Issue 72; Vol. 2; October 30, 2007

Owl Post: Bringing you the best in Harry Potter

The Official Newsletter of LeakyNews.com!
HBP

Dan Radcliffe, Michael Gambon Film Scenes in Lacock for "Half-Blood Prince"

Filming for the sixth film, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," took place this past week in the village of Lacock, Wiltshire in England. We have received many reports from readers who saw the activity and relayed their experiences, providing much information about the production. Dedicated TLC reader and Harry Potter fan Pinkmoosely sent us a report from the village in England where they are filming and reports that crowds were heavy outside the house and compound used as a base in Lacock, Wiltshire, England, where security had blocked off the street, and made it very difficult to obtain photos of actor Dan Radcliffe (Harry Potter) or Michael Gambon (Professor Dumbledore) during filming. Earlier photos from Pinkmoosley can be seen here.

A second report from TLC reader Ettie confirms that filming was indeed of the scene at Slughorn’s home in "Budleigh Babberton," where Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) and Harry (Dan Radcliffe) persuade the former Potionsmaster to return to Hogwarts to teach. Ettie writes that "the part I saw was the walk to, and entry into the house. They did about 6 takes. When I left they were shooting them leaving the house, and you could hear Slughorn’s voice agreeing to take the job and demanding a pay rise. Inside the doorway I could see a white staircase and light blue walls. Michael Gambon was really nice and took a moment to walk over and speak to some of the children and parents watching the set. He asked if everyone was cold and said he was freezing. He was wearing the gray robes he has worn before in other Potter films. Daniel was wearing trainers, T shirt and jacket."

She continues on to say "the ‘churchyard’ type props are actually parts of a fake war memorial which was set up along the end of Church Street. (This was mentioned in the book). All the windows of nearby houses have had blinds fitted to stop any light coming from their windows and create an atmosphere of gloom."

We have obtained even more detail courtesy of reader Georgie who stuck around long enough to watch another scene being filmed, and reports that Michael Gambon has a green cast of sorts on his hand so they can later add in the visual effects for Dumbledore’s withered hand (two new photos she snapped, including one of Dumbledore’s double here and here). Our Leaky Image Gallery has even more photos of the Lacock Filming right here.

You can read these readers full reports right here on LeakyNews.com.

DH UK

Director Guillermo Del Toro Would be Interested in "Deathly Hallows" Film

Director Guillermo Del Toro has given a new interview to MTV where he speaks again of his interest in possibly helming a Harry Potter film, in particular the film adaptation of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." Mr. Del Toro, who was approached for Prisoner of Azkaban (and ultimately directed by his good friend Alfonso Cuaron) says he might still make a Harry Potter movie, providing Warner Brothers lets him make the movie as he sees fit and on his own terms.

"They came to me once, for the third one," he remembered of "The Prisoner of Azkaban". "I’ve read them all, and when I read the books before the movies were done, I always pictured Charles Dickens – they were very Dickens-ian. The situation of Harry Potter reminded me a lot of Pip from ‘Great Expectations’. I saw them as deeper, more creaky, more corroded; then [the stories] were textured very differently when the first two movies came out. They were so bright and happy and full of light, that I wasn’t interested."

After seeing the last few films, however, the director famed for a shadowy imagination and morally ambiguous characters has begun to reconsider. "They seem to be getting eerie and darker... If they come back to me, I’ll think about it."

As announced previously, the film version of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is set to go into production sometime in 2009, with a release slated for sometime in 2010.

More Big News...

J.K. Rowling: a Living Genius
Video Interview with David Thewlis on Dumbledore Revelation and More
Leaky Interview with GLAAD (The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation)
Patrick Doyle Discusses Help From Potter Stars During Battle Against Leukemia

What's HOT in the Leaky Lounge

The Wizarding London section on the Leaky Lounge is filled with non-Harry Potter related discussion for all to participate in. The topics here range from the talking about the latest book you are reading to parents getting advice from other parents on their young witches and wizards. This area on the Lounge is buzzing with topics which do not directly relate to Harry Potter, but relate to us all. To explore this wonderful corner of the Lounge, simply click here.

New from PotterCast

PotterCast, our Harry Potter podcast is here this week with more mailbag than ever before! We have gotten a bit of mail over the past week on certain subjects and our own Kristin Brown is back with us to discuss what is on our readers’ minds. On this last episode with Melissa before she goes off to write her book, we also talk about the newest pictures of the "Half-Blood Prince" filming in the UK, Patrick Doyle’s moving comments on his battle with leukemia, and more "Order of the Phoenix" DVD release news.

The latest in HP essays!

As October draws to a close, the 19th Issue of Scribbulus, Leaky's premier essay project, still resonates with the thoughtful and academic essays included in this issue. The character of Severus Snape is discussed as is Fred Weasley along with a fans' personal experience reading "Deathly Hallows." To read this wonderful issue, click here. Enjoy!

New and featured items

There were a few updates to our Cauldron Shop this past week. First, we have a set of simply beautiful water globes from the San Francisco MusicBox Company. You can choose from the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Hogwarts Express and Quidditch globes. In addition to this, Ravenclaw and Slytherin fans have a few new hair accessories to use with the Sassy Tails Collection now in stock. Finally, this set Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Bookends will be the perfect complement to your now complete set of Harry Potter novels. Be sure to check out our own Cauldron Shop for this and so much more today!

 

Jingle Spells: Leaky's Sixth Get A Clue Fundraiser Now Open

JS Leaky’s sixth Get a Clue fundraiser, our yearly efforts which have raised more than $30,000 to date to aid literacy around the world, is now under way, and it’s a doozy this year.

The holiday season is nearly upon us, so we asked 14 of the biggest and best wizard rock bands around to donate a Christmas or Holiday themed song for a very special compilation album. They all did so with enthusiasm, and what we now have to offer you for our fundraiser is one of the best holiday albums any of us has heard. It is all-new music, from 14 different bands, and buying the album is the only way you can hear the music on it. It’s a perfect gift for yourself or anyone else you know who loves Harry Potter. It’s for a good cause. It’s a holiday gift and a holiday good deed, all rolled into one. Every penny of profit on this album will be donated to Book Aid International, to aid in their effort to install libraries in the places in the world that need them most.

The album is selling for $15, including shipping (there is a $3 surcharge for orders outside the U.S.), and is now available for pre-order at this link. All pre-orders will be shipped out in mid-November, and the album will only be available (and only as a physical disc) through Dec. 10.

 
  New Pictures
"Half-Blood Prince" Filming in Lacock

J.K. Rowling Press Conference in Toronto
Reader E-mails

Dear Leaky Cauldron,
I'm writing a report on J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter books. Can you please send me all the information you have about this topic? Please format and footnote properly!

-A Devoted Reader



Dear Devoted Reader,

Sure! Actually, while you're at it, send your math homework as well - we're not busy or anything.

We know the Potter books have inspired many students to write essays, and we think that's great, but we're sure that your teacher would prefer that you do your own work (plus, only kidding about the not being busy thing).

However, to help you along:

-keyword search Leaky to find older articles
-look at Quick Quotes Quill to read JKR interview transcripts
-The HP Lexicon is your research friend

Best of luck on that paper!

-Kristin for TLC