Behind The Wand - Callsheets, Acting Lessons and Having Hermione Hair

Hey everyone!! This is the 4th bonus episode answering YOUR fab questions.

This week we are talking about:

• What is in the call sheet and the scheduling of a film
• The evolution of Hermione's hair 
• Did we have acting lessons
• The hardest thing I had to do on set
• Is. it too soon for a reboot?

Episode Transcript

(00:08):
Hello everybody, and welcome to thefourth bonus episode of Behind the wand thank
you for listening. If you arelistening, well, you wouldn't hear this
if you aren't listening. I thinkI said this last week, but I'm
really really enjoying recording these episodes.Yeah, it's just really fun for me

(00:30):
just reliving my experience obviously through theregular series. I basically, obviously I
do reflect on my own experience,but it's more talking to other people about
their experiences. And I have donean episode myself where the producer Lucy behind
the wand producer Lucy interviewed me.But yeah, it's just really nice thinking

(00:52):
about my time working on Harry Potter. And I also just love your questions.
They're always so good. And again, I hope you find this episode
interesting. So I've written down whatquestions I'm going to be answering, and
the first one isn't actually a well, it was a question. Well,

(01:15):
I'd actually say it was more ofa request. That was from Andrea,
who just asked me if I couldtalk through a call sheet and maybe just
kind of explain the sort of informationyou get which might help you sort of
understand how a film is scheduled orscheduled, and how we sort of knew
what we were doing every day.So I'm going to do that. Then

(01:40):
some other questions I got were aboutacting lessons and did we have acting lessons
the hardest thing I had to doon set, a little bit more about
the reboot, and a little bitabout Hermione's hair. So again very varied
but really really good questions. ButI think I'm going to start with the
call sheet. And if you hearrustling, that's because I have the call

(02:02):
sheet in front of me, andI did just pick a random one.
Sorry, Andrew. I think ifyou've said I could pick a memorable one.
But this is just the first oneI got my hands on, and
I thought, I've just yeah,this all work because they're all pretty similar.
So this one, this specific one, is from Harry Potter and The

(02:23):
Prisoner of Azkaban and it's call Sheetfifty five. So every night, before
you get home, you were givena call sheet which not only outlines what
you're doing the following day, butalso a little bit further ahead as well.
So I'll sort of talk through thepages that you get. So on
the first page is sort of allthe information of who's who so, director,

(02:46):
producer, writer, so it's sortof like credits and the date where
we're filming. So this one Igot is actually from one of our days
in Scotland. So the unit basewas called Red Squirrel and the location was
it's actually called I can't even say, this is the hill above Clakhagen in

(03:07):
Glencoe and Scotland. Then we havesome Janet and Roberts Robin's number who are
location managers in case you need tocontact them. Then some other other numbers
of the producer's office, the AD'soffice and transport office, so just people
that you might need to speak toif you didn't understand something on the call

(03:30):
sheet or there was something I guesswrong, or you have any questions.
Those sort of details are right onthe front. Then the other information you
get, so the unit call onset is seven am. That isn't for
Cast, that is for Crewe.And then it says breakfast at unit bases
from six minibuses to shuttle the crewfrom the base. So the base is

(03:51):
where you'll have breakfast up into theset is at six point thirty and the
lunch at unit base is at twelvethirty, so that's kind of like obviously
the base is not up in thehills where Hagrid's hut was, which is
what we were filming in Scotland.So it just made it so people knew
what time to be back up basedfor lunch and what time the cater is

(04:13):
a going to be doing lunch.You could obviously get food at any time,
but that's when, yeah, you'dget that's where most people will be
having lunch. And then there's atime for sunrise sunset, so that's kind
of like really useful information for sortof directors and stuff like that, so
it's not just for cast the causesheet, it's obviously for crew as well.

(04:34):
Another thing it says is no smokingin locations, no private hire cars
on location, and then just abit of information about access, and then
it also says unit notes please bringwet weather clothing, sensible footwear, insect
repellent because the mosquitoes are mad atthat time of year in Scotland. Mosquito

(05:00):
will also be available, and thenthere's also the contact information for the unit
nurse should you need her. Thenthere's a little bit of a weather report.
So this one that day which wasthe fifteenth of May two thousand and
three, ground frost and sunny spells, light winds. So that's the information.

(05:20):
We're not even through the first page, guys. Then the next thing
you have is the scenes you're filming. So the first one is seen number
forty three, and it says exteriorHagrid's Hut below Sundial Hermione's timetable is full,
and then it says so it saysscene number forty three, day four

(05:43):
and cast numbers one, two three, So day four, it says D
slash M, which I think meansday or night. So this is day
four and cast numbers one, twoand three. Then it has another scene
we're doing, so it's exterior Hagrid'shut below sun Dial, seen number ninety
six A. This is then daytwelve and cast numbers one, two three,

(06:04):
and the explanation is Ron blames Crookshanksfor Scabberd's disappearance, Harry sees Hagrid.
Then the last scene we'll be doingthat day is exterior Hagrid's hut.
They arrived to see everyone there.That's seen number forty three again, Day
four again, and this time it'scast numbers one two three, six,

(06:26):
seven, and sixty one. Socast number one is obviously Dan, cast
number two is Rupert, Cast numberthree is Emma. Then, so that
was the first two scenes, Isaid, one, two, three.
Then number six is Tom Felton,so Malfoy seven is Jamie Wayler Crab and

(06:49):
then sixty one was Bronson Webb whoplayed one of like Malfoy's crew. Yeah,
so that's all on the front page. Also, buy your names,
so like and then let's turn overthe page and then it has the stand
ins names, and then it willhave the doubles names. We us doubles

(07:10):
all have numbers assigned to us aswell, but it'll be like one D,
two D three D and next toyour name, you'll have a call
time. So that day, mycall time was at nine point fifteen.
Let me see what time Emma's wasseven fifteen. Then it also tells you
where they're dressing, what their dressingroom number is, so mine was a

(07:34):
dressing room three W two, Andthen it tells you what time you need
to be in hair and makeup.So Emma had to be in hair and
makeup at seven thirty. I hadto be in hair and makeup at nine
thirty, and then it will tellyou what time to be on set.
So Emma was to be on setat eight thirty and mine was as required.
So that means you're not needed forthe first scene basically, so I

(07:56):
would have probably just gone straight intoschool. It also has extras, so
it doesn't have a list of thenames. It will just tell you nineteen
mixed extras years one to six.Then the next scene needs ten mixed extras,
all Griffind's third year, and thenthe next one needs fourteen mixed extras

(08:16):
Slither in third years and it's same. It will have like what time they
have to be in hair and makeupand what time they need to be on
set. Then there's a breakdown ofchaperones and their contact details, and then
there's a cruno at the bottom herewhich says, please be aware a helicopter
will be moving equipment at the locationfrom six to forty five and again over

(08:39):
the lunch period. Please do notleave animals or any other objects near the
location that will be affected by thedowndraft caused by the helicopter. So I
don't know if you can hear thatflies just flying past me. It's like
buzzing around. So yeah, that'sthe main information you will have for the
scene. Who's needed, Like,that's all the information for the cast.

(09:01):
The next few pages are all forcrew. I'm not going to go through
all of this, but it willbe stuff for cameras, it'll be stuff
for sound, it'll be stuff forcostume, makeup and hair, and it's
just basically a list of who's kindof like not in that department as such.

(09:26):
It would just be like who's thehead of department and who people need
to refer to and any sort ofextra issues they might have or what they
might be doing. So CFX asper Nick Dudman Hagrid the Giant, So
it just means that Martin Bayfel wouldhave been on that in that day.
Then over the next page, wehave an advanced schedule, so this will

(09:48):
then list sort of what we're filmingthe next few days. Interestingly, we
were filming on a Saturday. Thisday. It must have been that we
were getting close to when we needsto go home. We need to get
stuff. So anyway, the advancedschedule was Friday sixteenth, the May glen
Co exterior, Hagrid's hut, HarryRon Hermione make their way down from the
sun dial like that is how specificit is. I'm actually kind of forgotten

(10:11):
about that. That's day thirteen.We're also on Friday, would have been
doing exterior Hagrid's hut again, Harrywere on Hermione make their way to the
sundial. That's just like further onin that scene. So the first page
was one oh seven. That's pageone oh nine, and this time happens
at dusk or is it because no, no. Then there's weather cover,

(10:33):
which is really interesting. I've spokenabout this a little bit before, but
just in case it is absolutely pouringwith rain, they're always have a scene
that can be filmed that it doesn'tmatter if it's pouring with rain. So
this weather cover was interior Hagrid's hut, Ron Hermione, hug Dumbledore arrives,
and then on the Saturday we werefilming the pumpkin patch Hagrid's Hut, exterior

(10:58):
Pumpkins patch, but it wasn't confirmedwhat scene that was. It just says
scene TBA. Weather cover was thesame the interior of Hagrid's hut. Also
Sunday, the eighteenth of May wasa rest day. Oh we know we
can't have been going home because anotherthing. Another note is artists travel day
to Scotland. So Michael Gambon wastraveling on the Sunday from home up to

(11:20):
Scotland, and Robert Hardy who playsFudge was traveling up to Scotland. So
that information's in there. Yeah.Moving on the next few things is a
bit of safety, just about beingon the mountain. So it's a little
bit about rescue teams just say anythingawful happened, and just some safety information,

(11:43):
yeah, and more health and safetyabout the scene numbers, and about
wearing suitable clothes, about the rainfallso they might be slippy, and just
some more contact info if you neededit, about people who put the health
and safety people. A bit moresafety info about guidelines working around aircraft because

(12:05):
I guess that helicopter was coming.Yep, more about the helicopter. God,
there's like a diagram of the helicopteras well. Then, oh my
god, this is so brilliant.I'm one hundred percent going to put this
on my Instagram. Please look,there is a hand drawn map of the

(12:28):
glen Coe location, so like wherethe unit bases, what was in unit
basis, says Editing Visual Digital's offices. Then there's like the unit base,
there's the standby trucks. Then itshows you where Hagrid's hut is, where
the pickup point is, where portloos are, where the sun dial is,
more porter loose, where the bridgeis like that really you know,

(12:52):
iconic Hogwarts Bridge. That's really cool. Oh my goodness. More hand drawn.
I'd love to know who drew thesemore hand drawn maps. And this
one's like where the classrooms are,where costume is, where the artist trailers

(13:13):
are, where the producers and directorswere, drop off points, and then
again so that's more of Red Squirrelcamp and more just like out of the
of the base. And then that'skind of it transport, so that would
just be like who's picking up whofrom where? So Bob was picking me
up at nine point fifteen from theisle of Glencoe Hotel and that's it.

(13:39):
That was the last pages. Soobviously that had a bit more in it
about like about being on location.When we were at Leavestone, you wouldn't
necessarily have as much detail about wellyou would, but obviously wouldn't need like
all the health and safety stuff ofa helicopter all the maps and stuff like

(14:01):
that. So actually I randomly pulledthat one, but that was actually quite
a fun one to talk through.I will put up the pictures of the
maps so you can see these handdrawn maps, which is really really cute.
So I hope Andrea that has helpedtalk through a call sheet, and
like I said, we'd get oneof those every night before we left.

(14:22):
I think now my sister and Laura'sswaken before works on films, and I
actually think they're emailed out now.I don't know if you get a physical
call sheet, which obviously great forthe environment because there's hundreds of crew and
hundreds of cool sheets, so it'sa lot of paper. So that's a

(14:43):
cool sheet. Guys. Next thing, I'm total gear change Hermione's hair now,
Actually I got asked this as well. I think I told you that
someone asked about why Hermione's parting changed, and at first I kind of was
like, I thought it was quitea funny question, but actually Hermione's hair
does change, and even through likeobviously the first three films, and it's

(15:11):
just was actually quite a big partof my journey because the first film,
the idea was make Hermione's hair aslike frizzy and big as possible. So
they really like back combed my hair. They crimped it, remember crimpers.
I had like a hair piece inand they really wanted it to be like

(15:31):
big, big hair. And thenthe same in the second film, they
really wanted to mine to have thislike frizzy, frizzy hair, which I
guess that's kind of how she isdescribed. But yeah, it was just
a lot of like crimping, backcombing, making it big, making it really
frizz. And then on the thirdfilm they suddenly like changed and we weren't

(15:56):
backcombing and crimping. It was morebeing curled Andmione is finally allowed to wear
her hair up. And I actuallythought it was quite interesting because I don't
know, but for me, thatis probably a really true reflection of like
my hair journey that if I thinkback to like being sort of ten,
eleven, twelve, I just wouldn'tdo anything with my hair. I'd just

(16:18):
tie and wash it, leave ittight, dry it with a hair dryer,
tie it up, maybe not evendry it with a hair dryer.
Then when I think when you getsort of thirteen, I remember like sort
of finding straighteners and probably styling myhair more for school, so it makes
total sense that Hermione would do thatas well. They're not tying it up
in the first two films, Ithink was I mean, I just think

(16:40):
she's a young girl she'd tie herhair up. But in the third one
she has it tied up and it'sdone quite nicely, and I just felt
like, actually thinking about it,that's probably a really true reflection of I
think Hermione's hair journey probably echoes alot of people's hair journey from starting secondary
school or high school to the endof high school and just learning to with

(17:00):
your hair and style it and differentfashions and stuff like that. And with
my hair, I had to haveit sort of slightly colored, even though
me and Emma had very similar hair, but just a few lighter bits through
it, and I had it permedas well. So that was a little
bit about Hermione's hair that I thoughtwas quite well. I don't know if

(17:22):
that was interesting, but I alwaysjust remember her Momi's hair in the first
few films just being like, nothow I would want my hair to be,
and I had to wear like ahair net to keep it that big
and like frizzy, and when you'relike a young girl, you just don't
want to wear a hairnet, orif it was like wet, I had
to wear you know how NaN's wearthose little like plastic net like bonnets over

(17:44):
their hair. We'd have to wearthose, which I understand. And I
have interviewed Lisa, who was whodid my hair on the films and said,
I feel so bad now that i'dalways try and like take the hair
net out or not wear the littlebonnet, and how much extra work that
would probably be for her. Shelaughed and said it's not just young people
that do that, even the adultactors do that too, So that made

(18:06):
me feel a lot better. Sonext a bit about acting lessons. So
I actually can't really speak about anybodyelse whether they had acting lessons. I
was never aware of it being athing, but they might have done.
It wasn't if they did. Itwasn't a secret, I don't think,
but it wasn't something that I wouldknow about. But what I know there

(18:27):
definitely was was a dialogue coach.And the dialogue coach on the films was
a woman called Sandra Freeze, whohas worked on so many films real big
name in the industry, and sheworked with almost all the children, which
I think she actually did work withevery child. And I worked with her

(18:48):
as well. But it wasn't likeI said, it wasn't acting classes a
dialogue coach. More works with youabout dialogue, works with you and dialogue.
So for example, when I workedwith her, we just looked at
some We didn't look at Harry Pottertext. We just looked at Romeo and
Juliet. And it was firstly aboutjust speaking clearly and enunciating. And you

(19:15):
know, that's a big part offilmmaking is you can't be mumbled unless it's
like a weird character trait. Butyou can't be mumbling. You need to
be clear and what you're saying.And then it's also really about thinking well
about Yeah, it's really thinking aboutthe words that you're saying and thinking about
how your character would say them.So if I was looking at Romeo and

(19:37):
Juliet, I would be thinking aboutwhat is Juliet like, this is what
she'd do with you. She'd sortof go through like what is Juliette actually
saying in this scene? Like whatis she trying to convey? And then
the second way thing is how wouldshe say it? You know, I
wouldn't say she might not say it, how I as Flick would say it,
how would Juliet say it? Andit was just really about getting into

(20:00):
your character that way through the dialogue, So it wasn't So that's why I
say it's slightly different to acting classes, even though I know you probably do
that in acting classes, but itwasn't sort of doing improv and doing that
sort of thing. It's really reallylooking at the dialogue and how you can
get into character through well portray yourcharacter through the dialogue. So how would

(20:21):
Hermione say things? What emotion wouldshe have behind saying that, because you
can obviously say one line in arange of different ways which would completely change
the feel of the scene. Soit was really tapping into that. Also,
I think Sandra was just a reallyreally great person to have around for

(20:44):
the children. First of all,she's just a really lovely lady, really
positive, but I think she actuallyjust helped with everyone's confidence. It's obviously
really intimidating as a child to notonly be acting with adults who you know,
not just any old adult actors,people who are the top top top

(21:08):
in their game, like real moviemovie stars who have worked on hundreds of
films. So not only that isreally intimidating when you're filming, you also
have a hundred crew members who areadults watching what you're doing. So it's
a double edged thing of just havingto you know, even if it's not

(21:30):
acting, if you had to standup in front of a hundred adults and
speak and they're all their job isto intently watch you and see what you're
doing, because that's their job,whether it's like listening into the sound or
looking at your costume or continuity orsomething that is really intimidating when you're ten,
eleven, twelve, But also it'sextra intimidating when it's the likes of

(21:52):
Alan Rickman or Michael Gambon or RobbieColtrane. Just adds an extra element of
nervousness to the situation. So Sandrajust would really help us feel confident in
what we were doing, which actuallysegues really nicely into another next question I
got asked, which was what wasthe hardest thing I was ever asked to

(22:15):
do on set? And I thinkthat acting part in front of people was
probably the thing that I was mostsort of shy about. You know,
everything else is really out of yourhands. You know, your costume,
they dress you, your hair andmakeup, they do your hair and makeup,
schooling, they just tell you whereto be. Everything else is sort

(22:37):
of sorted for you. But whenit comes to the actual performance on the
set, that is totally down toyou. And so I guess you might
be thinking, but you were adouble, So why did you have to
do? You know, you don'thear my voice in the film, like
why did you have to do lessonswith Sandra? And you know, why
would I be acting in front ofpeople? But a lot of the time

(23:00):
for double as a double, youare if Hermione's talking, they need someone
talking. If you're filming over myshoulder onto Hagrids, he needs to have
someone feeding him the lines and somethingto react off saying with. You know,
if Hermione's talking to Harry and Ronand it's over my shoulder onto Dan
and Rupert, which is like alot of the time what I was used

(23:23):
for. Because it's like Hermione tellingthe boys something. I can't just be
saying nothing or just giving no performanceto them, because then they have nothing
to act off, So I kindof found that quite nerve wracking, you
know. I remember one scene whereI think I've spoken about this before Hermione

(23:45):
the troll scene, and I rememberhaving to do lines there where it was
like it was me I went tolook for the troll and if it hadn't
been for the boys coming that bitwhatever, But I remember having to do
that in front of like I thinkit's Alan Rickman comes in, like Dave,
Maggie Smith came in, Hearts.I think it's like Dumbledore, Snape,
McGonagall, Quirrel. I think that'severyone and mcgonagad did I say that

(24:07):
McGonagall, Dumbledore, Snape, andQuirrel come in? So it's like me
just giving lines to these actors andsort of having to give them a performance
that they can react off. Sayingthat every single person was always so lovely,
so encouraging. You know, ifyou made a mistake or something went

(24:27):
wrong, they would I never everonce felt like they were eye rolling or
you know, thinking, oh she'smessed up. If anything, they would
just be more encouraging, all soso lovely that it's not just the actors,
like the crew as well, Likeif we ever had to cart and
go again because a mistake was made, they would be totally fine about it.

(24:48):
So my nerves did lessen, Butevery single time. So when also
when you come into your dressing roomin the morning, you have sides,
so you obviously have like a fullscript of the whole script of the film,
but sides are just the script ofthe scene that you're doing. And
so every scene that you were doingthat day, they would have a little

(25:08):
like separate part of the script withthe lines in, and I'd always just
look and see what Hermione's lines were, and just to see if it was
anything complicated, She's doing like awhole long speech, and then i'd like
run them a little bit with mymum. But they would normally say to
you, if you're going down anddoing lines, they'll give you a bit
of warning so you can learn themproperly. But if not, I would

(25:32):
just glance or I've just got anidea of what it was. But my
nerves did lesson over time. Butyeah, I always remember that being like
the scariest thing that I'd be like, oh, I've got to go down
and do lines, and I'm scared, Like even if it was with Dan
and rupert. I think because theywould do it so much, they would
kind of get used to it,and I'd always think they were a pro,
and I'd be like, oh,I just don't know. I'm not
very good like that. But likeI said, everyone was always really lovely.

(25:55):
That was the hardest thing I well, the hardest part that I found,
or the thing that I most scaredabout doing. Then last question,
goshare we already on question five?Wow? And we've spoken a little bit
about casting for the reboot, Andthen that got me thinking about this.
And then somebody asked me, Steve, who I actually think asked the question

(26:15):
about casting for the reboot, thenasked is it too soon for a reboot?
And that question just like stood outfor me when I look through because
I write down all the questions,so I can sort of even if you
ask a question one week and Idon't answer it the next week, I
can still look back through at questionsfor like the following week, if that
makes sense. And I got thinkingabout like the reboot, because I know

(26:41):
so many people were like no,no, no, but I am genuinely
up for seeing more Harry Potter content, Like I love the Harry Potter stories
like I love the film obviously,but the books were like my first love.
I love those stories. I lovethe fantasy element, like I would
love to be a witch, Iwould love to go to Hogwarts. I
just love the whole Harry Potter world. Like outside of the films, I

(27:02):
just love that. Like I said, with the books, I fell in
love with that world. So I'malways up for seeing more. And you
know, I hope they kind ofdo a reimagining of it. I hope
they don't just copy all the setsand it's the same. I'd love to
see a different take on like Hogwartsin the Great Hall and Diagonaley. And

(27:22):
you know, obviously it can onlybe to a certain extent. They're not
going to completely, like redesign itbecause in the books it obviously says what
it is. But I you know, i'd love to see more. I'd
love to see a different take onit. I think that would be so
interesting. And and you know,like I said, I'd love to see,
you know, even a little bitof a reimagining of the story.

(27:44):
And just the fact they're going tokeep more stuff in like that does really
excite me. But what I thinkmakes me feel like no I'm not ready
for. It is the casting.And when I think about the casting,
it's not just like it's actually notharry On and Hermione that I feel like.
I'm most like, Oh, Idon't want to be recast, even
though I do think like Dan Rupertand Emma did such an incredible job as

(28:08):
being our harry Ron and Hermione.But I feel like when we left Dan
Rupert and Emma, they were sortof adults. They were at the end
of like the Hogwarts journey, andI think with the series, we're going
to be going back to the beginning, so it's going to be children being
cast. So it's not replacing likeDan Rupert and Emma because where I left

(28:29):
them as adults leaving Hogwarts and obviouslythat little scene at the end where they
are actually meant to be adults,And I kind of feel okay with seeing
some new children take on that youngrole as ten year olds. What I
don't think I'm ready for is differentadults because where we left them is where
we started with them. I'm notsure if this is making sense, but

(28:52):
I just feel like it would beso weird to have like a different McGonagall
and a different Hagrid and a differentsnake, because they were just the same
the whole way through, Like theydon't end up as don't start as children,
end up as adults. So Ijust can't imagine the recasting of that.
And that's what I feel like it'stoo soon for. But I don't
know. I'm so conflicted. I'mnot ready for it. But I also

(29:17):
feel like I will be really excitedwhen it's coming out to watch it.
I know I will be, andI will be probably become really obsessed with
it. So yeah, that's whatI'm thinking. That's my thoughts on is
it too soon? So another bonusepisode done and dusted, as always,

(29:41):
keep your questions coming in. Sothere's not a regular episode next week because,
like I would say, I hada baby, so I took a
few weeks off recording. But thefollowing week I'm back with Mick Ordsley,
who edited actually a little bit ofthe second film, but the fourth film,
so the whole Triwizard competition. Obviouslyin the Goblet of Fire, he

(30:02):
is actually just the nicest person inthe whole world. So that's a really
great interview. So that will beback in two weeks, but I will
do a bonus episode next week eventhough there's no regular episode, so still
keep your questions coming in as always, I totally love you guys, Thank
you so much for listening and supportingthe podcast, and I hope you have
a magical week and I will seeyou or speak to you, or you

(30:25):
will hear me next Friday. Okay, bye, everyone,