ABC Family’s Harry Potter Weekend continues and we have some more videos for you.

Emma, Dan and Rupert talk about their first day of filming. The first scene filmed was the last scene of the film, saying goodbye to Hagrid at the train station.

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Chris Columbus and David Heyman also share their memories of that first day.

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ABC Family’s Harry Potter Weekend has begun. Bonus features from the Ultimate Edition DVD’s of Sorcerer’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets, and the Half-Blood Prince are airing during the commercial breaks. We’ll be bringing them to you as soon as we can.

In this first sneak peak from the Sorcerer’s Stone Ultimate Edition, Chris Columbus talks about casting Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. “Seeing Emma Watson’s screentest, we were all in agreement, that Emma was Hermione.”

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In this next clip, Emma reads through the scene where Hermione first appears on the train in Sorcerer’s Stone, and talks about how she was like her character.

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Next, Chris Columbus talks about how the trio needed a little coaxing during the first film.

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Mark Williams and Julie Walters (Arthur and Molly Weasley) are the family Harry doesn’t have.

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An interview with Tim Alexander about creating the Inferi for Half-Blood Prince.

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Creating the cave in Half-Blood Prince with Stuart Craig.

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Evanna Lynch talks with costume designer Jany Temime.

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Harry Potter Weekend on ABC Family begins this evening. They will be showing the first four films from Friday through Sunday, and in the breaks they will be showing clips from features included on the DVDs of  Half-Blood Prince and Ultimate Editions of Sorcerer’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets which will be released in the US on December 8.

From the press release:

To add to the magic, ABC Family will also be airing exclusive footage from “Creating the World of Harry Potter,” an eight-hour documentary series revealing the filmmaking magic behind all of the films in the series. For the first time ever, uncover the intimate details, never-before-seen screen tests, inside stories by cast and filmmakers, and directors’ critical decisions behind the creation of Harry Potter’s world on screen. “Creating the World of Harry Potter” is only available in the “Harry Potter Ultimate Edition” series on Blu-ray and DVD.   Each Ultimate Edition includes a one-hour feature from “Creating the World of Harry Potter” that highlights a unique aspect of the filmmaking process. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Ultimate Edition” and “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Ultimate Edition” available on Blu-ray and DVD December 8.

In addition, fans will get an advanced look at the “Close Up with the Cast” piece when they join Evanna Lynch, who plays Luna Lovegood, as she visits the costume department and shows off some of her jewelry designs. Fans can also go behind the scenes with the cast and crew to see how the infamous Cave was created and what it took to bring the Inferi to the big screen. Both of these pieces will be featured in their entirety on the “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” Blu-ray Combo Pack and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD.

The schedule for the movies is

Friday, December 4
7:30-11:00 PM ET/PT – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Saturday, December 5
12:30-4:00 PM ET/PT – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
4:00-8:00 PM ET/PT – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
8:00-11:00 PM ET/PT – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Sunday, December 6
12:30-4:30 PM ET/PT – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
4:30-7:30 PM ET/PT – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
7:30-11:00 PM ET/PT – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The first official still from Deathly Hallows was posted on USA Today this morning. If it looks a little familiar that’s because we’ve seen a lot of on-the-set pics when they were filming this scene back in April.

Honorable mentions go to Jaclyn, Xavier, Jasmine, Lisa, Rebecca and Semiru. Thank you to everyone that entered, and thank you to all who voted.

  
All the competition entries can be viewed here.

Emma, Dan, Rupert, Bonnie, and David Yates talked with the Brazilian blog Vira-Tempo about Deathly Hallows, and the Half-Blood Prince DVD. They asked Emma about filming Half-Blood Prince, and how she felt about the film, and the previous movies. You can read Emma’s interview here or I’ve included their English translation below.

QUESTION: So, this is the first time the audience has really seen a more vulnerable side of Hermione. How do you feel about bringing this side of her life to the screen?
EMMA WATSON: I really enjoyed playing the more vulnerable side to her character. She’s quite emotional, angry and crazy, so it was fun to play her.

QUESTION: What was the most challenging aspect shooting this film?
EMMA WATSON: The most challenging aspect of this film was the fact that I was trying to take my A-levels at the same time I was filming. So my life was crazy. One minute I was on set, and the next minute I was doing an exam, or reading a textbook, or doing something, so I was a bit all over the place. Sometimes it’s kind of hard to juggle both aspects of my life.

QUESTION: And what about acting-wise? Was there something that was really difficult as far as her character?
EMMA WATSON: Yes, there’s a scene where Hermione cries, when Ron kisses Lavender, and so that was kind of hard. It’s very hard to make yourself cry. And I had to do it three or four times while lots of people were watching…that was tough.

QUESTION: But how do you do it? Do you think of something sad? What do you do to make yourself cry?
EMMA WATSON: I guess I would call myself more of a method actress. I do genuinely kind of try to go through things in my head and really kind of put myself there.

QUESTION: Was there a scene or sequence that you really enjoyed filming for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince?
EMMA WATSON: I really enjoyed the Quidditch sequence with Ron just because it’s always nice to do a bit of comedy. And I just thought the whole thing was hilarious, so I really enjoyed it.

QUESTION: This is the second time you’ve worked with this director (David Yates). Does that affect or change what it’s like for you to come to set every day?
EMMA WATSON: Yes, I guess it does. In the first Harry Potter that David directed, (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) he was really finding his feet, meeting lots of new people, and working with a crew that had already worked together. And now, he’s very much part of the team and I think he felt a lot more confident. Not that he wasn’t on the first one, but I think everyone was just more settled, which was nice.

QUESTION: Hermione and Ron obviously have a bit of a romance in the movie. Were you excited for this storyline?
EMMA WATSON: Yes, I was very excited. It might not be the most obvious storyline in a way. I think a lot of fans always saw Hermione and Harry together, but I think that Hermione and Ron are very strange, but kind of perfect for each other. They’re very different, but you know, they make each other laugh. Ron lightens her up. Hermione’s quite a serious character, so I think they’re good for each other.

QUESTION: It seems that it would be more fun to play Hermione when you’re in a scene with Ron, because he looks like he’s having a good time?
EMMA WATSON: Definitely. Yes. I like doing scenes with Rupert because we get to kind of bounce off each other and they tend to be the funny ones.

QUESTION: Can you talk a little about the balance between the romance and the comedy, and the action and danger in the film?
EMMA WATSON: Yes, there’s definitely an impending sense of danger in this film. The very opening sequence, is like a terrorist attack with the Dementors, and we’re very aware that Voldemort is back. And so there’s definitely a sense that things are kind of heating up, basically for the last film. So yes, it’s a very exciting film.

QUESTION: What do you enjoy playing more, the comedy, the adventure or the danger?
EMMA WATSON: I suppose it’s nice to do a bit of everything. It’s nice to play a variety, which I think is great. You know, to do one scene that’s really comic, and then do another scene that’s very serious, and then do another scene that’s all about the action

Time to get the voting started!

Ok, things are going to be different this time. There were problems with the old way of voting, so I’m trying something new. You only get to vote one time, but you get to vote for more than one calendar. Here’s how it goes:

1. View the calendars here. Click on the thumbnails to see a larger preview image. Take your time, there are 74 entries this month.
2. Choose your favorite 5 calendars, and write down their numbers in order, from best to 5th place, like 84, 216, 114, … You don’t have to choose 5, you can vote for just one if you like, but you can vote for 5. (no, there aren’t 216 entries, those are fake numbers).
3. Send your vote in an email to emmawatson.contest@gmail.com or in a PM to me on the forums, dookdookdook.

Voting is open through Novermber 29, 00:00 GMT.

Update: It’s been a lot less work to tally votes than I thought it would be, so I’ve decided to extend the voting through December 1, 00:00 GMT. I was afraid my directions wouldn’t be clear enough, but so far everyone has done a great job with their votes. Thanks everyone!

Update: Voting is now closed.

Good luck everyone!

Another year comes and goes so quickly and now the Holiday season is upon us once again. Our Christmas Project this year will be a simple Christmas card with your holiday wishes. How you say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays is up to you. Send it in and we’ll include it if we can. For more details on how to contribute, go to

People often ask about sending Emma gifts. On her site, Emma asks people not to do that, and suggests donating to UNICEF, a charity she supports, if they really want to do something to make her happy.

Some new photos of Emma from the Half-Blood Prince photoshoot have surfaced. These have a new outfit and a new look for Emma with her hair in a braid. Thanks to EmmaWatsonsMagic.

A special appeal from Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint aired on yesterdays Children in Need fund raising program. The charity’s mission is “to make a positive change to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.” The trio recorded these segments on the DH set back in August. The fundraiser so far has raised over £ 20 million. If you would like to donate, there is information at the end of the video, or on the Children in Need website.

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