Wizarding World Wands Installation Opens to the Public

Transcribed by Felicia Grady

Pierre Bohanna: It's not every day you get three-meter models of your work made and put outside of St. Paul's.

Paul Harris: David Yates came on board on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and sort of identified the physical grammar, physical language for using the wand we needed to be created. Obviously, there were some circumstances that [you] had to take into account, obviously, what was written in the books. Also, what had been seen in the previous four films was very important, because that couldn't be undermined, but also facilitating what was yet to come.

Pierre: And of course the lovely thing about wands is that they are bespoke to a character. So the first question is about the character that we're building a wand for. Queenie's wand is a great example of that. It's a very Art Deco-style influence by someone who loves her fashion and her look. And so that's a great thing to be able to riff off: style and aesthetic choices of the period.

Paul: So I like the movements, the physical movements that are consistent with the wizard being wiry and grounded and down and able to protect themselves with their body and use their wand additionally, in addition to being able to send stuff out of their being. The range of movements could go from needing to verbalize the spell, say the name of the spell when you point the wand, to not even needing a wand at all. And that obviously says that the wizard, the inner
power of the wizard, is everything.

Pierre: For us, we just have the joy of just making things and pieces like that, but then for it to benefit such an important, serious subject, it refocuses.

BREATHTAKING WAND INSTALLATION IS NOW OPEN IN LONDON, IN CELEBRATION OF THE ALL-NEW WIZARDING WORLD ADVENTURE FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD

LONDON, ENGLAND, October 18, 2018 – Launched by the Grenadier Guards performing a live rendition of music from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, nine giant wands lit up Peter’s Hill in London for the first time as Fantastic Beasts: Wizarding World Wands supporting Lumos opened to the public earlier today.
The new installation, part of the City of London Arts Initiative for public art, was created to help raise awareness for J.K. Rowling’s international children’s charity Lumos in the lead-up to the 16th November release of Warner Bros. Pictures’ highly anticipated new Wizarding World™ adventure Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
Head prop maker Pierre Bohanna, who created the wands used in the Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter films in close collaboration with J.K. Rowling, was at the event and spoke about how it felt to see his props transformed into fifteen-foot models to be enjoyed by the public. “It’s amazing to see something you’ve worked on for two decades celebrated in such an awe-inspiring way,” Bohanna stated. “Each of these wands was born in the extraordinary imagination of J.K. Rowling, and bringing them to life has been a labour of love for Stuart Craig, myself, and all the filmmakers, artists and actors who’ve had a hand in their creation for the films. To now see them realized in truly larger-than-life fashion for fans to enjoy is truly gratifying, and I thank Wild Creations for their wonderful work.”
Beginning today, the giant wands will illuminate Peter’s Hill from 6:45 p.m., with a short light display to music every 30 minutes, and deluminate at 10:45 p.m. each evening until November 13.
Fans visiting the installation can also attend the following activities taking place at the site each Wizarding Wednesday:
• Wednesday, October 24: Bring your wands and watch wand demonstrator Paul Harris reveal how to cast spells;
• Wednesday, October 31 (Halloween): Come and listen to a talk on the wands, with a particular focus on the Dark Arts;
• Wednesday, 7th November: Watch a military marching band perform music from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films.
For further details and timings, please visit www.fanatsticbeasts.co.uk/wandsready
The partnership with Lumos, whose mission is to end the harmful institutionalization of children around the world, is being commemorated by a limited edition wand pin badge that will be sold to the public to raise vital funds for the charity’s work. For more information, or to purchase the exclusive pin badge, which features Newt Scamander’s wand and the Occamy serpent, please visit www.wearelumos.org/fantasticbeasts

About Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
Warner Bros. Pictures’ Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald features an ensemble cast led by Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Zoë Kravitz, Callum Turner, Claudia Kim, William Nadylam, Kevin Guthrie, Carmen Ejogo, Poppy Corby-Tuech, with Jude Law and Johnny Depp.

At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings. In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald was directed by David Yates, from a screenplay by J.K. Rowling. The film is produced by David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves, and Lionel Wigram. Tim Lewis, Neil Blair, Rick Senat, and Danny Cohen served as executive producers. The film will be distributed worldwide in 2D and 3D in select theatres and IMAX by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald will be released in cinemas on November 16.

About Lumos
At Lumos, we are fighting for a world without orphanages and institutions. A world where families can stay together and children have the loving care and protection they need. Lumos is a force for change. We demonstrate the dramatic harm to healthy childhood development caused by institutionalization and the overwhelming benefits of the alternative: community and family care. We tackle the root causes of family separation – poverty, trafficking, and discrimination – and reunite families.

We speak up on behalf of the eight million children trapped in orphanages and other institutions worldwide to transform care, so every child can thrive in families and communities. 80% of these hidden children are not orphans and we prove that, with the right support, they can stay with their families. Named after the light-giving spell in Harry Potter, Lumos was founded by J.K. Rowling in 2005. To find out more, please visit www.wearelumos.org

About the City Arts Initiative
The City Arts Initiative is an advisory group made up of the City of London Corporation Members, officers and other professionals whose role it is to consider new public art proposals for the City. The City Arts Initiative considers proposals on artistic and cultural merit as part of the Corporation’s commitment to improving and enlivening the City's streetscape.

About the City of London Corporation
The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within the globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk