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Beloved by millions the world over, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - both book and film - were smash successes that firmly established the literary phenomenon as one of the most important film franchises of the new millennium. Now, with the long-awaited DVD debuting on May 28th from Warner Home Video, expectations are high that this groundbreaking two-disc set will not only continue to enchant fans of the fantastical world of Harry Potter, but take viewers on a journey never-before-experienced on a DVD.

Perhaps the most complex disc ever created, the Sorcerer's Stone DVD expands the concepts of interactivity into new dimensions by keeping the viewer fully immersed in Harry's world. It also makes full use of the web-enabled capabilities of the DVD format, allowing Potter enthusiasts to interact via the Internet and access content far beyond that of a traditional set-top player.

We recently chatted with Warner's director of DVD programming Paul Hemstreet about developing this most unique approach to a DVD, working with the filmmakers, and bring Harry fully into the world of web-connectivity.

DVDFILE: Can you talk a bit about you first came to Warner and got involved with DVD production?

PAUL HEMSTREET: I arrived at Warner right after DVD launched in the fall of 1997 to head up special features production. It was at a time when Warner was just beginning to want to add extras to their DVDs; when the format first launch, there really wasn't much more on a disc than two aspect ratios and the trailer...

DF: Yes, I remember those first 25 Warner DVDs, with the plain menus. Those were the days! Anyway, did you already have a background in producing these types of supplemental features?

PH: I had a background before that as a producer and editor for behind the scenes pieces, documentaries and trailers. So, I transitioned to help produce those items for Warner.

DF: Early on, ROM-enabled titles were pretty rare, with the exception of some more high profile, web-enabled titles like The Matrix and You've Got Mail. Was ROM content something Warner always intended to pursue or did it take a lot of persuading to get them to jump on board?

pH: It was really a natural progression. One of Warner's goals with DVD from it's inception was to bring together music, filmed entertainment and computer software on one format. So, that component (ROM) just seemed a natural step to take once we were technologically able to do so.

DF: How did Warner decide to go with InterActual technology for your ROM needs? Was there ever any talk about developing your own software?

pH: InterActual was one of the first companies to develop an interface allowing you to access content from the DVD via your computer, and it was done it such a way that was seamless to the user. You didn't have to launch any special applications, so it really was "PC Friendly." (laughs) They originally approached us, and were able to offer their software in a timely manner, so we chose to work with them. And it's been a very fruitful, productive relationship ever since.

DF: While certainly the number of households with DVD-ROM drives has grown exponentially just like DVD set-top players, has Warner been tracking ROM usage and developing trends?

pH: Yes, we have. Usage has steadily increased, but we've also found through our focus groups and test studios that younger audiences and children especially like the ROM and web-enabled features.

DF: This is just my perception, but it seems at the beginning the majority of ROM-enabled titles were geared towards the adult, such as The Matrix or Columbia's Men In Black. Now, there seems to be a push towards really adding ROM and web-enabled features to children's titles, such as Harry Potter, which is obviously a huge family film. I don't know if it is a trend, but...

pH: I think a couple of things have happened. There are so many more homes out there now with DVD players, I think we've seen a tremendous growth in families seeking more entertainment. I think in the initial days of DVD it was primarily early adopters who tend to be a much older audience, but now the format has really established itself as a family entertainment medium.

Second, children are exposed to working with computers and games at such an early age now, they are already used to the experience. Kids also seem to enjoy repeat experiences with the titles that they love. So, when you offer different interactive features and games it allows them to go back and enjoy the title for a long time to come.

DF: I'd imagine kids are much more excited by pushing lots of buttons and an experience that is more active?

pH: Yes, it's less passive. You can have a few friends playing a game as opposed to just watching the film. A child can play alone or with a group.

DF: How do you ultimately decide what features should be ROM versus a traditional set-top experience, especially on a title like this?

pH: Usually, we look at how the power of the PC can enhance the experience. We always push into an area we couldn't even approach on the set-top side. The idea is to fill the DVD-Video side with as much as we can, but then provide additional features on the ROM side that the viewer can really use.

With Potter, for example, we have "The Sorting Hat," which ties directly into the theme of the film. It recognizes if you've ever "sorted yourself" on the Harry Potter website, and it will call you by the name and house you've already chosen. If not, it starts fresh, and this works every time you put the disc in. We also have an owl email feature, which obviously takes advantage of that function, and allows the owl to bring you email about Harry Potter. And, of course, with the Re-Voice technology, the disc gives you the ability to speak to your computer and navigate it with your voice.

It's all very magical and tied directly into the themes of the film, but these are the types of features a set-top just isn't capable of allowing you to do.