NO “man up” BUT INSTEAD SAYING IT’S OK TO TAKE BREAKS??

IT’S GOT MEN WITH FEMININE TRAITS?

IT’S GOT MORE THAN THE STANDARD 5 GHIBLI EMOTIONS

IT’S GOT MOVING SHADOWS LIKE THESE???

THE WAY SHE HOLDS HIS HEAD UP WITH HER BOUND HANDS?

IT’S GOT DRAGONS???

I really don’t want to spoil the story too much here because I absolutely recommend watching it yourself but despite it being a fantasy based story it’s still so grounded too. It covers drug abuse, the fear of dying, not caring about death at all, slavery, and why life is worth living in general. it features some blood too so tw if you’re sensitive to that… but man.. it’s really good! It personally really helped me during this whole quarantine

Tina Goldstein in Newt Scamander's case - Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Quotes from fanfiction on Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom