|
SEPTEMBER 29, 2004 at 9:38 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: Tip
Scottish Harry Potter fan Alex tells us he'll be in the next installment of J.K. Rowling's series, Goblet of Fire -- as an extra.
He was one of 100 students picked to ride the Hogwarts Express steam engine over the Glenfinnan Viaduct for recent Warner Bros. filming.
Alex sent us this report:
I live in Scotland and over the weekend I was fortunate enough to be one of those 100 students who were used as extras when Harry Potter 4 were filming at the Glenfinnan Viaduct. It was like a dream come true for such an avid Harry Potter fan like me.
The scene was of the Hogwarts Express going over the famous Viaduct on its way to Hogwarts (the same one which was featured in Chamber of Secrets when the Ford Anglia had its run-in with the train). We all had to arrive at Glenfinnan Station really early at 5:30 in the morning. The Hogwarts Express was so cool. When we were actually on the train it was even better!
They were using a helicopter to film the train going over the Viaduct. We were given strict instruction not to look out the window at it and to just pretend it wasn't there. It came pretty close to the train and must have been able to see inside which was obviously the reason they had people on the train.
Unfortanately Dan [Radcliffe], Rupert [Grint] and Emma [Watson] weren't there. Instead, they had three doubles, which was still cool. I was able to talk to them for a bit. They seemed really nice. I think the Harry double said that his name was Ryan, the Ron double's name was Ricky. I remember that because I remember him joking that the knitted "R" on his Weasley jumper really stood for Rickie and not Ron -- ha ha. Hermione double's name was Jo and she was like 24 but she still looked like Emma. They said that they were staying in a hotel in nearby Fort William and that Dan, Rupert and Emma were filming a different scene down in London.
We were going back and forth on the train loads of times but at 1 p.m. we had to swap with 50 more extras because we were only allowed to work so many hours as we were under 16 and came in so early in the morning. But as the new extras had just been brought in at 1 p.m. they could work all afternoon. The next day it was pretty much the same thing with me doing the morning shift again. I managed to get some pictures of the train on my phone and tried to get some of the doubles but was told we can't have pictures of them. Maybe Warner Brothers wants to keep it a secret that they use doubles or something.
The following pictures were taking on Alex's mobile phone:
Hogwarts Express (front)
Hogwarts Express (side)
Hogwarts Express (inside looking out the window)
Thanks to Alex for his account of the recent filming.
(Want to ride the train yourself? You could be just as lucky when HP Fan Trips announces its 2005 tour. We've once again secured exclusive access to engine #5972 for trip participants. Stay tuned for the official announcement in October! Here's me and Eric from MuggleNet on the train this past summer.)
Reader Comments (171)
click to read...
Your Thoughts
click to write...
Copyright © 2002-2010 HPANA. All rights reserved.
HPANA is an unofficial fan site, in no way affiliated with J.K. Rowling,
Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Publishing or Warner Bros. Entertainment. All
trademarks and copyrighted material are the property of their respective owners.
About HPANA | Movie 7 | Send a news tip | Contact us | Privacy policy
Witch
Points: 633
he-who-let-the-boy-live says:
Wow! thats so cool, i want to be on the hogwarts express.
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 9:41 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2140
orlandofan says:
Wow thats really cool for, them. Ill have to look at those pictures later my computer is being stupid. I wish i could be an extra.
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 9:42 PM EST
Witch
Points: 722
lotusblossom75 says:
Very lucky kid. Too bad I live in america and am obviously too old to participate as an extra on the express. But the pics were realy cool.
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 9:44 PM EST
Points: 1108
little ray of SuNsHiNe says:
That is so AWESOME!!!!!!!Wow he is so lucky.Or is it a she,whatever.I would so love to ride the Hogwarts Express!!!Man.Why do I live all the way in California??????
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 9:45 PM EST
Goddess
Points: 3987
Banshee_05 says:
Lucky chap! Just to witness the filming, let alone BE in the movie should be an ecxhiliarating experience. Congratulations to Alex. Hope we'd get a glimpse of you, your head, hand riding on the train in the movie :-p
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 9:52 PM EST
Witch
Points: 818
ElizabethRG says:
I am so jealous of that person! Too bad he didn't get to meet Rupert Dan or Emma though..
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 9:59 PM EST
Student
Points: 236
Tonks! says:
Thats some luck. Nothing will ever happen in Canada (sighs), ah well. Can't wait for the movie to come out.
Wow!
I'm the sixth person to post, that is like so cool!
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 10:00 PM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 9172
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
This sounds like a lot of fun. Too bad, I don't live in the UK, it would be a wonderful experience for my daughter. Maybe, I will take one of the tours one day and get a sense of the experience.
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 10:02 PM EST
Witch
Points: 577
Smeltings_Boy says:
Wow that's funny! ha
24! wow, and ricky!
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 10:09 PM EST
Brightest Star in the Sky
Points: 3762
Siriusly Black says:
That is so cool!!!! I wish I could be an extra for the movie. I am so glad that we keep hearing about people involved in the movie, it just means that GoF is getting further and further along.
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 10:11 PM EST
Witch
Points: 728
Hermione Double says:
I wish I could be an extra.
It would be an honor.
And a whole bunch of fun, but sadly I am American, so that won't be happening.
Oh, and to talk to Dan and them's doubles.
That would have been cool.
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 10:18 PM EST
The Chosen Hobbit
Points: 2447
Enisnitch Baggins says:
It's just such a nice dream to me, being in a HP movie... I wish I were as lucky as them.
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 10:28 PM EST
Student
Points: 217
Dreyven says:
Wow, what a cool gig. Talk about an awesome experience, not just to be in the film, but to ride the steam engine and all. Sounds pretty neat!
D
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 10:34 PM EST
Transfiguration Professor
Points: 2990
Choralee says:
Wow! What a wonderful way to spend your morning! I wish there could have been some pictures of the inside of the train more! Down the halls and all - we only ever get to see a compartment! Nice to hear that filming is progressing!
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 10:38 PM EST
Student
Points: 245
beaglebabe86 says:
That is so cool-- I'm jealous! If only I were British...
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 10:41 PM EST
Witch
Points: 657
siriusluv says:
That's nice. I wish I lived in Scotland or England, so I could see some of the filming. I'm sure GOF is going to be great, just like the first three movies. I saw prisoner of azkaban at midnight and really enjoyed it that way.
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 10:46 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 529
Dementors Shadow says:
I really really want to be a extra!! i wonder if my cousins in scotland know about anything?
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 10:52 PM EST
Lady of Godric's Hollow
Points: 5297
GodricsGirl says:
I can't even imagine the excitment that must have generated!
I think I would have fainted!
What a remarkable opportunity! That will be something he can tell his grandkids about!
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 10:54 PM EST
Witch
Points: 526
shortfrancine says:
What a lucky kid! And he gets to have all that inside scoop too! Like seeing the doubles.. that would be neat! Too bad he couldn't get pics!
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 10:58 PM EST
Witch
Points: 908
siriusly_in_denial says:
that is so cool i wish that i could be a extra ut they done let american people in the movies :( i am so jealous :( i wish i was there oh well watching the movie is alomst as good
HE DIDNT DIE!!!
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 11:01 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 399
Crazie4Dan says:
Thats so cool.Lucky kid. thats an awesome dream .
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 11:03 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1525
veta says:
Wow youare a lucky kid!! The doubles do looks like them....weird, however, they seem to be nice and I don't know what to say really...I wish I can be on the train and I wish I can meet the stars...whatever....I'm just trying to say something because I'm bored...argh.
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 11:04 PM EST
Witch
Points: 696
quidditch_seeker says:
Awesome! I love when they have info from the filming.
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 11:05 PM EST
The Lost Weasley
Points: 4123
HilaryWeasley says:
Oh!!!! thats really cool! I wish that could happen to any harry potter fan.....oh well....never gonna happen I know...hehehe...good for Alex! Congrats!
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 11:24 PM EST
The Last Herald-Mage
Points: 2621
darrrrkwind says:
Wow! What a lucky kid! It's too bad that the real actors weren't there as well.
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 11:26 PM EST
Points: 15101
xeon says:
Thats cool, guess someone had fun!
Oh well, i didnt know they used doubles, but, i guess its expected!
Oh well, hermione's double is 24, wow.
Posted Sep 29, 2004 at 11:34 PM EST
Back to top of page