Author Archive

Hogwarts Model Unveiled at Leavesden Studios

March 24th, 2012 · · Harry Potter No comments

Something literally magical was unveiled this March when a massive replica of Hogwarts Castle from the world famous Harry Potter franchise was revealed from the first time to the press as part of the upcoming “The Making of Harry Potter” studio tour at Leavesden Studios.

The giant model standing at a spectacular 50 foot was used in every Harry Potter movie for the exterior shots showing how amazingly realistic this model actually appears. The attention to detail on the model is simply breathtaking with around 2,500 lights that represent lanterns and torches that give the notion of the students of Hogwarts strolling along the corridors. Also painstakingly added to the model are realistic owls in the Owlery, hinges on the doors and if that was not enough the design also includes real plants for all the landscaping!

Hogwarts Model at Leavesden Studions

The model was the brain child of the BAFTA award winning Stuart Craig and his vast team of 86 artists and crew members, with all the man hours combined between the team it had taken them around 74 years for the model to be made.

Stuart’s inspiration for the mysterious Hogwarts castle is something slightly less impressive it is mostly based off two British institutions rather than something paranormal, Durham Cathedral and Alnwick Castle; however he states that there are some rather obvious differences, “The profile has been changed so that there are tall, pointy spires so there’s plenty of theatrical exaggeration”.

After first being created in the soundstage of the studio at Leavesden in the year 2000 the model is now seeing the light of day and being revealed to the general public in the Warner Brothers studio tour as the grand finale, ensuring that tourists will be lining up for potential photo opportunities with this magnificent piece of Harry Potter history.

Stuart Craig however remains grounded about his model claiming that it is just “made from a thin skin of molded plaster applied to bits of MDF” and that “The materials are quite simple”, however this will not deter numbers of fans being made awestruck by its beauty.

Photo credit: EG Focus (CC BY 2.0)

£100 million Leavesden Studios Upgrade on Track

March 2nd, 2012 · · Leavesden Development No comments

A large 100 million pound upgrade of Leavesden film and television studios is under way with the buildings due to be fully complete in April ahead of the official opening in June 2012. Warner Brothers have invested large sums of money into Leavesden however they are already getting some payback with one of the sound stages already open.

Warner Bros Studios Leavesden has already been using a large 31,000 sq ft soundstage in the complex that was being used to re-film scenes for an unknown film. The fact that the studio is already being used before the opening date can only be considered advantageous for the long term prospects of the studio, Josh Berger the president and managing director of Warner Bros Entertainment UK was quoted as saying, “The fact that we’ve made the move and are investing money and resources to build world-class studios will only have a positive effect in terms of attracting more production to the UK”.

When the complex is totally complete it will be home of nine stages with four of them being the largest in Europe being larger than 30,000 sq ft each, with four being slightly smaller measuring in at 20,000 sq ft and the last one measuring around 10,000 sq ft thus ensuring the soundstage cater to any perspective directors needs, Warner Bros emphasise this point when they state that the stages will represent about one third of the UK’s total filming stage space.

Everyone involved in the project is excited about the possible long term affects that it will have on the future of British film industries, Warner Bros Studios Leavesdean senior vice president and managing director Dan Dark was full of praise for the future of the studios and their potential, “Leavesden has always been known as a place for big productions, People want big sets, and when you marry that with our back log of 100 acres – no other facility in the UK has that kind of space”. He also goes on to state that interest in the studios are great and that they are already in discussions with three other large feature films to use the complex and have yet to discuss the potential with TV productions.

With the vast amount of interest in the studios already before it being officially ready to open the future is looking bright for Leavesden and the studios.

Weasley Twins Turn on Watford Christmas Lights

November 4th, 2011 · · Harry Potter No comments

Identical twins James and Oliver Phelps, who played Fred and George Weasley in the blockbuster 8-part Harry Potter film series, last night turned on the Christmas lights at Watford’s Harlequin Centre.

Joining the brothers for the 6pm switch on of the festive decorations were members of the cast from Watford Palace Theatre’s Christmas pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk.

“When we were filming we were based in St. Albans or at the Grove hotel down the road so we have a lot of good friends in Kings Langley and Watford” Mugglenet reported the boys as saying.  Filming for the Harry Potter series took place at Leavesden Studios which is located just outside the town.

Job Seekers Queue at Leavesden Studio Jobs Fair

October 10th, 2011 · · Leavesden News No comments

Job-seekers queued for up to two hours before the opening of the Making of Harry Potter tour jobs fair held at the Hunton Park De Vere Hotel last week.

The event at the hotel which is adjacent to Leavesden Studios attracted “scores of people” according to the local newspaper who came to find out details of jobs on offer at the site.

When Warner Brother’s purchase of Leavesden Studios was first announced it was believed that around 300 jobs would be created at the visitor attraction which is to be opened at the site where Harry Potter has been filmed for the past decade.

Harry Potter Tour Tickets on Sale from October

August 21st, 2011 · · Harry Potter 11 comments

Harry Potter World Leavesden Exterior Mockup
Tickets for the Harry Potter tour at Warner Brothers Studio London will go on sale on 13th October.

The tour around two newly constructed sounds stages at Leavesden Studios will enable Hogwarts fans to get up close and personal with behind the scenes magic.

Visitors will be able to walk through sets used during production of the most successful film series of all time including those of the Hogwarts Great Hall, Dumbeldore’s office and Hagrid’s hut.

The three hour experience will enable Potter fans to see incredible set detail, original costumes, and some of the magic behind the special effects in the movies.

Tours will be by advance booking only to ensure that high visitor levels do not spoil the experience. Tickets will be priced at £28 for adults and £21 for children with the first Leavesden Studio tours taking place in Spring 2012.