New Interview With Art Director for Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The Universal Orlando website has a brand new interview online with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter's Art Director, Alan Gilmore. Gilmore previously worked as the Art Director on a number of projects including the Harry Potter films, "Notting Hill" and "The Bourne Ultimatum." A video of the interview is now available in our Leaky Video Galleries via this link.
In the interview Gilmore spoke about working with production designer Stuart Craig and the Art Director's role in bringing the Harry Potter attraction to life:

I see myself as a conduit, shepherding Stuart's design and acting as a guardian for his vision and designs from all of the movies. I have worked alongside the film design team from London for a long time now and have learned so much from them. We sourced from an extensive back catalog of sets and settings from the films, and many of the spaces we created for the films have been reinterpreted for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Gilmore also discussed the need to make the theme park world "work from every angle... from a child's point-of-view, to a very tall person's point-of-view, and for everyone in between." He contrasted this challenging task to the Harry Potter films when you "know where your viewer is, and you can design to that viewer, composing the settings from one or two viewpoints."

Universal recently released a photo revealing the brick archway entrance to Hogsmeade and Gilmore declares the view from the archway as the first thing he would want guests to experience:

I would want them to come through the entry arch at Hogsmeade and take a moment to just absorb the amazing spectacle in front of them. The viewpoint just beyond the arch beside the train looking toward the castle is the most encompassing view of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It really gives you a sense of this amazing place. It should be quite magical to see the reactions on the fans and guests faces as I am sure this will be the first time most people will have ever been in an environment like this. So, for me, I think this starting point is where you want to have your first experience and explore Harry's world.

You can find a transcript of the full interview here on the Universal Orlando website and the video of the interview here in our galleries. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will have its grand opening on the 18th of June, this year.
 
(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)

Bonnie Wright Cover Shoot & Dirrty Glam Magazine Feature

As reported last month, Bonnie Wright was featured as the cover girl for the June issue of France's Dirrty Glam magazine. The interactive issue is online now, featuring numerous beautiful shots of the Ginny Weasley actress in an array of dresses. In the interview, translated in French, Bonnie talks about life at university, fashion designers, and what's in store for her in the future. The spread can be found in our galleries.

(SOURCE: SNITCH SEEKER)

Theme park blogger Brian Orndorf has a new video from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, where music from the Harry Potter films has started to play in areas guests can access. It'll be so cool to hear this music in the park! Talk about a complete experience!

Headmistress Denice's Comment: Make sure you watch the video all the way through. I promise you the ending is worth the watching!



(SOURCE: MUGGLENET)

Felton Pens Thank You Letter To Rowling

Harry Potter villain Tom Felton has proved he's not all bad by penning a heartfelt thank you letter to the woman behind all his success - author J.K. Rowling.

The 22-year-old star, who plays Draco Malfoy in the Potter series, has revealed he put pen to paper to thank the writer as he prepares to play his meddling, white-haired bad boy for the final time.

He says, "I wrote to J.K. Rowling, thanking her not only for the great stories and for bringing literacy back single-handedly, but she gave me a lot more than that.

"I've met a lot of friends for life and met my girlfriend on that set."

(SOURCE: BEYOND HOGWARTS)

Emma Watson talks Hermione Granger, costars & Brown in Vanity Fair

A new feature on Emma Watson has been released by Vanity Fair. In the short article (accompanied by two photos, seen in our galleries), Emma admits how much she had in common with Hermione Granger from the beginning of the Harry Potter films, that Brown University is like any college she's seen in the movies, and talks about adjusting to becoming an American college student. That can be read below.

Once upon a time there were two little girls living in England. Both were kind, full of energy, and eager to please, and had a charming habit of telling people what to do. One was named Hermione Granger, the other Emma Watson.

“If I'm honest, I was her,” says Watson. “I was very keen. I was super-eager to please and be good. And I was always kind of bossy.”

At age 11, Hermione was so bright and winning that she was selected to go to Hogwarts, the famous school for magic in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. At age nine, Emma was so bright and winning that she was chosen from tens of thousands of girls to play Hermione in the first Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

On life at Brown:

"It was just awful," she recalls thinking at first, during freshman week.

“I was like, I must be mad. Why am I doing this?” And what was with all the party-hearty stuff? She nervously attended her first frat party, hoping she might get into the swing of things.

“I felt like I'd walked into an American teen movie. I picked up the red cups. I was like, Wow, they really do drink from these.” Then she started meeting people: a roommate who had no interest in Harry Potter (phew!), some really friendly rower guys, and eventually one Rafael Cebrián.

On her relationships with her Harry Potter co-stars, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint:

“At the end of the day, when something goes badly, [Dan]’s the one I turn to and talk it over with.”

However, she does admit Daniel, who plays Harry, has his faults, saying: “Some of the most interesting conversations I’ve had have been with him. Daniel is incredibly articulate… but he doesn’t budge, so it drives me crazy. I’ll be stumbling into the trailer in the morning, and he’ll be playing something just very loud and abrasive.”

Emma, 19, is equally as close to Rupert Grint – whose alter-ego in the films is Ron Weasley – and knows she can always rely on him to make her laugh.

She said: “I’d go to Rupert when I needed cheering up. He’s just fun.”

Here's Vanity Fair's Behind the Scenes video of the Emma Watson shoot:



(SOURCE: SNITCH SEEKER)

New High-Res Prisoner of Azkaban Photos from LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4

With the release date drawing nearer, this evening, Warner Brothers has released brand-new high-res photos from LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 with a specific focus on Prisoner of Azkaban.


Sirius and Lupin
Rescuing Sirius
Inside The Whomping Willow
The Trio Find Scabbers
Snape, Sirius and Lupin
Zonko's
The Knight Bus
Fred, George, and Harry in Hogsmeade
Harry and Hermione on Buckbeak
Battling Dementors
Harry and Hermione Ready to Fight

Additionally, earlier this evening, I attended a press event in New York City in promotion of LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 where I got the opportunity to play the game. This is by far the most intricately detailed, true-to-the books Potter video game and I guarantee fans will enjoy countless hours of gameplay.

(SOURCE: MUGGLENET)

Emma Watson Attends 2010 MET Ball In New York City

Actress Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) was in attendance at the 2010 MET Ball, which took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City today. Photos of Miss Watson from the red carpet are now available online and can be seen right here in our Image Galleries.

The 2010 MET Ball, also called the Museum's Costume Institute Gala Benefit, is in conjunction with the May 5th opening of the "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A press release notes:

The exhibition features 80 examples of haute couture and high fashion primarily from the Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, which was transferred to the Met from the Brooklyn Museum in January 2009. Many of the pieces have not been seen by the public in more than 30 years.

Visitors walk through time as they enter circular galleries that reflect the milieu of each feminine archetype. Period clothing is brought to life with hand-painted panoramas animated by music, video, and lighting. The first gallery evokes the ballroom of the "Heiress" (1890s), filled with ball gowns by Charles Frederick Worth. Scenes of the great outdoors showcase the athleticism and physical independence of the "Gibson Girl" (1890s) as characterized by bathing costumes, riding ensembles, and cycling suits.

The exhibition runs from May 5, 2010 through August 15, 2010.

(SOURCE: THE LEAKY CAULDRON)