Tom Felton Starts Filming on Deathly Hallows Tomorrow

Overheard this week on Twitter from Tom Felton, who plays Draco Malfoy in all the Harry Potter movies:

"Getting my hair dyed! 1st official day back! The pain of bleaching is about to start...Am now back to looking like Malfoy! Bring on the fortnightly root touch up sessions! Joy!"

"Filming this week, Cant wait! So they had to dye it 4 times until it was white enough! My patience was wearing thin! all done now and ready to shoot tomorrow."

"First days filming tomorrow on HP7! Very excited, can't sleep! The Last film I get to portray young Draco :( I'll miss him, evil little sod."

"Finished My 2nd days filming! So much fun! Amazing sets, love being Draco, he's such a git! Damn I love my job x"

(SOURCE: WIZARD NEWS)

Clémence Poésy Will Return for Deathly Hallows

Elle magazine confirmed yestarday that Clémence Poésy will return for the final movie Harry Potter and the Deathyl Hallows. It seems that the actrice is already in England and during August, for ten days, will be involved in filming the scenes from Shell Cottage.

(SOURCE: VERITASERUM)

New Ron & Lavender Half-Blood Prince Promo

SnitchSeeker published today a new image of Ron Weasley and Lavender Brown in the Hogwarts corridor from Half-Blood Prince. The promo was initially published in the Baltimore Sun along with Jessie's Cave's LA Times interview.

(SOURCE: VERITASERUM)

New Photo and Interview with Actress Bonnie Wright

Thanks to our Order partner BonnieWrightOnline.com we know of a new interview with Bonnie Wright that is available here, as well as some gorgeous new photos, here. In the article, Bonnie discusses her role as Ginny Weasley, even speaking to filming of the epilogue for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, saying "they've been discussing how they're going to do that,' We might be aged with latex wrinkles…" She also discusses snogging Harry (Dan Radcliffe) for Half-Blood Prince:

The Half-Blood Prince is the first film in which their lips actually meet, although they've been gazing wistfully at each other for ages. It was slightly embarrassing because on set everyone knew that it was The Day when we'd kiss,' she admits. It was definitely a case of “pass the mints”. But at the moment of the scene, everything just worked.

Ginny kind of initiates what happens between her and Harry. He doesn't really know what to do because she's his best friend's sister, so she takes the lead. It was very calm and romantic.'

It was a restrained clinch, she confirms:

'It would have been more embarrassing to do a full-on number. The relationship seems to have taken even Bonnie by surprise. As I was reading the sixth book, when their relationship starts, I was quite shocked,' she confesses.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

New Video: Full Weasleys Wheezes Scene

Here's a short video of the Weasleys Wheezes scene from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Enjoy!

(SOURCE:YOU TUBE)

Parade Magazine Feature on Dan Radcliffe

The new issue of Parade magazine, carried in many weekend editions of US newspapers, will feature actor Dan Radcliffe. There is a new interview with the actor now online, as well as these new photos seen via this link. In the piece, Dan discusses taking on the role in the stage production of Equus, dating, fame and fortune, as well as aging while doing the Harry Potter films.

It will shock nobody that Radcliffe is a spectacularly sensible and articulate young man. Just like Harry. Over the years, he admits, it’s been hard to tell where Harry leaves off and he begins. “When I started out at the age of 10 or 11,” he says, “I was essentially saying the lines as I myself would say them. When I became aware that that’s what I was doing, at 13 or 14, it didn’t make sense to change, because it would suddenly be a dramatic shift in the character.” He smiles. When his mother read the sixth Harry Potter book, he remembers, she noticed that “Harry argues in the kind of irritating, pedantic way that I argue. She thought Harry and I were getting closer and closer together at that point.”

And what about the prospect of—gulp—turning 20 next month? “I’ve noticed I make noises when I get up and sit down now,” Radcliffe says in all seriousness. “I mean, my knees are rotten bad—I refused to wear knee pads too many times when I was doing stunts, and I just clobbered them up a bit. I am an old man in a young man’s body.”

Finally, be sure to take what they are calling "The Ultimate Harry Potter Quiz." This issue of Parade will be in newspapers this weekend.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

How Do You Dress Prof. Slughorn?

To add to their numerous reports leading up to the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince the LA Times has a brief discussionwith costume designer Jany Temime, who has been working on thePotter franchise for some time.

Ms. Temine dishes on dressing Prof. Slughorn:

In the book, Slughorn’s ever-so precious,” Temime said. “But once we had Jim in the part, I thought instead of precious, we’d make him grand.”

“Jim is not a small, fat man. He is tall and strong,” she said. “So we had to change and adapt.” To do that, Temime used all of J.K. Rowling’s atmospheric detail to tell the story of Slughorn through his clothes rather than his size.

She explains: “Everything we did for his costumes was very rich, but also very used, because he’s not a rich man anymore. He hasn’t worked for a long time. He is a bit of a has-been. But his clothes, even if they were from 20 years ago, were once upon a time, very rich and very glamorous. So we went for 'Old Glamour' when designing."

You can read the full report online here.

(SOURCE: HPANA)

Dan, Rupert to Appear on Live with Regis and Kelly

With the New York City premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince just two weeks away, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint are scheduled to appear on Live with Regis and Kelly on Thursday, July 9 and Friday, July 10, respectively. We will of course make video of these two interviews available once they occur.

(SOURCE: MUGGLENET)

MTV: Quidditch is Bringer of Glory, Destroyer of Friendships

As we witches and wizards know, Quidditch is a tough sport and is not for, errr, wimps or mere Muggles. Check out this very cool and fun video from MTV on how we Harry Potter fans take Quidditch to heart to help celebrate the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Enjoy!

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

Location Filming Underway in Swinley Forest for Snatcher Scene in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Headmistress' Note: SPOILERS! SPOILERS!! SPOILERS!!! If you have not read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, you might want to skip this story. Read on at your own risk!

A new report and new photos are online tonight for location filming in Swinley Forest area of the UK for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. As noted via this report from a rather excited fan, Rupert Grint (Ron) and Emma Watson (Hermione) were among those filming the Snatcher scene, as the report says:

The scenes being shot here will be featured in both parts 1 & 2 of The Deathly Hallows. Night scenes and day action were shot by both film units; these include the capture of Harry, Ron and Hermione by the Snatchers (who then deliver them to Malfoy Manor), several scenes involving the Death Eaters and a scene in which Ron chases a rabbit through the forest!...Regulars on location were Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson and in addition there were around 20 Death Eaters, including the very scary Fenrir Greyback!! Plus the Snatchers, (two of which are played by Chase Armitage and Adam Brashaw) whom are well known already in the UK as ‘urban acrobatics’ (or experts in ‘free running’), and also trained in various forms of Martial Arts....From one of my own contacts, I'm told the footage and scenes these guys filmed with the trio in the forest are out of this world and use very few effects if any! We’re awaiting confirmation if ‘Hagrid’ or Robbie Coltrane filmed a scene but definately there was a screen double, possibly ex-England Rugby star Martin Bayfield (as featured in previous films) shooting one or more of the scenes.

UPDATE: There is an earlier and unconfirmed report from the site regarding more location filming for Deathly Hallows, which TLC believes to be fairly accurate.

Headmistress' note: To read the rest of the article, click the Leaky Cauldron link below, but be fore warned there are SPOILERS GALORE in this article if you have not read the book!

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

Play the Demo of the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Video Game

Check it out! EA has now released the demo of the new Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince video game. As seen on the UK site (others to follow soon) via this link you can download and enjoy a sample of the new game from the sixth Harry Potter film. Enjoy!

The Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince video game from EA will be released June 30, 2009. Related: IGN has now posted a review of the WII platform of the game, here.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

Trio Confirmed to Attend New York Premiere of Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince July 9

Warner Bros. has issued a press release today confirming Dan Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Tom Felton and Bonnie Wright will be among those attending the US premiere ofHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The premiere will take place at Ziegfeld Theater, 141 West 54th Street in New York City, Thursday July 9th, with the stars due to arrive at 6:00 pm (EASTERN) While TLC will be covering this event, if you are going, please send in your photos and reports to staff@the-leaky-cauldron.org.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

Mark Williams Discusses End of 'Potter' Series & More

In a new interview via the LA Times Mark Williams, who portrays Arthur Weasley in the Harry Potter movies, discusses the new movie, Half-Blood Prince, the end of the series, his character and when all is done what he, if he could, take from the set.

So, how much freedom did you get to shape Arthur Weasley to your liking?

Well, in the book he's kind of balding and said to Chris [Columbus] 'Well, do you want me to shave my head or something' and he said 'No! No, don't do that!' He looked at me and said 'Don't take it so literally.' J.K. Rowling has been very good about that. She's allowed the films to develop sort of in parallel to the books, but she hasn't changed the sort of characterization of the books either ... And withDeathly Hallows, I think for the first time, as the books got bigger, Steve Kloves' job got harder and harder. But having two parts to the last book is good. I'm a big champion of it, and not just because I'm in them. She [J.K. Rowling] has such a mathematical brain, or better put, a musical brain and all the themes and the melodies were resolved in the last book.

If you could, once all of the films are done, take something from the set, what would it be?

In the Weasley household, there is a clock that shows where everybody is. It's the most beautiful piece of prop-making. Lots of that is unappreciated and you just go on the set and you're like 'Oh my God!' You just want to give it a close-up ... The hands are the ends of scissors, and it says things like 'school,' 'work' ... and one of the sections says 'in mortal peril.' I'd love that. And it doesn't work, by the way, cause I've been in mortal peril and it didn't say anything. I've come back and it just said 'at work.'

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opens nationwide on July 15, 2009.

(SOURCE: HPANA)

'Half-Blood Prince' Soundtrack to Include Bonus Exclusive Content

Warner Bros. has just sent HPANA a press release announcing that the soundtrack for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will include an enhanced CD giving fans a free digital download of the entire soundtrack in 5.1 Surround Sound audio, along with bonus exclusive content. The soundtrack by Nicholas Hooper, who scored Order of the Phoenix, will be released on July 14th.

You can pre-order the soundtrack from Amazon.

(SOURCE: HPANA)

Watch the Premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince LIVE from London July 7

Calling all Harry Potter fans! We've just gotten a bit of exciting news as plans are underway to let fans watch the London premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince LIVE in Leicester Square, London, England on July 7th starting at 1pm (6pm GMT). The premiere which is always an exciting event, will be broadcast via this link to UK Press Association; you can see an example of a recent broadcast of the Transformer premiere currently on the site made possible by the Livestream technology. While no official announcement has yet been made, the premiere is likely to include the appearance of many of the cast and crew from HBP, stay tuned!

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

New Interview with Jessie Cave on Love, Lavender and Snogging Ron Weasley

The HeroComplex Blog in the LA Times featuring new daily reports on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been updated today with a new interview of actress Jessie Cave. The young actress discusses her role as Lavender Brown, and the relationship her character has with Ron Weasley, as played by actor Rupert Grint. In the interview we learn she read the books before landing a part in the series ("I read ‘Half-Blood Prince’ before I knew anything about the auditions. So to have already read the character was so great.") working with Rupert ("He was very easygoing and very laid-back. He didn’t at all have any kind of ego, he was just a nice guy and very normal.") and the relationship between Ron and Lavender which involves a bit of...snogging.

Do you remember what your first day on set was like?
It’s funny, I was filming for six months, but I remember my third day was the big kissing scene. I remember thinking, ‘Why are they doing this so early?’ It helped actually because the nerves kind of added to the scene. There were so many extras, like 70 other people in the room, it could have gone so wrong. The first day was kind of building up to the kissing scene, so it was immediately going into the deep end.

If I remember correctly, Lavender’s the aggressor in the relationship, right?
Ha! Yes, she is incredibly dominating of Ron. She just wants to be around him all the time and she’s the one who initiates everything. She’s one of those girls that’s very pretty and very obvious, she’s just not really aware of how she’s being perceived by anyone else. And I think that’s really sweet in a way because she doesn’t perceive barriers very well [laughs]. She treads all over them. It’s why she ruffles Hermione’s feathers so much.

She does put up a good fight.
She’s almost the catalyst in setting up Hermione and Ron in the final chapter of the saga really. Without Lavender, they wouldn’t have been forced together, to acknowledge their feelings so abruptly because she definitely caused that.

How did it feel playing someone who everyone will know doesn’t stand a chance?
Well, she does really! She does quite well. She does go out with him and does get her claws into him for awhile. Not claws -- she’s lovely. She does get her way for a tiny bit, but unfortunately, it doesn’t end up her way.

How is Lavender introduced?
She’s in the Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes shop and she’s kind of ogling Ron. She’s been going to school with them for years, but it’s not that she’s making her interests known.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

New Video: The Making of Quidditch for the Half-Blood Prince Video Game

OK this is cool: New video is now online from IGN of the making of Quidditch for the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Video Game. The piece features new interviews with cast members including one Weasley who is our King... aka Rupert Grint (Ron), Bonnie Wright (Ginny), Dan Radcliffe (Harry) as well as Tom Felton (Draco) and Emma Watson (Hermione). New footage shown includes an exhilarating flight around the Burrow. Enjoy!

You can also see 4 new still from the game here. The video game for Half-Blood Prince from EA will be available on June 30th.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

MSN Asks "Has Harry Potter Lost the Magic?"

The MSN Mom & Pop Culture Blog for Family Entertainment has an opinion piece today based on the question " 'Has Harry Potter Lost His Magic?.' " The article starts by mentioning the huge interest and media attention paid to the Twilight series, then discusses the delay of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, wondering if this would cause waning in the love of the series and films. The author notes that while some had been planning a boycott when the movie opens next month, the magic remains strong and firm for many of us, and mentions our own recent LeakyCon convention held last month in Boston. Quotage:

But on the other hand, there is reality. Harry Potter still has passionate fans. The Web site, TheLeakyCauldron.org reports more than 75,000 members in its online discussion community. These fans not only have no plans to boycott Warner Bros. for delaying the movie, some of them also traveled to Boston a couple of months ago for "LeakyCon," a convention that raised money for charities and featured the musical stylings of an astonishing number of Harry Potter tribute bands....

The event, put on by TheLeakyCauldron.org, wasn't just about bands, though. Two major names in young adult literature, Cheryl Klein and John Green, gave a keynote speech on the writing process. Klein was on the U.S. editing team for Harry Potter, and Green is author of "Looking for Alaska" and "An Abundance of Katherines" and "Paper Towns."

The author then goes on to note a feeling that is shared by so many of us:

As impressive as this is, conventions aren't proof that the boy wizard retains his magic. That lies in the stories themselves, where the magic remains in abundance...I picked up "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" again to get myself ready for the movie, and loved it more this time than I did the first. Once you know how the series ends, you can see the incredibly way Rowling structured the story, weaving little bits into the tapestry that would have great meaning later. All the while, she stayed true to her central theme: that a mother's love is the most powerful magic of all. And she keeps things refreshingly complex. Many secondary characters are a mix of good and evil -- sort of like how people are in the real world.

These books are good enough that they should be considered classics. The movies, for the most part, have been good, too. This is why I'll be at the theater the day "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" opens. For me, at least, the magic is as strong as ever.

Hear Hear! Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opens July 15th.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

New Set Report from 'Deathly Hallows' Filming

A new set report from the filming of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince includes new interviews with producer David Heyman, director David Yates, actors Daniel Radcliffe, Tom Felton and Jim Broadbent.

Dan Radcliffe on Deathly Hallows:

The Half-Blood Prince is funnier than the previous books, which has given me the reins to be a bit more stupid. But I actually prefer doing the slightly darker side of stuff. I'm not so comfortable with being funny. One of David Yates's jobs on this film is to make me see that it's not always about the darkness in the scene; I have in my head that darkness in a character equals credibility and of course that's not the case.

David Yates on having fun filming:

Oh God, yes. I have too much... I have a lot of fun. And this one will feel tonally different. It will feel more playful, more magical, more emotional. We're very excited about this one. We feel as though we're moving it on again.

Jim Broadbent discusses being part of the franchise:

It was an extraordinary thing to be part of. The main sets feel so permanent, having been there since the start, which means it's very easy to get drawn into the world of Hogwarts. It was rather daunting turning up on set with all these young actors; it could so easily have been a nightmare, given that the five films have had such huge success. But the kids turned out to be terrific. There was no brattish behaviour or starry, Fame Academy behaviour; they just get on with it.

(SOURCE: HPANA)

DVD Slump Might Weaken 'Half-Blood Prince' Sales

Though the 'Harry Potter' films have been huge DVD sellers, each sequel has sold fewer units than its predecessor -- and raised the bar of profitability that much higher for Warner Bros.

Harry Potter, the teen wizard whose films have generated billions of dollars and become one of Hollywood's biggest franchises, is known for battling the evil Lord Voldemort. Now he's about to confront an even darker foe: A soft DVD market.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," the sixth installment in the Warner Bros. film series, will be released July 15, and expectations are that it will be one of the year's biggest blockbusters. The previous five "Potter" movies have generated $7.2 billion in worldwide box-office and DVD sales, reaping huge profits for the studio and Potter's creator, author J.K. Rowling.

But the movie world that "Half-Blood Prince" will enter is markedly different from the one that its predecessor, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," faced when it was released in 2007. Over the last two years, DVD sales, which have long propped up the movie business, have sharply declined. The slump in the DVD market has undermined Hollywood's business model and cast a shadow over what used to be the industry's bright spot.

"There's been a fairly substantial shrinkage in the overall DVD market since the last 'Harry Potter' film came out," said Tom Adams, a home video industry analyst. According to Adams, DVD sales were down 9% in 2008 and he's projecting that they will fall an additional 8% in 2009.

"That puts much more performance pressure on these big franchise titles to succeed," he said.

Though the "Potter" movies have historically been huge DVD sellers, each successive sequel has sold far fewer units than its predecessor. Sales of the last release were off 15% in the first eight weeks compared with sales of the first film during the same time span. Even a small decline in DVD sales is a challenge for expensive movies because it raises the bar to profitability that much higher.

And the bar for Harry Potter is higher than ever. Warner Bros. spent $250 million to produce "Half-Blood Prince" and will invest $155 million to market and distribute the movie, according to people familiar with the situation.

Compared with other big-budget sequels, the incremental costs for each "Potter" film have been moderate, mostly because of salary increases for cast members and unfavorable foreign exchange rates. For example, when Warner Bros. began shooting "Half-Blood Prince" outside London in September 2007, the dollar was so weak against the British pound that it added roughly $15 million to the production cost...

The rest of the article can be read at the source link below.

(SOURCE: LA TIMES)

Harry Potter spill secrets about Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter fans can expect a dark and funny rollercoaster ride when they watch Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, according to the film's stars.

Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis and James and Oliver Phelps spoke to Newsround hours after seeing the film for the first time and reckon we're in for a treat.

Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton said the new film is definitely much funnier.

"There's lots to look forward to," he said. "I was laughing through the whole two hours."

Matthew Lewis, who plays Neville Longbottom in the film series, said fans will see his character getting more strong-willed and starting to change in the Half-Blood Prince.

And it's probably no surprise to fans of the Harry Potter books that Matthew thinks the story of the Half-Blood Prince isn't that nice, in terms of what happens in it.

"Every year, we always say 'it's much darker, this one', but this one really is. It gets pretty heavy in parts," he said.

"But the balance they've achieved with the comedy... the timing is wonderful.

"Jim Broadbent [Professor Slughorn] is superb, Rupert Grint [Ron Weasley] is on top form and it is very very funny."

Weasley twins

Meanwhile, away from Hogwarts, Fred and George Weasley have opened their own joke shop, but what was it like filming away from the famous school?

"It was really cool because we got to work in probably the best set there," said Oliver.

"The set Fred and George have is so insane we weren't disappointed to be away from Hogwarts at the time," added James.

"But when we saw the film I realised how much I missed the shoots in the Great Hall and on the quidditch pitch."

(SOURCE: CBBC NEWSROUND)

Fans' chance to try Potter tour

Harry Potter fans could be in for a treat on Saturday as a special live tour opens its doors.

The live experience will be open to ANYONE on Saturday 20 June and Sunday 21 June in London's Leicester Square, but fans will need to get there early.

Tickets will be available on a first-come first-served basis.

The tour has been up and running in the cities of Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham since Monday, but only to competition winners.

Other competition winners will take the tour in London on Thursday and Friday, before everyone gets their chance for the rest of the weekend.

Visitors will be able to see sets from the films, look at costumes worn by the stars and get up close to props that have featured in the films.

(SOURCE: CBBC NEWSROUND)

Emma Watson is the New Face of Burberry

Emma Watson, who stars as the clever witch Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, has whipped up some fashion magic of her own by becoming the next actress to become the face of Burberry. Burberry, the British fashion house started in 1856 by Thomas Burberry, made the announcement yesterday.

Emma will be the face of Burberry’s Fall 2009 ad campaign. Creative Director Christopher Bailey spoke about the decision to pick Emma for the ad campaign.

"Having known and admired the lovely Emma Watson for quite some time, she was the obvious choice for this campaign, who like the images she fronts, has a classic beauty, a great character and a modern edge."

The 19 year old Watson is quite the fashionista herself. She is regularly spotted on the local fashion scene and attends Fashion Week events around Europe. She has also appeared in a number of fashion magazines.

The famed fashion photographer MarioTestino shot the photos for the new campaign in the heart of jolly old London town. One of the photos proudly sports the Thames river in the background.

Burberry is looking to present a more modern image to the shopping public. Christopher Bailey stated, “I wanted the images to represent the rich history and the modernity of the Burberry brand whilst at the same time reflecting a quiet beauty, timelessness and strength that is particularly significant today.”

The new ad campaign featuring Emma Watson will appear in numerous print publications beginning in August of this year.

Headmistress Note: Thanks so much to our Hogwarts Mate Sylvia for the heads up on this article.

(SOURCE: HULIQ)