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tashlefay
Hi. Excuse this being my first post and an odd introduction but I was desperate to share my news with other Potter fan(atic)s smile.gif .

I was at work yesterday when a student who is training with us said out of the blue "last night I was talking on the phone with that guy who plays 'someone' Malfoy in the Harry Potter films."

"Draco Malfoy, Tom Felton? How come you spoke to him?" I answered calmly, like I was completely unfazed by this statement.

"Yeah" she says "that's him, I'm not really into Harry Potter." (*gasp*) However she goes on to tell me that her friend works on the Leavesden Studios film set (not far from here) and is friendly with Tom.

"Do you like Harry Potter?" she says. At this my other colleague and I relegated her with tales outlining our enthusiast credentials and proving we are in fact complete Harry Potter nuts.

"Would you like a tour of the set?" she asked. Let me think…….Erm. YES!

She tells me that she is serious and immediately texted her friend who called back. To cut a not very long story even shorter – there is a new filming schedule about to be released and she's going to call us with the dates that filming looks most interesting so we can sort a convenient day for us to visit the set.

I pushed my luck to ask if my son can come (I don't know that they'll want kids at the studio) but either way, I'm still going! Unless this has all been an elaborate fantasy dreamed up by my mind to avoid having to actually do any work or it all falls through; I'm prepared for disappointment, but pessimism aside I'm really excited.

Now I've just got to find a way to appear like someone who is not an obsessive fan who spends far too much of her free time in the HP fandom. That's going to be tricky!


edited for grammar
finley
QUOTE(tashlefay @ Mar 7 2008, 10:26 AM) *
Hi. Excuse this being my first post and an odd introduction but I was desperate to share my news with other Potter fan(atic)s smile.gif .

I was at work yesterday when a student who is training with us said out of the blue "last night I was talking on the phone with that guy who plays 'someone' Malfoy in the Harry Potter films."

"Draco Malfoy, Tom Felton? How come you spoke to him?" I answered calmly, like I was completely unfazed by this statement.

"Yeah" she says "that's him, I'm not really into Harry Potter." (*gasp*) However she goes on to tell me that her friend works on the Leavesden Studios film set (not far from here) and is friendly with Tom.

"Do you like Harry Potter?" she says. At this my other colleague and I relegated her with tales outlining our enthusiast credentials and proving we are in fact complete Harry Potter nuts.

"Would you like a tour of the set?" she asked. Let me think…….Erm. YES!

She tells me that she is serious and immediately texted her friend who called back. To cut a not very long story even shorter – there is a new filming schedule about to be released and she's going to call us with the dates that filming looks most interesting so we can sort a convenient day for us to visit the set.

I pushed my luck to ask if my son can come (I don't know that they'll want kids at the studio) but either way, I'm still going! Unless this has all been an elaborate fantasy dreamed up by my mind to avoid having to actually do any work or it all falls through; I'm prepared for disappointment, but pessimism aside I'm really excited.

Now I've just got to find a way to appear like someone who is not an obsessive fan who spends far too much of her free time in the HP fandom. That's going to be tricky!


edited for grammar


You are just showing off! But we will forgive you if you make sure you post again once you have been - please!!!!!!!!
tashlefay
QUOTE(finley @ Mar 7 2008, 12:11 PM) *
You are just showing off! But we will forgive you if you make sure you post again once you have been - please!!!!!!!!

Lol. I didn't mean to be showing off, honest! I just can't believe my luck and not many people I know would get why I'm so thrilled. My Potter obsession is a lone hobby.

Of course I'll pass on anything interesting that I hear or see. I don't imagine we'll be allowed to take pics but I'll happily report back any news. The colleague that I'm going with actually lives in Leavesden Green and often catches glimpses of parts of the set and we spend many a happy lunchtime trying to guess which bit of the story it's from. Oh dear, I need a life!

finley
QUOTE(tashlefay @ Mar 7 2008, 01:05 PM) *
QUOTE(finley @ Mar 7 2008, 12:11 PM) *
You are just showing off! But we will forgive you if you make sure you post again once you have been - please!!!!!!!!

Lol. I didn't mean to be showing off, honest! I just can't believe my luck and not many people I know would get why I'm so thrilled. My Potter obsession is a lone hobby.

Of course I'll pass on anything interesting that I hear or see. I don't imagine we'll be allowed to take pics but I'll happily report back any news. The colleague that I'm going with actually lives in Leavesden Green and often catches glimpses of parts of the set and we spend many a happy lunchtime trying to guess which bit of the story it's from. Oh dear, I need a life!

Don't be sorry! I would so be showing off in your place. And as for needing a life - because of your post I just checked out Leavesden on the RAC route planner site. What do I think I was going to do? - drive the kids round the M25 to the studio hoping to catch a glimpse. I am sure the kids would be well impressed - they are 2 and 6yrs old. I would have child protection after me.
Just in case there is any misunderstanding here, I would not do that to my kids - they would not let me for a start! 2 and 6yr olds can be scary!
blue4t
Congratulations and have fun. It's great knowing people in high places. I wish I did. wink.gif
SnapesSister
My younger brother went to school with Tom Felton. He was a couple of years above my bro though.
Antonija
You don't know how much I want to be in your place. To have a glimpse over HP studio?That is my dream but unfortunately it will never came true sad.gif So I hope that you will have a great time and I hope that you will tell me/us everything that you would see or hear. And please if you see Dan or Emma or Rupert or anyone from the crew say them Hi from me please !!! And tell them that they are my favourite, most favourite actors. Pls if you can if not I would be happy if you tell me what was in there smile.gif
blue4t
I'd love to do it, too, but appear as not a crazed fan. My dream is to meet certain famous people, but I don't want to meet them in those crazed fan moments like winning contests, because I want them to respect me as a normal person, not see me as a fan and fan only.

Anyway, tashlefay, I hope you have fun!
MoonyLight
QUOTE(blue4t @ Mar 7 2008, 05:51 PM) *
I'd love to do it, too, but appear as not a crazed fan. My dream is to meet certain famous people, but I don't want to meet them in those crazed fan moments like winning contests, because I want them to respect me as a normal person, not see me as a fan and fan only.


I tottally agree with you on that note!
I mean i would be way cooler to be there friend, or at least an aquaintence, then just another drooling fan.
But, all that aside I am tooootally jealous!
This is the downfall of being Canadian...I have no cool connections to any of the HP crew, although, to be totally honest I doubt I would anyways.

Make sure you enjoy yourself for all those who are experiencing this through you!! I for one expect to read paragraphs on the whole thing. biggrin.gif
tashlefay
QUOTE(finley @ Mar 7 2008, 05:32 PM) *
Don't be sorry! I would so be showing off in your place. And as for needing a life - because of your post I just checked out Leavesden on the RAC route planner site. What do I think I was going to do? - drive the kids round the M25 to the studio hoping to catch a glimpse. I am sure the kids would be well impressed - they are 2 and 6yrs old. I would have child protection after me.
Just in case there is any misunderstanding here, I would not do that to my kids - they would not let me for a start! 2 and 6yr olds can be scary!

I don't think it's worth a long journey but you can see bits of the set from the road, depending which parts they have in place at the time. Apparently at the moment its part of the park and a tall building with lots of windows (don't quote me though!).

It's my 7 year old who I asked if he could come, he'll go mad if they say no kids. I hear you on the scary!

tashlefay
QUOTE(blue4t @ Mar 7 2008, 10:23 PM) *
Congratulations and have fun. It's great knowing people in high places. I wish I did. wink.gif

Thank you. It's amazing what a chance meeting can bring - just shows why it pays to be nice to people, you never know who they know! biggrin.gif
kendra.dumbledore
I really wish I could be in your place!! It is my dream to go to see the Harry Potter set!!!! Well even if I could just go to England I would be a happy girl! All you people out there with British accents, you are so lucky. I have always wanted to go to England mainly just to hear the accents!

~tashlefay have fun and come back and tell us about it! I will be waiting!
tashlefay
QUOTE(MoonyLight @ Mar 7 2008, 11:02 PM) *
QUOTE(blue4t @ Mar 7 2008, 05:51 PM) *
I'd love to do it, too, but appear as not a crazed fan. My dream is to meet certain famous people, but I don't want to meet them in those crazed fan moments like winning contests, because I want them to respect me as a normal person, not see me as a fan and fan only.


I tottally agree with you on that note!
I mean i would be way cooler to be there friend, or at least an aquaintence, then just another drooling fan.
But, all that aside I am tooootally jealous!
This is the downfall of being Canadian...I have no cool connections to any of the HP crew, although, to be totally honest I doubt I would anyways.

Make sure you enjoy yourself for all those who are experiencing this through you!! I for one expect to read paragraphs on the whole thing. biggrin.gif

I actually don't know if I even want to meet them, it just seems really daunting. I mean, what can I possibly say that wouldn't make me look like a rabid fanatic? I don't know them and I get a bit tongue tied anyway.

I had the opportunity to shake the hand of my musical obsession and I couldn't do it! I just stood there watching everyone else – it was just too odd to merge someone who I worship from afar with him in the flesh. Does that make sense? And when I met my favourite author I just babbled about how much I loved his books. It would be nice to meet them (though that probably won't happen) but making a fool of my self is not an option!

But I can type till the cows come home so paragraphs you will get! smile.gif


QUOTE(Antonija @ Mar 7 2008, 10:32 PM) *
You don't know how much I want to be in your place. To have a glimpse over HP studio?That is my dream but unfortunately it will never came true sad.gif So I hope that you will have a great time and I hope that you will tell me/us everything that you would see or hear. And please if you see Dan or Emma or Rupert or anyone from the crew say them Hi from me please !!! And tell them that they are my favourite, most favourite actors. Pls if you can if not I would be happy if you tell me what was in there smile.gif

I defiantly will give them a wave from you and I will absolutely tell you everything I see, its pure chance that it's being filmed so close to me. We're also near Elstree Studios so quite a bit of filming goes on around here but most of it is just for soap operas. Not on the Harry Potter scale of awesome!

QUOTE(kendra.dumbledore @ Mar 7 2008, 11:38 PM) *
I really wish I could be in your place!! It is my dream to go to see the Harry Potter set!!!! Well even if I could just go to England I would be a happy girl! All you people out there with British accents, you are so lucky. I have always wanted to go to England mainly just to hear the accents!

~tashlefay have fun and come back and tell us about it! I will be waiting!

I hope it lives up to my (and now your!) expectations. I think any country that you don't live in seems exotic, it feels very mundane here to me and very rainy grin.gif . Bet you get better weather!
kendra.dumbledore
QUOTE
I hope it lives up to my (and now your!) expectations. I think any country that you don't live in seems exotic, it feels very mundane here to me and very rainy grin.gif . Bet you get better weather!


Better weather??? I think that anyone gets better weather than me! It is in the teens right now and tonight and tomarrow it is supposed to be negative!

Have fun on the set! I think that it would live up to my expectations just being in England!
hpyayi
hello tashlefay, have you been able to visit yet?! oh, we cannot wait to know what goodies you've got in store for us when you come back!!
GubraithianGryffindor
THAT IS SO AWESOME excited.gif . I really hope it works out for your son to go too.

When my mom was younger they were filming the movie Grease at her highschool (Venice High) and she was just working up the street, but didn't go check it out. Now we just get to hear about how in the scene where Danny is singing in the bleachers and Sandy in the courtyard, that they would actually be able to see each other. rolleyes.gif

Geez I'm leaving CO and movie somewhere that they film movies...

Well, GOOD LUCK, tell us all about it!
Dark_Deatheater
Oh my gooooooooosh! You're so lucky! A tour in HP set! So awesome!
When will you go? I hope very very soon! They wrap shooting in May! I can't wait for a looong report of the sets, the scene they will be filming and all trivia about the film.Oh, and ask them about the trailer. biggrin.gif
ByRichard
tashlefay, how strong are you?
what im thinking is..... handbags are getting stupidly big lately, i think i could squeeze in one. you could smuggle me on set.
ponder.gif


moony_lupin
QUOTE(ByRichard @ Mar 25 2008, 08:58 AM) *
tashlefay, how strong are you?
what im thinking is..... handbags are getting stupidly big lately, i think i could squeeze in one. you could smuggle me on set.
ponder.gif
What about our Brit thread commando mission we proposed a few months ago? ninja.gif

I think WB will permit ITV to do a behind the scenes thing again like they did for GoF and OoTP with Ben Shepherd.

Maybe once the films are finished in 2011 they will open Leavesden Studios to the public for a while, before they dismantle the sets.
tashlefay
Hi,
I promised I'd report back when I'd had my tour of the HBP set. Took a while to organised but we managed to get there before they finish filming in a few weeks. I'm a bit gutted because the photos we took in the Great Hall and Dumbledore's office were deleted from my camera. They let us take a few sneaky pics as long as we didn't reprint them; they were only to be our mementos. If anyone know of a great restore program please let me know, they were on the camera's memory, not a memory card.

This is a completely rambling essay as I try to get everything down before I forget. I told them I wouldn't tell anything confidential and I don't think I've done that (I hope not anyway). I hope you find it interesting.

We met Dan and Tom, they were both really sweet. Rupert and the twins were about but we didn't talk to them. Emma was away studying. I had a rugby ball thrown at me by the guys who plays Neville Longbottom and Cormac McLaggen! I said my bruise would be a souvenir.

There are mini-buses a set points about the studio, you just jump in one and they take you were you want to go. The studio is enormous, we must have walked for miles and my feet are killing me – it was worth it though! There are also golf carts lined up in rows for the cast and crews, and boxes of umbrellas that have a sign on 'for cast use only'. Everyone else must get very wet! While driving around in one of the mini-buses we saw the two night buses, only one is drivable. There were all the props from the Riddle graveyard piled up and train tracks across the grass where the Hogwarts Express had been filmed. Usually it is filmed elsewhere but it was dismantled and assembled there on tracks laid by Railtrack (or something). There are large grass areas near the canteen and they told us the cast and crew play golf and football there in their free time.

We were shown the Hogwarts gates; they are in a small clump of trees with the tops lopped off and have blue screen on each side (blue instead of green because of the trees and grass). The spikes on the gate are made of rubber for health and safety reasons! There are huge carved griffins on top of the gate columns. They said the GCI will be added later with Hogwarts castle on one side and the trees will be repeated to make the Forbidden forest.

Hagrid's hut was a short bus ride away, it had been burned, even saw Hagrid's pumpkin patch though there were no pumpkins. They filmed it burning with a load of cameras (I forget how many they said) because they only got one chance to film it burn. A lot of the outdoor sets have camouflage nets around them. This is because the neighbours complained that the light was reflecting off them and that they were ugly.

I saw The Burrow both the inside and outside sets; the outside set had been burnt out in a Death Eater attack. The inside of The Burrow was amazing, the attention to detail. I climbed up the stairs to Ron's room, the bedrooms aren't there but the corridors have doors coming off them with pictures and ornaments. One of the doors had a picture of mushroom on it. Downstairs there were two clocks, one with the whole family's names on and scissors for hands, the other was smaller with a list of jobs to do. There were even postcards to Ron on the bookcase, howlers (or just letters like paper aeroplanes), a wizarding newspaper on a coffee table and children's painting of magical creatures framed on the walls. The guy showing us around said that it was the hardest set to build because nothing was straight or regular sized.

We went into the Great Hall, it really was huge. There are still wires hanging from the ceiling for the candles from the first film and they use them as reference points. The tables are oak and seat hundreds in sets of tens. All the side walls have false doors in to allow speedy entrance and exit of the large cast. We took our pictures (sob) standing on the dais in front of the teachers table. The tables were laid out with cereal (Pixie Puffs and another was a play on Cheerios) and gold plates and goblets. The windows are made of sugar glass and apparently take a week to clean. There was talk of blowing them up in this film but they changed their minds. They don't use any real food anymore unless a cast member has to be seen to be eating; even the butter that sat on the table was fake.

The Gryffindor common room was quite small. It is still the exact same set from previous films. As you walk in the door (no picture frame entrance here) there are a set of pegs on the right with Gryffindor cloaks, bags and someone's tie hanging up. The picture frames are filled with green screen and all the furniture is from auctions. Usually they hire furniture but as it was going to be used for so many years, this time they bought. All the chairs are well worn and a bit tatty! There was a little seating area to the left in a window alcove and the fire where Harry spoke to Sirius is on the right. Straight ahead are the stairs to the boy's bedrooms. They spiraled upwards to the left but to the right were a few steps that didn't go anywhere. At the top of the stairs there was a small hall from which you could look down into the common room over a banister. In the bedroom all the beds have been cut in half and extended as the films have gone on as the cast have grown too big for them! The curtains around the beds are velvet with star prints on them. The beds had roman numerals painted on the top in gold which corresponded with the numbers painted on the bedside tables, a nice touch. The tables had knickknacks on them and every bed had the correct trunk under it except Harry's which was at the Burrow. Dean's bed had West Ham covers on it.

We walked around Diagon Alley. Ollivanders had been destroyed, all the windows were smashed and it was trashed. The shops had complete interiors in case the camera caught a glimpse inside by accident. Quality Quidditch supplies had a Quidditch equipment display, uniforms on dummies and drawers full of clothing. Florean Fortescue's had fake ice cream sundaes lining the walls on shelves. Florish and Blotts had hundreds of books inside the doorway piled up and on shelves. The large books in the windows are actually Watford phone directories covered!

But WWW stood out in bright orange with a curved front door. It was the most wonderful place. It was like every dream you had as a kid. There were skiving snack boxes, puking pastels, U-no-poo, sweets from floor to ceiling. It had a set of stairs winding up the middle and was three floors high. The detail was amazing; the shelves were crooked with brightly coloured goods on every surface. It was truly breath taking. At the end of our tour we watched them filming a scene there. When you see the scene where Fred and George are talking to Ron on the stairs, he asks how much for an item, they say '5 galleons', Ron says 'but I'm your brother' and they say '10 galleons'. Well I am standing behind the stairs (out of sight) by the door! It took eight takes just for that few seconds and I was told they only complete 2 minutes of film a day.

Rupert, Dan and Emma have higher chairs than everyone else! But everyone has chairs with their names on. They are lined up for the cast members who are filming that day. Each cast member has a stand-in who sets up the scene so the actors are not waiting about. The stand-ins look spookily like the actors and a few made me double take especially Draco's. There were other bits and pieces of set about, parts of the black tiled Ministry of Magic and a bed and wardrobe that will be the orphanage room where Tom Riddle slept. There was another orphanage set somewhere else but this is where the conversation with Dumbledore took place. It was very small with a single door wardrobe and very institutional metal bed with grey rough blankets on.

We saw Knockturn Alley but the lights weren't on so it was by torch light! Saw Borgin and Burkes that way. The vanishing cabinet was in the centre, it was dark wood with a slanted roof. There were lots of skulls and creepy looking objects – even creepier due to the lack of lighting. There were wanted posters on the alley walls for Bellatrix and the Carrows.

We were taken to the tank where all the underwater scenes are filmed. We went downstairs and there was a large window looking into the tank. It is the deepest tank in Europe and the smell of chlorine stung my eyes. The water was bath temperature and there were scaffolding towers inside the tank. Next to it there were a row of wetsuits and breathing apparatus. The scenes in the cave with Dumbledore and Harry were filmed here.

We couldn't get into moaning Myrtle's bathroom because it was locked. They filmed the Sectumsempra scene there last week. They told me Tom had to lie in the fake blood and water for hours. He had a prosthetic chest on which pumped out fake blood and for each new take he had to get cleaned up and dry his hair before starting again. There are some pictures floating about of the scene and they look like Tom is lying dead in a pool of blood, very freaky for his friends to see!

The Hogwarts courtyard is used as a seating area for the cast when not filming. There are piles of plastic garden chairs that look very out of place. We walked right around the courtyard. From a distance the background paintings of the lake are very realistic. At one end there is a huge suit of armor which used to lead to the stairs to Dumbledore's office. The stone on the courtyard floor is real but around the entrances and edges it isn't real and bounces slightly! There is even moss in the corners of some pillars which the set dressers have laid painstakingly. The walls are made of a hollow material and echo when you knock on them.

We got a quick peek at the potions classroom. We weren't allowed in as they were still going to be filming in there so we looked in from the doorway. It was quite a large set with tables in the middle and bottles lining the walls. There were a number of small cauldrons on each table labeled with the names for where each actor would stand. On the walls were patterns made of real gold leaf with runes (I think) engraved in the middle.

Dumbledore's office has had most of the ornaments removed but his chair and desk were there. I had a photo of me in his chair holding his quill but alas that is now lost. They told us that the giant telescope had to be got in by removing a side of wall. The pensive was in a glass cabinet along a wall and there was a 6 foot tall display cabinet free standing to one side with hundreds of glass vials in, each holding a memory. Everyone was labeled individually mostly with nonsense but I caught the name Riddle written on one – amazing detail yet again.

We were also shown the special effect department. Buckbeak was there; apparently each feather was cut by hand and it is all weaved together then held on with velcro. They told us it took a team of fifteen crew months to make. There were mannequins of Katie Bell when she had been hexed, one life size and one smaller for when Hagrid is holding her. She was wearing a red scarf and red coat. The hair on its head was real and the girl I was with knew the actress and was quite shocked because it looked so life like lying there. Baby Voldemort was sitting on a shelf with Dobby. There were giant spiders galore and the whole place stunk of resin! There was so much to see, Hagrid's feet and hands, all the goblins prosthetic faces and props that are used for the cast to act against when CGI will be put in later. They are about to pack everything up as this department has finished with the film.

We were also taken around the animal enclosure by the trainer. They had two monkeys there. We saw the two cats that play Crookshanks and other cats that are extras! There are three of each owl in case of illness. We saw Hedwig, it's a boy and he's very old now, losing feathers on one wing and they're going to retire him after this film. I held Pig; he is tiny and very sweet. Sirius' owl was dyed to make him so dark and they keep any of the owl's fallen feathers because they can replace a broken feather with the spares. They had one owl there which cost £1,500 and has only been used in background shots. They had two hairless cats, they looked quite odd and a few cats that looked like tigers, they were American, I forget the breed. We didn't see Fang but apparently he is absolutely huge (of course).

The costume department was very interesting; I ran my hands over the invisibility cloak. There were a few and one had the velvet outside that we see on the films and another had green screen sewn into it. Saw Katie Bell's red costume, Belatrix's, Snape's and well, basically everyone's. Luna's wardrobe was suitably eclectic. There were lots of black cloaks and Quidditch uniforms and pictures of the cast in their outfits with lists of their measurements hanging on the rails. They all have at least 3 of every item of clothing in case one is damaged. The stunt people's clothing is exactly the same as the cast's but in bigger sizes so that the protective pads can fit underneath. Neville's actor is actually quite slim and wears padding to bulk him out.

They were filming a stunt on green screen that will take place on the millennium bridge. I saw Bellatrix's stunt double in place but they were waiting for more cloud by the time we got there and everyone had stopped for ice creams! There was a woman with black hair with a white streak through it and I was told she was the double for Narcissa (can't confirm that though).

It was a beautiful day and most of the cast who weren't filming were enjoying the sun. Luna was having her hair plated and other people were sitting about or playing sports. We were told that it's not always like that and sometimes it can be stressful (Ha!). Everyone there was so nice and took the time to say hi or tell us all about their specialist area. It was a truly wonderful day.
potter2005
WOW it sounds like you had an awesome day!!

from yr description it looks like this is going to be a brilliant movie and I can't wait to see it

I hope you manage to recover yr lost photos smile.gif
AsYouWish
WOW! That sounds amazing. I'm really happy for you, that you got to experience that. It must feel like a dream. And I'm really excited about some of your details. (Sounds like the sectumsempra scene IS going to be there and hopefully as gory as it should be!)

I hope you are able to recover your pictures - that would be so upsetting. I'm sorry I don't know of anything to be of help to you.

Thank you so much for posting this and sharing it with all of us so we can live vicariously. biggrin.gif
tashlefay
QUOTE(potter2005 @ May 10 2008, 02:24 PM) *
WOW it sounds like you had an awesome day!!

from yr description it looks like this is going to be a brilliant movie and I can't wait to see it

I hope you manage to recover yr lost photos smile.gif


I think I have to face the fact that the photos are gone - I actually shed a tear when I realised what I'd done. I'm really excited about the film too, even more so now!


QUOTE(MistyH @ May 10 2008, 02:37 PM) *
WOW! That sounds amazing. I'm really happy for you, that you got to experience that. It must feel like a dream. And I'm really excited about some of your details. (Sounds like the sectumsempra scene IS going to be there and hopefully as gory as it should be!)

I hope you are able to recover your pictures - that would be so upsetting. I'm sorry I don't know of anything to be of help to you.

Thank you so much for posting this and sharing it with all of us so we can live vicariously. biggrin.gif


I did want to share a little of my experience, I hope the details weren't too boring to read through. We got to the Myrtle's bathroom set but the doors were locked and the person who had taken over our tour at that point didn't have the keys. It did sound like a very gory scene. We saw so much but there was still more we didn't see, they said it would take more than a day to see it all.

It completely felt like a dream, it's only today that I'm coming back to earth. The sets are so magical that at some moments my jaw dropped and I was speechless. Still can't believe it really happened! At one point we went 'omg, we're *in* Diagon Alley!'

I've tried one data recovery program but it didn't work. Gutted!
agedpreciousrose
Boring?! Are you kidding! It's a very wonderful read. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Would you mind telling us about your conversation with cast members?
tashlefay
QUOTE(agedpreciousrose @ May 10 2008, 10:01 PM) *
Boring?! Are you kidding! It's a very wonderful read. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Would you mind telling us about your conversation with cast members?


Sure. Everyone was having lunch and I was really intimidated and trying not to be! I didn't want to 'talk shop' – though there were things I'd like to have asked. I spoke to Tom, he laughed when he was told he didn't look like his character, I said it's because Draco always looks so cross. He though that would be the art to not getting recognised, just smile a lot. Most of the other conversation was about the food and the heat, it was a very hot afternoon and he was dressed in black for filming.

We saw Dan and h
e was really friendly and it's obvious he has to make small talk with strangers on a regular basis. He made a joke about us both being shorter than him and how that was a nice change. Then he asked me about my piercings. He was quite funny, said he couldn't pretend he wasn't staring at my ears when he was and we spoke about that for a bit. It was an amusing conversation and really put me at my ease because it was full of questions that I get asked a lot.

Every time we passed Rupert it was a bit odd because he knew that we were trying not to stare but we kept doing it anyway. There was a lot of quick eye contact and then looking away!

It was hard to know who was cast and who was crew for the most part, there were just so many people about being introduced and talking. I'd be next to someone and then realise who they were but I really made an effort to think of everyone as just people otherwise the whole thing would have been too overwhelming. We met back up with the cast again before we left as Tom had signed some photos for my kids. Dan asked if we had enjoyed the tour but I mostly felt bad for disturbing him when he was relaxing. They were just all chatting about what they were going to be doing over the weekend (and apologising for hitting me with the rugby ball!). It was very surreal.
kendra.dumbledore
That must have been so AMAZING!!! I really wish I could do something like that!! But I never will!!!!

Do you think that you will ever be able to go back again?? If you do maybe you could bring a very large purse, or a wheely backback or something, and I could fit in it and come with you!!
potterfan6
Your so lucky!I can't believe you actually got to look at the set and meet the cast.You must've had a brilliant day! I can't wait for the film to be out and by the way you describe it, it sounds great.I hope you enjoyed your day.
tashlefay
QUOTE(kendra.dumbledore @ May 11 2008, 12:36 AM) *
That must have been so AMAZING!!! I really wish I could do something like that!! But I never will!!!!

Do you think that you will ever be able to go back again?? If you do maybe you could bring a very large purse, or a wheely backback or something, and I could fit in it and come with you!!


I don't think I'll ever get the chance again. When I lost the photos that was my first thought 'let me pop back in and take them again!' But it so was hard to organise it, it really was a one off. If I'm still friendly with the same person when they are filming Deathly Hallows, I'm sure I will do a bit of begging! So yeah, if that one in a million chance happens again I will happily sneak you in hidden in the boot of my car!


QUOTE(potterfan6 @ May 11 2008, 12:43 AM) *
Your so lucky!I can't believe you actually got to look at the set and meet the cast.You must've had a brilliant day! I can't wait for the film to be out and by the way you describe it, it sounds great.I hope you enjoyed your day.


I know, I can hardly believe my luck myself. If the film is half as good as the sets, it'll be fab!
maggieann
Thank you so much for that wonderful report, tashlefay, I almost feel as it I had been there with you. Very pleased that you had such a special day, but very sorry about the loss of the photos.

Thank you again, flowers.gif
moony_lupin
Wow! That report was awesome! thumbup.gif Glad you had an awesome day out. I would love to go to Leavesden studios. How did you arrange the visit?

Have you considered sending your report to TLC Main?


Oh and welcome to the Leaky Lounge if no one has already said it! welcome.gif
dance24/7
How on earth did you get in?! Did you win some sort of contest?
blue4t
Just think, you can tell people for the rest of your life that you were hit with a rugby ball by actors from the Harry Potter films!

I really like the detail of having Dean's bedspread be West Ham themed. It's not something obvious, but it adds to the character. It's the little details that help to make the whole picture.

I have to admit I'm incredibly jealous, but I'm also excited that someone got to take a tour like this. It must have been very exciting for you, too.
tashlefay
QUOTE(maggieann @ May 11 2008, 01:13 AM) *
Thank you so much for that wonderful report, tashlefay, I almost feel as it I had been there with you. Very pleased that you had such a special day, but very sorry about the loss of the photos.
Thank you again, flowers.gif
No problem. I don't think I'll ever not be irked by the photos. Thank you for the flowers smile.gif

QUOTE(moony_lupin @ May 11 2008, 01:33 AM) *
Wow! That report was awesome! thumbup.gif Glad you had an awesome day out. I would love to go to Leavesden studios. How did you arrange the visit?

Have you considered sending your report to TLC Main?
Oh and welcome to the Leaky Lounge if no one has already said it! welcome.gif
Thanks for the welcome. I wouldn't know who to send it to or where. Is it the sort of thing they'd want?

To answer you and dance24/7 - a student who has been training with us mentioned she had spoken to Tom on the phone. It transpired that her friend works at Leavesden and is friends with some of the cast. When we told her that another colleague and I were huge fans she started to arrange a visit. A longer version of the story is here: http://www.leakylounge.com/Visit-HBP-films...32#entry1569632
It took 2 months to organise and I had almost given up on it happening when last week we were given some dates. The day we went on was chosen because it was an interesting filming day. I only got to meet everyone because of who I was with, it made it extra special being treated in such a friendly way.

QUOTE(blue4t @ May 11 2008, 02:05 AM) *
Just think, you can tell people for the rest of your life that you were hit with a rugby ball by actors from the Harry Potter films!

I really like the detail of having Dean's bedspread be West Ham themed. It's not something obvious, but it adds to the character. It's the little details that help to make the whole picture.

I have to admit I'm incredibly jealous, but I'm also excited that someone got to take a tour like this. It must have been very exciting for you, too.
Exciting hardly covers it. I couldn't sleep the night before or the night after and I had to keep calming myself on the way there! The details that you never see on screen are amazing. It was some of the actual set designers who were showing us the sets so they were pointing out different things and telling us interesting facts - I've probably forgotten more than I remember. It was the postcards to Ron sitting on a shelf in The Burrow that really did it for me. Someone actually wrote 2 whole postcards in pencil and addressed them with stamps, just to sit on a bookcase; that's dedication!

Maybe I could sue for a hurt hip, that rugby ball was hard.....now I look at it I think it may be broken *limp* biggrin.gif
moony_lupin
QUOTE(tashlefay @ May 11 2008, 03:00 AM) *
QUOTE(moony_lupin @ May 11 2008, 01:33 AM) *
Wow! That report was awesome! thumbup.gif Glad you had an awesome day out. I would love to go to Leavesden studios. How did you arrange the visit?

Have you considered sending your report to TLC Main?
Oh and welcome to the Leaky Lounge if no one has already said it! welcome.gif
Thanks for the welcome. I wouldn't know who to send it to or where. Is it the sort of thing they'd want?

To answer you and dance24/7 - a student who has been training with us mentioned she had spoken to Tom on the phone. It transpired that her friend works at Leavesden and is friends with some of the cast. When we told her that another colleague and I were huge fans she started to arrange a visit. A longer version of the story is here: http://www.leakylounge.com/Visit-HBP-films...32#entry1569632
It took 2 months to organise and I had almost given up on it happening when last week we were given some dates. The day we went on was chosen because it was an interesting filming day. I only got to meet everyone because of who I was with, it made it extra special being treated in such a friendly way.
Sorry to hear about your rugby ball injury. Hope it gets better soon. console.gif

I'm sure Leaky would love to hear your visit to Leavesden I've seen similar set reports posted on the main news site for previous films in the series. To submit any news to The Leaky Cauldron, on the homepage use the menu on the top bar to select Leaky Info and then select Contact Us from the list. Then in the 'submit your feedback' form from the Subject box use the drop-down menu to select 'News Tip: Cast/Crew' and put your name and email address. There is no word limit. Then press 'Submit Feedback'.

I have high hope for the HBP film now. smile.gif
agedpreciousrose
Thank you very much for the report. I really enjoyed reading it. I am also very happy for you to have such a wonderful experience. Sounds like your son wasn't able to go. It must be tough for both of you to handle it.
Antonija
I am sure that you are so happy. At least I know that i would explode from happiness if I went there. You are so lucky you know that?
tashlefay
QUOTE(moony_lupin @ May 11 2008, 01:23 PM) *
I'm sure Leaky would love to hear your visit to Leavesden I've seen similar set reports posted on the main news site for previous films in the series. To submit any news to The Leaky Cauldron, on the homepage use the menu on the top bar to select Leaky Info and then select Contact Us from the list. Then in the 'submit your feedback' form from the Subject box use the drop-down menu to select 'News Tip: Cast/Crew' and put your name and email address. There is no word limit. Then press 'Submit Feedback'
Ok, I'll do that smile.gif
QUOTE(agedpreciousrose @ May 11 2008, 03:39 PM) *
Thank you very much for the report. I really enjoyed reading it. I am also very happy for you to have such a wonderful experience. Sounds like your son wasn't able to go. It must be tough for both of you to handle it.
Oh my, he kicked my leg and didn't talk to me for ages! It was a long shot anyway and I told him they probably wouldn't let him as the director had to clear any visits. He was not happy but he got over it quite quickly and he loved the photo that Tom Felton wrote on for him, he wouldn't put it down so that helped appease him.
QUOTE(Antonija @ May 11 2008, 07:39 PM) *
I am sure that you are so happy. At least I know that i would explode from happiness if I went there. You are so lucky you know that?
Honestly, I know how lucky I am. It was a really special day smile.gif
HPFan19802007
How cool! I'm glad you had a awesome time. I'd love to see that place one day.
blue4t
QUOTE(tashlefay @ May 10 2008, 10:00 PM) *
Exciting hardly covers it. I couldn't sleep the night before or the night after and I had to keep calming myself on the way there! The details that you never see on screen are amazing. It was some of the actual set designers who were showing us the sets so they were pointing out different things and telling us interesting facts - I've probably forgotten more than I remember. It was the postcards to Ron sitting on a shelf in The Burrow that really did it for me. Someone actually wrote 2 whole postcards in pencil and addressed them with stamps, just to sit on a bookcase; that's dedication!

You're not kidding about dedication! All that and the cards will hardly go noticed. I tell you I'll be looking for them in the movie!
Mary Wanguard
*Squish*

Pre-HBP-set-visit thread and post-HBP-set-visit thread have been merged into one. I hope, you continue to have fun discussing it all here biggrin.gif

Happy posting wizard.gif

Mary Wanguard, LL Mod
lcbaseball22
Wow, that was an awesome read! Thanks for posting!!!

Um, sorry to doubt you, but would you mind posting that pic with Tom Felton's autograph?

It's just that there were a lot of set reports on HPForum that appear fake, considering this poster called SCOOP said Nat Tena was in the Hospital Wing scene yet Natalia herself said in an interview she was in ONE scene, and it was Burrow Attack.

So I really hope your not making it all up,it's so detailed and seems legit, but that would be very cruel if you were

And I'm SO EXCITED that WWW Joke Shop is in and that Sectumsempra sounds like it'll be done justice and is gory enough, not watered down like usual.

So could you post that autograph, please???

Thanks again!
natasza
Wow what a fantastic experience tashlefay tahnks for telling us all about it. I would love to go to Leavesdon. thumbup.gif
tashlefay
QUOTE(lcbaseball22 @ May 12 2008, 08:47 AM) *
Wow, that was an awesome read! Thanks for posting!!!

Um, sorry to doubt you, but would you mind posting that pic with Tom Felton's autograph?

It's just that there were a lot of set reports on HPForum that appear fake, considering this poster called SCOOP said Nat Tena was in the Hospital Wing scene yet Natalia herself said in an interview she was in ONE scene, and it was Burrow Attack.

So I really hope your not making it all up,it's so detailed and seems legit, but that would be very cruel if you were

And I'm SO EXCITED that WWW Joke Shop is in and that Sectumsempra sounds like it'll be done justice and is gory enough, not watered down like usual.

So could you post that autograph, please???

Thanks again!
Lol. That's ok, I'd have to be a great fantasist to make this up and my imagination is just not that good! When I get home I will take a photo of one of the autographs and also my visitors pass and post them.
lcbaseball22
QUOTE(tashlefay @ May 12 2008, 02:31 AM) *
Lol. That's ok, I'd have to be a great fantasist to make this up and my imagination is just not that good! When I get home I will take a photo of one of the autographs and also my visitors pass and post them.


Awesome, thank you! biggrin.gif

Yeah, I figured that, but you should read some of the things this SCOOP posted:

Amazing Scene Shot Today

Day 6 Pick-Ups

Trailer Transcript is fake...and new set report!

Cave Scene Pick-Ups

Hermione/Bella Wand Duel Pick-Ups

Trailer News

Dumbledore's Death

IF he was making it up, he's amazing at it, he definitely had me going. But I will be pleasantly surprised if he's legit and I knew about all of it months in advance ohmy.gif

Oh, and sorry for doubting you, I just don't know what to believe anymore, I wish WB would give us something OFFICIAL!

It's so annoying, we don't have anything, not even a DATE for the Teaser Trailer that's been Confirmed, just a rumour dry.gif

So, things like you're set report are great, it keeps us going, and it's giving us something to discuss over on CoS Forums.

Thanks again!
tashlefay
QUOTE(lcbaseball22 @ May 12 2008, 11:04 AM) *
Awesome, thank you! biggrin.gif
Here you go, my pass and the photo Tom signed for my youngest
Pass
Tom
lcbaseball22
QUOTE(tashlefay @ May 12 2008, 05:27 AM) *
QUOTE(lcbaseball22 @ May 12 2008, 11:04 AM) *
Awesome, thank you! biggrin.gif
Here you go, my pass and the photo Tom signed for my youngest
Pass
Tom




I've said this before but I'll say it again:

Awesome, thank you! biggrin.gif

btw, is that a HBP pic of Tom, his hair is different than OotP isn't it?

Oh, and did you hear anything about the Trailer? *is hopeful*
tashlefay
QUOTE(lcbaseball22 @ May 12 2008, 01:42 PM) *
I've said this before but I'll say it again:

Awesome, thank you! biggrin.gif

btw, is that a HBP pic of Tom, his hair is different than OotP isn't it?

Oh, and did you hear anything about the Trailer? *is hopeful*
It's a pleasure, I just wanted to share what I saw with other people who may find it interesting.
Don't know when the pics were from, I'd think they'd be new ones. His hair was quite short but it wasn't like it is in the picture, he sort of had a fringe thing going on and it was a bit messier. I have to say he's better looking in real life!
I didn't hear anything about the trailer, sorry.
moony_lupin
QUOTE(lcbaseball22 @ May 12 2008, 01:42 PM) *
QUOTE(tashlefay @ May 12 2008, 05:27 AM) *
QUOTE(lcbaseball22 @ May 12 2008, 11:04 AM) *
Awesome, thank you! biggrin.gif
Here you go, my pass and the photo Tom signed for my youngest
Pass
Tom




I've said this before but I'll say it again:

Awesome, thank you! biggrin.gif

btw, is that a HBP pic of Tom, his hair is different than OotP isn't it?

Oh, and did you hear anything about the Trailer? *is hopeful*
Wow! That's brilliant! Its great that Tom took the time out of his busy schedule to write a message to your son.

About the HBP teaser trailer. HINT: You may want to go and see Prince Caspian or Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. wink.gif

*cough*May 16*cough*

This is what my sources tell me.
mollywobble
QUOTE(moony_lupin @ May 12 2008, 03:58 PM) *
QUOTE(lcbaseball22 @ May 12 2008, 01:42 PM) *
QUOTE(tashlefay @ May 12 2008, 05:27 AM) *
QUOTE(lcbaseball22 @ May 12 2008, 11:04 AM) *
Awesome, thank you! biggrin.gif
Here you go, my pass and the photo Tom signed for my youngest
Pass
Tom




I've said this before but I'll say it again:

Awesome, thank you! biggrin.gif

btw, is that a HBP pic of Tom, his hair is different than OotP isn't it?

Oh, and did you hear anything about the Trailer? *is hopeful*
Wow! That's brilliant! Its great that Tom took the time out of his busy schedule to write a message to your son.

About the HBP teaser trailer. HINT: You may want to go and see Prince Caspian or Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. wink.gif

*cough*May 16*cough*

This is what my sources tell me.


I hope that's true, but why hasn't WB confirmed it then? WB has always confirmed when teasers would be released at least 4 weeks in advance. Caspian comes out in 4 days, and we haven't heard anything official.
Leggers
Thanks for sharing, tashlefay!! biggrin.gif Sounds like an amazing experience! I'm so glad it looks like the joke shop scene is in! smile.gif
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