Hat:Ma2 (Designed in England)
Black Lace Polo Neck: Bought in Korea (Myeong Dong)
Skirt: Bugis Street
So I've finally went to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour (London) today for none other reasons but the one and only Harry Potter. In case you are here in London, here's a handy guide to get to the place that beholds all the enchantment. I took the tube there so you would need to get to Euston Station and change to the London Overground. Take the train that goes to Watford Junction Station, ( If you don't know which platform, just ask the staff there) and when you reached your destination, there's a shuttle bus service that goes to Warner Bros. Studio Tour just outside lower high street of the station. Keep 2 pounds handy as that's the bus ticket fare which enables to and fro trip.
We finally reached ! :) Let the pictures do the talking because if you are a Harry Potter Fan, you would be able to identify some of the following pictures or even all of em~
The first stop was at the souvenir store. Packed with loads of magical goods ranging from chocolate wands, fizzing whizz bees, props that you would see on set such as the firebolt broomstick,Marauder's Map, Time turner, chocolate frogs and so forth. There were other souvenirs such as towels, shirts keychains etc etc. Too much to buy so i only got myself a unicorn x Love it <3
She's my favorite character in Harry Potter for all seasons. Weird, quirky and brilliant in her own way.
(I wanted one but it was too expensive :<)
Our virtual journey starts with the Cupboard under the stairs. Take time to read what's on the picture itself because i promise you that you will never look at Harry Potter the same way again after reading this post. I absolutely loved my time spent there because it felt just like you were on the movie set. The tour enables one to look at the movie in a different perspective. We all knew Harry, Hermione and Ron as the front runners but there were the backstage crew, production crew, visual graphics designers, props designers, sculptors and creatures figuration. *Scroll away as the magic unfolds *
(The actual movie set of Harry's bedroom in Privet Drive)
After so, we were brought to a theatre for a proper introduction. That's where the magic unveils. Standing in front of Hogwarts Castle, we were ready to commence. As the golden gates open, we arrived at the Hogwarts Grand Hall where most of the movie scenes were shot here. The adrenaline rush knowing that you are standing right where the characters had spent almost a decade, was impeccable. Can you spot where Griffindor eats?
You may have missed this when watching the movies. That's the points counter for each school. Betcha didn't catch that! * hurries to watch the movie again because i need to get it* HAHA
My favorite school was Slytherin. I know there's too many Griffindor fans out there but as compared to the history of the house, Slytherin wins. Nasty history and i like it. Much of the second book revolves around the chamber of secrets and Salazar Slytherin. The added plus point was no other school could speak parselmouth(except for Harry of course). Imagine one possessing the rare ability to speak to snakes? Amazing. <3
He was my second favorite character. Too much weirdness contained in that black fabulous wig and too judged as well. Sexy potions teacher who has a heart of gold x (Did i not mention that he's the only actor who really waves his wand like he means it?)
* Professor Albus Dumbledore *
These were the characters that were never seen on the actual movie set but dedicated possibly the most sweat, tears and hard work into the set and creation. They were the backbone of the story. Great admiration and respect for the amount of talent filled in this room.
Onwards, you will find some of the original ideas which were supposed to be used but were subsequently put down. Most of them were the visual effects.
I simply love this section. Welcome to the Hair and Make up Section. There were 100 over casts everyday to be made up within a strict timeline as they had to be on set and on the other hand, there were only 20 make up artists dealing with this amount. Quite extraordinary really... to have a job sparked off by an idea from a lady who was late on a train from Manchester to London.
My wizard hat's off to JK Rowling.
Can you spot who's wearing the white and black wig?
The other section that i loved obviously ~
As i walked around, i begin to explore the different sets. I am gonna leave you hanging here for Part 2. If you wanna know more, come back to this rabbit burrow. I will be sharing on how Quidditch was filmed and also how they filmed at the actual "castle"set with "snow" all the time. AND of course... Diagon Alley and Ministry Of Magic <3 It's gonna be an interesting one. I can't wait x
*Updated With Part 2*
Here's Part 2 as promised. Moving on to the second part of the tour, i walked around and possibly went over to the DARK side. Recognize some of the death eaters above?
A little lunatic and cynical yet somewhat irritating, i kinda like Bellatrix in the movie. One of your delusional witches.
The green blocks as seen in the Ministry of Magic set were painstakingly build brick by brick and lacquered to get the emerald shade within a stringent time span given. As quote by Daniel Radcliffe, " This was one of my most favorite set because everytime time when i walk through the walls of MOM, it gives me a different feeling and it really is one of the best set we have yet."
Calling all graphic designers, you may have seen some of these in the movie but there were a few that were not shown on set. I simply love this section because they were all genuine ideas sparked off from the small graphic design team. You may gather some inspiration off from the following designs..
*The infamous howler !! *
*The never ending Hogwarts enlisting mail! *
The Ministry Of Magic's Sculptor ( Muggle Squashed)
Like i have spoken in my last post, i would share a little tips and tricks. As seen in the first movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's stone. The last scene was a pure white winter canvas used with the chemical science trick : expanding snow.A quick demonstration was given by one of the noble "professors" at the tour. All they had to do was pour water all over a small amount of snow and it would expand twice the size creating the false visual effect of snow piling up as it fell. The indoor set was covered by shredded paper as it was bio-degradable and safer for use.
This is the Weasley's home. As we would remember in the Prisoner of Azkaban, there was the self knitting and also self washing pan at the sink. It was automated generated with hand-touch across a different device. Think automated hand dryers with sensor. The mechanism works the same. Brilliant !
One of the most intricate set built and carved. A 10-years old prop being able to be reused because it was built with such hardship and details.
One can relate to the next section which i'm going to share about. Remember some of these names? Crookshanks, Hedwig and Mrs Norris? They were all animal actors who participated in the movie ever since the very start. There were more than one though ! *Betcha didn't know that*
Owls were the hardest to train. Remember the scene where a dozen owls flew into the grand hall to drop the OWL Mails? It was done with one owl then replicated digitally. It took nearly months to perfect one white owl to fly across the grand hall repetitively.
The potions room also unveiled another back -of -scenes secret. In the scene where Harry met Severus Snape, we could clearly see the shelves of jar and potions collections in the background. What was contained in this jars were toys, parts and parcels of dolls broken into parts as well as other "concoctions" such as papers and fabrics etc etc. So the next time you want to be pretty, skip the plastic surgery trip to korea and boil your barbie dolls ! HAHA ok kidding ~
*The Horcrux*
I simply love the knight bus as well. If reality forbids, we should have such rides anywhere, anytime. <3 The FASTER the BETTER. x
*Privet Drive*
Fortunate as I am, I gotta try the authentic Butter Beer. It tasted nothing like the one i had in Starbucks. So yea, sad to break the news.. this one tasted so MUCH better. But the only difference was it is much gassy and also it had a really rich butter foam layered on the top of the carbonated drink.
Cheers to Tom Riddle's Death! (Sorry, i had to ! :D)
The next section was the Creatures and Goblins Section of the Tour which was in my opinion amazing ! Remember the 4th book? The Goblet of Fire ? Harry had to rescue Hermione and Ron? Well obviously, there weren't real underwater. DUH ! Here's where the creatures and goblins department comes into the picture. Certain creatures are mythical so they had to create the mould and also face mask. Actual dwarfs were auditioned to film as well!
Onwards and Upwards! *DIAGONALLY * Here we are !
Just one note ! See how the ceilings are all black? They were initially green to mimic that of a green screen so that visual effects could be used when put together with the actual capture. This works the same for Hogwarts Grand hall when its snowing or other special effects were used with actors on broomsticks.
*Blue print room where it all started*
Lastly, i wish i could share with you on Quidditch w visuals but my camera accidentally deleted the photos. Anyhow, i am still going to divulge it. Quidditch was very much filmed in a green room with actors sitting in a mechanic equipment ( some what like a cart which activates in stationary form but circulates within one axle point). Much of the flying and visual effects were twigged using the background changes. I am going to leave the rest for you to go down to the actual exhibition to find out yourself ;)
Lastly, we finally reached the end of the tour. To my astonishment and to yours in a few words time, The castle isn't........A REAL DESTINATION? It was hand built. Holy shit please.
*Secret Revealed of The Hogwarts Castle *
So there you go. The other rest of the mythical magic, i shall leave it for you to head down and see it for yourself. It was an amazing experience that one must not miss.
Ending off, J K Rowling will be coming up with the 2 new Harry Potter Books after the Deathly Hallows. See more of it here :
Pottermore and Potterventure . Rumours from the Quibblers told me that the original actors will be casted back once again! Looking forward to the next book.
Signing off here ! <3
Till the next time,
The White Rabbit x
