I thought it might be fun for everyone to vote for their favorite, or the best, interview from the SS(or PS) era! The results will be hidden, so in the next edition of Grintastic(which will be coming in the next week or so), the video will be revealed! Fun right?!
May 27th is the last day you can vote, so get to voting, and enjoy watching “ickle” Rupert. Oh, awwww!
Capricorn-You’ll be meeting someone who will present you with a unique career opportunity. With some luck, you won’t be introduced to the bumper of their Mini Cooper first.
Aquarius-Goodness, you’ve got a mouth like Ron Weasley, you have! It might be best to take a deep breath and remain calm before you let the proverbial bloody hells fly. You may end up something you regret.
Pisces- Feeling a bit blue? Fret not, you have a friend who is willing to listen to your sad tune and offer up some much needed advice. Ahhh, the friendship of Harry and Ron…
Aries-In the next couple days, you’ll disarm some potentially important people with your words and your negotiating skills will be in top form. You’ll finally get that contract signed. Perhaps we should send YOU to get that Eddie The Eagle contract finalized, goodness.
Taurus-Don’t hold back your natural, personal talents in the next few days; as you will have some success in showcasing them to others. Think-Rupert Grint, post-Potter. Yeah!
Gemini-Much like Malachy McKinney, you’re oozing the sexy factor lately. Now might be a good time to get a makeover or go shopping for some new clothes.
Cancer-Hermione wants to attend a public meeting about abused house elves, while Ron wants to go to a Quidditch match. What a catastrophe. You’re significant other wants to go somewhere that you find weird and uninteresting. Pull the old quid pro quo trick and you’re mini crisis will be diverted quite successfully.
Leo-With all the chores you need to need to get done, you’ll wish you could whip up a brilliant housekeeping spell like Molly Weasley! But have no worries, you’ll be able to breeze through the big stuff with ease; just in time to have a leisurely evening with your friends.
Virgo-You’re full of boundless energy lately, but have some unchanneled anxiety. Instead of focusing on what you’re afraid is going to happen, envision what you want to happen. Follow the butterflies….
Libra-You’ll be a regular Hermione Granger when you point out the bigger picture to some friends or family members, who are wrapped up in some selfish concerns.
Scorpio-Much like our favorite ginger, Rupert Grint, you are coming upon a crossroads of your life, and are acutely aware of it. Follow your instinct, and be careful of how you react to change.
Sagittarius-Your desire to see “Cherrybomb” in a theater far away from you, is being thwarted by some traveling plans that have become somewhat of a challenge. Don’t give up-you’ll get where you need to go.
Wether you’re a fan of Ron Weasley in the books, or a fan of Ron in the movies exclusively, it matters not. The truth is that the Harry Potter series is rapidly coming to a close; with shooting for the final movie installment, The Deathly Hallows, supposedly coming to an end in June.
The character of Ron Weasley has endeared himself to many a reader/viewer; with his sharp wit, ocassionally filthy mouth, his
loyalty to family and friends, and the innate desire to sacrifice himself to save the ones he loves the most. Countless fan-fics have lovingly been written with love, care, and passion. Drawings, paintings, and various other media have been applied to applied to blank canvas, to pay homage to our favorite ginger Weasley. And you’d be hard pressed to NOT find thousands of fan-made videos in every corner of the internet. No matter what variation of Ron that you’ve created inside of your head and world, Ron has made a home inside all of our hearts.
But let’s not forget the man that brought Ron Weasley to life on screen, the man himself, Rupert Grint. We all fell in love with the tiny, ginger-haired 11-year-old boy; with the sweet cherubic face and bright eyes. It would soon become very apparent that this unassuming kid from Hertfordshire, had 
some major acting chops. Even when the camera wasn’t directly on him, or he wasn’t verbally delivering a line, he was always somewhere in the frame, constantly in character and acting with just his face. Often times than not, Ron’s/Rupert’s lines from the book were either cut or watered down in the movies. Nonetheless, Rupert made do with what he was given and always OWNED Ron. And quoting fellow staffer, and Ron’s fairy godmother, AJ, “He made us give a damn about him!”. Indeed he did; and he did all of that with class, a boat-load of talent, and a sincere passion for his craft.
So, this edition is dedicated to Ron and Rupert, entitled, “In Celebration of Ron Weasley, In Celebration of Rupert Grint,”.
We love you Ron. We love you Rupert.
________________________________________________________________________________
To navigate your way around this edition, here are some links to help you!
Rosa’s “Farewell to Ron Weasley” fan video
Aracelli’s Ron/Rupert essay-Ron’s Biggest Wheezy runner-up(essay no. 2)
In Celebration of Ron-Galadriel, Staff Picks-Sam and Karo,
In Celebration of Rupert-Suzanne S., Francaise3/Marite, Staff Picks-Sam, Karo, and Michelle
Poll-Do you plan to visit Harry Potter Wizarding World?
Karo’s crossword puzzle-Ron Weasley puzzle, and answers here.
Michelle’s Spooferific Horoscopes
Artist/Singer: David Bisbal
Song Title: Mi princesa
What miracle would have pass for you to love me?
What star in the sky have to fall to convince you,
that my soul doesn’t feel lonely.
I want to escape from this eternal nightfall.
A lot of people say that men never cry,
but I have to return to my childhood once again.
I’m still asking myself, why I love you
when you left me hurt.
I can’t give you jewelry or money,
but I could give you a true heart.
My wings in the wind need your kisses,
come with me on this trip that I can not fly alone
You know that you’re the princess of my dreams, fairy tales.
I have fought many wars to have you by my side.
I’m not tired of looking for you.
I wouldn’t mind risking, if at the end of this adventure, I’ll manage to conquer you.
I’ve painted my princess in an imaginary picture,
I sang to her whispering, slowly in her ear.
I’ve been sinking for a long time
and I know that it wasn’t in vain.
I haven’t stopped trying because I believe in miracles.
I’m still walking in the desert of desire..
I’ve spend a lot of early morning thinking about memories .
Living desperate.
Dying in the sadness because the destiny doesn’t change.
I can’t give you jewelry or money, but I could give you a true heart.
My wings in the wind need your kisses, come with me on this on the trip that I cannot fly alone
You know that you’re the princess of my dreams fairy tails.
I have fought many wars to have you by my side.
I’m not tired of looking for you.
I wouldn’t mind risking, if at the end of this adventure, I’ll manage to conquer you.
I’ve painted my princess in an imaginary picture,
I sang to her, whispering slowly in her ear.
I’ve been sinking for a long time and I know that it wasn’t in vain.
I haven’t stopped trying, because I believe in miracles.
Question 1: What is the ONE thing that you admire the most about Rupert, above all the other traits that he has. Explain.
Sam: He’s humble. How can you not love someone who’s grown up in the spotlight, made millions of dollars, and is the little fluttering fantasy of many girls (and let’s face it, women too) who still blushes at compliment’s, doesn’t take himself too seriously, wears his favorite clothes because he likes them, and is so close with his family?
Question 2: What is your favorite “new” fact that you learned about him this year and why.
Sam: Well, I like seeing him out and about more with “lady friends”.
Question 3: Favorite interview of this year(so far)?
Sam: It’s not from this year, but The Daily Mail interview. It showed a vulnerable side to him we’ve yet to see. Sure, he’s humble, but he’s always been kind of emtionally distant. Having access to him in this way was touching and a little bit heartbreaking. Still, it was good to know a little of what’s going on inside of his head.
Question 4: If you could remake your favorite movie of all time, what would the movie be and what character would Rupert play?
Sam: First, let me say my favorite movie is The War Room, but since that’s a documentary, let’s leave it alone. Although, seeing Rupert as James Carville would be AWESOME. Other than that, it’s hard to say what my favorite movie is. I’d love to see him as Andrew Largemann in Garden State just because Rupert’s never really been melancholy and deadpan. He’d probably make me WEEP in Mysterious Skin. I might die if for some reason they remade that and he was in it. Some fans might not be able to handle him in that film though. I don’t’ want to go into detail, but suffice it to say it would be very heavy. But replacing Elijah Wood’s character in Everything is Illuminated would be so cool! I guess I’d just love to see Rupert play something kind of flat. Rupert’s got that expressive face, so he can say so much with the curve of his mouth, and that is a necessity in roles like this one.
Question 5: Finish the sentence-In the next five years, I want to see Rupert—
Sam: With some respectable, good, and critically acclaimed roles under his belt…well on his way to a prestigious award.
___________________________________________________________________________
Question 1: What is the ONE thing that you admire the most about Rupert, above all the other traits that he has. Explain.
Karo: He has never openly talked badly about anyone or anything. How many celebrities can claim the same?
Question 2: What is your favorite “new” fact that you learned about him this year and why.
Karo: He’s excited about playing Eddie the Eagle as his first post-Potter project! 
Question 3: Favorite interview of this year(so far)?
Karo: NO Magazine. Raw and honest, and we hadn’t seen that before.
Question 4: If you could remake your favorite movie of all time, what would the movie be and what character would Rupert play? Explain.
Karo: lol, my favorite movie of all times is actually Dumbo (the Disney film with the flying elephant). So, if Rupert were to “play” anyone in it, I’d say he’d play the little mouse.
Question 5: Finish the sentence-In the next five years, I want to see Rupert—
Karo: Filming, filming, filming.
__________________________________________________________________________
Question 1: What is the ONE thing that you admire the most about Rupert, above all the other traits that he has. Explain.
Michelle: Rupert has so many traits that I admire, but what I love the most about him is that’s he’s remained completely himself throughout the years. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to be in the business that he’s in, where image is everything. It’s pretty brutal, but Rupert isn’t interested in impressing the press, or anybody else for that matter, by being someone that he’s not. He’s not going to make an interviewers job easier by being instantaneously quippy, talkative, and “sound-bite” ready. He’s not going to make himself uncomfortable at premiers by dressing in something he wouldn’t normally wear. He’s Rupert-what you see is what you get. I love that about him, he’s true to himself.
Question 2: What is your favorite “new” fact that you learned about him this year and why.
Michelle: So many great things that we’ve learned about this year, and it’s only April! But I think that my favorite was in the NO magazine article, see the reason why below in the next question. 
Question 3: Favorite interview of this year(so far)?
Michelle: Actually there are three, because I can’t choose! lol One of them is the NO magazine interview. I was ecstatic when he confessed that playing Ron in Harry Potter was kind of holding him back, and he never got to push himself. Most of his fans have always felt this way, so it was comforting to get that confirmation from the man himself. Another one of my favorites is the interview he and Robert Sheehan did with Empire, for the Cherrybomb press junkets. When they start discussing the fan campaign, just..the look on Rupert’s face is sad, overwhelming, happy, and a bit embarrased all at once. It’s a tiny glimpse of emotional!Rupert. Trust me, look close at about 2:49. 
My third one is the radio interview he did with Dermot O’Leary. The whole interview is just fun and brilliant, and I think that Dermot really brought out the best in Rupert, which is what a good interviewer does! Plus, Rupert’s voice on radio is gorgeous.
Question 4: If you could remake your favorite movie of all time, what would the movie be and what character would Rupert play? Explain.
Michelle: I have a lot of favorites, but I would be the happiest girl in the world if Rupert played Robert DeNiro’s character,Travis Bickle, in the remake of Taxi Driver. The whole story line is really interesting and a little depressing; you watch the Bickle character, who’s a little obsessive and intense to begin with, slowly start to go crazy. It’s a very character-driven movie, and I think Rupert would be perfect for this type of role. And there’s this sort of appeal for me, with hearing the characters thoughts in a movie, I find it very interesting and engaging.
Question 5: Finish the sentence-In the next five years, I want to see Rupert—
Michelle: getting a lot of roles that will really challenge him and his talent. He’s got so much to offer, someone just needs to send him an awesome script that will allow him to unleash it.
Question 1: What is your favorite Ron moment(books and/or movies)? And why.
Sam: It’s two moments from the “The Prisoner of Azkaban” and “The Deathly Hallows” books, but I think they coincide into one overarching theme:
Ron, however, spoke to Black.
“If you want to kill Harry, you’ll have to kill us too!” he said fiercely,
though the effort of standing upright was draining him of still more
color, and he swayed slightly as he spoke.
An excerpt from The Prisoner of Azkaban
Bellatrix: “Wait. All except…except for the Mudblood.
Ron: “No! You can have me, keep me!
An excerpt from The Deathly Hallows
Sam: Ron will die for the ones he loves, and that is more important than anything else in his character.
Question 2: What is your favorite Ron quote(books and/or movies)?
Sam: Well, I already listed my favorites, but here’s another one I love. It speaks to how humorous Ron is, even in the face of danger and his own overwhelming emotions.
“All’s fair in love and war, and this is a bit of both.”
Movies: Deleted scene: Fist Full of Weasley! HA!
Question 3: Finish this sentence-I’m a Ron fan because-
Sam: He is the reality in the face of fantasy, without taking away from the beauty of the books. My Ron slogan: “Ron Weasley does it anyway”. He’s scared, he’s not anything outwardly remarkable, and yet he becomes remarkable by going into the fray over and over again for those he cares about. He’ll always do it, he just might not be happy about it.
What is your favorite depiction of Ron?
Sam: Because it is the essence of Ron! He is our Knight, Keeper and King. I do enjoy LeelaStarsky’s Ron, and Really Corking.
Question 5: If you were ever in the same room as the ‘real-life’ Ron, what would you say to him, and why.
Sam: You are brave, you are worth it, and you matter!
________________________________________________________________________
Question 1: What is your favorite Ron moment(books and/or movies)?
Karo: The moment when he destroys the locket. It’s the sum-up of all his fears and him overcoming them, and it’s a turning point for him, since he’s taking charge of everything after wards.
Question 2: What is your favorite Ron quote(books and/or movies)?
Karo: “She really needs to sort out her priorities”. This might seem random, but I like to work on many different things at the same time, and when things get to crazy, I tell myself just that and take a moment to, well, “sort out my priorities” to see what I should focus on first.
Question 3: Finish this sentence-I’m a Ron fan because-
Karo: Because he’s not perfect, and that’s what makes him perfect.
Question 4: What is your favorite depiction of Ron?
Karo: This is just typical Ron. And one of the first pictures I saw almost 10 years ago, so it’s always been one of my favourites.
Question 5: If you were ever in the same room as the ‘real-life’ Ron, what would you say to him, and why.
Karo: I would talk to him about Quidditch. Not only because it’s a cool sport, but it’s he’d be comfortable and would certainly have a lot to say about it.
Since we launched our very first contest,”Are You Ron’s Biggest Wheezy”, the fan reaction has been awesome! So, we want to know: what would YOU like to win in any of our future contests? Please note in this poll, if we haven’t included a prize on the list, we created an option where you can add it.
We know, the thought of Rupert never acting again is utterly awful and to much to even fathom, but what if…
Capricorn-You have no money, but have an urgent need to meet Rupert Grint at the Deathly Hallows premier in November. Avoid anything foolish, like selling both of your kidneys. Yes, Rupert is sexy, but portable dialysis machines are not sexy. Think of another way to get the money, perhaps you could become a hitman’s apprentice by night…
Aquarius-You desperately need an escape route from real life issues that have torn you away from “Rupertland”. Use your strength, intelligence, and desire to help to make things go smoother. Think, Ron in Deathly Hallows.
Pisces-Need some alone time? Find a quiet space to meditate in; and continuously chant, “Super Rupert, Super Grint,” out loud until it becomes your mantra. By the time you reach transcendence, you will have devised a way to achieve world peace with ice cream and tasteful ginger wigs.
Aries-A night out on the town is just what you need; however, someone may be trying to set you up on a hot date. And no, it’s not Rupert; unfortunately, it never is. But give the potential beau a fighting chance, preferably if you refrain from constantly fantasizing about Rupert’s legs in Wild Target.
Taurus-Smooth-talking your way into gainful employment is going to be quite easy for you in the near future, you should totally do it! Channel the character of Malachy McKinney before your interview to get yourself warmed up. Avoid the quiff and the heavy Irish accent though. Believe me, it won’t flatter you and your possible employer will think you’re focking mental.
Gemini-How can anyone study or get any work done with Cherrybomb and Wild Target so close to their release dates?! The universe is telling you to take a break-so fangirl to your heart’s content, you deserve it.
Cancer-You are full of energy and ideas lately. Make like Allen A. Allen and invent a machine that turns everyone in the world ginger. Sporting coke-bottle glasses, tightly permed hair, buck teeth, and an overly-starched schoolboy shorts suit optional.
Leo-You simply cannot understand why everyone on Earth doesn’t find Rupert Grint gorgeous and talented. To make yourself feel better, use your powers of verbal persuasion to convert one of your friends into a “Rupie Groupie”. Wear them down with an engaging, educational Powerpoint presentation of facts and visual proof that his royal gingerness will one day take over the world with award-winning indie movies.
Virgo-No, you don’t have the swine flu, it’s just the stress affecting your body. Relax, go watch NASCSAR and think of Rupert Grint in a racing suit. Or, go skiing and think of Rupert as Eddie The Eagle in a ski-jumping suit. Either way, the vision will be made of win and you’ll feel much better.
Libra-Someone much younger than you values your opinion and looks up to you. Make a day of watching Harry Potter films, being sure to point out the awesomeness that is Ron Weasley.
Scorpio-Spend some much needed time with your family. It will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, just like watching the Weasley clan at Christmas day. Only you won’t get an itchy jumper as a gift. Score!
Sagittarius-In the mood to spin a yarn or recite poetry aloud? Find a pal who is as nuts about Rupert Grint and Driving Lessons as you are; and hit an open mic night at a club. Dress up like Ben and Evie, and act out the “garden scene” in front of confused strangers. It’ll be great!
Question 1). You have to compare Rupert’s demeanor to any type of food; how, or what, does his personality taste like?
Tania(tleo02): Honey. Smooth, sweet, natural, humble although it is not the most fancy food, it is one that is well liked and good for you.
Question 2). If you combined all of the characters Rupert’s ever played(Ron, Allen, Ben, Malachy, Tony, Peter Pan, Nigel Molesworth) into oneperson, describe what kind of a super hero you would get.
-Tania(tleo02): Let’s see- a superhero who comes from a humble background but wants to succeed. Kind of an unlikely superhero or even accidental hero. He never wanted to be a superhero but being good natured and willing to help, he becomes a superhero. Somewhat unconventional, he doesn’t wear any diguise- just recognise me by my ginger hair and I’m here to help!
Question 3). Finish this sentence: Rupert inspires me to-
Tania(tleo02): To be a more humble person despite any success that comes my way.
Question 4). What is your favorite picture of Rupert and why
Tania(tleo02): From Cherrybomb, blood on his face with the stormy background. It makes Rupert look strong, dark, rebellious; but there is a softness to that picture that reminds you that although Rupert’s acting talent can supersede his own persona, he is a sweet and humble person.
Question 5). What is your favorite video interview of Rupert and why
Tania(tleo02): Interview with Rove in 2009. He seems very relaxed and therefore was willing to talk more, maybe not as much as Dan but more than he usually does.
Question 6). If you had a chance to meet and speak with Rupert for only 15 seconds. What would you say to him?
Tania(tleo02): ‘You are a brilliant actor who has a long and rewarding future in acting. You need to believe in yourself like we believe in you!’
Question 7). Caption one, two or all of these:
'Michelle, do you want me to take off my shirt as well?!'
'Aarrgh. Shit. I'm holding a gun.'
'You know you want to, ladies.'
Question 8). This year, I hope that..
Tania(tleo02):’Rupert gets a girlfriend.’
Question 9). Take into account that Rupert is a Virgo, and combine that with your sign as well. Realistically, would you two get along? Why or why not.
Tania(tleo02): I’m a Scorpio and I have friends who are Virgos. We all get along well but I am somewhat more aggressive than Virgos. I found that Virgos are quite diplomatic and tend to be the calm under all circumstances and that has a calming effect on everyone else. So I’ll say that Rupert and I will get along.
Question 10). Where do you live? and if you had the chance to take Rupert on a tour of your city, where would you take him? Why do you think he would like any particular place or thing you were to show him?
Tania(tleo02): I live in Sydney, Australia. We are known for our beaches whether that be Bondi Beach or Manly Beach. I would take him to all. Any reason to see him without his shirt on really. But since he is like myself and gets sunburnt really easily, I would take him for a cruise on Sydney Harbour, it is absolutely spectacular. Just imagine, Rupert’s hair blowing in the wind, a smile across his face, blue sky and sun in the background. Perfect.
- Since Rupert is so creative and appreciates creativity, I would take him to 
Newtown. It is one of the oldest inner city suburbs of Sydney but has a great vibe. It is were many of the young and trendy lives. Newtown is very busy and everyone there is very friendly and unpretenious. The main street is filled with different restaurants that serve cuisine from so many cultures. There are many music shops that sell cds and vinyls as well as indie music. There are bars and pubs with live bands and small theatres that show local small productions plays, indie and arthouse films. I think Newtown will be right up Rupert’s alley.
Are you Ron’s biggest Wheezy and proud of it? Then prove it! We’re on a mission to find the one Muggle who shows the most love and devotion for our favorite ginger-haired Weasley.
The prizes: A Ron/Harry Potter T-shirt(of your choice) from Hot Topic and and an autographed picture signed by Rupert, exclusively for ICM!
How to Enter(first portion of contest): In a few paragraphs, explain how and why you’re the biggest Ron Weasley fan; and why you deserve to win this contest.
The deadline is February 7th. If you have any questions, or you’d like to email your entry, send it to us at grintasticonline@googlemail.com.
Rules(yeah, you knew they were coming):
-no one or two sentence entries please(ie: “Ron rawks! I like his ginger hair.”)
-no abusive, racist, or sexually-related material will be considered
-You must be willing and able to complete the second portion of the contest as well(see below).
-If you feel that just a few paragraphs simply cannot capture the essence of your madness(err…fandom) for all things Ron, you may write a short essay. However, you might want to keep reading…
Second portion of contest: If your submission is chosen, you have the option of either writing an essay or making a fan video that are Ron/Rupert related. Not only will you win a T-shirt and a picture signed by Rupert, your creation will also be featured in the next edition of Grintastic!
Deadline for essay or fan video is February 21st.
How cool is that!? So, if you think you’re the biggest Ron fan, we’re ready to help you show the world! Come on you big Weasley lover, you know you want to!
2009 was a very eventful year for Rupert, with daring photshoots and revealing interviews. Here, you’ll find a list of staff picks/favorites for 2009.
Here’s to Rupert kicking some ass in 2010!!!!!
Best of 2009
Happy New Year everybody! 2009 was the Year of The Grint-so what does that mean? 2010 will be the Year of the Grint-2.0, of course!!! It can only get better from on here on out! So, in celebration, we’ve made a special edition of Grintastic for you!!!
In this edition, we’re taking you a trip down memory lane, with staff picks for what they thought was the best of the decade and of 2009, as well! So, get ready to see a load of staff favorites with video, pictures, and even a mini podcast from Jo!
We’ve also got some polls as well for your to get your itchy voting warmed up! What, don’t tell me you thought you weren’t going to have to vote again for at least a month?! Nay, Grintastic readers, your quest has only begun for 2010!
So, start your journey right here, since it can get a little confusing around here sometimes. Below is a list of links to the pages for staff picks of the decade!
Best of the Decade
Question 1: Best quote(by and/or about Rupert)
“I’ve sat in screenings with audiences who’ve watch what Rupert can do, and he obviously connects with them really brilliantly. That’s the comfort zone the audience had with him. It’s Rupert; he’ll be funny, and appealing. But, he can do really serious, straight stuff. And we’re seeing stuff Rupert do in the Hallows part 1 and Hallows part 2 which is really grown up and dark. You watch and, oh God, it’s really powerful.” -David Yates (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Ultimate Edition, December 2009)
Question 2: Best new fact
Michelle: That he was obsessed with Napolean Dynamite. It just amuses me to know this, and what’s funnier is he couldn’t remember any lines from the movie either during the Heat interview! Or…did he? I’m thinking Rupert’s a closet Napolean Dynamite fanboy, but is afraid to let it lose in public. lol
Question 3: Best photoshoot
Michelle: The Daily Mail. He looked like such a man in this one.
Question 4: Best interview(printed and/or video)
Michelle: Again, the Daily Mail interview pops back up into my mind. I’ve read it countless times, he’s so open, honest, and raw in this interview. He really made himself vulnerable, which I don’t think happened before.
Question 5: Best appearance/Event outing
Michelle: Rupert dressed up for Halloween as Alex DeLarge from “A Clockwork Orange”. Winner!!!
Question 6: Best candid shot of Rupert
Michelle: Rupert sporting a horse’s head at the V-Fetival, of course!
Question 7: Best movie promo still
Michelle: Wet, half-naked Tony with a gun. I remember sitting in my car, throwing an epic fangirl squee-fest all by lonesome, when I saw this one. Damn, just look at his face!! Look!!
Question 8: Best Half-Blood Prince scene
Michelle: Rupert owned that entire movie, in my opinion. So many great dramatic and emotional moments, as well as the bust a gut scenes. My favorite is love-potioned Ron; particularly when Harry walks into the room, and Ron says, “Isn’t it beautiful? The moon..” The way he says it, as if he’s going to break out into a love-drunk serenade at any moment. It kills me every time I see it, and that’s like six times or something….Moooooon Riverrrr…
Question 9: Best picture from a premier
Michelle: The one where Maggie Smith is kissing him on the cheek; you can see the affection for him on her face. Rupert looked surprised, but didn’t seem to mind one bit.
There’s been a lot of photoshoots with just Rupert, Dan, and Emma; as well as with other Harry Potter actors. Which one is your favorite? Vote!
Question 1: Best Quote
“From here on out, I don’t want to play it safe…” Rupert in Daily Mail interview
Michelle: I must admit that I when I read this, I got a bit emotional. I’ve always been proud to be a Rupert Grint fan; but I was never as proud of him as I was the moment I read those words. It was something I had been waiting to hear for years. I needed to know that his drive and desire to act was as strong as my belief in him and his talent. The simple fact that he made himself so vulnerable and honest in this interview was something very new to the fandom. While he also addressed that he’s afraid his acting actor career will end after Harry Potter, which made the fans quite worried; but ultimately, the quote above cements the fact that Rupert isn’t going to rest on his laurels or stop what he was born to do. That small, simple quote wins out above all others for me; it hits hard and shows the world that Rupert Grint is going to whoop that ass.
Question 2: Best Photoshoot
Michelle: This is a hard one, but I have to go with DRAMA. It literally shook up the fandom, both negatively and positively. Rupert had never done a photoshoot quite like this one before. I remember opening the DRAMA application on my phone, and literally gasping because it wasn’t something I was expecting. It was rebellious, sexy, innocent, and bold, simultaneously. I’m not quite sure if Rupert was channeling some type of character acting in this, or if Ram Shergill had Rupert just tap into a part of himself that we just hadn’t seen before on camera. Regardless, it’s bloody brilliant.
Question 3: Best Appearance/Even Outing
Michelle: For me, it’s got to be the Hand/Foot/Wand ceremony. I remember watching the footage, and I could just feel the excitement and nervousness just coming off of Rupert, and I wasn’t even there in person! He was experiencing so many emotions all at once; you can hear it in his voice, it sounds as if he’s on the verge of either crying or squeeing. It was such a personal experience for him, and witnessing emotional! Rupert on display made me love him that much more. I never get tired of watching it, and I still feel so happy and proud for Rupert, even after a couple of years.
Question 5: Best T-shirt
2009 was most definitely the Year Of The Grint, but the new year is nearly here! Hopefully, 2010 will bring everyone’s one giant collective wish: to finally see no less then three movies, starring our one and only, Rupert!
But alas, there can only be one. So, which movie has your movie-viewing knickers in a knot, compulsively looking at movie promo shots, and happily declaring the loss of a kidney just to see a particular movie right this very minute?!
Let us know by taking this poll! We promise to leave you alone; and you can go mend your withered patience, whilst you wait for another trailer or release date.
Yes, we feel your pain, too! Come on 2010!
It’s only fair to have a separate poll for our favorite ever so photogenic ginger man, isn’t it? We thought you’d agree. Some of us have our favorites, and some have their dislikes, for the variety of shots that graced our voracious eyes over the years. Rupert being serious and moody, Rupert being funny and playful, and Rupert just being him with his million dollar smile! But, we want to know, what’s the BEST Rupert Photoshoot? So, cast your vote!
Again, if you need a little coaxing in a particular direction to cast your vote, don’t be shy and visit the ICM gallery.
There’s never been a shortage of Harry Potter-related photoshoots through the last 10 years! Ranging from serious and moody, to sweet and funny outtakes, to just plain old fun photoshoots. Everyone loves them, but what’s the most popular? We’re curious to know what you rabid fans think, so cast your vote for your favorite Harry Potter photoshoot of the decade!
And, if your itchy voting finger needs a little help in deciding which one you love the most, visit the ICM gallery to help aid you in your polling quest.
As if we needed anymore drama in our lives this year, Rupert’s photoshoot with high-fashion, art magazine DRAMA certainly brought more.
When the news first broke-along with a sneak peak pic–that another photoshoot with Rupert was in our future, there was much speculation as to the final outcome. Some of us were were hoping the photoshoot would be unlike anything Rupert has ever done; yet, others were a bit put off by the past content of DRAMA, considering it to be “artsy-fartsy” and not to their exact taste. However, everyone was ecstatic that our favorite ginger man would get his very own photoshoot. But who could have known all the drama and discussion that would ensue when we all laid our eyes on the much sought after pictures.
The DRAMA photoshoot revealed a rather obvious feminine, softer side of Rupert, that was by turns, just as manly and rebellious. Seeing him in such a new way, captured many different and strong emotions from all of his fans. Some fans reveled in this bold and delicate sexiness, others were more than slightly disturbed by it. Critics, passers-by, and fans alike were using the word “gay” to either describe the photoshoot itself, and sometimes using it to beg the question, “Is Rupert gay?”.
“I spoke to Rupert prior to the shoot and told him I wanted like a kind of rebel cool feel… without any effort he gave me the looks and the moods I wanted, he almost reminded me of a Young Michael Caine in Alfie mixed with the rebellion of a ” Clockwork Orange “. It was hot.” DRAMA Photographer Ram Shergill on working with Rupert.
Rebellion in it’s truest sense, is to push away what is generally accepted as “the rules” , created by the status quo, on how someone should act, dress, look, or think. An individual who wants to break away from all of this, will challenge and question the ’rules’ , because not everything is as it seems or can be placed neatly in categories, or in this case, stereotypes.
Ram Shergill’s ideas for ”rebel cool” were certainly not lost upon Rupert. While the photoshoot initially appears extremely feminine, it’s not. It can be noticed in nearly every picture, that Rupert is not without a bit of his ginger stubble framing his jawline and chin. Yet, with all of the stubble, his face itself is soft and contemplative; his lips are generous, feminine, and relaxed. However, his eyes are telling a different story altogether, they’re fierce, piercing, and challenging the onlooker.
Also, in certain pictures, his body posturing, or posing, is a combination of the two: feminine/masculine. For example, in the picture where he is pulling his collar of the sweater down, and I can only desribe this picture as “combatively coy.” The action of pulling down the collar of his sweater is a coy, come-hither action of a female. While his eyes have the piercing gaze of a soldier, challenging his enemy. Another picture that 
encapsulates the male/female aspects at the same time, is the shoulder picture. The sweater is clinging flirtaciously to his shoulder, begging for attention. But again, his eyes are burning desperately of a rebel, as if to say, “Yeah, so what! You like it? Come and get it.”
The pictures are all things at once: rebellious and submissive, masculine and feminine, fierce and soft. It cannot be categorized into a neat category, maybe that’s why the word “gay” was being used. The DRAMA photoshoot challenged the idea of how men should be portrayed, and having beliefs and ideas challenged isn’t always an easy thing to accept. It forces one to see things differently.
The fact that Rupert can display such complex,simultaneous emotions in just a photoshoot, without uttering a word, is a testament to his great talent. The DRAMA photoshoot proves, once again, that he’s going to push himself into territory he’s never been. He refuses to be judged by one particular character, he’s not going to do something that is expected of him, he’s going to move forward and explore. And to me, that’s the ultimate rebellion.
Photo credits: Ram Shergill for DRAMA magazine
Stop any Rupert Grint fan in the street, or online, and we’ll be more than happy to tell any clueless stranger the myriad of reasons why we love Rupes so much. Ranging from his ability to climb inside of a character and completely own it, to his humble, kind personality, to his wonderfully quirky sense of humor, to the breathtakingly gingery eyelashes, we’ll most certainly sing his praises.
However, we all remember the interviews conducted in the past, and back then Rupert was hardly an easy guy to interview. Rupert could hardly have been called “articulate”; often resorting to his now infamous verbal ticks, such as “uhh”, “err”, and everyone’s favorite and often imitated, “dunno really,” and more than once, sticking with very generic answers for a lot of questions. He was also known to get rather fidgety, constantly touching his face, rubbing his thighs and knees, playing with his hair, and almost constantly shifting in his seat. He wasn’t the most talkative or candid guy either, which seemed to irritate some “journalists” who had just interviewed Dan or Emma, and who sometimes made snide remarks about how “inarticulate” Rupert was in their articles. However, as fans, we all knew better that there was so much more to Rupert than all of his verbal hiccups and his deceptively generic question-answering. However, it’s been proven time and time again, that when Rupert had a good interview, or a good interviewer more likely, he and the interview were simply golden.
As in the “Moviefone” interview he did with director, Jeremy Brock, for the promotion of “Driving Lessons” at the Tribeca film festival.
Rupert seemed a little more anxious and self conscious than usual, which was to be expected and forgiven, as this was his first break out role as a leading man in a film that had nothing to do with Harry Potter. Rupert was quite flushed during the entire interview, and his verbal ticks and fidgeting were obviously in high gear the whole time. I would like to point out now, that when Rupert did have something important to say, he had a tendency to dive in with an answer rather quickly, with very little thought, which caused him to become tongue-tied and maybe not say exactly what he wanted. But I digress. Putting all of this aside, this is one of the “golden” interviews that I simply adore. Any thoughts of Rupert not being candid were delightfully laid to rest in this interview. When asked what three of his favorite things about movies were, Rupert had answers that revealed an incredibly thoughtful, sensitive person. One of my favorite was when he said that he wasn’t the most confident upfront person, hence he loved the fact that he can use a character to hide behind, and get to be someone else.
But as the years have gone on, we have witnessed Rupert become a little more confident, a little more sure of himself. It had become ubundantly clear that he had reached a personal milestone when he was promoting “Cherrybomb” at the Berlinale film festival this year. An interview in particular was the Spiegel TV interview he did with co-star, Kimberley Nixon.
While this had no brilliant revelations in it, Rupert presented himself in a way that made me realize how much he has changed and matured. His fiddling, while still present, was noticeably less. He seemed to gain control of his nervous hands by interlacing his fingers; in addition to that, he was also using his hands more demonstratively when he spoke. Overall, he seemed more relaxed, and quieter. But in a way that was helpful to him, he still had the verbal ticks, but these were fewer and far between than in the past. He seemed more comfortable with pausing before he spoke, and was able to articulate what he wanted to say. But this was just a small taste of what was to come at us in the months to follow.
If any Rupert fan had been waiting for the best, most candid interview in printed media, they certainly got what was a long to coming. One of them was in the form of BLAG magazine. A massive pictorial spread, complete with a six-page interview, that made every Rupert fan finally get a glimpse of who he really was as a person, how candid he could get, and a Rupert that was a bit bolder in what he said. Revealing how weird his sense of humor is, how he’d love to be in a Quentin Tarantino movie, and how he’d be happy to get offered interesting, diverse roles in his career.
Whatever glass roof Rupert was operating under, was gloriously torn asunder during the promotion of “Half-Blood Prince.” The more interviews he gave, Rupert got that much better at controlling his nervousness, his verbal ticks, and obviously, got better at expressing himself. While I love watching all the videoed interviews, a majority of the “golden” interviews are in printed form. One of my favorites is the Daily Mail interview, in which he makes the most rock and roll statement of all time:
From here on, I don’t want to play it safe. I need to take on roles that are as far away from Harry Potter as it’s possible to get. If I’m to continue as an actor, I need to play characters that are nothing like me at all.
A man addressing his future, with his fist in the air, ready to take on the world. A far cry from the nervous, fidgety guy who was more often times than not, misunderstood or judged because he wasn’t able to articulate himself very well.
This year has been a revelation for Rupert, and for his fandom. Evolution comes in small steps, takes years, and a lot of mistakes need to be made in order to get to the goal. We are witnessing the evolution, the era, the realization of the true Rupert Grint. A boy who couldn’t quite get the words right, but who now speaks boldy and honestly, and yet he is still the same humble, kind-hearted, quirky, talented, driven guy who can really surprise you sometimes. This is the real Rupert that we’ve all been waiting for years to see, and it’s finally arrived. I can’t help but think that in years to come, Rupert, and being his fan, will only get better and better.
Photo credits: Ian Derry for Mail Online, Tom Stockill for Times Online
Video credits: MSN Moviefone, Spiegel TV (the clip uses footage from the film Cherrybomb, courtesy of Generator Entertainment and The Little Film Company)
Hello fellow Rupert Grint fans, and welcome to the first edition of Grintastic!
The idea for an interactive, online “fanzine” was born about this time last year. While Ice Cream Man focuses on the talents of our favorite actor, Rupert Grint, Grintastic was created to focus on the many talents of his dedicated fanbase. Since the forums are booming with lots of love for your fellow fans and an innate desire to share your various forms of artwork with one another, creating Grintastic was an obvious choice.
A Short History of “Fanzines”
The term “fanzine” was first used back in October of 1940, by the science fiction community. Fans of sci-fi movies and literature needed a place to share similar interests and talents. And so, the “fanzine” was born. Not long after, everyone else followed suit. Horror movie buffs, comic book creaters/readers, sports fanatics, rock and roll lovers, and punkers were soon making their own variations of the publication. Remember Blag magazine? Of course you do! When Sarah and Sally Edwards first came up with the idea, Blag started out as a fanzine, too.
When the fanzines first kicked off, all someone needed to make such a publication was a great idea, a typewriter, and a copier. Often made in small numbers, they were frequently hard to come by. In addition, they were also either sold at an extremely cheap price, or even given away for free.
Fanzines have come quite a long way since 1940. These publications can still be found being passed out in front of clubs, and even appear on the internet. These are known as ezines; or prozines, which are made by business people looking to expand their network of customers.
The Grintastic Fanzine
Grintastic is a bi-montly “publication” with lots of stuff to do, all aimed at you, the fan! You can guarantee that we’ll always have something new and fun for you, with things like contests, quizzes, fanfics, fanart and comics. We’ll also be sure to include essays, opinions, and editorials for you to read; plus, exclusive treats that you’ll only find on Grintastic to adorn your frequent online haunts! And last, but certainly not least, our Rupert-centric podcasts.
When we say that ICM is “by the fans, for the fans”, that’s no joke. If it were not for any of you rabid Rupert fans, ICM wouldn’t be where it is now. So, this is for all of you. We love you guys! Enjoy!
NOTE TO FUTURE CONTRIBUTORS:
If you have anything that you’d like to see featured in one of the future issues of Grintastic — for example your essays/fanfics/fanart/poetry/stories/reviews or any other creative undertaking, just send us your material to grintasticonline@googlemail.com and we’ll be happy to review it and, hopefully, include it in the next issue! Simple as that! (We can’t pay you lol, but we promise to make you famous — at least in the Rupert fandom!)
Also, feel free to comment on the articles in the first issue. If you want to send us a more elaborate feedback, or recommend someone else’s work, again, email us to the address above: we welcome all comments and criticism, good or bad. Tell us what you would love to read about, help us improve our content, help us make Grintastic the funkiest fanzine ever — Rupert surely deserves that!
Cherrybomb Distribution Campaign Ice Cream Man
