Daniel Radcliffe made a lifelong friend while shooting the Harry Potter series. David Holmes was stunt double for Radcliffe in some of the screen adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s bestselling novel series.
Unfortunately, an onset accident left Holmes confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. The documentary about Holmes’ life would be Radcliffe’s directorial debut. But he ended up leaving that role to Dan Hartley.
A Hunt for a Storyteller
Hartley was a crew member during the shooting of the Harry Potter franchise, so Radcliffe could confidently vouch for his movie production abilities. Besides, Hartley could tell the Holmes mishap story better than any other qualified director, making him the perfect fit to direct the documentary.
Radcliffe made sure to attend the London premiere of the documentary despite his busy schedule in New York.
The Rookie Wants to Be a Veteran
The documentary is titled “David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived,” at the Premier, Radcliffe made it public that he had initially considered directing the biographical take himself.
However, Radcliffe’s acting roles are enough bone for him to chew at the moment, which made him shelve the idea of directing the Holmes documentary.
Tales of an Unsung Hero
Radcliffe is the lead actor in the Broadway recreation of George Furth’s 1981 musical — Merrily We Roll Along.
Since the documentary was to revolve around Holmes’ life and career, Radcliffe put the proposition to him. Being the humble soul that he is, Holmes was not out to promote a story about himself.
Action!
Eventually, Radcliffe successfully convinced Holmes to give the documentary a shot. So, to provide the project with some perspective, the duo decided to record some sessions together.
All the recordings revealed to Radcliffe was that he still has a lot to learn about the production of documentaries. At this point, the duo agreed to bring in Dan Hartley.
The Mansion and Its Draughtsman
Directing a documentary can be a bit trickier when compared to a movie. A good analogy is comparing what it takes to write a prose to a stage play.
Unlike Radcliffe, who was testing the waters of movie production, Hartley had already directed a feature movie. So, after a few interviews directed by Hartley, the choice was sealed.
Let’s Have Another Take
Of course, Radcliffe showed Hartley some of the takes he recorded with Holmes. However, pro-Hartley humbly advised that the entire production be started afresh.
However, since Radcliffe has always been the inspiration behind the project, and he was telling the story, he got to nab the role of Executive Producer.
Life-long Friends
“David Holmes: The Boy That Lives” is the story of a young boy who got into a life-altering and almost fatal accident. However, he rose above the handicap and made something admirable of himself.
Radcliffe’s role in the documentary was double-pronged, serving on the production team and appearing on screen.
Movie Critics Have a Go
A famous TV critic, Alison Herman, has written a review of the new documentary. She sent a truckload of kudos to Radcliffe, commending his initiative to step up with a story most people involved would be uncomfortable to tell.
Herman also saw it as a testament to how much Radcliffe has come to appreciate his friendship with Holmes.
Healing Old Wounds
Since the accident, the lives of Radcliffe and Holmes have taken different trajectories. The stunt double has stagnated in their career, while the young actor has taken Hollywood by storm.
So, the average reviewer may see the efforts and energy of Radcliffe at telling this story as a panacea for the festering bout of guilt.
Telling an Untold Story
In reality, very few people knew David Holmes and his story before the documentary went public. So, it would be safe to say the project reflects Radcliffe’s good heart.
Hardly would anyone have paid attention if Holmes had tried to tell his story himself. But Radcliffe briefly took the spotlight off himself and shone it on his friend for all who cared to see.
Keep Hope Alive
During the Q&A session at the London premiere of the documentary, Holmes mentioned that he was joyous that the documentary would impact lives.
Title: David Holmes
It is a story of scars, vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and hope to continue and forge on in the face of life’s challenges. The documentary premiered in London on November 18 and is available for streaming on HBO.
