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Chris Rankin, web chat -
Summary:
Norfolk's Harry Potter star, Chris Rankin, has just finished filming on The Prisoner Of Azkaban.
He dropped in for a webchat on the night before Hallowe'en.
Article:
Norfolk's Harry Potter star, Chris Rankin, has just finished filming on The Prisoner Of Azkaban.
He dropped in for a webchat on the night before Hallowe'en.
On the night before Hallowe'en there was a pop in the office, as Percy Weasley apparated for a live webchat with BBC Norfolk! Well, that's how it might have gone in the wizard world of JK Rowling.
We were equally happy with the sound of the lift doors going ping which announced Chris' arrival in the office for his webchat.
Hundreds of you dropped into the chatroom to hang out with Chris and your Potter mates. This is how the conversation went...
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Host: Welcome to our webchat with Norfolk's Harry Potter star, Chris Rankin! Chris plays Percy Weasley, Harry Potter's Prefect at Hogwarts.
He's just finished filming on The Prisoner Of Azkaban, the latest Harry Potter movie which will be released in 2004.
Bored of me yet? Thought so! Let's get to the first question then. Here we go!!!!!
Josh_D: What was the hardest scene in Prisoner of Azkaban?
Chris: None of the scenes in Prisoner of Azkaban were particularly difficult, but the trickiest would probably have to be where we discover the portrait of the Fat Lady has been attacked.
Imogen_Wolverhampton: Who's your favourite character in the books and why?
Chris at BBC Norfolk with webchat host Zoe
Chris: My favourite character in the books is Tom Riddle from Chamber of Secrets because he's a baddie and he's got the best death.
Kate: Is everyone done filming the movie? How long did it take?
Chris: I finished filming for POA three weeks ago but I believe that principal photography finishes in early December.
Sunshine_Midlands: How did you find out about the audition? Because I am totally fixed upon being Luna Lovegood in the next film.
Chris: It's all thanks to the BBC! I saw the advert on CBBC's Newsround in April 2000. I wrote off to the address they gave and completely forgot I'd sent it off.
Six months later I got a call out of the blue asking me to come down to London. Three days after that they sent me to the studios to meet the director and producers. The day after that they rang and told me I had the part.
Imogen_Wolverhampton: How has life changed for you since being in the Potter films?
Chris: Not that much, really. I still live at home, I still go back to my old high school and help out and I still have the same friends. Obviously, I get more post than I used to! That's about it.
Rachel_Ryzak: What has been your favourite Harry Potter film so far?
Chris: My favourite one so far has been Prisoner of Azkaban. I like the darker, more sinister elements in the film as well as the new style of costumes.
Kim_London: How does Alfonso Cuaron differ from Chris Columbus?
Chris: They're both really friendly guys and easy to get on with. Alfonso's background is in more grown-up films and I think that helps.
Manon_Zamora: How does it feel to know that kids around the world recognize you everywhere you go?
Chris: It's a bit scary! It doesn't happen so much in Norwich, UK, where I live but I went to New York a few months ago and got recognised three or four times. I found that amazing.
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Jennifer_Hills: what is your fav pop band?
Chris: I have lots, but my favourites would be people like Blur, Aerosmith, Queen, The Presidents Of The United States Of America... rock stuff mostly.
Teresa_M: What was more fun: a head boy or a prefect?
Chris: Oh head boy, definitely! Much more pompous.
trlc463: Have you ever been to the US and if you have, where's your favorite plave to stay?
Chris: My favourite place to stay at the moment is New York. I went there for the first time in June and fell in love with it. I haven't really been to anywhere else in the States, but love visiting Toronto.
Kim_London: I have to say u have good taste in music. What do you do in your spare time?
Chris: I don't really get much spare time at the moment as I've just started my own theatre company. It's called Painted Horse UK. Also I'm doing a lot of technical theatre, lighting design, etc...
Rachel emailed to ask: Have you read the fifth book? If so, how do you feel about how Percy treats his parents?
Host: Our typist's hands just caught on fire! No, it wasn't a magic spell! We're getting to as many questions as we can but there are lots of people, and loads of questions, so it's going to take a while to get through them all. Stay put to see your question!
Chris: I have read the fifth book and quite frankly I'm over the moon! I really enjoy playing evil characters and fingers crossed I won't be middle-aged by the time they get round to filming it!
Jenny_McCarthy: What kind of plays do you hope to have going through your theatre company? Well known? New?
Chris: Well our first play is going to be a production of Hedda Gabler by Ibsen. After that I'm not really sure, but it'll probably be new works and lesser known plays as well as more contraversial stuff.
TheDisembodiedHead: How long did it take you to read the 5th book?
Chris: Two days solid work!
Wee_Dee: What is like to work with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson?
Chris: They are all really nice kids. Having worked with them for just over three years now, we've all become very good friends.
Kit: Do you know any real magic tricks?
Chris: Only knowing how to get out of doing my homework on time
And I'm not going to tell any of you how to do that! It's a magic secret!
Naomi_Hood: I saw you in a play called Jack And The Beanstalk, did you enjoy that?
Chris: It was great fun: really tiring. We had to do up to three shows a day.
Chris with Percy's creator, JK Rowling. Chris talks about Prisoner of Azkaban.
Monica_Cashdollar: Have you ever met JK Rowling?
Chris: Yes, three or four times now. She's a really interesting person to talk to. It's obvious that she's an incredibly intelligent woman and she's lovely too!
Christiana_Nunyabiz: Tell us, exactly how scary are the dementors in the third film. Scary beyond all reason, or boggie man scary (corny)?
Chris: I hate to compare Harry Potter to Lord Of The Rings - and I'm not - but they're scarier than the Dark Riders.
Alona_L: I live in Israel and HP is very famous here! What do you think makes it such a success?
Chris: I think it's because it has something for everybody, I've met six-year-olds who are obsessed with it and even my nanny, who's 87, loves it!
priya_lonodn: If you could take one thing from the sets what would it be?
Chris: Funny you should mention that
I tried to run away with my head boy badge but the costume department noticed. (oops!)
Sylvia_Fujiwara: In Harry Potter yo play Percy the 'I just follow the rules boy', do you cross borders while you were at school?
Chris: My mum taught at the school I went to. I had to behave! I was a prefect at school as well.
Sophie_Scanlon: If you could change one thing about Percy Weasley what would it be?
Chris: Nothing, quite simply! I think he's perfect the way he's written. He's incredibly good fun to play.
Naomi from Los Angeles wants to know: What is the schedule like for one day of filming on the HP set?
Chris: On a busy day, for instance, when we're filming a great hall scene, it starts with being picked up from the hotel at 7am to arrive at the studios at 7.30am. Have breakfast, go into make-up at 8am and onto set at 9.30am. We break for lunch at 12.30pm, are back onto set at 2.30pm and have an afternoon break for 15 minutes and finish work at 7pm if we're lucky
Host: Unless there is a webchat here at BBC Norfolk!
Kim_Sydenham: Mike Newell is directing the next movie, is it weird to keep having new directors?
Chris: I think it's a good thing, it keeps the series fresh and makes each film slightly different to its predecessor.
Patricia_R: If you had a choice to be in any of the Hogwarts' houses, would you still be in Gryffindor?
Chris: Probably, but I wouldn't mind Slytherin.
Gino_Roque: Is your hair really ginger, or is it dyed for the film?
Chris: HOW DARE YOU! My hair is naturally this colour! Hee hee hee!
kathie_Blain: Do you think that they'll have a little bit more of you in the 3rd film because in the books you are metioned a lot more.
Chris: I hope so, but obviously until the final print of the film has been made there's every chance that anything I film could end up on the cutting room floor.
dan_jam: What are the wands made of?
Chris thinks about your questions. Chris spills the beans on the POA shoot
Chris: As far as I know, they're just solid wood in the film, but there's every possibility that they are magic too!
red_jewel: Have you signed up for the Goblet of Fire movie yet?
Chris: Yes and I can't wait! We start in April!
Andrew_Sidhom: What was the funniest part to shoot?
Chris: The burrow scenes were the best. Working with Julie Walters and Mark Williams is hilarious. Sometimes we come off set aching with laughter - literally!
Alona_L: Can you describe the first day in your life of being on set?
Chris: It was terrifying! I remember going into the hair and makeup department and sitting down next to Zoe Wannamaker. It was rather daunting but all the celebs are really really nice so it wasn't a problem after the first couple of days.
Sophie_Scanlon: Is the new Albus Dumbledore like the person who played him before or is he different?
Chris: Well obviously he looks basically the same with a long beard and hair but Michael Gambon has made the character his own. Personally I prefer Michael's portrayal because it's more like the Dumbledore I imagined in the books.
Kim_Sydenham: As an actor what have u learned while shooting Harry Potter?
Chris: It's a job that you have to be really serious about because there is a lot of disappointment. There are more out of work actors in the world than employed ones. So I count myself very lucky.
Host: Don't forget, you can see Chris on our webcam here at BBC Norfolk. Take a look.
QueenB_SYorkshire: Have any of the other actors played jokes on you while you were filming?
Chris: The twins often swap over and even after three years we're not entirely sure which one is which! It doesn't happen too often.
Sylvia_Fujiwara: What is you favourite film, ever?
Chris: That's a tricky one! I have many favourite films but my all time favourite would probably have to be Mrs Doubtfire.
Smartcat from New South Wales: How does it feel to read about the character you play in the Harry Potter books?
Chris: It's quite intriguing. Especially when there's a new book out and I have to find out if I survive to the end or do something drastic.
Jill_Scotland: Hey, what's been the funniest moment while on the POA set this time around?
Chris: This would have to be the same as the trickiest scene. It's the scene where we discover the Fat Lady (Dawn French) has been attacked.
There's a stage where the whole of Gryffindor House run past me up the marble staircase. Unfortunately, they managed to knock me over more than once! I had bruises for weeks.
michaella_smith: I love the Weasley family, but if u could play another character who would it be?
Chris: It would probably have had to have been Tom Riddle because he was my favourite character from the books.
Alona_L: What was it like to cope with school work during filming?
Chris: It was an absolute nightmare. I was doing my A-levels during Chamber Of Secrets and ended up taking my drama exam in my trailer during a break from filming the duelling club.
Cathrine_Winterst: Who was the first person on the set that you got to know?
Chris: Bizarrely enough it was Emma Watson because on the way to the read through for The Philosophers Stone we were picked up by the same car. She was very, very nervous.
Yen_London: Hey, im going now but last question and i hope this gets to u, out of all the Harry Potter books which ones ur favourite?
Chris: It was The Chamber Of Secrets, but I think that The Order Of The Phoenix may have beaten it now.
james_murphy: Is there one moment that really stands out that u really enjoyed during the filming of hp?
Chris: I've loved all of it. The things that really stand out however, are the premiers and the DVD launches. They are done on such a big scale, you suddenly realise how big the movies are.
Mart_J: How old are you, boy?
Chris: I am 19 until November 8 (hint)
Host: Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you.
Cathrine_Winterst: In PoA, do we get to see more of Penelope Clearwater?
Is Chris crying at the loss of Penelope from Percy's love life? Chris spills the beans on the POA shoot
Chris: Probably not - sadly. Gemma Padley who played Penelope is a good friend now, so it's a shame that we don't see each other as much.
Bart_vijfhunderd: What do you think is the most impressive new set they have created?
Chris: From what I've seen my favourite would have to be the clock tower as it's quite dangerous.
Din_SanDiego: How did you react when you read Percy had changed so much in OOTP?
Chris: I was quite excited. As I've already mentioned, I enjoy playing evil characters so it's nice to see Percy going that way.
Brittany_Ireland: have you made any long-time friendships with people you have met on the set?
Chris: Yes - quite a few. I keep in regular contact with Sean Biggerstaff, who played Oliver Woods and also Gemma Padley. It's a shame neither of them are involved anymore. I'm the oldest 'child' on the set now by quite a few years.
manon_zamora: Are you going to College?
Chris: At the moment, I'm not sure as I'm contracted to Warner Brothers for an unspecified length of time, I do intend to go at some stage.
Host: Sorry folks, that's the last question we have time for. But, by the way Chris, quite a few people in the chat wanted to wish you a happy 20th birthday!!!
Thanks for joining us Chris, we had a great time. Any final words before you go?
Chris: Yes, Rhubarb! Celery! and Happy Hallowe'en. Oh - and keep smocking!
See you later. xx
Host: Goodnight from all of us here at BBC Norfolk. Thank you everyone who joined us. We're sorry we didn't get to all the questions that were sent but we really really tried. Thanks Chris.
Thanks again for joining us here at BBC Norfolk for our extra special web chat with Chris Rankin. Chris, you were a great guest! Please Please Please come back and chat with us again. Byyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeee!
thanks to
BBC 
I wish I had been there to ask a question!!! Oh, i 4got, who's part was julia walter again? 
