The Universal Orlando blog has announced that they will be having a social media meet-up during A Celebration of Harry Potter. The blog says:

Over the coming week, you’ll have a few opportunities to win a credential for you and a friend to attend a special Social Media Meet-Up that will provide an inside look at some of the art and artistry that has brought Harry Potter to life in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The lucky winners and their guests will tour the grand marble hall of Gringotts Wizarding Bank with Alan Gilmore, Art Director for a number of the Harry Potter films and visionary for the new attraction in Diagon Alley, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.

Then descend into the bank vaults to meet with MinaLima, the design team responsible for bringing the Daily Prophet, and more, to life. There will be a chance for Q&As at both stops before you embark on an adventure as you ride Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. There may even be another surprise or two along the way…

So, how can you take part in the magic? We’ll detail out all of the ways to enter on Thursday on the Universal Orlando blog.

A Celebration of Harry Potter Social Media Meet-Up
Date: Friday, January 30, 2015
Packet Pick-Up: Universal Studios Arches: 8:30–9:30 AM
Meet-Up Check-In: Universal Studios Arches: 5:00–6:00 PM
Social Media Meet-Up: Diagon Alley: 6:00–7:30 PM

Each winner will receive:

• General Parking at Universal Orlando Resort
• A one day, two-park ticket for the winner and their guest
• Access to the A Celebration of Harry Potter Social Media Meet-Up

Due to popular demand, this February half-term, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter will give visitors the chance to meet the animal actors who starred in the most successful film series of all time!

This half-term, visitors to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter will get the chance to meet the animal actors who starred in the most successful film series of all time. From Friday 13^th to Wednesday 25^th February, a selection of animals will team up with their trainers to showcase their acting skills and take part in live training demonstrations.

A menagerie of owls, cats and a toad will return to the incredible sets they ‘acted’ on during production; led by Head Animal Trainer Julie Tottman, who helped create the performances of more than 250 live creatures throughout all eight Harry Potter films.

Visitors to the Gryffindor common room set will find it occupied by a Red Persian cat that played Hermione Granger’s bandy-legged feline Crookshanks. He will be joined by a Maine Coon cat that portrayed Filch’s partner-in-crime Mrs Norris and the 14-year-old toad that played Neville Longbottom’s pet Trevor.

Outside Privet Drive, visitors will be able to pose for a picture with a Snowy Owl that played Harry Potter’s loyal companion and post-delivering bird Hedwig. Animal Trainers will hold flight demonstrations throughout the day on the Studio Tour’s backlot, showcasing the techniques they used during filming.

A parliament of performing owls will be stationed on the wizarding shopping street set, Diagon Alley, including the Great Grey Owl that played the Weasley family bird Errol and the tiny Little Owl that portrayed Ron’s companion Pigwidgeon.

Feathered and furry facts:

• Although owls are generally considered to be wise, they are, in fact, notoriously difficult to train and can take up to three months to learn what a raven can master in a week.
• The scene which required the largest number of birds to ‘act’ was the owlery scene in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Trainers took on the difficult task of teaching almost 80 owls to hoot, fly and sit still at the same time
• Initial groundwork for animal training takes about three to five weeks; when a script first arrived, the Animal Department would begin fundamental training, develop questions and ideas about how the scenes would be shot and then work with the director to finalise training plans.
• Crackerjack, one of the cats that played Crookshanks, became very good friends with one of the rats that played Scabbers. In fact, he would often chase the rat around the sets even when the cameras weren’t rolling.
• Animals appeared in the Harry Potter film series in some unexpected places. Themed breakfast cereals, including Lunfrey’s Cheeri Owls and Honeydukes’ Pixie Puffs, were created especially for the films by Graphic Designers Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima.

The Studio Tour’s Animal Actors feature will run from Friday 13^th to Wednesday 25^th February and all additional activities are included in the standard ticket price.

Many fans will remember the scene in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix where Dudley’s gang torments Harry. Many will not know that one of the actors in that gang, Christopher Rithin, who played ‘Dennis’ is one of the nicest people out there.  This webmiss had the fortune of being “twitter friends” with him a few years ago, but we have since lost touch. Fortunately for us, Hannah Kimi was able to catch up with Chris to see what he has been up to! You can read her full interview here.

He currently creates an online web series, Outside the Box, on YouTube.

“It’s been a while since the Harry Potter days”, says Rithin, “we’ve all matured and we’re doing new things. A piece of me will always belong to ‘Potter’, but I’m having fun tackling new characters. I think people will find Clive [the main character from OTB] a lot different to Dennis. He spends his time being nerdy and inventing pointless gadgets. He hasn’t got time to bully people .”

He even has his own company with a friend, Wolfpack Productions Ltd:  “I co-own ‘Wolfpack’ with my business partner, Jay Oliver Yip.” he smiled, “It’s a chance for us to create our own content, write our own stories and show the best of our work to the world.”

Awards season is fast approaching and nominations are being announced.  Many Potter alumni are being recognized for their current work. Read on to see who is nominated for what, so far.

2015 Golden Globes
Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy

• Michael Keaton (Birdman)
• Bill Murray (St. Vincent)
• Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel)
• Christoph Waltz (Big Eyes)
• Joaquin Phoenix (Inherent Vice)

Critics’ Choice Awards:
BEST ACTOR

• Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game
• Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel
• Jake Gyllenhaal – Nightcrawler
• Michael Keaton – Birdman
• David Oyelowo – Selma
• Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY

• Jon Favreau – Chef
• Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel
• Michael Keaton – Birdman
• Bill Murray – St. Vincent
• Chris Rock – Top Five
• Channing Tatum – 22 Jump Street

Screen Actors Guild Awards:

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (6 nominees)

• CLAIRE DANES / Carrie Mathison – “HOMELAND” (Showtime)
• VIOLA DAVIS / Annalise Keating – “HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER” (ABC)
• JULIANNA MARGULIES / Alicia Florrick – “THE GOOD WIFE” (CBS)
• TATIANA MASLANY / Sarah/Cosima/Alison/Rachel/ – “ORPHAN BLACK” (BBC America)
• MAGGIE SMITH / Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham – “DOWNTON ABBEY” (PBS)
• ROBIN WRIGHT / Claire Underwood – “HOUSE OF CARDS” (Netflix)

Harry Potter: The Exhibition is headed to Paris in April of 2015. From April 4 – September 6, 2015 fans can see props and more from the films at the La Cité du Cinéma. A rough translation of the press release from WB France may be read below:

Christmas comes a little early this year! If you are among the millions of fans that the judgment of the Harry Potter saga was orphaned and dream to plunge in the heart of fabulous world created by JK Rowling, get ready to be amazed by the exhibition to be devoted to it. Majestic, playful and exotic, it will be held at the Cité du Cinéma de Paris, April 4 had 6 September 2015. If it still takes a little wait before the doors opened, there is however no time losing to book your admission ticket. Tomorrow at 10 am, visit www.ticketmaster.fr and with the usual distributors (Fnac, Auchan …) to relive the adventures of the famous wizard and discover the backstage of octalogie to global success.

Whether you are a fan of the first hour or simply curious Muggle to discover the world of Harry Potter, this exhibition is for you! Hosting the first French event dedicated entirely to the survivor, the City Cinema is about to enchant its visitors with area of 2,000m², which allow the public to soak up the magic of their heroes by browsing two film sets redeveloped colors the saga.

The program of festivities: introduction to the art of potions, Quidditch and visit full of surprises between the iconic setting of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) and the following album, in the way like 9¾ , the Hogwarts Express, Hagrid‘s hut or dormitories Gryffindor. Open your eyes over your journey, round glasses Harry the Marauder’s Map and Nimbus 2000 are a must not to be missed.

By stage in the capital, this traveling exhibition invites viewers to better understand the scenes of the films that have transcended the cinema, bringing together an impressive panel of costumes, accessories and authentic decor elements. So that the immersion is complete, the techniques and skills used so that the magic operates will be explained in detail to visitors.

Having attracted over 3 million visitors worldwide, stopping in Chicago, Boston, Toronto, Seattle, New York, Sydney, Singapore, Tokyo and Cologne, Harry Potter: The Exhibition will take up residence in the City of Light to spring. “The audience will be captivated by the size of the collection,” says Karen McTier (Executive Vice President WarnerBros Consumer Products.) Confident: “We are pleased to offer a unique Harry Potter experience more.”

An ideal experience for young and old, to live with family or friends and, above all, giving free rein to his imagination. To best prepare your arrival, some practical information are required:

– The exhibition will be open from 10:30 am to 19h Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 20h on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and during school holidays. Nocturnes until 21:30 every first Friday of the month.

– The input is from slots and must be booked in advance, the last access will take place 90 minutes before the closing of the exhibition, the rates of 19.99 € for adults / € 15.99 for children (4-14 years) / 65 € for families (max. 2 adults and 2 children).

– Audio guides available, limited to a day.The perfect gift for a magical Christmas!

And do not forget the scenes of Harry Potter also visited throughout the year in the UK, thanks to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. The theme park dedicated to the famous wizard welcomes you with plenty of entertainment for young and old and a new attraction: the Dark Arts section. Enjoy now the promotional rate of 17h and 18h niche for you in the adventure and visit ‘Hogwarts in the snow.’

Practical info and reservations here: http://mywb.fr/ZULLMa

Thanks to SnitchSeeker for the tip.

This afternoon it was revealed that BBC One would be producing a TV series based on Robert Galbraith’s novel, The Cuckoo’s Calling. As we all know, Robert is a pseudonym for J.K. Rowling that was outed last year, which led to the heightened popularity of the novel (which was already a great seller.) Jo herself revealed the news on her Twitter account by saying:

My friend @RGalbraith‘s first novel is going to be a TV drama on @BBCOne. He’s very excited, but expressing it with characteristic silence.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 10, 2014

This will be the second of Rowling’s books to be adapted for television. As we reported a couple years ago, BBC would also be producing a three part mini series for her first post-Potter novel, The Casual Vacancy. That will be aired some time next year.