I’m standing in the Great Hall at Hogwarts.
I see Snape positioned where Dumbledore used to stand at the top of the steps.
As the new Headmaster, Snape is addressing a room full of students.
He’s clearly hoping someone will tell him something.
All the students turn, looking shocked.
Harry Potter has returned to Hogwarts.
The next day, I’m currently sitting on a plane, flying back from London.
But while getting to see those sets was amazing, we did so much more.
Hit the jump and read my full report.
The first one gets released November 19, 2010, and Part 2 gets released July 15, 2011.
For everyone in the production, it’s definitely been a lot of work.
With the firstDeathly Hallowsmovie arriving soon, WB has released a great trailer.
But I’m getting a little ahead of myself.
Let me start at the beginning of the day.
Almost as soon as Rupert Grint left the room, in walked Mark Williams (Arthur Weasley).
After talking to him for about 15 minutes, we spoke to Domhnall Gleeson (Bill Weasley).
Again, everyone was incredibly nice, friendly, and was excited to be talking to us.
It ends up the studio is a converted airplane factory and the entire studio is one huge building.
The first thing you notice about the Hall is the stone floor.
As we arrived, all around us were tons of people working.
Like the rest of the cast, the interview was great and Davis had a lot to say.
But the cast and crew ofHarry Potterare such a well oiled machine, we had no downtime.
For example, I saw Alan Rickman eating with some very young visitors in his full Snape costume.
Imagine being eight years old and getting to eat with Snape.
It would probably be something you’d remember for the rest of your life.
That’s because all along the walls they have huge glass cabinets filled with the props from the films.
The cabinets are separated by movie, with the first cabinet storing props from theSorcerer’s Stone.
Then, in each subsequent cabinet, are props from the next film in order of release.
Between the six cabinets in the room you have some of the most famous items in theHarry Pottermovie universe.
After lunch ended, we went back to our tent and got to speak with Daniel Radcliffe.
The next person who came in was David Barron - who is one of the producers of theHarry Potterfilms.
We talked to him about everything from making two films to his thoughts on 3D.
With interviews almost over, we voyaged back across the soundstage to watch more filming in the great hall.
It truly felt like I got to visit a magical place.
Not only was the set extremely large, it looked incredibly detailed and clean.
That way they don’t have to incur the cost of paying to build it all over again.
If you’ve read the book, you know a major sequence takes place in the vault.
It’s also the hallway where a major battle takes place inDeathly Hallows.
Every hallway looked lived in.
Every book shelf had books with titles that could exist in Hogwarts.
Also, hanging on the hooks, were Gryffindor scarves and Hogwarts insignia sleeping bags.
The attention to detail is one of the many reasons theHarry Pottermovies are loved by millions around the world.
As we left this room, we walked by some of the cars of the Hogwarts Express.
We left that area as quickly as we entered it as we had so much more to get to.
The Creature Shop
The next location we visited was the creature shop and the fabrication area.
For everyHarry Pottermovie, the production needs to design the various creatures that inhabit Harry’s world.
As we entered, we saw a lifelike Buckbeak and Fang the Dog.
The book was sitting on a table and it looked like it did in the movie.
Easily one of the coolest props I have ever seen on any movie set.
Maybe even some adults.
Again, they have everything from the movies there and most of it is still functioning.
Books had titles like Muggle Law and Order: A Complete Guide and International Law of Apparition.
Again, it’s little things like this that always impress me.
We were all surprised.
It was witnessing firsthand how much time and energy gets spent makingHarry Pottercome to life.
It’s because of this enthusiasm that theHarry Pottermovies are so special and beloved by millions around the world.
I can’t wait to see these last two installments.
BeforeDeathly HallowsPart 2 gets released, I’ll be posting it.
So myHarry Pottercoverage isn’t finished yet!
