Filming Frenzy
NO LESS THAN two movies have been filming on location in Oxford over the Easter vacation. Christ Church once again became the setting for the Harry Potter franchise, while Hollywood stars Tim Roth and Dougray Scott were also in town to film historical war drama, Cromwell And Fairfax.
Construction of the set for the eagerly awaited second Potter film, The Chamber Of Secrets, started in early April, with the first scenes shot in Tom Quad from the 8th onwards.
Security has been extremely tight, with "only Christ Church students allowed anywhere near the set", according to one insider. There have, however, been sightings of an artificial lake, and one source reported that "there were people dressed in Hogwarts scarfs, carrying parcels".
Daniel Radcliffe will once again star as Harry in a cast which remains unchanged from first movie box-office hit The Philosopher's Stone.
Meanwhile, period piece Cromwell And Fairfax has been shooting around the Old Bodleian, Divinity Schools, and in Exeter's Fellows Garden. Roth will star as Oliver Cromwell and Scott plays his rival Thomas Fairfax.
Exeter student Kris Anderson told the Oxford Student that there had been "huge scaffolding and extras running around in Cromwell garb". Filming should finish in 1st week.
25th Apr 2002