How the Harry Potter films were filmed: interesting facts about the franchise (photo)

**How the Harry Potter films were filmed: interesting facts about the franchise (photo)**

Hundreds of people — directors, cameramen, decorators, costume designers and visual effects specialists — worked on the Harry Potter film universe for years. Behind each scene, there is a lot of hard work, careful planning and technical solutions.

In this article, we will take you behind the camera — to the set. You will learn how the magical scenes were created, what the actors and technical team faced, which shots are real and which are completely imaginary.

**Platform 9 ¾**

Platform 9 ¾ is one of the most famous places in the Harry Potter universe. It is from this entrance that the Hogwarts Express takes young people to the school of witchcraft and wizardry. And fans love to take pictures next to the carriage that "drives" into the wall. Yes, such a place really exists, and it is located at King's Cross Station in London.

In addition, there is no wall between platforms 9 and 10 at King's Cross Station. However, the scenes in the film were filmed at the real King's Cross Station. They only used the barrier between platforms 4 and 5. There is a trolley "half-buried in the wall" and the sign "Platform 9¾" installed there for fans.

**Flying broom**

It was found in a scrap metal warehouse in South Wales and renovated to adapt it for the film.

**Quidditch pitch**

Director Chris Columbus wanted to show not only the magical sport, but also its dangerous aspects. To convey the speed of the broomsticks to the audience, the shots needed a constant point of support, so the idea of building towers on all four sides came up.

Initially, the stadium was planned to be built in Scotland, but this idea was abandoned. Only one tower was built in the pavilion, the rest were drawn in computer graphics.

In subsequent films, some episodes were filmed together with the actors, and in the most complex and dynamic scenes, stunt doubles were used.

**Chess pieces**

Many people think that the figures were created in computer graphics, but in fact they were real.

For the film, a full-size chessboard and chess pieces up to 3.5 meters high were made. They were able to move slowly with the help of special mechanisms.

**Plaster molds were used instead of actors**

It was difficult for young actors to lie still for a long time without moving, breathing, or blinking. Therefore, in the second film, in the scene of students who became stone after meeting with a snake, plaster molds were used instead of actors.

To do this, a special alginate used in medicine was applied to the actor's face, and a plaster bandage was wrapped over it. After hardening, the mold was carefully removed and a full copy was made. The result was a very realistic-looking figure.

**Hundreds of plates and dragons brought to life at the Ministry of Magic**

Hundreds of porcelain plates with live kittens on them hung on the walls of Dolores Umbridge's room. The plates were made from real ones, and the animals were then animated using graphics.

More than 40 live cats were filmed for these scenes - each of which was later used as the basis for the animation.