|
|
|
The Daily Prophet |
|
February 2003
Potter first editions raise £7,000 at auction
First glimpse of the Harry Potter Knight Bus BBC: Finally! Potter fans have a sneaky peek of what's in store for the third Potter film, Prisoner of Azkaban. A photo of the Knight Bus from chapter three of Azkaban has appeared, even though we know for sure proper filming doesn't start until next week. The bus, which can go anywhere, except underwater, was spotted in the London area. It was being used in some pre-production work also involving Harry himself - Dan Radcliffe. Often pre-production filming takes place to shoot some special bits in scenes before official filming begins. The Sun reports Dan had to have a stunt double for some of his shots because they were so dangerous! The purple triple decker bus is used to transport stranded witches and wizards - so no Muggle passengers allowed! Harry stumbles across the bus just as he's worrying about breaking Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry. Wednesday 12th February 2003 Dad wins bid for rare Potters for baby son BBC: Three first edition Harry Potter books donated by JK and another famous writer have been sold at a charity auction for a total of £7,340. A private collector, Martin Drewett, bought The Philosopher's Stone for £6,600 and a signed Goblet of Fire for £240. Bill Hoade, a spokesperson for Action Aid - one of the charities who will get the money - told CBBC Newsround's website Mr Drewett bought the books for his baby son. The baby was even there in the auction room hiccupping! All the money made will go to two charities helping children - Action Aid and ChildLine. But Mr Hoade told us the books did go for "less than expected". A writer called Simon Singh had donated his own first edition copies of the Philosopher's Stone and the Chamber of Secrets for the sale. But JK Rowling herself also gave the sale a signed first edition Goblet of Fire to add to the valuable collection. The COS copy was bought for £500. Wednesday 12th February 2003 'Lionboy' books set to be next Potter BBC: A story about a boy who can talk to cats is being tipped as the next Harry Potter. The Lionboy books have been written by a single mother called Louisa Young and her 10-year-old daughter, Isabel. They're all about a young boy called Charlie Ashanti who can communicate with cats after being scratched by a leopard. Louisa and Isabel originally made up the adventures together as bedtime stories. Publishers Puffin PSON.L are so sure that the book's going to be a success that they've given the author a deal worth £1 million. This is loads more than JK got paid for the first Potter novel - she got just £2,000. However, it's not the first time that someone's been tipped as the 'next Potter' - including Lemony Snicket and Philip Pullman. But so far no one has taken JK's crown! Tuesday 11th February 2003 Potter gets sent up for Comic Relief BBC: Harry Potter is getting a new look for Comic Relief. Comedians French and Saunders are doing a send-up of the second movie, called Harry Potter and the Secret Chamber Pot of Azerbaijan. Dawn French is going to play the boy wizard and Jennifer Saunders will be Hermione. Posh British actor Jeremy Irons will play Snape, and tiny comedian Ronnie Corbett is taking on the part of giant Hagrid. Basil Brush is going to be Dobby the house elf. Bottom star Adrian Edmondson, who's married to Jennifer Saunders, is directing the sketch. "What great casting," he said. "Meeting Basil was a high point of my career. He is a genuine person." Potter author JK Rowling was at the launch of Comic Relief and posed with a red nose with comedian Lenny Henry. Tuesday 11th February 2003 Harry Potter 3 Already Filming in London Comingsoon.net: Interesting news hit today regarding the third installment of the "Harry Potter" series. The Los Angeles Times tried to get a statement from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban director Alfonso Cuarón for his "Original Screenplay" nomination for Y Tu Mama Tambien. The trade says that they couldn't get in touch with him because they were told the director is shooting the third installment in London at this time. Production was originally scheduled to start on February 17th in London at the Leavesden Studios. The Sun also has some great pictures of the Knight Bus from the third film. The pictures were taken in West London. Tuesday 11th February 2003 Cho Chang rumours for Potter 3 'aren't true' BBC: With filming on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban due to start very soon, rumours have been sweeping the internet that the part of Cho Chang had been cast. According to the whispers, an actress called Jennifer Nguyen would be filling the part. But insiders at the studios have told CBBC Newsround the rumours simply aren't true. And also on the subject of false rumours, many fans have been waiting eagerly for the DVD of Chamber of Secrets to be released. They want to go through it frame by frame to check out speculation that JK Rowling had a tiny part as a witch in Knockturn Alley. Well, we'll save you the trouble! People at the studio tell us there's no truth in that rumour either. But, don't worry, with the start of filming on the next movie being so close, more firm casting info should be coming our way soon. Monday 10th February 2003 JK Rowling's 'feeling of hopelessness' BBC: JK Rowling has told sixth-year students in Scotland she had "a feeling of general hopelessness" when she started writing her famous Potter books. And she thought she was kidding herself that the books would be successful. The author was talking to an Edinburgh school's magazine, called The High, which is written and edited by Broughton High pupils. They were surprised to get the interview with JK, but were delighted when she agreed to answer pupils' questions sent in by e-mail. In the interview, JK says she was incredibly proud when Philosopher's Stone appeared on bookshop shelves. She said: "It was something close to the feeling I had when I saw my daughter for the first time. "I could not get over the fact that a real bookshop was stocking it." But it was only after The Chamber of Secrets came out that she realised she didn't have to go back to her old job of teaching. JK also said she had been nervous about letting her books be made into Hollywood films at first. "I did not feel I was far enough into the series. "I didn't want 'non-author-written-sequels' where a film company could have taken my characters and sent them off to Las Vegas on holiday, or something equally mad," she said. "I finally said 'yes' when I knew I was far enough into the books to make it very difficult for the film-makers to take Harry and Co off in directions I didn't want them to go". And it has paid off. The two films have so far made over £1billion around the world. And as the countdown to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix continues, JK said she was determined to write the last two books so fans can see what happens to Harry, Ron and Hermione. "I swore to myself I would see him through to his seventh year at Hogwarts and unless I get hit by a bus before then, I'll do so." Now that's something Potter fans will be very relieved to hear! Thursday 6th February 2003 Scientist invents Harry Potter invisibility cloak BBC: A Japanese clever-clogs has brought the magical world of Hogwarts one step closer! Professor Susumu Tachi of Tokyo University has made a coat that you can see through just like Harry Potter's invisibility cloak. The picture on the coat is made by a viewfinder which puts together the moving images which are behind the wearer. The Japanese scientist hopes one day he'll be able to make you completely see-through. This should help people like surgeons who would like to be able to see through their hands when they are operating. But we reckon it would be best for sneaking round school corridors when you're meant to be in your house dorm! Wednesday 5th February 2003 No word yet on JK Rowling's OOTP tour BBC: There's still no word on whether J K Rowling will be doing any events to publicise the release of Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix. JK is expecting a baby soon and that might influence whether she'll be taking part in promoting the new book which is out on 21 June. The mini-Rowling will be three months old when OOTP comes out. When the Goblet of Fire hit the shops in 2000, JK hopped onto the Hogwarts Express and travelled all over the country on a whirlwind four-day tour. Of course, the Potter books probably don't need the extra publicity. But, don't worry, if anything's announced we'll let you know. Wednesday 5th February 2003 Pope sticks up for Potter books BBC: The Pope has backed the Harry Potter books and said they're not anti-Christian. A spokesman for the Pope spoke up for the boy wizard stories at the Vatican on Monday. Some church groups have attacked JK Rowling's books for being "evil" and promoting witchcraft. But the Pope's spokesman said at a press conference: "I don't see any problem in the Harry Potter series. "They aren't bad. If I have understood well the intentions of Harry Potter's author, they help children to see the difference between good and evil." He added that the Vatican thought JK Rowling lived her life like a Christian, and that her way of writing reflected that. The Harry Potter books have sold more than 192 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 55 languages. Monday 3rd February 2003 Decision due on Rupert's delayed website BBC: Fans of Rupert Grint look set for a lengthy wait before the Harry Potter star's official website goes live. At the moment, visitors to www.rupertgrint.co.uk are told that the Ron Weasley actor's site is "coming soon". But Rupert's dad Nigel has told Newsround that a final decision on whether to go ahead with the website will be made over the next few weeks. "At the moment we don't know where to go with it," Nigel said. "We're aware that the fans are waiting for something to happen - but we don't want to have the same old stuff you can get elsewhere. "We want to make it a bit of fun - and a bit silly." The idea for Rupert's official site first came up about a year ago - after the release of the first Potter film. Rupert's dad said he was keen to have Rupert's "actual involvement" on the website. That could include: a message board with Rupert posting a film diary of Prisoner of Azkaban Rupert's already back at Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire doing some "pre-production" stuff for Azkaban. Filming gets going in mid-February. Monday 3rd February 2003 Cinesite Aboard Prisoner of Azkaban FX Comingsoon.net: VFX Pro reports that Cinesite Europe has won a major contract for the models and miniatures on the forthcoming Harry Potter installment, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Warner Bros. has subcontracted Cinesite with all the model unit construction and miniature photography. The trade says that construction work will begin immediately on models of the Hogwarts and Privet Drive, and on other major structures for the film. The build will continue until early May at Shepperton Studios workshops. Principal photography is scheduled to run from early June into early September. Monday 3rd February 3 2003 |