The Harry Potter film series used cutting-edge technology like digital recording and CGI, filmed in iconic English locations to cement the setting, and cast renowned actors alongside the young stars to appeal to both children and adults. An extensive marketing strategy created a passionate fan base through books, games, the Pottermore website, and trailers recreating memorable moments to generate hype between each new release and ensure fans would see the next installment. Multiple directors were chosen to suit the increasingly darker tones of the later films.

1. You are to write an illustrative essay that focuses on the production and marketing
techniques of the Harry Potter film series (2001-2011), and how these techniques were used
to attract a global audience. Remember to create a separate bibliography that references
any used sources.
Technologiesavailable
The harry potter films were on the cutting
edge of technology for when it was
released,and continued to be throughout its
ten year run. Harry potter was made using
digital recording, this was a technology in its
infant years, only two years after its first
commercial use with Star wars: The
phantom menace. CGI was also often used
in Harry Potter, one such example in the
first movie is the Troll, who is entirely
rendered with CGI, while CGI was already
prevalent, The first Harry Potter movie is
noteworthy for again using this technology extensively in its early years. Both of these
effects being in early use would have encouraged people to see these movies. Eventually, in
2004, the entire franchise was re released in a new format: IMAX, this re-released version of
the first three films, and the subsequent release of every film on IMAX format did very well,
This new format attracted both fans of the series, excited to see the film in the highest
definition possible, and film buffs looking to experience the new IMAX format.
locations used
Harry potter’s Hogwarts is in fact multiple locations, Some external scenes were filmed at
Gloucester Cathedral, but all the scenes during quidditch training take place at Alnwick
Castle. Despite Warner Bros. being an american based company, almost all the shots in the
entire 8 movies are all filmed in england. This may seem pointless or supplementary, but the
filming on location cements england as the “home of harry potter”, that's why tourism spots
such as the Warner Bros. Harry Potter tour do so well. This both drums up hype for these
movies, creating an entire culture around them, but also give the studio more money by
encouraging people to go england to experience harry potter.
cast and crew
While the younger cast of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint may not have
been famous at the start of the Harry Potter franchise, the choice of actors for the adult roles
are largely acting greats, Maggie Smith (mcgonagall) was a hugely popular actress. Richard
Harris (dumbledore) had been in movies such as Jaws, Unforgiven and Gladiator,While this
matters little to children, who likely had no idea who these people were, adults would
recognize the amount of quality actors in the production, and this would make them more
likely to see the movie. For those who did not see the first movie, the Harry Potter franchise
continued to pump out quality actor after quality actors, Gary Oldman, Helena Bonham

2. Carter, and Ralph Fiennes as the main Villain. Eventually, the child actors themselves
became Household names, some even larger than the actors who were the original pull for
the movie. The constant interviews with the child actors combined with the success of the
movies eventually made it so that they were as much a pull to see the movie than any of the
older actors. We can see in this poster for the philosopher's stone (Sorcerer's stone in
america) that aside from the main characters themselves, the space on the poster is taken
up by the biggest actors, Alan Rickman first.
the publicity and marketing strategy.
Harry Potter had a lot going for it in its opening years, the
original movie was based upon a book series that was hugely
popular in the UK, meaning that success in the UK was all but
guaranteed, Harry potter came to be so hugely popular through
the creation of hype, Harry potter by its definition was built to be
something people could be passionate about. Everything from
the setup being in a school, to the Four House setup, to slow
build of wizard language (quidditch was recently voted one of
the nations favorite words) , the books were built to create an
enamoured audience who wanted to be in the world, and it gave
them tools to do so, Everyone knows their Harry Potter house,
alongside their favorite spell, sport and event. This transfers
over to these movies. Knowing that they have created an IP that
people wanted as much of as possible, Warner Bros. created
spin offs (The Fantastic Beasts series) Video games, (Nearly 20
in total), and Pottermore, A website entirely dedicated to giving
information on the world of Harry Potter, and encourages
people to put themselves inside that world, with a test dictating
what house you belong to. All these goes toward creating a group of superfans, keeping
them interested and involved between each book and movie release, ensuring that they will
go to see the next movie.
The actual advertising process was also very important for the success of harry potter,
again, to capitalize on the books, the original trailer focuses mostly on Iconic moments from
the book, (the boat ride to hogwarts, the moving stairs, and the letter of acceptance), without
spoiling any plot points, intriguing non fans, and reassuring fans that the movie will be a
faithful recreation. From then on, these trailers followed a similar theme, Recreating iconic
moments from the books to show fans that all is well. Each trailer also uses the iconic
“hedwigs theme” by John williams, Usually at the end of the trailer, much like including all of
the famous actors within the trailer, John Williams is bar none the most famous, By including
his work within the trailers, they are insuring that fans of his work will too come to see the
movies. Each movie has several forms of advertisement, posters ,newspapers , magazines,
DVD features; and trailers both Digital, Radio and Television.
The films featured multiple directors, four in all, as first of all, Chris Columbus was not
interested in doing films past “Chamber of secrets”, citing the fact he was a children's movie
director, and the films would continue to get darker as they progressed. Alfonso Cuarón, a

3. lesser known (at the time) director who mostly made mature films was hired to do “Prisoner
of azkaban”, one of the darker entries, and “the goblet of fire was directed by Mike Newell,
who was a legacy director with a large repertoire of movies, perhaps to attract older
audiences. Finally the last four movies were all handled by David Yates, again a director
used to darker subject matter gave these last movies their own feel and edge.
Later movies would use social media as a method of promotion, order of the phoenix
onwards made use of the official Harry Potter Film Twitter account and facebook, allowing
people to follow the production of the movie as well as introducing it to otherwise unaware
parties and increasing hype all round.