Here we have the last of our video footage from A Celebration of Harry Potter. Below are a few clips from the Harry Potter Expo that was held at the weekends festivities. There were booths for Pottermore, WB Studio Tour London, USPS Stamps (featuring the Harry Potter stamp collection, of course), Harry Potter: The Expedition, MinaLima and Scholastic (where Kazu Kibuishi was signing his new illustrations.)
This February, by popular demand, animal actors from the Harry Potter film series will return to the Studio Tour. A selection of animals, trained by Head Animal Trainer Julie Tottman, will revisit the incredible sets they frequented when working on the films.
Visitors to the Gryffindor common room set will find it occupied by a cat that played stealthy Mrs Norris, the toad that played Neville Longbottom’s pet Trevor and a number of rats – trained using the same process as those who played Ron Weasley’s pet Scabbers.
The ginger cat that played Hermione Granger’s bandy-legged feline Crookshanks will be seen on Diagon Alley.
A Neapolitan Mastiff, trained like those that played Hagrid’s loyal dog Fang, will be stationed outside the half-giant’s hut.
Visitors will also be able to pose for a picture with a Snowy Owl who played Harry Potter’s letter-delivering owl Hedwig.
In addition to watching live training demonstrations, visitors will discover how animals learnt to ‘act’ by taking a look at the equipment and tricks that were used on set by some of the talented training teams that helped to create the performances of 250+ live animals throughout all eight films.
This morning Warner Bros. have emailed a few photos from the unavailing of “Hogwarts in the Snow” at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. Visitors can enjoy the magical festive feature at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London from Friday 15th of November. Also inside the Tour, visitors can explore stunning original sets including the iconic Great Hall, the Gryffindor common room and the Weasley kitchen from The Burrow – all of which have been dressed especially for Christmas using festive props from the Harry Potter series. See the photos of a snow-covered Hogwarts Castle in our gallery and read the press release below:
Today, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter unveils the most magical snowfall of the season, the breathtaking Hogwarts castle model covered in a blanket of snow. From Friday 15th November 2013, visitors will get the chance to see the castle as it has never been seen before, with its iconic festive look recreated for the first time.
The artificial snow used on the Hogwarts castle model throughout the Harry Potter film series was actually dendritic salt. It was chosen because it clumps like snow and even squeaks when walked on. During filming, a member of the crew would have climbed aboard a cherry picker and put salt on the model by hand with a sieve – like dusting sugar onto a cake. The same process has been used at the Studio Tour this November and samples of the different types of salt used will also be on display.
Model Effects Supervisor, Jose Granell commented: “It’s great to be back at the Studio Tour and to be snowing the Hogwarts model. We’ve spent a week sprinkling the snow on by hand and the finished effect is really beautiful. It looks exactly like it did when we were filming the Harry Potter film series and it’s something very magical to enjoy this Christmas.”
Some of the intricately-detailed sets showcased at the attraction have been given a festive makeover using the actual decorations and food props seen in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Eight Christmas trees will line the Great Hall, along with festoons of holly, mistletoe and golden wreaths. Two long dining tables will be dressed as they were for seasonal feasts with prop versions of turkeys, hams, fruit, vegetables, plum puddings and snow cakes. The food featured in the feasts throughout the early films was real; however, the Set Decoration Department later used artificial food created from powder and resin.
Visitors will see the hand-knitted jumpers that Molly Weasley gave Ron and Harry for Christmas in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Other costumes on display will include the first Christmas present Harry received at Hogwarts – his Invisibility Cloak – and the dress Luna Lovegood wore to the Slug Club Christmas party in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Hogwarts in the Snow will run from Friday 15th November to Monday 6th January and all extra activities are included in the ticket price.
Additionally, WB sent over a ton of facts about the holiday themed tour:
Hogwarts castle model
This is the first time that the breathtaking Hogwarts castle model has been covered in a blanket of snow, since the filming of the Harry Potter series, which took place here at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden
The Hogwarts castle model is the jewel in the crown of the art department; the intricately-detailed model was constructed for the first film Harry Potter and the
Philosopher’s Stone
The film scripts required sweeping shots of the stunning castle, so to create those the films’ artists built this 1:24 scale model based on Production Designer Stuart Craig’s initial sketches and filmed it against a green screen
It took seven months and a team of 40 to build it from scratch
The detail is exceptional. Even the smallest things are three-dimensional – like miniature owls, tiny door hinges and little torches small enough to fit on the head of a pin
It would have taken one person 74 years to build the breathtaking model
Artificial Snow
The artificial snow used on the Hogwarts castle model throughout the Harry Potter film series was actually dendritic salt
Dendritic salt is made up of star-shaped crystals that allow it to fall and lie like snow. It’s so convincing, it even squeaks like freshly fallen snow if you step on a new layer of it!
To create the authentic snowed look, a member of the crew would have to climb aboard a cherry picker and put salt on the model by hand with a sieve – like dusting sugar onto a cake
It took roughly a week to cover the 1:24 scale model of Hogwarts during filming, although the Studio Tour has done it in three days for the Hogwarts in the Snow feature
Great Hall dressing:
Some of the other intricately-detailed sets showcased at the attraction have also been given a festive makeover, using the actual decorations and food props seen in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Eight Christmas trees line the Great Hall, along with festoons of holly, mistletoe and golden wreaths. In the film, these decorations are levitated onto the trees by Professor Flitwick, played by Warwick Davis
Two long dining tables have been dressed as they were for seasonal feasts with prop versions of turkeys, hams, fruit, vegetables, plum puddings and snow cakes. The food featured in the feasts throughout the early films was real; however, the Set Decoration Department later used artificial food created from powder and resin, as seen here
Elsewhere throughout the Tour
The Gryffindor common room, boys’ dormitory and Weasley kitchen have also undergone a seasonal transformation
Visitors can see the hand-knitted jumpers that Molly Weasley gave Ron and Harry for Christmas in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Other costumes on display will include the first Christmas present Harry received at Hogwarts – his Invisibility Cloak – and the dress Luna Lovegood wore to the Slug Club Christmas party in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Evanna Lynch, who played Luna, created the jewellery she wore with the costume and many of the other accessories she wore while filming
On Diagon Alley, visitors can also discover secrets behind the footprints in the snow, which were filmed for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and appear when Harry sneaks into Hogsmeade under his Invisibility Cloak
This winter, the Studio Tour will undergo a festive makeover:
Experience the most magical snowfall of the season as the breathtaking Hogwarts castle model is covered in a blanket of snow.
Discover some of the intricately-detailed sets decorated using the actual decorations and food props seen in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Explore the Great Hall which will be lined with eight Christmas trees, along with festoons of holly, mistletoe and golden wreaths. Two long dining tables will also be dressed as they were for seasonal feasts with prop versions of turkeys, hams, fruit, vegetables, plum puddings and snow cakes.
See the hand-knitted jumpers that Molly Weasley gave Ron and Harry for Christmas in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Other costumes on display will include the first Christmas present Harry received at Hogwarts – his Invisibility Cloak – and the dress Luna Lovegood wore to the Slug Club Christmas party in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Festive facts:
The artificial snow used on the Hogwarts castle model throughout the Harry Potter film series was actually dendritic salt. It was chosen because it clumps like snow and even squeaks when walked on. During filming, a member of the crew would have climbed aboard a cherry picker and put salt on the model by hand with a sieve – like dusting sugar onto a cake. The same process will be used at the Studio Tour this November and samples of the different types of salt used will also be on display.
The food featured in the feasts throughout the early films was real; however, the Set Decoration Department later used artificial food created from powder and resin.
Hogwarts in the Snow will take place from Friday 15th November to Monday 6th January, book your tickets today.
It’s never too early to start preparing for the holidays and Warner Bros. Studio Tour London has got you all set for the Potter fans in your life! This morning we have been sent a press release from Warner Bros about your ability to purchase personalized scroll tickets for the holidays.
MAKE THIS CHRISTMAS MAGICAL WITH A PERSONALISED SCROLL TICKET AND WAND
The ultimate gift for fans of the Harry Potter film series
This festive season, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is offering the ultimate Christmas present for Harry Potter fans.
Available from October, this unique gift includes one of five character wands and a personalised scroll granting the lucky recipient entry to the Studio Tour, where they can step on to authentic sets, discover the magic behind spellbinding special effects and explore the behind-the-scenes secrets of the Harry Potter film series.
The Christmas gift includes a choice of the wand of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Professor Dumbledore or Lord Voldemort. The collectable film prop replicas are based on those used by the cast in the most successful film series of all time and are delivered in an exclusive Studio Tour presentation box.
Prices are set at £60 per adult and £52.50 per child (including delivery). An option to upgrade to the complete ticket package will also be available for an additional £10 per person. This includes a Studio Tour Souvenir Guidebook and a multi-lingual Digital Guide (narrated in English by Tom Felton who portrayed Slytherin student Draco Malfoy). The Digital Guide is available in eight languages and reveals even more closely-guarded behind-the-scene secrets. To purchase the ultimate Christmas gift for Harry Potter fans, please visit www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/wand or call 08450 840 900.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is inviting visitors to explore some spooky special effects, ghostly goings-on and brave a trip down an altogether more mysterious Diagon Alley this October.
Vats of slimy troll snot, buckets of dribbling drool (of the three-headed dog variety) and vials of silvery unicorn blood will be showcased at the Studio Tour this Halloween. Visitors will get to see live demonstrations showing exactly how the gunk and goo was created for the Harry Potter film series.
Those feeling particularly courageous will be able to creep down a darker Diagon Alley as the lights are dimmed, the music turns spookier and the wizarding shopping street set is invaded by Lord Voldemort’s henchmen the Death Eaters. Duelling practise will be provided for those who choose to take part in an interactive wand combat lesson.
Hogwarts’ iconic Great Hall will be decorated with mountains of toffee apples, pumpkins and sweets as it was for the Halloween feast in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Ghost costumes used in the most successful film series of all time will line the Great Hall, including those of
Nearly Headless Nick, Moaning Myrtle and Slytherin’s house ghost The Bloody Baron.
The Studio Tour’s Halloween feature will run from Saturday 19th October to Sunday 3rd November and all extra activities are included in the ticket price. Something wicked this way comes.
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