Latest Site Notices

masterofmystery · #1 (**permalink**) 10-13-2011, 01:55 PM

This is the live chat with the cast of the Harry Potter films, including James and Oliver Phelps, Tom Felton, Bonnie Wright, Warwick Davis, Natalia Tena, and Julie Walters, who will answer fan and fansite questions about their work in the series as part of the ticket opening for Warner Bros Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter. We will be live updating the post with all the questions and answers, so stick right here.

Fans can send in questions through Twitter by using the #WBStudioTour hashtag.

• Tom said it was marvellous news that thousands of people tried to get tickets this morning, and to keep trying. Mark Williams said to be patient.
• From SnitchSeeker: Which set do you feel at home? The cast says the Burrow.
• Bonnie said that the tour will be around for a while, so no worries on not getting tickets.
• If the cast were giving tours, they would show some of the smaller aspects of the Burrow, including the dishes in the Burrow, and the Pensieve closet in Dumbledore's office. Julie mentioned the Great Hall.
• Bonnie and Julie said they were cold and scared their first time on the Potter set, at Platform 9 3/4. Oliver said it was the last day of filming Sorcerer's Stone. Warwick said it was in the Great Hall sitting in his chair at the high table. Mark said it was from the film Chamber of Secrets walking into the Burrow to see his family.
• Tom said a memorable scene for him was the bench he was Sorted on, into Slytherin as Draco, in the first movie.
• Mark and the rest noted that the Great Hall was smaller at the tour now that it was filming the past ten years.
• Julie said that the night shoots in the cold were some of the worst feeling, agreed upon by Nat. Bonnie said that laying around in the Chamber was daunting, and admitted that the set wouldn't be at the tour.
• Julie said it was fantastic to beat Bellatrix in the big fight at Deathly Hallows: Part 2. She joked that her and Helena Bonham Carter gave each other dirty looks prior to the filming of the scene, and the pair ended up getting 'wand arm' strain.
• Nat and Tom admitted they bought replica wands for their characters, and Julie was surprised Molly has a wand, and asked Mark to get her one. He said he would, to which she replied, "Thank you, Daddy."
• Fans will be able to buy merchandise after the tour, they all assume.
• Bonnie said it was good fun working in the art department for the Burrow sets, for Ginny's art around their home.
• Bonnie exclaimed that the young cast were never told off by the directors, but they all agreed that they never got in trouble. Mostly it was them told to keep quiet and concentrate.
• James said he was fond of the dragon at Gringotts, and the others were fond of Dobby.
• The cast said they were excited to attend the grand opening of the tour in March 31, and hope fans get the first-time experience of awe that they did years ago.
• On the Quidditch brooms, Oliver said that they were made more comfortable as the films went on, but were pretty bad early on. Nat said you had to get your bum cast by the time she was cast in the series, in Order of the Phoenix, which she thought was fantastic.
• Tom wished he could film on the Burrow, the twins wanted to be in the Ministry, Julie in Dumbledore's office, but Bonnie said she snooped around all the sets and said that coming to the tour is like 'sneaking around Hogwarts'. Nat wanted to go to the Gryffindor common room, and Warwick noted the notice board.
• The cast said they'd love to sneak up and be secret tour guides, surprising fans.
• Warwick said he could remember all the scenes in the Great Hall while walking through that set in the Leavesden tour. Bonnie said the Great Hall was a coming together for everyone, and that everyone would want to see that, as the center of the tour. Mark wonders if fans will be quieter walking into Dumbledore's office because of it's library-like quiet atmosphere.
• During their time off filming, Tom said he used to go study, but Oliver remembered a baseball field outside during the first two films.
• One word to describe their 10 years on the Harry Potter set: Mark - magic; Bonnie - pride; Julie - comfort emotionally; James - enjoyable; Tom - honoured.
• Nat said that crew weren't given free food from the studio canteen, but cast were, so she nicked a bunch of food to give to the crew for free.
• In terms of costumes, they were not comfortable, but warm and hot, as Bonnie said, and Mark agreed. Tom said he had no complaints about his black suits. The Weasley actors had hot knitted things; Nat had a full-body outfit with a swimsuit that was uncomfortable, and Julie commented on her uncomfortable chest padding. Everyone applauded Warwick for all the work and roles he played in the films.
• Bonnie said that the Weasley actors would get together for reunions, which Tom was offended by, but Mark corrected said they would host it. Meanwhile, Bonnie put her hand in Tom's face and told him to "Talk to the hand."
• Mark says not just to look around at the sets, but to look up and down to take in all the bits of the atmosphere for details.
• First lines from films: Mark - 'Morning, Weasleys'; Bonnie - 'Good luck'; Julie - 'Hurry up!', as corrected by Bonnie; Warwick remembered something about wands (as Flitwick in Charms class).
• Asking about the next thing in the Harry Potter fandom, Julie joked about a Weasley spin-off, maybe a musical, Harry Potter on ice (Tom jokes that the others would have to be up for it).
• Who was the saddest when it wrapped? Everyone said that Dan and Rupert, but Julie said Emma was the worst. They all claimed everyone was, but the trio the most.
• Is the studio different without cameras? Mark said that the cameras were the last things that came onto the set, and James said it was more about the crew.

Lady Mouldywart · 10-13-2011, 02:55 PM

That was so interesting to read

xaandria · 10-13-2011, 03:26 PM

I spent a good ten minutes squinting at James, trying to figure out who he looked like.

And then I hit it: Carl Sagan.

And then I spent the rest of the time laughing. (It is a decent look for him, though ;P)