40+ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Pottermore.com chapter screencaps

Over 40 preview screencaps of Pottermore's version of scenes and chapters in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone have been released online, ranging from first glances at Gringotts and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The images include, and are not limited to: Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the Hogwarts library; Snape's Potion's classroom; Christmas in the Great Hall; a glance at the Gryffindor's boy dormitories and common room; inside number 4, Privet Drive; the exterior and inside carriages of the Hogwarts Express; Quidditch and flying lessons; the Hospital wing; and the trio's first adventure to find out who took the Philosopher's Stone. Those can all be found, thanks to Serenity's tip, in our galleries.

Please note: while fans who register to Pottermore will be Sorted into one of the four Hogwarts Houses, it is unsure if these scenes and screencaps will be available for all students, or those in Gryffindor set to follow the trio's adventure specifically. We will find out in due course, when the beta site opens later this summer.

Deathly Hallows 2 passes Sorcerer's Stone as top-grossing Harry Potter film in U.S.

The box office numbers for the weekend of July 29-31 are in, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 has surpassed Sorcerer's Stone as becoming the highest-grossing Harry Potter film in the U.S. and Canada. The domestic take of Sorcerer's Stone after its theatrical run in 2001-2002 was an estimated $317.6 million; as of Sunday, July 31, 2011, Deathly Hallows: Part 2 brought in $318.6 after 17 days of release, with its numbers set to go higher as it continues its run.




For this weekend, Deathly Hallows: Part 2 came in fourth place in the domestic box office, bringing in an additionally $22 million dollars, and has well past the billion-dollar mark in takings worldwide - the ninth to do so all time.

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter site Pottermore announced Magical Quill challenge

The homepage of Pottermore has been updated to announce a Magical Quill challenge. As most Potter fans know, the Magical Quill at Hogwarts senses when a magical child is born and notes that child's name to become a future student at the wizarding school when they turn 11 years old.

The Magical Quill challenge will ask questions from each of the seven books over the course of seven days, starting tomorrow, July 31 – Harry Potter’s birthday. Those able to answer the question will add the answer to the end of the quill.pottermore.com URL, which will then lead them to a website. Once they find the Magical Quill on the website, it will take them back to Pottermore where they can register for early access to the Beta site. Those unable to register in time tomorrow will get another chance to answer another question the next day (and the next…) until the last question is posted on August 6, so don’t give up!




The following was posted on Pottermore’s blog which gives more details about the Magical Quill challenge:

The eagle-eyed amongst you may have spotted the hidden link in our You ask, we answer’ blog post from 19 July, which took you to an interview J.K. Rowling gave in 2000.

In the interview was some interesting information about a Magical Quill, located in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The Magical Quill detects the birth of a magical child and writes their name down in a large book. Every year, Professor McGonagall checks the book and sends owls to the children who are turning eleven, to inform them that they have a place at Hogwarts.

Each day for seven days, from 31 July to 6 August, we will be placing a clue on the Pottermore homepage to help you locate The Magical Quill. If you find it, you’ll have the chance to gain early access to Pottermore.

There will be a new clue every day, and each clue will relate to a different book in the Harry Potter series. On Day 1 the clue will relate to Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, on Day 2 the clue will relate to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and so forth. The clues will also vary in difficulty. On Days 1-3 the clues will be harder, and on Days 4-7 the clues will be easier.

To find The Magical Quill, you need to solve the clue and add the answer to the end of the web address quill.pottermore.com/ This will lead you to a website where The Magical Quill will be located while early access places are available. The Magical Quill’s location will change every day.

Example:

Clue: How many books are there in the Harry Potter series? Multiply this number by 10.
Answer: 70

Add this number to the end of the website address. In this case it would be: quill.pottermore.com/70

Hit ‘Return’ to go to the website where The Magical Quill is located.

Once you have found The Magical Quill, you will be redirected to Pottermore.com. If the registration process is still open for that day, you will be able to submit your details to register to access Pottermore early.

It’s important to note that finding The Magical Quill does not guarantee you access to registration, as registration will only remain open while the early access places allocated for the relevant day, between 31 July to 6 August, are available.

Don’t worry if you don’t manage to register first time. There will be plenty of opportunities to find The Magical Quill as we will be revealing a new clue each day from 31 July to 6 August. For those who miss out on early access to Pottermore, please note the site will be open to all from October .Keep visiting Pottermore to find out when registration commences.

We won’t be telling you when a clue goes live, so you’ll need to keep a careful eye on Pottermore.com over the seven-day period. However, we will let you know, via Pottermore.com and the Insider, when registration for a particular day has come to an end.

Finally, please note that we will not be enabling early access to the site straight away. Once The Magical Quill challenge is over, we will send successful early access registrants a Welcome email, letting them know when they will be able to access Pottermore. We won’t be able to let everyone into the Beta site at the same time, so please be patient with us. You may have to wait a few weeks for your Welcome email to arrive.

Alan Rickman talks playing Snape, trio's bond, discussion with J.K. Rowling

Alan Rickman spoke to RTE in-depth about his work as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series, from what information he learned from J.K. Rowling early on and if he received more as the film saga continued, to working alongside Ralph Fiennes, and his perception on the bond between costars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson. That, as well as the overall themes of Deathly Hallows: Part 2, can be read below.

When you were first approached about the role, it's been said you were reluctant to take it on until you had a conversation with JK Rowling, and she said something to you that turned it for you? Can you tell us what that was?
Alan Rickman: I don't know that I'd ever been reluctant. It's just that you have to take small steps towards what this thing was that you were going to be part of. Certainly, I did say I needed to talk to her before I could get a handle on how to play it, and we did have a phone conversation. She certainly didn't tell me what the end of the story was going to be in any way at all, so I was having to buy the books along with everybody else to find out, 'And now what?' No, she gave me one little piece of information, which I always said I would never share with anybody and never have, and never will. It wasn't a plot point, or crucial in any tangible way, but it was crucial to me as a piece of information that made me travel down that road rather than that one or that one or that one.

Did you speak with her over the years and over the course of making the films about Snape's journey?
AR: No, not at all. I mean, I've seen her over the years on odd occasions, odd events, and she just has the most marvelous -certainly, from our point of view as actors- hands-off approach to it. She may have visited the set, but I've never seen her there. And I think that's very smart of her. She's obviously had some control over the scripts or she's been sent final drafts and made her comments, but I've never been aware of any kind of controlling presence. She's let it go.

Because the books were still being published as you were making the films and you were getting new information as each new book came out about where Snape would go, was there anything that deepened your understanding of the character or surprised you as you went along?
AR: I guess it doesn't really work like that because you just keep thinking, 'And now what?' And 'Okay, now he's doing this.' He receives such a solitary path from the beginning to the end and you're aware that until it all works its way through to a conclusion, you're never quite sure what the agendas are, so there's as big a question mark over my head as I'm reading it and playing it as there is over everybody else's, until it's resolved. You know that the stakes are always very high for him, whatever the outcome proves to be.

What has it been like playing an emotionally complex, ambiguous character over these years? Has it been satisfying? Daunting? Both?
AR: Well, it's always rewarding to play people who are complicated because that tests your acting machinery and places you right inside a great piece of storytelling because great storytelling needs ambiguous characters. It needs people where the audience and the readers don't quite know what they're about. So, there's a certain 'who-done-it' quality or 'who-thunk-it' or 'who-done-what-to-him.' And it helps you to be very concentrated. I respond to what there is on the page and what there was on the page was news to me every time we got to a new script.

How's it been to work with a young cast led by Dan, Rupert, Emma, who have been growing up as their characters have? Do you think that you've influenced their growth as actors and have they ever influenced you?
AR: You can't help but be influenced by such kind of, well, youth and vulnerability and guts and hard work - all of which all three of them have had in spades, I think, all the way from the beginning. It's all very well for me to talk about my seven weeks a year on each film. They're working pretty much every day. So, when you say a 10-year commitment for them, it really has been 10 years. The number of days they've had off would be far less than the number of days they've been on. And learning on the job about what does film acting mean, and what does it mean to talk to somebody else and sound like you mean it, and listen, and know that listening is as important as talking on film. I think the whole enterprise has been phenomenally lucky to have had those three. And to watch them grow, whether one could notice it or not, it's really with a sort of shock horror that you look now at the first film and you realize how tiny they were.

And just their curiosity about this brand new world that was opened up to them? And kind of the sponges that they became to learn it all?
AR: Yeah, but if we're just talking about Dan, Rupert, and Emma, they never lost who they were as individuals. They're very different from each other. That was always evident and has remained so. And as I'm sure that they would say, they lead pretty separate lives, but they have such a strong understanding of where they've been together that, in a way, it's a secret that they'll hold to themselves forever. It's not something that I would comment on. I think it's something very private.

And it's something that only the three of them can understand?
AR: Yeah, because they've had to, you know, on the one hand, commit to that level of hard work and then, as soon as a movie is released and - what has it been, eight times?- the sudden onslaught of publicity and flashbulbs that they also have to deal with and figure out how the one is in any way connected to the other, and somehow grow up at the same time into great, young human beings. That's miraculous.

You have some terrific scenes with Ralph Fiennes in this last film. Can you talk about working with Ralph?
AR: Ralph is a very good friend of mine, and, of course, somebody I respect hugely as an actor, not just on film but the way he also keeps going back to the stage and testing himself in huge and difficult roles. He never takes the easy path. It's just great to play a scene with somebody who has that much courage in his work, and rigor, and although I know him as a good friend, you are also just working with a fellow actor, so there is no quarter given. It's absolutely coming out of the red corner and the blue corner ready to spar, but in the best way.

And it was a good match?
AR: We enjoyed it, yeah.

Can you talk about the themes of the film, and how they resonate in the last film?
AR: The last film is about resolution and new beginnings. It's a springboard to the real future of these three young people and the lives they're going to lead. So, yeah, words like redemption and loyalty and what do you believe in and what are your values, they're all like great neon signs over their heads as they send their kids off to Hogwarts.

Can you talk about shooting in Leavesden Studios? You think of the amazing things that we see in these films, and Leavesden Studios itself was one of the most unglamorous places but did have this magic and this family inside of it that made amazing things happen. What was it like working there?
AR: It depended what the weather was like. It didn't have the best heating system in the world, but I was more fortunate than others with my costume, which was always pretty warm. So, on a practical level, as you say, it had its failings. But it certainly was home to us. I think what happened, really, was that over 10 years, we watched technology take up and run away with it so that at the beginning we were sometimes at Leavesden or sometimes on incredibly detailed sets on the back lot, or we were off on location somewhere. And, as time went on and CGI got better and better, we went on location less and less until the end almost not at all, because it could all be done by magic, appropriately enough. Someone waved a computerized wand, and Hogwarts and its world was just created around us.

What do you think of the legacy of these eight films, or the film series' place in the history of cinema? It has had a huge impact on British cinema, British filmmaking, but in general, what do you think the legacy will be?
AR: Well, I hope ultimately its legacy is to make people cherish the notion of telling a story and not trying to do it by committee; that it is possible to trust a true storyteller's imagination and then serve it as honorably as possible, and that you might just wind up with something that's entertaining on the one hand, makes a load of money on the other, and gives enormous silent and not so silent pleasure to children and grownups. It's just a validation of something that we need. It's a human need to be told stories, and I don't think it can be done by committee. I think it has to be one person's imagination. So, here's to Jo Rowling and all who may sail in her.

Deathly Hallows: Part 2 hits $1 billion-mark, is highest-grossing Harry Potter film

As of Saturday, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 grossed $1 billion, becoming the highest-grossing Harry Potter film in international markets of all time. The biggest moneymaking Harry Potter film before this was the first in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which brought in $974.8 million internationally back in 2001-2002.




Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is also the ninth movie ever to break the billion dollar mark. Of the billion made, 68 percent came from international markets, including in the U.K., Japan, Australia and Germany.

We will have much more on how many more records Deathly Hallows: Part 2 sets to break as it continues its run in the box office around the world.

New Tom Felton From the Rough trailer, Planet of the Apes premiere interviews

Gyre Entertainment released the third trailer for Tom Felton's upcoming sports drama, From the Rough, in which he plays part of a team of college golf players out to win the PGA National Collegiate Minority Championship, coached by Catana Starks of Tennessee State University. The segment features several new scenes and dialogue with Tom's character Edward with costar Taraji P. Henson, who portrayed Coach Starks. That can be viewed below; the film will be out this fall.

Quote:

FROM THE ROUGH is based on the true story of Catana Starks, a former swim coach at Tennessee State University who became the first woman ever to coach a college men’s golf team. With drive, passion, and guts, she took an unruly group of mismatched kids from around the world and guided them to an all-time record at the PGA National Collegiate Minority Championship.












Also, a few new interviews from the red carpet premiere of Rise of the Planet of the Apes were released online, where Tom Felton discussed the famous shirt his friend and Harry Potter costar Rupert Grint wore on Thursday evening, and his portrayal of sinister Dodge Landon in the prequel to the Planet of the Apes saga.

Quote:

"I've had a crush on him for years!" Tom joked. "Finally, he's coming out [with his appreciation]. It's great."

I told Tom to see if Rupert is selling the shirts, in which case Tom should definitely get a cut of the profits.

"Good call. Maybe that's his latest business venture now that the films have wrapped," he said. "What a lovely guy."

Tickets for Rise of the Planet of the Apes, out August 5, 2011, can be pre-ordered here.

Interview with Evanna and Matt (DH Part 1)

Rupert Grint Loves Tom Felton!

Rupert Grint surprises Tom Felton at the premiere of Rise of the Planet of the Apes held at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Thursday (July 28) in Los Angeles.
The 22-year-old actor showed his love for Tom by wearing a t-shirt with “I Heart Tom Felton,” which was written in black marker!
The two Harry Potter costars looked chummy as they posed for pictures on the red carpet. So sweet!
“It’s been my childhood. It’s going to take a while for me to fully accept,” Rupert has said of Harry Potter coming to an end, “I keep telling myself, next year we’ll be back, but we won’t. It really is the end.”

Kymera Magic Wand Remote Control giveaway!

Order the Kymera Wand at Amazon.com

For more information, head to the contest forum, read the rules, and enter your submission. The contest will run from now until 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, July 31, 2011. Good luck to all participating.

New Harry, Ron & Hermione Deathly Hallows: Part 2 Hogwarts moments posters

20 Harry Potter cast members discuss how the series & their roles changed their lives

In the latest issue of Radio Times magazine, a variety of actors from the Harry Potter series discussed what working in the films meant to them, and how much it changed their professional, and personal lives.

New interviews with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Bonnie Wright, Matthew Lewis, Tom Felton, Helena Bonham Carter, Helen McCrory, Jason Isaacs, Timothy Spall, John Hurt (Ollivander), Rhys Ifans (Xenophilius Lovegood), Robbie Coltrane, Maggie Smith, Gary Oldman, Richard Griffiths (Vernon Dursley), Robert Pattinson (Cedric Diggory), Pam Ferris (Aunt Marge), Zoe Wanamaker (Madam Hooch), and David Tennant (Barty Crouch, Jnr) were featured, where they discussed how much they enjoyed working with their fellow actors, how much they learned and interacted with the overall cast, and what they took from the series and their work for future films. Some of the funnier excerpts came from Dan, Bonnie, Robbie, Gary, Rob, Pam, and especially Richard Griffiths.

Bonnie Wright: When you've played a character for ten years, you do become incredibly close and sometimes you can't see the boundaries between yourself and the character - although in real life I fell for Gellert Grindelwald, not Harry Potter. I met my fiancé Jamie [Campbell Bower] on the set of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. And, no, in case you're wondering, we won't be having a Potter-themed wedding.

Warner Bros, Universal Orlando hosting A Celebration of the Harry Potter Films in Nov

Those interested must purchase the package for the event beginning this Sunday, July 31, 2011, as spots are very limited. Different packages for the U.S. and UK. are available.

VACATION PACKAGES ON SALE SUNDAY, JULY 31 st
FOR “A CELEBRATION OF THE HARRY POTTER FILMS” AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT

Special Event Hosted by Warner Bros. to Feature Three Days of
Cast Member and Filmmaker Appearances, Autograph Signings,
Q&A Sessions and Film Screenings

ORLANDO, Fla. (July 25, 2011) – Universal Orlando Resort announced today that special vacation packages will go on sale Sunday, July 31st that will give guests the opportunity to attend “A Celebration of the Harry Potter Films.” This special event will be hosted by Warner Bros. and will celebrate a decade of movie history by allowing fans to share their love for the Harry Potter films. The event will take place from Friday, November 11, to Sunday, November 13, at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

During this special event, guests can celebrate their favorite memories and stories of Harry Potter with filmmakers, cast members and fellow fans. While all theme park guests will be able to enjoy The Wizarding World of Harry Potter during their visit, only a limited number of guests and those who buy special event packages will have access to exclusive benefits such as:

• A spectacular evening gala in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Autograph signings with stars from the Harry Potter films
• Q&A sessions with Harry Potter filmmakers and cast members, along with the creators of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Screenings of all eight Harry Potter films – including “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2” – at the AMC Universal Cineplex 20 in Universal CityWalk. Access to the screenings can be added to the vacation packages for an additional fee.

Throughout the three-day celebration, guests will also be able to explore The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where the wonder, excitement and adventure of the Harry Potter films come to life. They will enjoy experiences such as soaring above Hogwarts on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, sipping Butterbeer in Hogsmeade and being inside Ollivanders and seeing a wand choose its wizard.

For information on price packaging, please head here.

Interview with Evanna and Mark in Sweden!

Please like my Evanna Lynch Fan page on FaceBook!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Evanna-Lynch-is-the-perfect-Luna-Lovegood/206519839396958

VIDEOS! 'Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story'

I really admire the billionaire author of 'Harry Potter' books, JK Rowling, she is a big inspiration to me. She is genius... She created a world... Harry Potter was my childhood friend... And I always thank her for creating Harry Potter

But honestly, I just have little infos about the life of JK Rowling... And thanks to this unauthorized biopic of her - 'Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story'

'Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story' is based on the book 'J.K. Rowling: A Biography' by Sean Smith. The special aired on July 18, 2011 on Lifetime. Poppy Montgomery starred as JK Rowling.

Plot: An inspiring look at JK Rowling's rise to become one of the most influential writers-from her humble beginnings as an imaginative young girl and awkward teenager to the loss of her mother and the genesis of the 'Harry Potter' phenomenon.

TRAILER


WATCH NOW!!!














BEHIND THE SCENES


Download the biopic

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2' STILL PLAYING in Philippine 3D and 2D Theatres!!!

Photo via Harry Potter Wikia

Mario Maurer Gagawa ng Pelikula sa Star Cinema

Kahapon naibalita ko nga ang mga maaaring maging leading lady ni Mario Maurer if ever na magkaroon sya ng pelikula rito (basahin mo rito).

Ngayon ng ay kumpirmadong may pag-uusap ng nangyayari para gumawa ng pelikula si Mario Maurer sa Star Cinema, yes magiging Kapamilya na ang Thai Superstar. Sa ngayon ay wala pang pinal na desisyon pero gaya ng nasabi ko may negosasyon ng nagaganap... ibig sabihin super laki na ng posibilidad, kumbaga pirma na lang ang kulang.

I'm sure matutuloy ito... pero ang tanong sino nga ba sa mga nabanggit na Kapamilya leading ladies ang magiging kapareha niya?

Kapag natuloy ito, aba napakalaking dyamante ang nakuha ng Star Cinema...

Photo by Mario Maurer