HPCOS Premiere Report in London

written by Auror

It’s a cold, wet Saturday in London. As I round the corner into Leicester Square, I am faced with what looks like a construction site. An underwater construction site! The rain is torrential as the crew puts the finishing pouches to the temporary grandstand (done out like it’s part of a Quidditch pitch) in front of the towering, black-fronted Odeon Cinema. A large yellow crane is pasting the enormous HPCoS poster, piece by piece above the entrance, and as I shuffle my way through the crowd, I find it hard to suppress a yelp as see (close-up) a large, clear blue eye framed by a round, black-rimmed lens, about 4 feet in diameter! A strange moment… Wow. I think this is going to be BIG!

Above the far end of the grandstand, some guys are winching a battered,
light-blue Ford Anglia into position. I spy a man with an official badge, and ask in my most polite voice if it’s one of the cars used in the film. “It certainly is, that’s the one they used to escape from the spiders in the forest scene.” It was a piece of cinematic history right there above me. My heart swelled: it was going to be a unique experience, to be here at this
Premiere. I only hope the weather holds off!!

Sunday 3rd November 2002. The day I’ve been counting down to for so
long. It’s 9:30am and so far it’s clear and bright, just a little bit chilly. A small crowd has already gathered, and we make friends with some girls who have been here since 7:30am! The police are just erecting the barriers, and as they go along, crew members attach posters to each and every one of them. Dan’s face is absolutely everywhere!

We decide to set up camp at the side of the stand, to the left of it as you face the cinema. There’s a large space in front of us, which looks promising, and we’re at the front. One spot of bad luck: we narrowly missed getting security tags for the grandstand seats. Still, we determined to remain cheerful and the hours passed like lightening until just after 2:30 when the web-cast started. The atmosphere was very friendly, and there was an air of excitement which you could almost taste.

Amusingly, from time to time, people (mostly tourists) would come up to us
and ask what was going on!! Um… It’s a Premiere. ‘What film?’ Now,
let me think… It’s something about a wizard… Can’t think of his name…
Henry, or something like that…… (Said against a backdrop of a thousand
‘HARRY POTTER’ pictures!!!)

Film crews ran up and down our row, asking us to scream – a bit fake,
but that’s how they get all their screaming crowd shots, folks!
(Embarrassingly, my mother saw me on the news later in the afternoon!)

There were large video screens at either side of the cinema entrance,
and still more in the park in the centre of Leicester Square. They
periodically repeated the trailers, but as the web-cast began, they played
a much longer sequence, with behind-the-scenes clips and scenes that
even regular DanRadcliffe.com and TLC readers like myself have never seen
before! We all assumed that what was on those screens would be live on
the web, but having watched some of the stream, I think we saw a little
more. Let me share this with you: The clip in the trailer when Ron and Harry have Lockhart cornered in the Chamber and they both train their
wands on him – we heard a line. The whole crowd was blown away by
Dan’s voice, and there were screams all around! Harry says, with more than
a little scorn and menace in his deep, silky voice: “Don’t even think about it.” Man I wouldn’t want to mess with that kid, he sounds like he means
business! You tell him, Harry, go ahead and save the day!!! Dan rocks!

Tania, the web-cast presenter, starts the ball rolling, but those of us in the Square are now much more interested in the cars, taxis and Limos that have just begun arriving. We have faith in WB, that we will all be able to catch it on-line later!

We were right, all the cars are stopping in the area in front of us. Tom Felton is the first to arrive, he waves, smiles a very un-Draco like smile, and goes over to talk to the press. Suddenly, it turns into Charring Cross at the rush hour as several cars arrive at once. It’s the Weasleys, everyone! Bonnie and the Phelps twins, smiling and waving. Bonnie’s dress certainly is wild, and she looks really cool – nice boots, girl! Chris (Percy) is a great guy, he comes over and signs loads of autographs. Then, Rupert Grint gets out of a car 6 feet away. The place goes utterly wild! “Rupert! Rupert!”

I know this is DanRadcliffe.com, but I just have to mention Dan’s pal for a moment. He is SOOO nice. He came straight over to us and began signing autographs. His publicist came up to him and said “Only 2 more, Rupert, we have to get on.” “OK,” he answered, but ignored her as the girls next to me begged “Rupert, pleease!”

Rupert took my copy of CoS and as he signed it, I couldn’t help myself:
“Rupert, you are so good as Ron, you really are.”
“Oh! Thank you.”
“I’m really looking forward to this film.”
“Really? Cool! Great!”

This little exchange was accompanied by much grinning and genuine surprise that someone appreciated his performance. I know we are all
familiar with Dan’s modesty and humility in the face of worldwide adulation, but Rupert has the same qualities in him, too. Maybe Dan’s been a good influence on him! He was obviously nervous, but he has matured too – let’s give credit where it’s due! All the kids have clearly been coached well, which is good to see. I feel lucky that I was able to meet one of them.

That, however, was just the start! One highlight was Sean looking very, um, nice in a kilt ! After Ken, Alan and Robbie pulled up, waving to us and talkingto reporters (Robbie pausing for signatures), a car with the side window wound down stopped in front of our barrier. A familiar girl with long hair sat inside. “Emma!” I shouted.

Her head snapped round: “Hi!” She smiled, and waved just as everyone
else was doing. Oh, wow. Sorry girls, but I have to say she looked
amazing. She’s polite and sweet, and despite being shooed towards the
cameras, she managed to escape and give some autographs further down our line.

Just then, the good old British weather let us down – perfect timing! The heavens opened and Emma ran for cover under a Gryffindor-coloured
umbrella. Thankfully, it didn’t last long, and Tania soldiered on with the interviews!

Next, a silver car came to a stop and a tall, blonde woman in a striking blue top emerged. I very nearly dropped my camera! Jo Rowling looked a bit shocked at the sheer number of us at first, but smiled as her rather Harry-esque husband took her arm. You’ve heard a pregnant woman be described as ‘glowing’? Well, Jo was simply radiant! Sadly, she went straight for the entrance, away from us, but it was a proud moment for me: the creator herself! Thanks, Jo, you’re the one who’s given us all this.

The stars were all now milling around – Maggie arrived and gave Robbie
a big kiss! Yet, all around us the crowd was buzzing. There was one
young man we were all waiting for: Daniel Radcliffe.

“Where is he?” “Is he here yet?” “Can you see him?” “Oh, where IS he?”

A few cars arrived together and the scene was a little confusing. Then
it started. The loudest, shrillest scream you have ever heard crept along our line like a sonic Mexican wave. At the other side of a Limo, 30 yards away, I saw a medium-tall, dark-haired figure with a dark jacket. Then he turned.

“DANIEEEEL!” If the atmosphere had been electric before, it was pure
MAGIC now! It was as if his presence had illuminated the whole Square –
literally, with all the flashlights! It was wild, no other word for it. It’s a wonder I have any ribcage left from the crush!!

Now, let me explain this. EVERYONE wants a piece of Daniel. He’s Harry, right?! He… Yes, you’ve guessed it, smiled and waved just as his co-stars did – THAT smile – but he had to run the entire gauntlet of press: cameras, photographers, reporters – that were behind another barrier opposite us. He kept turning and gesturing towards the crowd, but you have to appreciate that there are people who are paid to take VERY good care of our kid. And we’d want that, right? One such woman (blonde, you can see her on the web-cast), obviously his publicist, was gently but purposefully forcing him down the press line towards Tania and the cinema. Hence, no autographs for our section of the crowd. But we can understand it! He did get a chance to talk to fans in the grandstand, which was nice. We all know that he loves everyone screaming his name, and all the fuss of the Premiere. What 13-year-old wouldn’t?! He even said as much again.

I feel glad to have experienced it, and he obviously enjoyed it too! Just look at the smile on his face! He’s going to break hearts. What am I saying? He already has! Mine for one! He is beautiful, and to see him in the flesh is an incredible thing, which I’ll always remember. He looked so happy and carefree: stay that way forever, please, Dan. I have to say this, he makes me proud to be British and he does his country a great service. Charmin, polite, articulate, funny and gorgeous! We love you, Dan! You’ve brought our favourite character to life with such class, and we thank you for it. Truly… Even if you do like The Sex Pistols!!

On a sad note, the speeches from Chris and David pre-film were beamed
outside and there were touching tributes from both for Richard Harris.
“He will always be our Dumbledore,” said David. Chris told an amusing
anecdote from the filming of PS, about the unpredictability and refreshing honesty of the man. The Premiere was dedicated to him. Very fitting. RIP, Richard.

It rained for a while during the screening, and now that it was dark, the searchlights could clearly be seen, piercing the overcast night sky. The crew came round and dismantled the posters, which were taken away
as souvenirs.

The stars were whisked away in their cars promptly after the film and we all stayed to cheer them off as the soundtrack was pumped out of speakers throughout the Square.

I floated home on the Underground, nursing my signed copy of CoS, and the memories of a truly spellbinding, awesome day which I will treasure. Only 5 days until I see it for myself! (And share it with all of you in another review!)

Just look out, everyone………………….

THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED!!!!