While off for the summer, I had a lot of free time and started a Harry Potter marathon, from the beginning. This caused me to plan a trip to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter in Watford London. Though I have been over two times, I couldn’t resist going again so I planned to go with India and my Mom. I really want to go with India as she was a big fan of Harry Potter as well and had never been, but also by the time we would go, I knew it would be our last chance to go on a trip together before we both had to go back to University and I wanted to go out with a bang.
Ringing up the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, we were on hold for ages; hearing fun facts about Warner Bros. Studio Tour and it’s influence on the Harry Potter films. Finally getting through, I got a disabled adult ticket, a carer ticket and one original ticket. I was very excited and couldn’t wait to go. On arrival we walked to the front desk, dressed in our Harry Potter outfits, we displayed a copy confirmation email with a reference number for our visit and proof of my disability as requested, we walked into the main lobby. I glanced upwards and saw the familiar photographs of all the cast, old and young, featured in the films and put up along the walls. I felt it was very heartwarming to see the different photographs and see how the cast grew up during the films.
As we planned our visit, we found there were a number of changes that Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter had made since the last visit. One of these changes was that the studio tour fitted a Changing Place facility. I found this very good as big exhibitions like this had acknowledged the needs of their disabled visitors. Having been before, I have struggled with using the facilities as the disabled toilet they originally had was a tight space and my Mom struggled to transfer me on and off the toilets, so to have this new Changing Place facility, with the great space and ceiling hoist proved to be very helpful. This reinforced my desire to start a Changing Place campaign as I feel that this is needed in all public places, particularly in exhibitions like this and arenas as it enables those with disabilities to have a more relaxed and enjoyable experience.
Returning back to the lobby we joined the ever-growing queue and we had the option to take one of two pairs of headphones; one of these, translates the tour into different languages and one, which, at certain points of the tour gave the user inside information about what they are seeing. I admired this as it helps Harry Potter fans get the most out of it and it also benefits those who attend the tour and who speak different languages to reach out further to an expanded office. As we weaved through the bollards and as we queued up to get into the first section, we saw photographs of the Dursleys and the cupboard under the stairs set where Harry Potter slept for eleven years before he started at Hogwarts School. Entering the first cinema screening, we watched a video which was shown on monitors about how Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone first came to light. Publishers spoke about J K Rowling’s book was put on a low priority and then how it was read and soon became very popular, it was interesting to learn the journey of how it came to be. Seeing this actually inspired me to continue writing and to not give up if I’m not successful the first time. A set of doors open and assistants ushered us through to a cinema room where they showed us how the books were transported from print to big screen and how it all became an international success. We were then shown a sequence of all eight films from start to finish. Only by seeing this sequence did I realise the extent of detail there were in each one. Daniel Radcliff (Harry Potter) Rupert Grinn (Ron Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) came in and narrated how it was being a part of the film series; they described it as a home away from home.
Once this video finished, the big screen then retracted upwards and we appeared to be in the entrance hall with the big wooden doors in front of us. Standing up, we joined the assistant in the entrance hall. After speaking the introduction that Harry Potter heard on his first time on the entrance hall, she pushed the big wooden doors open and my mouth once again dropped open, we found ourselves in the great hall. Stamping on the floors, we knew it was the same floor they used in the films. Glancing up; we saw computers and special effects generate a bare ceiling above, according to the assistants the enchanted ceilings. Positioned around the hall were the four house tables and behind them were costumes worn by cast who played particular characters. For example the costume that Robert Patterson who played Cedric in Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire was placed behind the Hufflepuff table. The assistant started to hype us up asking which house we all belonged too; Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or a Slytherin. As she pointed to each table, there was a quiet or a very loud cheer as we admired the house shields. At the front of the Great Hall were sculptures, replicas of the teachers at Hogwarts School, all positioned where the character it represents sits at the staff table in the films. Before we moved through the tour, we were given the opportunity to take as many photos as we could.
Stepping through the next set of doors, we entered the self guided parts of the tour and outside these doors were different stands going into detail about the different directors and which film they directed as well as their involvement in the other films. Beside these stands were videos playing on loop where the directors talked about their involvement in the films, the experience they had gained doing it and the scenes they’d enjoyed shooting; this was followed by a sequences of the scenes they mentioned in the clip. Moving around there were sets, costumes and props on display, like the taps in the Prefects bathroom, running multi coloured water, featured in The Goblet of Fire. There was also the chocolate feast prop that was also featured in The Goblet of Fire. Opposite this were more sets featured in the films, more than I can describe. At the corner of this section were the iron gates, the entrance to the Hogwarts Ground, it was amazing to see the grandeur of them.
Around the next corner to these was a very big display case with every single wand featured in the films and the names of the owners beside them. A tour guide was stood by this display case describing the different wands and the characters personality and how it reflects their personality. This was interesting to know that each wand resembled the characters personalities are reflected in the wands as well as their personal journey. Continuing around the exhibition hall we saw the actual sets featured in the films; which were placed back-to-back, meaning there is a possibility that cast and crew would sometimes walk off one set and being in another. For example they may walk out of the headmaster’s office and find themselves in Hagrids hut. A few of the sets we could enter and others you view from behind rope; I had to pinch myself at the sight of them, it didn't seem real, the actual sets were in touching distance. All sets had a video on loop that played every few minutes, going into detail about the set and the importance of it in the Harry Potter film series and how the sets reflected different emotions and feelings. An example of this is Gryffindor common room mirrored the house colors of red and gold with the boys’ dormitory was the same colours. The Gryffindor common room and the boys dormitory was designed to be in contrast with Harry’s home at Privet Drive, instead of a dark, damp feeling with cob webs it has a warm and welcoming feeling, comforting for Harry to live in, compared to Privet Drive. Another set included, Dumbledore’s office; reflected the magnitude of the head master’s role in the school, with the portraits of the previous headmaster and headmistress’ of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Next to this was the sculpture of the stone gargoyle that guards the headmaster’s office. Alongside this, were many more sets, I could go on and on, listing them for ages.
Beside all these sets, we found another section, I saw a number of portraits, which are featured in the Harry Potter film series. We had entered one of the visual and special affects sections. Portraits play a very large part in the world of Harry Potter they are often all across the walls, speaking to students, or the portraits on the wall of the headmaster's study or portraits are used to guard the house common room. I admired the extent of detail in each portrait that is drawn for the Harry Potter films and how realistic they were. I found it interesting or the animation and detail in the portraits changed as the amount of technology grew. An example of this is the "Fat Lady" which guards the entrance of Gryffindor tower is a lot more dated and the technology is more restricted and the portrait is more dated than the ones they use in later films. Then I saw how this particular portrait became more realistic and they are able to incorporate Dawn French into the portrait for the scenes needed in Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban.
Positioned amongst these sets were enthusiastic assistants giving fans supplying us with further details and facts about the indoor sets section they are placed by or within. They have clearly studied their sections and want to tell as all about it. They also told any fan passing all they knew about the film and book series, they were very hyped. Only by speaking to the assistants and seeing the extent of detail in each set, did I appreciate how much time and effort went into the films and we don’t give enough credit to those who work off camera.
I didn't need an excuse to come back to the Warner Brothers studio tour - The Making of Harry Potter, but since I last went, a new attraction had been added to the exhibition, the Forbidden Forest. I had heard from other friends who have been that the Forbidden Forest attraction wasn't very good compared to the rest of the exhibition but I still want to see it for myself. Walking into the dark attraction, we found it was very dark and haunting which was good to create the atmosphere with spiders coming down the walls and Aarog, Hagrid's pet spider coming out of the trees ahead with bright red eyes. I have never been a fan of spiders they make me shiver but I did want to go in. If you want my honest opinion I didn't find the Forbidden Forest very good compared to the rest of the tour and it was disappointing, as I didn't find it very scary, however the smaller spiders did cause me to shiver.
When we came out of the Forbidden Forest we found ourselves in an interactive area where they were those of different sections which fans in on. The first interactive experience that we came across was the Weasley's borrow. Getting close to the front, we found we could play around with sensory pads to influence household items in the Weasley's borrow to move, such as the iron and the washing brush, there was also the chance to knit the Weasley's clothes like we were Mrs. Weasley. As I did say I was very impressed and fascinated to how the items were made these look like they were moving from their own accord in the films. Next to this, a video of a man was demonstrating wand moves and techniques and fans were queuing up and imitating him; it was funny to see the fans different attempts to do the wand technique, fans were standing in the most weird positions and doing funny flapping movements with their arms. Laughing, I attempted the move and so did India, I feel it went well as I attempted the technique and shouting the spell, I couldn’t help thinking this was thanks to me watching Harry Potter excessively. Opposite the Weasley Borrow and wand techniques, there was a whole side dedicated to broom instruction. In the Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone harry participated in the first flying lessons and instructed the broom to go up and into his hand and this is what we could do. Standing next to the broom we have to shout 'UP' in a loud and clear voice and hope that it will fly into my hand and it did, I was so happy and beamed with the broom in my hand as my mom took a photo. Directly besides this, another section with a rapidly forming queue, people were stand in front of green screens and acting as if they were on brooms.
Though I have been to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter before, I hadn't ridden a broom, so I joined the very long queue. After being in this queue for a while, we finally got to the front. People were in front of green screens posing on broomsticks in front of camera and recording equipment, while wearing their choice of wizard’s robe. When it was our turn, assistants led us to the biggest of the green screen, helped me position by a broom, and draped a robe over me. The assistants instructed me to pose to the camera as if I’m riding a broom like in the films, swaying from side to side; I looked at the screen next to the camera. I saw I was riding the broom through scenes from the film, generated through the green screen. I flew through as the night sky as the Knight bus drove underneath, the scene changed and I was in the Weasley's Ford Anglia as the Hogwarts Express moved along the train tracks underneath on its way to Hogwarts. I knew I was being a right little show off in front of the camera, but I didn’t care.
Through another passage, we various photographs of scenes, which took place on platform 9 and 3/4, including the first and last thing featured in the films. I found this emotional and couldn’t help but shed a few tears at the sight of them, but what was at the end of the passage stunned me into silence. Squinting through smoke, I heard the sound of a horn and as the smoke cleared, I saw that in front of my eyes was a model of the Hogwarts Express, with the main theme tune of the Harry Potter film played loud in the background. The Hogwarts Express stretched far and wide, it was just how it appeared in the film, and it was massive and had many carriages. For a while I just stood there, I couldn’t believe I was standing on platform 9 3/4. Snapping out of my trance, I managed to get close enough to take photos of the train, then in turn posing in front the Hogwarts Express. We walked along the train and speaking to one of the assistants, they pointed me in the direction of the disability accessible carriage, so I could get on the train. I wheeled myself up the ramp and positioned myself in the carriage, in front of a rope where the scene on the Hogwarts Express featured in Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone where Harry and Ron were sharing a great deal of wizard sweets and chocolate on their first journey to Hogwarts. I sat in the train with India posing in the carriage while mom took photos from the outside. Coming out of the carriage, I saw four trolleys positioned against the back wall as if going through the barrier to platform 9 3/4 and each trolley is equipped with belongings Hogwarts students have for school. I couldn't resist, I put my hand around the handle of one of the trolleys and I posed for photos as if I was about to push the trolley through to platform 9 3/4.
Leaving platform 9 3/4, we followed the passage through into a small cafe. The cafe sold sandwiches, cakes or elements of hot food. In my opinion the cafe was somewhat a disappointment, as such a popular tourist attraction, like Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter, fans would be willing to pay anything and I’m surprised they don’t take advantage of this but oh well it’s their loss. The food and drink sold there was also a disappointment, the only thing I somewhat enjoyed was the Butterbeers, a drink featured in the Harry Potter films. ButterBeer sales had a very long queue and were very popular; everyone was coming away with various flavors. Having tried the frozen butter beer in Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, while my mom and India refused one, I fancied trying a normal one, it had a unusual taste, even now I'm not sure whether I like it or not. Its like marmite, you either love or hate it.
Going through the next set of doors we found ourselves amongst a number of exterior sets. The Knight Bus featured in Prisoner of Azkaban. There was the model of the Ford Anglia featured in Chamber of Secrets, as well as Hagrid’s motorbike, originally belonging to Sirius Black, featured in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. Alongside the smaller exterior sets, there were bigger ones such as the Hogwarts Bridge where Harry and Professor Lupin stood talking in Prisoner of Azkaban. Turning, we saw a crowd forming in front of two sets; getting closer we saw that one was the Potter household in Godricks Hollow where Lily, James and Harry lived before Lily and James died. The set struck a cord with me as it me that Harry had a good life until Voldermolt came and destroyed it. This was in contrast to the set next to it, No. 4 Privet Drive where the No. 4 Durserlys live and where Harry was forced to live after Voldermolt killed Lily and James. Maybe I look too much into the finer details but I felt that by placing these two sets side by side makes the impact of the sets ever more stronger. I found it somewhat heartbreaking.
On the previous visits two Warner Brothers Studios, we were only able to see No. 4 Privet Drive from the outside, but now No. 4 Privet Drive had been opened and fans can walk through No. 4 Privet Drive. I was really excited about being able to enter the set and when I did, I did find it accessible, however I was very careful and hesitant as I moved through it. Looking on the right hand side, I saw staircase and a cupboard which symbolized that's bedroom for eleven years and which was shown in the first film. Then glancing to the left, I saw the Durserly's front room where the scene featured in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, where Harry's first Hogwarts letters were shooting out of the Durserly's fireplace was frozen in mid air. I found the I could stay there and look for ages, but a long queue forming behind us, so we had to move through the house and leave through the back.
Walking back inside again, we found ourselves in the creature shop. Around this room were videos, which played around the room, head creature designers speaking in detail about the different creatures, costumes, masks and sculptures they made for the eight films. Then Warwick Davis appeared on the video and spoke about how he played a goblin at Gringotts Bank and Professor Flitwick, the charms teacher and that he spent a lot of time in the creature shop, being transformed into a goblin for the shoot. Looking around, we saw models of creatures also created for the films such as
Aarog or Buckbeak, made by hand using visual and special effects, making them look more realistic than if they used computer animation to create them. Those who worked in the creature shop were also responsible for making masks and costumes or applying make up to those actors/actresses such as Robby Coltraine who plays Hagrid, as he’s not really a half giant, so they had to build him an animatronic mask and pad up his costume for him to use, so he looks like a giant during filming. Sculptures of the characters were also known to be made for particular scenes in which a character would be unconscious or something of that nature. This particularly became useful in Chamber of Secrets when seeing the basilisk petrifies Hermione’s character. Instead of making Emma Watson who plays Hermione to lie still in a hospital bed, they built a sculpture of her lying petrified.
Next step on the tour, was Diagon Alley; the wizarding hughstreet. We walked along the cobble street with the sets of the shops positioned exactly where they are placed in the films. As we walked along the cobbled street, my wheelchair couldn't help but shake, it was uncomfortably, but I distracted myself with looking at the different sets. Gringotts Bank, Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, Eeylops Owl Emporium, Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour, Flourish & Blotts, Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions, Quality Quidditch Supplies and Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment. Unlike the wizarding world of Florida in Orlando where fans could enter the sets, these sets were just the exterior and they were high up so they couldn't be touched or get damaged. The extents of sets were magnificent in Diagon Alley. It was clear there was a lot of pre planning and a lot of time and precision went into the building of the sets ready for filming. It was shocking to consider this when are new that they were only featured in the films full a little amount of time, considering the time and effort that went into them all.
Leading through another hallway, we saw a great number of architectural drawings, painting and models of each of the stunning sets featured in the film. In my opinion this department was of significance and importance as each set and each member of this team what's long and hard to try and get the sets and props the best they can be. The architectural sketches and drawings, paintings and models are so rich in detail; each and every single one of them took my breath away. They wanted to get every single one of them right and I saw at least fifteen paintings models and architectural drawings for each film, if a model was incorrect, or not up to scratch then it was taking apart and reconstructed, the art department never gave up. As my dad was architect it allowed me to appreciate how much detail and time went into each piece of art I saw that day and I admired how well each member of the team were able to capture J.K. Rowling’s visions from the book and bring them to life.
Turning around the next corner, I froze. In front of my eyes was a life size model of Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. OMG! The model was very large and it included every single bridge, tower, door and window you see in the films, the gradure was incredible, everything down to the very last detail. The giant model was roped off all the way around, so I hung onto the rope, trying to get as close as I could, staring at every part of it, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. All of the sections of the tour what were fabulous, but this just put the cherry on top of the cake. The assistants who surrounded the model told us that the model have to be taken down and rebuilt from scratch for each film and then it was put in front of the green screen to make it look like Hogwarts was placed in the mountains and this took the team thirty days to reconstruct for each film. According to the assistants, the model was used for film one to six, but then was taken down and the used visual and special effects through the computer to destroy parts for various film sequences in the last two films. Phenomenal.
Pushing open two wooden doors at the end of this room we entered a very large gift shop. Everything you could possibly imagine was on sale in the shop. There were various items and souvenirs linked to each of the four school houses, (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slythin) at Hogwarts from mugs, notebooks, T-Shirts, scarves, bags and jewelry, there was piles and piles of merchandise stacked up on shelves according the house crest they had them. There was also items like chocolate frogs with the cards, Bertie botts every flavor beans to all the text books featured in the films, robes and hats, the books and films, various forms of stationary linked to the series and much more.
Having already acquired a great deal of souvenirs’ with the Gryffindor crest on (I am a worthy Gryffindor) from my previous visits to Warner Brothers Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter, enough to fill two shelves, I couldn’t think of what else to get. After spending a lot of time going around and around the shop, changing my mind every few minutes, I brought a Gryffindor special pen and stationary set in a small box with the Gryffindor crest stamped on the front. The stationary box included a Gryffindor notebook, and a mini post set. About to reach the checkout I decided to go back and select a Ravenclaw special pen to go alongside my Gryffindor pen.
As we left The Warner Brothers Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter, I saw a quote from J.K. Rowling herself that made me tear up a little and have continued to stick with me. "The stories we love do live in us forever, so whether you come back either by page or by big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."
Ringing up the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, we were on hold for ages; hearing fun facts about Warner Bros. Studio Tour and it’s influence on the Harry Potter films. Finally getting through, I got a disabled adult ticket, a carer ticket and one original ticket. I was very excited and couldn’t wait to go. On arrival we walked to the front desk, dressed in our Harry Potter outfits, we displayed a copy confirmation email with a reference number for our visit and proof of my disability as requested, we walked into the main lobby. I glanced upwards and saw the familiar photographs of all the cast, old and young, featured in the films and put up along the walls. I felt it was very heartwarming to see the different photographs and see how the cast grew up during the films.
As we planned our visit, we found there were a number of changes that Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter had made since the last visit. One of these changes was that the studio tour fitted a Changing Place facility. I found this very good as big exhibitions like this had acknowledged the needs of their disabled visitors. Having been before, I have struggled with using the facilities as the disabled toilet they originally had was a tight space and my Mom struggled to transfer me on and off the toilets, so to have this new Changing Place facility, with the great space and ceiling hoist proved to be very helpful. This reinforced my desire to start a Changing Place campaign as I feel that this is needed in all public places, particularly in exhibitions like this and arenas as it enables those with disabilities to have a more relaxed and enjoyable experience.
Returning back to the lobby we joined the ever-growing queue and we had the option to take one of two pairs of headphones; one of these, translates the tour into different languages and one, which, at certain points of the tour gave the user inside information about what they are seeing. I admired this as it helps Harry Potter fans get the most out of it and it also benefits those who attend the tour and who speak different languages to reach out further to an expanded office. As we weaved through the bollards and as we queued up to get into the first section, we saw photographs of the Dursleys and the cupboard under the stairs set where Harry Potter slept for eleven years before he started at Hogwarts School. Entering the first cinema screening, we watched a video which was shown on monitors about how Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone first came to light. Publishers spoke about J K Rowling’s book was put on a low priority and then how it was read and soon became very popular, it was interesting to learn the journey of how it came to be. Seeing this actually inspired me to continue writing and to not give up if I’m not successful the first time. A set of doors open and assistants ushered us through to a cinema room where they showed us how the books were transported from print to big screen and how it all became an international success. We were then shown a sequence of all eight films from start to finish. Only by seeing this sequence did I realise the extent of detail there were in each one. Daniel Radcliff (Harry Potter) Rupert Grinn (Ron Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) came in and narrated how it was being a part of the film series; they described it as a home away from home.
Once this video finished, the big screen then retracted upwards and we appeared to be in the entrance hall with the big wooden doors in front of us. Standing up, we joined the assistant in the entrance hall. After speaking the introduction that Harry Potter heard on his first time on the entrance hall, she pushed the big wooden doors open and my mouth once again dropped open, we found ourselves in the great hall. Stamping on the floors, we knew it was the same floor they used in the films. Glancing up; we saw computers and special effects generate a bare ceiling above, according to the assistants the enchanted ceilings. Positioned around the hall were the four house tables and behind them were costumes worn by cast who played particular characters. For example the costume that Robert Patterson who played Cedric in Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire was placed behind the Hufflepuff table. The assistant started to hype us up asking which house we all belonged too; Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or a Slytherin. As she pointed to each table, there was a quiet or a very loud cheer as we admired the house shields. At the front of the Great Hall were sculptures, replicas of the teachers at Hogwarts School, all positioned where the character it represents sits at the staff table in the films. Before we moved through the tour, we were given the opportunity to take as many photos as we could.
Stepping through the next set of doors, we entered the self guided parts of the tour and outside these doors were different stands going into detail about the different directors and which film they directed as well as their involvement in the other films. Beside these stands were videos playing on loop where the directors talked about their involvement in the films, the experience they had gained doing it and the scenes they’d enjoyed shooting; this was followed by a sequences of the scenes they mentioned in the clip. Moving around there were sets, costumes and props on display, like the taps in the Prefects bathroom, running multi coloured water, featured in The Goblet of Fire. There was also the chocolate feast prop that was also featured in The Goblet of Fire. Opposite this were more sets featured in the films, more than I can describe. At the corner of this section were the iron gates, the entrance to the Hogwarts Ground, it was amazing to see the grandeur of them.
Around the next corner to these was a very big display case with every single wand featured in the films and the names of the owners beside them. A tour guide was stood by this display case describing the different wands and the characters personality and how it reflects their personality. This was interesting to know that each wand resembled the characters personalities are reflected in the wands as well as their personal journey. Continuing around the exhibition hall we saw the actual sets featured in the films; which were placed back-to-back, meaning there is a possibility that cast and crew would sometimes walk off one set and being in another. For example they may walk out of the headmaster’s office and find themselves in Hagrids hut. A few of the sets we could enter and others you view from behind rope; I had to pinch myself at the sight of them, it didn't seem real, the actual sets were in touching distance. All sets had a video on loop that played every few minutes, going into detail about the set and the importance of it in the Harry Potter film series and how the sets reflected different emotions and feelings. An example of this is Gryffindor common room mirrored the house colors of red and gold with the boys’ dormitory was the same colours. The Gryffindor common room and the boys dormitory was designed to be in contrast with Harry’s home at Privet Drive, instead of a dark, damp feeling with cob webs it has a warm and welcoming feeling, comforting for Harry to live in, compared to Privet Drive. Another set included, Dumbledore’s office; reflected the magnitude of the head master’s role in the school, with the portraits of the previous headmaster and headmistress’ of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Next to this was the sculpture of the stone gargoyle that guards the headmaster’s office. Alongside this, were many more sets, I could go on and on, listing them for ages.
Beside all these sets, we found another section, I saw a number of portraits, which are featured in the Harry Potter film series. We had entered one of the visual and special affects sections. Portraits play a very large part in the world of Harry Potter they are often all across the walls, speaking to students, or the portraits on the wall of the headmaster's study or portraits are used to guard the house common room. I admired the extent of detail in each portrait that is drawn for the Harry Potter films and how realistic they were. I found it interesting or the animation and detail in the portraits changed as the amount of technology grew. An example of this is the "Fat Lady" which guards the entrance of Gryffindor tower is a lot more dated and the technology is more restricted and the portrait is more dated than the ones they use in later films. Then I saw how this particular portrait became more realistic and they are able to incorporate Dawn French into the portrait for the scenes needed in Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban.
Positioned amongst these sets were enthusiastic assistants giving fans supplying us with further details and facts about the indoor sets section they are placed by or within. They have clearly studied their sections and want to tell as all about it. They also told any fan passing all they knew about the film and book series, they were very hyped. Only by speaking to the assistants and seeing the extent of detail in each set, did I appreciate how much time and effort went into the films and we don’t give enough credit to those who work off camera.
I didn't need an excuse to come back to the Warner Brothers studio tour - The Making of Harry Potter, but since I last went, a new attraction had been added to the exhibition, the Forbidden Forest. I had heard from other friends who have been that the Forbidden Forest attraction wasn't very good compared to the rest of the exhibition but I still want to see it for myself. Walking into the dark attraction, we found it was very dark and haunting which was good to create the atmosphere with spiders coming down the walls and Aarog, Hagrid's pet spider coming out of the trees ahead with bright red eyes. I have never been a fan of spiders they make me shiver but I did want to go in. If you want my honest opinion I didn't find the Forbidden Forest very good compared to the rest of the tour and it was disappointing, as I didn't find it very scary, however the smaller spiders did cause me to shiver.
When we came out of the Forbidden Forest we found ourselves in an interactive area where they were those of different sections which fans in on. The first interactive experience that we came across was the Weasley's borrow. Getting close to the front, we found we could play around with sensory pads to influence household items in the Weasley's borrow to move, such as the iron and the washing brush, there was also the chance to knit the Weasley's clothes like we were Mrs. Weasley. As I did say I was very impressed and fascinated to how the items were made these look like they were moving from their own accord in the films. Next to this, a video of a man was demonstrating wand moves and techniques and fans were queuing up and imitating him; it was funny to see the fans different attempts to do the wand technique, fans were standing in the most weird positions and doing funny flapping movements with their arms. Laughing, I attempted the move and so did India, I feel it went well as I attempted the technique and shouting the spell, I couldn’t help thinking this was thanks to me watching Harry Potter excessively. Opposite the Weasley Borrow and wand techniques, there was a whole side dedicated to broom instruction. In the Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone harry participated in the first flying lessons and instructed the broom to go up and into his hand and this is what we could do. Standing next to the broom we have to shout 'UP' in a loud and clear voice and hope that it will fly into my hand and it did, I was so happy and beamed with the broom in my hand as my mom took a photo. Directly besides this, another section with a rapidly forming queue, people were stand in front of green screens and acting as if they were on brooms.
Though I have been to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter before, I hadn't ridden a broom, so I joined the very long queue. After being in this queue for a while, we finally got to the front. People were in front of green screens posing on broomsticks in front of camera and recording equipment, while wearing their choice of wizard’s robe. When it was our turn, assistants led us to the biggest of the green screen, helped me position by a broom, and draped a robe over me. The assistants instructed me to pose to the camera as if I’m riding a broom like in the films, swaying from side to side; I looked at the screen next to the camera. I saw I was riding the broom through scenes from the film, generated through the green screen. I flew through as the night sky as the Knight bus drove underneath, the scene changed and I was in the Weasley's Ford Anglia as the Hogwarts Express moved along the train tracks underneath on its way to Hogwarts. I knew I was being a right little show off in front of the camera, but I didn’t care.
Through another passage, we various photographs of scenes, which took place on platform 9 and 3/4, including the first and last thing featured in the films. I found this emotional and couldn’t help but shed a few tears at the sight of them, but what was at the end of the passage stunned me into silence. Squinting through smoke, I heard the sound of a horn and as the smoke cleared, I saw that in front of my eyes was a model of the Hogwarts Express, with the main theme tune of the Harry Potter film played loud in the background. The Hogwarts Express stretched far and wide, it was just how it appeared in the film, and it was massive and had many carriages. For a while I just stood there, I couldn’t believe I was standing on platform 9 3/4. Snapping out of my trance, I managed to get close enough to take photos of the train, then in turn posing in front the Hogwarts Express. We walked along the train and speaking to one of the assistants, they pointed me in the direction of the disability accessible carriage, so I could get on the train. I wheeled myself up the ramp and positioned myself in the carriage, in front of a rope where the scene on the Hogwarts Express featured in Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone where Harry and Ron were sharing a great deal of wizard sweets and chocolate on their first journey to Hogwarts. I sat in the train with India posing in the carriage while mom took photos from the outside. Coming out of the carriage, I saw four trolleys positioned against the back wall as if going through the barrier to platform 9 3/4 and each trolley is equipped with belongings Hogwarts students have for school. I couldn't resist, I put my hand around the handle of one of the trolleys and I posed for photos as if I was about to push the trolley through to platform 9 3/4.
Leaving platform 9 3/4, we followed the passage through into a small cafe. The cafe sold sandwiches, cakes or elements of hot food. In my opinion the cafe was somewhat a disappointment, as such a popular tourist attraction, like Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter, fans would be willing to pay anything and I’m surprised they don’t take advantage of this but oh well it’s their loss. The food and drink sold there was also a disappointment, the only thing I somewhat enjoyed was the Butterbeers, a drink featured in the Harry Potter films. ButterBeer sales had a very long queue and were very popular; everyone was coming away with various flavors. Having tried the frozen butter beer in Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, while my mom and India refused one, I fancied trying a normal one, it had a unusual taste, even now I'm not sure whether I like it or not. Its like marmite, you either love or hate it.
Going through the next set of doors we found ourselves amongst a number of exterior sets. The Knight Bus featured in Prisoner of Azkaban. There was the model of the Ford Anglia featured in Chamber of Secrets, as well as Hagrid’s motorbike, originally belonging to Sirius Black, featured in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. Alongside the smaller exterior sets, there were bigger ones such as the Hogwarts Bridge where Harry and Professor Lupin stood talking in Prisoner of Azkaban. Turning, we saw a crowd forming in front of two sets; getting closer we saw that one was the Potter household in Godricks Hollow where Lily, James and Harry lived before Lily and James died. The set struck a cord with me as it me that Harry had a good life until Voldermolt came and destroyed it. This was in contrast to the set next to it, No. 4 Privet Drive where the No. 4 Durserlys live and where Harry was forced to live after Voldermolt killed Lily and James. Maybe I look too much into the finer details but I felt that by placing these two sets side by side makes the impact of the sets ever more stronger. I found it somewhat heartbreaking.
On the previous visits two Warner Brothers Studios, we were only able to see No. 4 Privet Drive from the outside, but now No. 4 Privet Drive had been opened and fans can walk through No. 4 Privet Drive. I was really excited about being able to enter the set and when I did, I did find it accessible, however I was very careful and hesitant as I moved through it. Looking on the right hand side, I saw staircase and a cupboard which symbolized that's bedroom for eleven years and which was shown in the first film. Then glancing to the left, I saw the Durserly's front room where the scene featured in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, where Harry's first Hogwarts letters were shooting out of the Durserly's fireplace was frozen in mid air. I found the I could stay there and look for ages, but a long queue forming behind us, so we had to move through the house and leave through the back.
Walking back inside again, we found ourselves in the creature shop. Around this room were videos, which played around the room, head creature designers speaking in detail about the different creatures, costumes, masks and sculptures they made for the eight films. Then Warwick Davis appeared on the video and spoke about how he played a goblin at Gringotts Bank and Professor Flitwick, the charms teacher and that he spent a lot of time in the creature shop, being transformed into a goblin for the shoot. Looking around, we saw models of creatures also created for the films such as
Aarog or Buckbeak, made by hand using visual and special effects, making them look more realistic than if they used computer animation to create them. Those who worked in the creature shop were also responsible for making masks and costumes or applying make up to those actors/actresses such as Robby Coltraine who plays Hagrid, as he’s not really a half giant, so they had to build him an animatronic mask and pad up his costume for him to use, so he looks like a giant during filming. Sculptures of the characters were also known to be made for particular scenes in which a character would be unconscious or something of that nature. This particularly became useful in Chamber of Secrets when seeing the basilisk petrifies Hermione’s character. Instead of making Emma Watson who plays Hermione to lie still in a hospital bed, they built a sculpture of her lying petrified.
Next step on the tour, was Diagon Alley; the wizarding hughstreet. We walked along the cobble street with the sets of the shops positioned exactly where they are placed in the films. As we walked along the cobbled street, my wheelchair couldn't help but shake, it was uncomfortably, but I distracted myself with looking at the different sets. Gringotts Bank, Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, Eeylops Owl Emporium, Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour, Flourish & Blotts, Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions, Quality Quidditch Supplies and Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment. Unlike the wizarding world of Florida in Orlando where fans could enter the sets, these sets were just the exterior and they were high up so they couldn't be touched or get damaged. The extents of sets were magnificent in Diagon Alley. It was clear there was a lot of pre planning and a lot of time and precision went into the building of the sets ready for filming. It was shocking to consider this when are new that they were only featured in the films full a little amount of time, considering the time and effort that went into them all.
Leading through another hallway, we saw a great number of architectural drawings, painting and models of each of the stunning sets featured in the film. In my opinion this department was of significance and importance as each set and each member of this team what's long and hard to try and get the sets and props the best they can be. The architectural sketches and drawings, paintings and models are so rich in detail; each and every single one of them took my breath away. They wanted to get every single one of them right and I saw at least fifteen paintings models and architectural drawings for each film, if a model was incorrect, or not up to scratch then it was taking apart and reconstructed, the art department never gave up. As my dad was architect it allowed me to appreciate how much detail and time went into each piece of art I saw that day and I admired how well each member of the team were able to capture J.K. Rowling’s visions from the book and bring them to life.
Turning around the next corner, I froze. In front of my eyes was a life size model of Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. OMG! The model was very large and it included every single bridge, tower, door and window you see in the films, the gradure was incredible, everything down to the very last detail. The giant model was roped off all the way around, so I hung onto the rope, trying to get as close as I could, staring at every part of it, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. All of the sections of the tour what were fabulous, but this just put the cherry on top of the cake. The assistants who surrounded the model told us that the model have to be taken down and rebuilt from scratch for each film and then it was put in front of the green screen to make it look like Hogwarts was placed in the mountains and this took the team thirty days to reconstruct for each film. According to the assistants, the model was used for film one to six, but then was taken down and the used visual and special effects through the computer to destroy parts for various film sequences in the last two films. Phenomenal.
Pushing open two wooden doors at the end of this room we entered a very large gift shop. Everything you could possibly imagine was on sale in the shop. There were various items and souvenirs linked to each of the four school houses, (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slythin) at Hogwarts from mugs, notebooks, T-Shirts, scarves, bags and jewelry, there was piles and piles of merchandise stacked up on shelves according the house crest they had them. There was also items like chocolate frogs with the cards, Bertie botts every flavor beans to all the text books featured in the films, robes and hats, the books and films, various forms of stationary linked to the series and much more.
Having already acquired a great deal of souvenirs’ with the Gryffindor crest on (I am a worthy Gryffindor) from my previous visits to Warner Brothers Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter, enough to fill two shelves, I couldn’t think of what else to get. After spending a lot of time going around and around the shop, changing my mind every few minutes, I brought a Gryffindor special pen and stationary set in a small box with the Gryffindor crest stamped on the front. The stationary box included a Gryffindor notebook, and a mini post set. About to reach the checkout I decided to go back and select a Ravenclaw special pen to go alongside my Gryffindor pen.
As we left The Warner Brothers Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter, I saw a quote from J.K. Rowling herself that made me tear up a little and have continued to stick with me. "The stories we love do live in us forever, so whether you come back either by page or by big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."