Harry Potter’s Page :: Feed Your Harry Potter Addiction

HP Stars To Attend A Magic Christmas In Paris

Posted by Lilysowl On August - 30 - 2010

Magic Christmas Paris Conference There will be a “Magic Christmas” in Paris, France this year. Actually, that is the name of the Harry Potter conference hosted by Spotlight Events which will be held on December 18 and 19 at the La Maison Internationale.

According to the conference’s Facebook page, Harry Potter stars Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), and Chris Rankin (Percy Weasley) have already confirmed their plans to attend the event and participate in the talk sessions opened to the guests. There will also be speakers who have worked on the Harry Potter films such as some of the actors who were the French “voices” for the Harry Potter stars.

Photoshoot and autograph sessions also will be on the agenda to give attendees the opportunity to meet the special guests. To give the conference a “magical” atmosphere, an orchestra will be playing music from the films while there will be games to be played, contests to be won, and magic shows to be seen. And one of the highlights of the conference will be Un Bal des Sorciers (A Dance of the Sorcerers/Sorcerers Ball) by invitation only!

Click here for more information.

It is noted that you don’t have to speak French to attend or have a good time.

Thanks to Amandine for letting us know!

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Pleasant Encounters Of A Harry Potter Kind

Posted by Lilysowl On August - 17 - 2010

Harry Potter

Now that the Harry Potter films are coming to an end with the upcoming releases of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I and II, many fans are looking back at what they have done, as well as their own Harry Potter memories, since the release of the first film nearly ten years ago. One of them is a grandmother who knew David Heyman, one of the producers, when he was about seven years old. The same age her granddaughter was at the beginning of her “Harry Potter” obsession.

Here are excerpts of what the grandmother wrote for The Huffington Post:

Eight years ago, when my eldest granddaughter was 7 years old, she, like millions of other kids, became obsessed with Harry Potter and his friends at Hogwarts.

I shared her passion. I was also very excited and proud to learn that the producer was a man I had first me when he wasn’t much older than she was. She was beyond excited to hear this. “Please, please, please I have to go to Hogwarts. Please, please, ask your friend,” she pleaded. I tried to explain to her that I hadn’t been in touch with “my friend ” for over twenty years. I didn’t feel comfortable asking for such a favor.

Well, a grandmother can only resist the pleas of her grandchild for only so long…

I found the courage to send David an email, apologizing for imposing and explaining my predicament. It didn’t take a day for him to reply, “When do you want to bring her over?” Need I say more? I had won the love of this child for life.

So, off they went to London. A car and driver from Leavesden Studios picked them up two days after they arrived. At the time, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was being filmed. Grandmother and granddaughter wandered around the studios, watching workers paint props and artists building Harry’s world. They “visited” Hogwarts, the Dursley’s house, and the train station. And then came the moment when they met Daniel Radcliffe who is very well-known as “Harry Potter” and who, the Grandmother thought, was “one of the nicest young men I’ve ever met”:

For those of you dear readers who don’t know, Daniel of course was Daniel Radcliffe, aka Harry Potter. Sarah, who I tell you without prejudice looked absolutely adorable, tightly held her copy of the book, which she had carried across the ocean. Daniel came into the room, immediately walked to her and greeted her with a big hug. The poor child almost collapsed and couldn’t open her mouth. He valiantly attempted a conversation, but she just stared at him, wordlessly, with her huge green. He, bless him, saw the book in her hands and asked if she wanted him to sign it. She looked up at him and shook her head yes. He wrote a long message and told her it was just for her. I think she managed a “thank you.”

Now, nine years later…well, last summer to be exact, Granddaughter still loves Harry Potter as much as ever (as we all do ), even at the age of 14 ½ and writes to her grandmother:

… Suddenly I received a letter from camp “To the best grandmother in the world” — pages and pages of Please, Please PLEASE, I have to go back to Hogwarts!” She’d learned they were filming the last two movies and begged me, “please ask your friend.”

I felt David had been more than kind seven years earlier and didn’t want to impose again. I was tempted to fib and tell her that I had asked him and he hadn’t replied, but I couldn’t lie to my grandchild and it wouldn’t be fair to David either. I gave in and wonderful David, once again, sent an invitation. Just before the start of school we had our second adventure to London…

And once again, Grandmother and Granddaughter had the opportunity to say hello to Radcliffe. This time Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) was with them:

…As they were introduced to us, both polite young men said, “pleased to meet you,” and shook our hands. My granddaughter who is no longer tongue-tied, replied, “Oh we’ve met before.” They both looked startled. I couldn’t let the moment pass and said, “We were here when you were filming the scene with the flying car.” Daniel looked at Sarah with his eyes wide open, and replied, “You were that little girl? You were the little girl I’ve always felt so awful about. I scared you half to death. I talked about you for years.”

“You remembered me?” she asked. “Oh my God,”

“I always felt terrible. I thought, ‘that poor little girl’.” He smiled. Then he and Rupert laughed as he said, “Boy have you changed.” As that point I walked away and let them talk until it was time to leave. Once again she had carried a book with her, and this time both boys signed it.

We’ve all had moments in our lives when we wished we could have done it differently. For Sarah, she had always wished so much that she hadn’t been so shy the day she met Harry Potter, and now she’d had the chance to do it the way she wanted. Thank you Daniel Radcliffe and David Heyman for making it possible.

Hmmm…a 7 year old David Heyman…talk about memories… Well, that’s one thing I love about the Harry Potter stories…the way it brings together new and old acquaintances.

Thank you, Ms. Seltzer for the story.

Click here to read the complete article.

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Update2: Confirmed: Harry Potter: The Exhibition in Seattle

Posted by Dijares On August - 11 - 2010

Matt Lewis Rumors had hit the internet yesterday that Harry Potter: The Exhibition was going to Seattle, Washington. Warner Bros have now confirmed that the exhibition is definitely heading to the Pacific Science Center in Seattle beginning in October.

Matt Lewis, who portrays Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films, was at the Science Center today to help make the big annoucement. The Exhibition opens October 23, 2010, and tickets go on sale this Saturday, August 14th. You can go to the Exhibition’s website here to get the tickets.

Also, the IMAX version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be shown there beginning November 19, 2010, so make sure you get your tickets for that!

UPDATE: We now have some photos of Matt Lewis during the opening celebration for the exhibition. Check them out in our gallery starting here!

UPDATE 2: That evening Matt got the chance to throw the opening pitch for the Seattle Mariners baseball team. You can see photos of him while pitching in our galleries here!

Here’s their press release with more information!

HARRY POTTER™ CASTS SPELL ON SEATTLE’S PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER

THE SCIENCE CENTER HOSTS WEST COAST PREMIERE AND LAST U.S. DESTINATION OF HARRY POTTER: THE EXHIBITION

HARRY POTTER STAR MATTHEW LEWIS KICKS OFF ANNOUNCEMENT

Exhibition to Open in Seattle October 23, 2010

Tickets On Sale to Public Saturday, August 14, 2010

SEATTLE—August 10, 2010—Soon Harry Potter fans in Seattle will get the chance to step inside the famous wizard’s magical world with Harry Potter: The Exhibition, which opens at Pacific Science Center on October 23, 2010. Tickets go on sale to the general public on August 14 at 9 a.m. Museum members can take advantage of a special pre-sale opportunity beginning at noon on August 10 through 9 a.m. on August 14. Harry Potter actor Matthew Lewis, who plays Neville Longbottom in the film series, was on hand today at the Pacific Science Center to kick off the announcement.

In the exhibit, guests will be able to experience dramatic displays inspired by the Harry Potter film sets and see the amazing craftsmanship behind authentic costumes and props from the films. Harry Potter: The Exhibition will run in Seattle through January 30, 2011.

Pacific Science Center in Seattle is the only West Coast venue and the last planned U.S. destination for the exhibition.

In partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Global Experience Specialists, Inc. (GES) created the 10,000-square-foot experiential exhibition, which features hundreds of artifacts and costumes from all of the Harry Potter films, including new items from the highly-anticipated, two-part finale to the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsTM. To add to the excitement, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 will be presented in IMAX® 3D at Pacific Science Center’s Boeing IMAX Theater when the film opens on November 19, 2010.

“The response to the exhibition is overwhelmingly positive and we are delighted to continue providing fans with this immersive Harry Potter experience,” said Karen McTier, executive vice president, domestic licensing and worldwide marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “The magical settings bring the world of Harry Potter and its characters to life, and the Pacific Science Center is the perfect location for the exhibition’s West Coast debut.”

Harry Potter: The Exhibition offers fans a first-hand view of more than 200 authentic artifacts displayed in settings inspired by the film sets—including the Great Hall, Hagrid’s hut, the Gryffindor™ common room—and more.

“We are thrilled that the exhibition’s West Coast debut will be made at Pacific Science Center in Seattle,” said Eddie Newquist, chief creative officer for GES. “We hope everyone will have a chance to be drawn into the magical spell of this exhibition, allowing them to relive their favorite moments from the films. A visit to Harry Potter: The Exhibition is great for anyone who loves seeing how inspiring stories and blockbuster films become a reality.”

“Harry Potter’s world has captivated the imaginations of children and adults alike around the world,” said Bryce Seidl, president and CEO for Pacific Science Center. “Through amazing storytelling, state-of-the-art technology and stunning costumes and sets, the Harry Potter stories have evolved into one of the most celebrated and cherished movie series in history. We are thrilled to bring this enchanting world to Seattle for the West Coast premiere and final U.S. stop of Harry Potter: The Exhibition. We are confident it will attract new audiences, including people of all ages and backgrounds, to Pacific Science Center to experience this one-of-a-kind exhibit as well as the Science Center’s world-class science exhibits and programs.”

Harry Potter: The Exhibition opens at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 23, 2010, and runs through Sunday, January 30, 2011. The exhibition requires a time-entry ticket and guests are encouraged to purchase their tickets early to ensure the best date and time. Tickets for the exhibition can be purchased at the Science Center box office, through the website pacificsciencecenter.org or by phone at (206) 443-2001. General public admission to Harry Potter: The Exhibition is $26 for adults; $24 for seniors (65 and over) and youth (6-15); $17 for children (ages 3-5) and includes admission to all of Pacific Science Center’s exhibits. Members receive discounted admission as well as access to the exclusive pre-sale opportunity, now through August 14.

About Pacific Science Center

As a private, not-for-profit educational institution, Pacific Science Center’s mission is to inspire a lifelong interest in science, math and technology by engaging diverse communities through interactive and innovative exhibits and programs.

About Global Experience Specialists (GES)

Global Experience Specialists (GES) is an award-winning experiential marketing agency known for creating meaningful and memorable connections between leading companies and their customers. By producing powerful brand experiences through exhibits, events, mobile marketing tours, permanent installations, and temporary retail environments, GES helps clients accelerate the sales process, deepen brand loyalty and consistently deliver superior results. The company also creates branded entertainment experiences that surprise and delight audiences worldwide. Backed by the financial strength of its parent company, Viad Corp (NYSE: VVI), GES employs nearly 600 professionals in 28 client care centers throughout the world. For more information about GES, please visit www.ges.com.

About Warner Bros. Consumer Products

Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

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Photo: Exclusive Lucius Malfoy Bust For Comic-Con 2010

Posted by Lilysowl On July - 13 - 2010

Jason Isaacs

We previously reported that Warner Bros. plans to showcase Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego. Limited edition items made for the event are starting to appear online. Gentle Giant has already created a mini bust of Lucius Malfoy, depicting his “mug shot” as a prisoner of Azkaban. According to the description, his chains and shackles are real. Also, only 550 pieces have been made for the convention. Click here to see a photo of the bust in our photo gallery.

Click here for information about pre-ordering the item. The site does note this for pre-orders:

Please note that this year’s convention pre-orders will be shipped after the show. We are not offering Pre-orders for pick up this year.

Source: UHP

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Video: A Bit Of Fun On The Harry Potter Set

Posted by Lilysowl On July - 3 - 2010

We previously showed you the footage from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows which was included in the collector’s edition of the LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 game. LEGO has also included footage from the past ten years of the Harry Potter cast and crew goofing around on set.

It certainly made my Saturday morning to see the cast “hanging” around. And Radcliffe certainly didn’t know what he is getting into by “claiming” to be a ballroom dance champion, i.e. his upcoming leading role in the Broadway revival of “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying”.

Source: Celebuzz

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Warner Brothers Shop Sale and Survey

Posted by Aragorn On July - 1 - 2010

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Warner Brothers, the producers of the Harry Potter films, has created a survey for the fans of the Harry Potter series for their online store. The survey, which is comprised of ten simple questions, will help Warner Brothers decide which products to offer in the near future.

In addition to the survey, Warner Brothers has begun their sale for the Fourth of July holiday. Much of the merchandise is on sale for 20% off! The sale ends Monday.

Source: Mugglenet.

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Photos: Spooky Dementors from Deathly Hallows Game

Posted by Dijares On June - 4 - 2010

EA have released two new screen grabs of Dementors from the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows game on their Facebook page. I have to say they look very impressive. Check them out in our gallery here and here.

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Photo: See the Hog’s Head

Posted by Dijares On May - 14 - 2010

Universal Studios Orlando have a new photo that shows the hog’s head at The Hog’s Head Pub at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The photo includes some shrunken heads as well! Check it out in our gallery here!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens to the public on June 18, 2010, at the Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, Orlando.

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Many Harry Potter Actors with BAFTA Nominations

Posted by Dijares On May - 10 - 2010

BAFTA Many actors who have starred in the Harry Potter films (both current and past) have received nominations for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Television Awards. Here’s a list of all the Harry Potter actors’ nominations:

Best Actor

Kenneth Branagh (Professor Lockhart) for his role in Wallander (BBC One)
Brendon Gleeson (Mad-Eye Moody) for his role in Into The Storm (BBC Two)
John Hurt (Mr. Ollivander) for his role in An Englishman in New York (ITV1)

Actress

Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange) for her role in Enid (BBC Four)
Julie Walters (Mrs. Weasley) for her role in A Short Stay In Switzerland (BBC One)
Julie Walters (Mrs. Weasley) for her role in Mo (Channel 4)

Supporting Actress

Imelda Staunton (Dolores Umbridge) for her role in Cranford (BBC One)

Entertainment Performance

Stephen Fry (does the UK version of the audio books) for his role in QI (BBC One)

See the entire list here.

The awards ceremony takes place on June 6.

Good luck and congratulations to all!

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Alan Gilmore Answers Questions About WWoHP

Posted by Dijares On May - 6 - 2010

Alan Gilmore, the Art Director for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the films, answered some questions about the theme park. Here’s a bit of what he had to say:

Q: What has been the biggest challenge in bringing the visuals from the film to life here at Universal Orlando Resort, and what has the main difference been between designing for the two?

A: The film world is a very different challenge to the theme park world. In the film world the viewer is the camera. You know where your viewer is, and you can design to that viewer, composing the settings from one or two viewpoints. Whereas, with the theme park world, it has to work from every angle. We had to think about multiple angles, from a child’s point-of-view, to a very tall person’s point-of-view, and for everyone in between.

I’ll be honest, everything was challenging. We had a very good run up of two years, and it gave us a lot of time to work out the details. For example, the rock that Hogwarts sits on was daunting at first but we soon found a way to create the most realistic finish in any theme park. It is a great success. The snow was also very difficult. We really wanted to have snow everywhere, creating the most amazing snowscape and that cold Scottish feeling. Psychologically the snow creates a sense of a lower temperature. To try and bring that cold to Orlando, that is quite hard. In the end, I hope what we created gives guests a good experience!

Q: What element(s) of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter are you the most proud of and excited about? Or are there favorite elements from the films that were you are now able to realize in full?

A: Oh, absolutely, I think the castle is the primary example of being able to realize the visuals from the film on such a grand scale, it has never been built to this extent before. We made a very concerted effort to bring Hogwarts to life, making it really look impressive from every angle.

Hogsmeade and the Three Broomsticks is another area that has really come off beautifully. The Three Broomsticks is an incredible space, the detail and finishes are amazing. This is a great joy to me.

But overall, I think the detail, the absolute rigorous pushing of detail is beyond compare. Everything is correct. Our mantra was authenticity, and I worked very closely with the entire team to make sure we have every area detailed as much as it possibly could be. There is hardly a corner that you can’t look in that does not have some amazing quality of detail, finish and paint.

I brought many film making techniques to this project also. A layer of aging was applied throughout making everything appear to be old and lived in. I think the feeling of actually entering Harry’s world is what people will take away from visiting.

Q: If you could give a tour of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to guests, what would be the first thing you would tell them and what would be the first thing you would want them to experience?

A: I would want them to come through the entry arch at Hogsmeade and take a moment to just absorb the amazing spectacle in front of them. The viewpoint just beyond the arch beside the train looking toward the castle is the most encompassing view of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It really gives you a sense of this amazing place. It should be quite magical to see the reactions on the fans and guests faces as I am sure this will be the first time most people will have ever been in an environment like this. So, for me, I think this starting point is where you want to have your first experience and explore Harry’s world.