Mel's Media Blog

Harry Potter Studios

As part of our A Level Media course we attended The Making of Harry Potter at Warner Bro Studios on Tuesday. As part of our course we have to look at the representation of events, and Harry Potter is now an event due to its mass publicity and major fan base.

When we arrived at the Harry Potter studios we first went to the gift shop. The gift shop was filled with Harry Potter memorabilia, ranging from sweets (Honeydukes), wands (Ollivanders) and jewellery, books and much more.After this we then got our "passports". The start of the tour took us to where the story began – the cupboard under the stairs. We were then taken to a holding room where we were told about how J K Rowling got her idea, as well as how her book got published. After watching a short film which starred the cast of the Harry Potter movies we then arrived at the doors to the great hall.After the great hall we then had a chance to have a quick look round the start of the tour, seeing things such as the gates to the school, chocolate feasts, the fireplace from the leaky cauldron, as well as the portrait of the fat lady and the mirror of erised. After our initial first look around we then attended a lesson on “From Script to Screen”, where we were told all about how a story can be made in to a film. First of all a pitch needs to be made, and a professional pitch can be no longer than twenty-five words. The pitch for the Harry Potter movie was ‘About a boy who goes to wizard school.’ This it appears was enough, and got Warner Bros interested in the idea. After this, a treatment needs to be written. A professional treatment can be no longer than half a page. Usually a film producer will hire the same person who wrote the treatment to write the script for the movie. A script will contain both the lines that actors and actresses learn, as well as stage directions. Some stage directions may be in capital letters, this is to ensure that important information is not missed by the departments that it is relevant to. Names will be written in Red over scripts so that people cannot steal and photocopy them. This was an idea started by Spielberg. As well as this, story boards will often be produced. After these have been produced, white card models will often be made of sets and camera angles will be tested out. As well as this, concept art may often be made. When the sets have been approved, locations will be found and filming will begin.

After attending this lesson we then went back on the tour. Highlights included seeing dumbledores office, the weasleys magic kitchen and entering the Ministry of Magic, where the iconic Magic is Might statue was present. As well as this, we also had the chance to have a ride on a broomstick. After this we then went to a courtyard, where we visited Privet Drive, Godric's Hollow and The Knight Bus. During this time we also had a chance to sample some Butterbeer! We then went into the creature workshops where we saw many memorable characters such as Dobby, Aragog and Bowtruckles. We then ventured to Diagon Alley, where we saw many shops such as Ollivanders and Gringotts Bank. We then entered the concept art room, where various artists works were displayed alongside white paper models of various sets. We then entered one of the last rooms of the tour, where the big model of Hogwarts Castle was. After this there was a room dedicated to each person who worked on the Harry Potter movies, each having their own wand box named after them.

Top Ten Moments of The Harry Potter Studio Tour:

10. Weasleys Kitchen - At The Weasleys kitchen you can literally 'make magic happen'. By pressing an interactive screen you can control the knitting needles, the dishes, the iron and the knife all part of the magic kitchen.

9.Mirror or erised - featuring in the first Harry Potter film, it is a must see.

8. No. 4 Privet Drive - Where the story starts...

7. Godric's Hollow - The home of Lily and James Potter