Extra in next Harry Potter
Divinity School, Bodleian Library Wow! So yesterday I was walking around Oxford running some errands, and I walked past the Bodleian Library. As it turns out, there were nearly a dozen trucks in front of the library and parts of it were closed off for a movie shoot. I tried to catch a peek of what was happening but there was nothing really to be seen. Just as I was on my way out of the library quad, I was pulled aside by someone wearing a Warner Brothers polo shirt and asked if I would like to be an extra in the movie they were filming, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Well of course I said yes! Apparently I’m going to be an upper year student in a crowd scene in the hospital in Hogwarts, which is filmed in the Divinity School in the Bodleian library (see picture). I’m being fitted for my costume his afternoon and then shooting is Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. How exciting is that?!
What’s that you say? I’m too old to be a student at Hogwarts? They couldn’t have a costume ready that quickly? I’m not cool enough to be in a film? Ha! And double ha! You just wait until the movie comes out in November 2005 and then we’ll see who’s laughing!
Movie trucks outside the Bodleian library Okay, you’re right, I’m not going to be in the next Harry Potter movie. But they really are filming it here. At least I think so. There really are lots of trucks outside the Bodleian Library and they really are filming something in the Divinity School, and they’re also filming in New College, where all my Oxford housemates did their undergrads. There are signs all over the place reading “WB Pickup” and “WB Loc”, and I presume WB means Warner Brothers. And one of the road crew was whistling the theme to Harry Potter while he was walking down the street, so my bet is on Harry Potter. Maybe I’ll land a cameo yet.
Comment by kirk
I almost had respect for you…
hey, maybe they need a good SM!
Comment by Patrick
Douglas… douglas, I half believed you… and now i’m disspointed looking for you would have finally gotten me to watch one of the harry potter movies.
Cheers,
P
Comment by Meredi
grrr, I totally fell for it 
Comment by Andrew
The obvious solution is to abandon all other aspects of your life and spend hours “casually” roaming around the set and periodically handing out free beverages to anybody who looks like a goblin or wizard or that sort of thing. Surely you can calculate the best place to stand based on traffic flow, angle that the sun catching the magical glimmer running across the frame of your specs, etc., etc. I mean, for heaven’s sake, what value was this education if not for such a valuable applied purpose!
Comment by Donny
There’s a theme song to Harry Potter?!?
I’ve had the books duct-taped around my head ALL DAY and I haven’t heard a peep, let alone a whole theme!
Comment by kirk
the theme song for Harry Potter – isn’t that the ‘Imperial March?’…
I swear, every time I hear the Harry Potter theme, I half expect to hear, “No, Harry – I am your father”. “Voldemort??? noooooooo” and then Harry’s hand gets chopped off
