Harry Potter Studios

HARRY POTTER STUDIOS

On Wednesday 6th November, 41 year 12 & 13 Media and Film students and some very excited staff travelled to London to visit the Harry Potter Studios.  There was great excitement on the coach and this continued as we finally saw the studios looming ahead of us.

From the moment we entered the studios, the range of props and fantastic photography were evident.  From the initial talk and video in an amazing cinema, we entered the great hall, this was truly awe inspiring. We were literally standing were Harry Potter was sorted in to Gryffindor!

Moving to the Big Room, we were able to see the props which were used in the films.  From Dumbledoors office, Hagrid’s House to The Burrow we were taken on a whistle stop tour of some of the most iconic areas of the films and we were all shocked to see how small these locations were.  Opportunities to fly on a broom were eagerly taken up!

Out in the backlot, more photo opportunities arose, sitting on Hagrids motorbike, riding in Ron’s Ford Anglia or getting on the Night Bus, there was even the chance to try butterbeer.

The creature effects room was magnificent, over 250 body casts had been made of the actors for deaths, petrification and stunning spells, magical creatures of every time were animated using fantastic models and video footage showed us how this was accomplished.

Walking up Diagon Alley, watching the films will never be the same again.  Comments of ‘I’ve been there’ will ring aloud.  The Art room allowed us to see how concept art and model making paid a huge part in the development of the films, including white paper models of all the sets.

Finally we entered the model room, a team of 40 artists and crew members built the final version of Hogwarts castle in only 40 days; real gravel and plants were used for landscaping and everything was perfectly hand-sculpted to scale.

For our Media and Film students, this was a fantastic opportunity, the range of careers which were clearly involved in the making of these eight films and many of these students now have a better understanding of the role they want to go into.

Miss H Berry
Director of ICT