This past Thanksgiving break, I re-watched Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with my family and friends. I found that the impressive special effects in the movie enhanced the fantastical aspect of the film, and further appealed to the audience. This interview with John Richardson discusses the special effects used in the Harry Potter films. This interview took place at the Warner Bros Studio Tour and some of the props that were used in the movies, like Hagrid’s motorbike and Gringotts cart, are displayed in the back of the screen during the interview. The majority of the video focuses on the broomstick flying. Richardson talks about how broomstick flying is filmed in the movies. He discusses the mold on the broomstick, which is molded to each actor’s bottom. A harness is then attached to ensure they are safe when they are placed on the rig, which is about four meters high. This way, when the broom is moving, there is no concern about the actors falling off because they are strapped into the harness. No matter how forcefully the broom is moving, the actors only have to focus on flying the broom, since they are harnessed in and cannot fall off. This technique gave the actors control of the broom, and enabled the broomstick flying to look more natural and realistic. Over the 10-year period of Harry Potter films, the broomstick flying rigs updated as technology continued to advance. 

The utilization of special effects further strengthens the storytelling of a film. It allows the filmmakers to display the story creatively and the use of CGI emphasizes the magical creatures in Harry Potter in a way that would not have been possible through traditional cinematic techniques. The special effects highlight the visual elements in the film and overall present the fantastical world of Hogwarts effectively. 

This short clip shows an example of a broomstick flying rig. The movement of the rig is shown in this video, as the broom moves back and forth.