livedesignonline.com: Twenty minutes outside London in Leavesden, England, the recently opened Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter™ is housed in two large purpose-built soundstages and a backlot.
This unique attraction is designed as a self-guided walking tour through exhibits of costumes, animatronics, special effects, props, and actual sets—including the Great Hall, Dumbledore’s Office, and Diagon Alley—that were created for the Harry Potter films.
7 comments:
We still don't want the world of wizards to die with the last movie and this is a good way to still awe the public. There are so many tiny details that the set and especially the props department have that really shouldn't be lost on people. After viewing one of the behind the scenes Q&A with the prop people, it was evident that they did their homework and actually contributed some of their own inventions in this little world. They had to fill Fred and George's shop with so many products and the lists in the books only went so far. There are some really creative inventions that the creative team made up that compliment the world so well. I hope details like this were included in the scenic elements that the walking tour can display because there are more artists that had to envision this world and fill in everything the text couldn't. If I get the chance, I would love to see this site and to see the really intricate model of that castle.
I have always been interested in how this movie was made to look the way it does. Beyond that, I find the creation of any fantasy type of movie very interesting. Despite working in entertainment, the secrets of the film industry are still just that to me - secrets. It is not an industry I have ever worked in or even researched extensively as I am not as interested in finding a career in it. However, it would be such a cool thing just to know a little bit more about. What is seen on screen is so vastly different than what is seen in the filming location, and point A to point B is a journey within itself.
I am amazed that the broad shots of the castle from all of the movies weren't CG, but were rather taken off of a 1/24" scale model. On paper that scale sounds tiny, but seeing the picture of the model next to a group of people, it's huge. I'm very glad that the shots were taken of the model, and not done on CG. It makes the movies seem just that much more intimate. There are so many effects in the movies that had to be CG, or at least partially CG, and it's nice to know they took the time to create such a detailed object. I wonder how many people and how long it took to create the model. I also wonder how it was moved from the location it was built in to the location of the filming, and where it was stored in between movies, since it's such a huge piece. The article quotes one of the creators of this display saying that the model is never moving. I doubt that statement is true. Two generations down the line, no one will be impressed with these movies the way this generation is, and I would be surprised if the display didn't end up closing. Seeing as the model was built into the space, it would most likely be destroyed in an attempt to remove it from the building, assuming the building will need to remain standing. It's a shame to loose something of such an impressive nature that touched so many children's hearts.
Designing and building exhibits like this is something I've been interested in quite sometime now. There are so many details that have to be considered, its really a challenge. The design of the space around the model is unfortunate in the fact that one day it may lead to the destruction of an incredible piece of art however it's an incredibly detailed and inspirational design to implement. I can't help but think about the National Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. as I read this....the entire exhibit, actually the entire building plan is based on flow, exposure and the experience of the patron as they make their way from beginning to end and I have to say that it was one of the most moving and experiences of I've had, both in design and content.
It is amazing that so many people did not know about this model that everyone thought was CGI. I am so glad that they found it and made it a centerpiece in the attraction and did not just simply put it in a room and let people see it that way. I wonder what type of upkeep is going to be needed to keep the model and all of the other attractions in top shape for everyone. I am sure that it is a ton. I hope that they don’t let it go downhill so when I get a chance to go to England I will see what everything was shot in and have a better understanding of how this film was produced. I wonder what else they are going to do will all of the things that they did not use.
Joseph Tolle, I think that your comparison of the National Holocaust Museum and the set of Harry Potter was completely necessary. Even if you did make a valid comparison, contrasting the Holocaust Museum to the set of a move is tacky. Either you put way to much importance on Harry Potter or you lack thereof on the Holocaust. Comparing any thing to the Holocaust is risky, if you were a public figure this would be all over the wire.
*UNnecessary
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