Harry Potter Journals
Day Two: Minced Mouse, Slobber, and Dragon Skin
Monday, July 26, 2004
I helped train animals this morning in the Great Hall. We started with the beautiful, sweet, and furry Mrs. Norris who was preparing for an appearance on Friday. In real life, she’s nothing like the cold, stern menace she portrays in the movie. At first my job was to cause a diversion to strengthen Mrs. Norris’ focus. Later, I was given the chance to boss her around. She received a lot of treats for all her good performances, but I learned that the treats are very healthy and incorporated into the animals’ meals.
Next I helped train Rufus, an owl from Africa. The trainers commented that the owls are difficult to train, but Rufus appeared to be pretty smart to me! After I’d call “Here Rufus,” he’d come flying over. Then I’d take the letter from his mouth and give him a treat of minced mouse. Yum.
Finally we worked with the super-friendly “Fang.” Actually his real name is “Monkey.” That’s right, “Monkey.” Like many of the animals on set, he was rescued from an animal shelter. Monkey has a significant slobber problem – it just dangles from his massive jowls and flies about when he shakes his head. When I reached in to give him a treat, my entire hand disappeared into his mouth and came out a warm, sticky, and stinky mess! Monkey is probably not the dog to have around the house before a date, no matter how gentle and friendly he is.
At lunch today I sat near several student extras still in uniform. Some have been in all four movies so they’ve become pretty good friends. Behind me sat the Chudley Cannons quidditch team – they were at the studios to film a “moving” poster in Ron’s bedroom.
I spent some of my time after lunch working with the Costumes Department. There were hundreds and hundreds of school uniforms hanging – every student needs three on hand. I helped arrange a new shipment of cloaks on hangers while watching a seamstress piece together an awesome Rita Skeeter outfit made of dragon skin….well, imitation dragon skin.
We then began ironing shirts – there were 700 hundred waiting. They wash and iron every shirt for each day they are used. It was understandable – in hot lights around lots of makeup, those things don’t stay clean! Ironing was a methodical process – collar, yolk, cuffs, and front – collar, yolk, cuffs, and front – etc.
After awhile, they decided it would be fun to dress me up, so they hauled out the tape measures and recorded my sizes. Suddenly they all disappeared and came back with:
- An off-white button-up shirt
- A grey sweater
- Grey pants
- A black belt
- Black socks
- Black shoes
- A Gryffindor tie
- A cloak with a Gryffindor badge
That’s a lot of gear to organize for every student! My costume fit more perfectly than any of my own clothing, but they still decided the cloak needed to be an inch longer. Someone flew back in with a new one and I was set. I have to say – that was the most incredible feeling, being dressed up like a Hogwarts student.
On my way out that day, I noted a birthday package of 150 CDs waiting for Dan from his fans.
Day One: An Alternate Universe on Dan's Birthday
Day Three: The Beauxbatons, the Durmstrangs, and the Department of Wonder
Day Four: The Room of Pre-Visualization, and "Greg Goes to the Book Bindery"
Day Five: "...and...ACTION!"
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