Forum:Names on Black Tapestry in OotP Film

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I was watching OotP on DVD and I noticed some names on the Black family tree that don't seem to be included on the version auctioned for charity in 2006. According to this article, when the filmmakers told JKR they needed to "visualise Sirius Black's family tree," she faxed them a copy of the tree going back eight generations. This leads me to believe that the filmmakers received a more complete version of the family tree than was auctioned off, and that this accounts for the extra names visible in the film.

• File:Blackfamilytreeootp1.jpg: Complete section of family tree featuring extra names from intro sequence on Disc 2 of DVD. Phineas Nigellus is in the centre, at the base of the tree trunk, and the extra names are on the left side, beyond the skull at the top and the double-tailed, Starbucks logo-style mermaid at the bottom.
• File:Blackfamilytreeootp2.jpg: Close-up from film showing a witch (from the look of the green headress) who married a man with the last name Bushwick.
• File:Blackfamilytreeootp4.jpg: Close-up showing half of a witch (from the look of the reddish headdress) with the first name Alexea or Alexia.
• File:Blackfamilytreeootp3.jpg: Second half of same witch as above showing the surname Walkin.

The images are too blurry for me to make out any more names. Anyone have sharper eyes or higher-quality pictures? ★ Starstuff ^{(Owl me!)} 03:15, 12 June 2009 (UTC)

One woman at the left side of the tree looks like Charis Black, and next to her is a burned mark. Can this be Charis' sister Cedrella Weasley? But were is then Callidora?

My question is: what means that skulls and why one skull has got a name? Regulus Black II is also decipted as skull with name. --Lord Valensus 10:54, 26 June 2009 (UTC)

Here's a clip of that scene on YouTube for quick reference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1L1xPsitLQ

You can see the blank space in the middle of File:Blackfamilytreeootp1.jpg is where the door into the room is, and the "trunk" is just to the right. When Harry enters the room, he is standing even further right, and you can see Phineas' burn mark and Cygnus' name (at 01:48). Even further to the right from there is where Sirius points out his own burn mark. Unfortunately, none of the filmed scenes give a good view of what's on the left.

Nick O'Demus 11:06, 26 June 2009 (UTC)

Okay, I think I just figured something out. All of the names to the left of Phineus Nigellus on File:Blackfamilytreeootp1.jpg are from preceding generations, in other words his parents and ancestors, not shown on this version. He is only shown as the "trunk" since he is the forebearer of all current Blacks and their relatives. You can also see on File:Blackfamilytreeootp1.jpg the three names leading up in a line just to the right from Phineas Nigelus (the third one being burned off). I believe those are his siblings; Sirius, Elladora, and Isla. Everything further right from there is what's shown on [1]. The tree moves from left to right, not from the trunk outwards. Nick O'Demus 11:27, 26 June 2009 (UTC)

You get a good view of the portion of the tree to the right of the door on the DVD. However, the right side of the tree is shot from multiple angles, so you really need to freeze-frame through the scene on DVD to get a full impression of it.

All of the names on the right side of the tree are ones which appeared on the charity auction version. Phineas Nigellus' siblings are in a line on the vertical branch to directly to his right (see this new close-up): burnt-off Isla at the top, then Elladora, then Sirius I, then Phineas Nigellus himself.

Charis is on the right side of the tree, directly above the coat of arms (see close-up), so I'm guessing the production team simply recycled her face to save time, as they did with Ellidora and Callidora. Next to Charis is her sister Callidora, and next to Callidora there is a burn mark, which belongs to Cedrella. You can't see her name on File:Blackfamilytreeootp1.jpg, but on the intro to Disc 2 of the OotP DVD, the camera zooms in on Arcturus I (father of Charis, Callidora, and Cedrella) and pans right past the burn mark, which is clearly labelled "Cedrella" and "Septimus Weasley."

The burn mark in the red hat on the horizontal branch extending from Phineas Nigellus, directly under the coat of arms, is Phineas II (see close-up). While the overall layout of the tree is rather confusing, this leads me to believe that the people to the right of Phineas Nigellus are his descendants. So I agree with Nick that the people to the left of Phineas Nigellus must be his parents, aunts and uncles, cousins, etc.

As for the skulls, I'm not sure what they represent, but I assume most of them are simply decorative motifs like the mermaid. ★ Starstuff ^{(Owl me!)} 13:51, 26 June 2009 (UTC)

I went through my OotP DVD and uploaded the best quality image I could find for each member of the Black family. You can find a category containing of all these images at Category:Images of the Black family tree.

I also located close-up images of the two wizards on the vertical branch to directly to his left of Phineas Nigellus. I'm not sure how they're related to him, but, from their placement on the tree, I'd guess that they are his cousins or uncles.

• Cygnus Black: Not the same person as Cygnus Black I (1889-1943) or Cygnus Black II (1929-1979). I can't make out his dates, but from his placement on the tree, I figure he predates both I and II.
• Arcturus Black (1835-1893): Not the same person as Arcturus Black I (1884-1959) or Arcturus Black II (1901-1991).

I suppose we need to create articles for these characters and renumber the other Cygnuses and Arcturuses. Any thoughts? ★ Starstuff ^{(Owl me!)} 21:56, 26 June 2009 (UTC)

On the Cygnus picture, the birth date looks like 1829, but the death date is blocked by that twig or whatever it is. I can't quite make out his wife's name, maybe Drea? Perhaps for now they should just be added to the Behind the Scenes and/or Family Tree sections for the House of Black main article. Nick O'Demus 23:24, 26 June 2009 (UTC)

Yup, that looks like 1829 to me too. I think we should go ahead and create the articles, because as canon (as defined in HP:CANON) they deserve their own articles. -- Seth Cooper ^{(Owl Post)} 23:56, 26 June 2009 (UTC)

Please look this article: Cygnus Black (ancestor). Can I wrote article about Alexia Walkin (look up)?--Lord Valensus 09:42, 27 June 2009 (UTC)

My opinion is this: maybe Arcturus and Cygnus were brothers and Cygnus married. So he could be a father of Phineas Nigellus, Sirius I, Isla and Elladora, and Arcturus could be an uncle of them. What you think?--Lord Valensus 14:02, 27 June 2009 (UTC)