Get the latest news from TheSnitch.co.uk! http://www.thesnitch.co.uk <a href='http://goodereader.com/blog/e-book-news/pottermore-wins-digital-strategy-of-the-year-award/'>Good Reader</a> is reporting that the Pottermore eBook website came out on top in the "Digital Strategy of the Year" award. <br /> <br />[quote>The one thing Pottermore did was adopt the trans media approach, which few companies in the world have been able to match. Not only can you visit their website to buy and read the books, but they made an online world to live out the Harry Potter adventures. Every few months, new content is implemented and young folk can join in picking their House, engaging in wizard duels, making potions, visiting Diagon Alley, and getting up to all sorts of other hijinx.[/quote> <br /> <br />->Stefan<- http://thesnitch.co.uk/site/news/comments.php?NewsID=70381 <a href='http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/news/a482384/daniel-radcliffe-on-gay-sex-scene-i-was-given-step-by-step-instructions.html'>Digital Spy</a> is reporting that Daniel Radcliffe was given "step-by-step instructions" in regards to shooting gay sex scenes for his latest movie, <br /><i>Kill Your Darlings</i>. <br /> <br />[quote>Radcliffe said: "I was doing a gay sex scene and the director (John Krokidas) was giving step-by-step instructions. And the favourite note I have ever had was when we were kissing and the director shouted, 'Not like that. Crazy sex kissing!' <br /> <br />"I spent ten years in a kids' franchise and that was definitely a moment of, 'Yes, I think I'm moving on'."[/quote> <br /> <br />->Stefan<- http://thesnitch.co.uk/site/news/comments.php?NewsID=70380 <a href='http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=103516'>ComingSoon.net</a> recently interviewed Baz Luhrmann, due to the latest release of his worldwide movie <i>The Great Gatsby</i>. <br /> <br />During the interview Luhrmann states that he was originally offered the chance to direct <i>Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone</i>. <br /> <br />[quote>ComingSoon: Interesting. I was wondering how you felt about that dichotomy. <br />Luhrmann: Well, I tell you what. I can tell you now that, I certainly have been offered a lot of very well known movies where we would have mad ourselves very rich very quickly. We consider that we're wealthy in life experience, so I don't know that all my choices have been the smartest commercial ideas, but they've all been about what I do feel compelled and what I love to do, creatively. That's always been where it's coming from, you know? We definitely could be cash richer than we are because of the things that have come our way, and every now and then I say, "Oh, maybe I should just say yes next time someone says 'Harry Potter' again." <br /> <br />ComingSoon: Well if they offered you to do "Harry Potter" I'd want you to do all eight movies. <br />Luhrmann: I was actually offered the first one.[/quote> <br /> <br />To find out more, click <a href='http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=103516'>here</a>. <br /> <br />->Stefan<- http://thesnitch.co.uk/site/news/comments.php?NewsID=70379 In an <a href='http://www.thesnitch.co.uk/site/news/comments.php?NewsID=70375'>update</a> to my previous newspost, Thierry Coup, senior vice president of Universal Creative, spoke with Fox News recently about the future Wizarding World release. <br /> <br />[quote>The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley, as it's officially named, which will include a new marquee ride, new restaurant and shops, and an iconic train trip, will mirror the journey that a young Harry Potter took to become a wizard. <br /> <br />The new area is taking the place of the former Jaws ride, which closed in January 2012. While the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located in Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park, the new Diagon Alley expansion is being built in neighboring Universal Studios Florida. It's the first time a major theme park will have two connecting but separate parks. A working Hogwarts Express train will be built to transport guests between the areas.[/quote> <br /> <br />To find out more, click <a href='http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2013/05/08/universal-orlando-announces-harry-potter-theme-park-expansion/'>here</a>. <br /> <br />->Stefan<- http://thesnitch.co.uk/site/news/comments.php?NewsID=70378 In anticipation of this summer’s release of the Monsters, Inc. movie prequel, Monster’s University, Disney Publishing has a released a brand new app – Monsters University Storybook Deluxe! <br /> <br />The fully animated interactive storybook is now available for $6.99 in the iTunes App Store for the iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad Mini and sheds new light on the story of the friendship of beloved monster pals Mike and Sulley. <br /> <br />Young readers ages 6-10 will find out how the fun-loving monster duo went from being mismatched strangers to inseparable pals by exploring original film clips featuring official character voices, interactive storytelling exercises, game activities and more. Additional app highlights include: <br /> <br />^0^ Create your own Monsters University ID badge & “Monsterify” photo tool <br />^0^ 3D, first-person game views and special rewards <br />^0^ Read-to-me and read-on-my-own narration options <br /> <br />Buy it now, by clicking <a href='https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/monsters-university-storybook/id635777460?ls=1&mt=8'>here</a>. <br /> <br />->Stefan<- http://thesnitch.co.uk/site/news/comments.php?NewsID=70377 The Harry Potter Studio Tour has uploaded the first of their four <i>feline Twitter Litter</i> videos to their YouTube page. <br /> <br />These videos are to coincide with the run-up to their Animal Actors week. <br />During this week, visitors can discover firsthand how scenes for Umbridge's moving kitten plates were filmed as the Studio Tour recreates a blue screen set complete with live kittens. <br /> <br />[quote>To create Dolores Umbridge’s porcelain plates for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 40 kittens were brought to the studio to be filmed in front of a blue screen. Visitors will be able to discover firsthand how these scenes were filmed as the Studio Tour recreates a blue screen set complete with kittens, exclusively for Animal Actors Week (25th May – 2nd June). <br /> <br />We’ll be uploading regular updates about our Twitter Litter on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram over the next four weeks. These feline thespians have been trained by Julie Tottman, who worked as Head Animal Trainer on the Harry Potter film series. <br /> <br />To take part in the naming process, tweet us @wbstudiotour using #AnimalActors.[/quote> <br /> <br />To watch the video, click the 'play' button below. <br /> <br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IGlFai9FA5c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <br /> <br />->Stefan<- http://thesnitch.co.uk/site/news/comments.php?NewsID=70376 Universal Studios has announced that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley will open in Florida in 2014. <br /> <br />[quote>Building on the global phenomenon that is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. Entertainment today announced an expansion of historic proportion with the entirely new themed environment, <br /> <br />The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. <br /> <br />Scheduled to open in 2014, the world’s first centrally themed, multi-park experience expands The Wizarding World of Harry Potter across both Universal Orlando theme parks and allows Universal’s creative team to bring an unparalleled vision to this unique project. The new area will bring to life some of the experiences and places found in and around London in the Harry Potter books and films, offering brand-new adventures for fans and theme park guests from around the world. <br /> <br />Diagon Alley and ‘London’ will be located within the Universal Studios Florida theme park, which is adjacent to Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park, where guests now experience Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. The new area within Universal Studios will be just as expansive, immersive and authentic as the existing themed environment. <br /> <br />And – just like in the books and films – guests will be able to travel between ‘London’ and Hogsmeade aboard the Hogwarts Express. <br /> <br />Work on the new area is already underway. When complete, it will feature shops, a restaurant and an innovative, marquee attraction based on Gringotts bank – all directly inspired by the fiction and films. <br /> <br />More details on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will be released over time. <br /> <br />To bring Diagon Alley and ‘London’ to life, Universal’s creative team is working closely with Warner Bros. and the production design team from the Harry Potter films – just as it did for Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. <br /> <br />"I'm so pleased that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has proved so popular to date, and I'm sure that the attention to detail in creating the new Diagon Alley area will make this an even better experience," said J.K. Rowling. <br /> <br />“We are continuing the journey and adding an entirely new level of adventure,” said Tom Williams, Chairman of Universal Parks & Resorts. “And we are bringing the same drive, commitment, enthusiasm and innovation to this project as we did to the first.” <br /> <br />“We are thrilled to offer the legions of fans the opportunity to embark on this new journey and experience Diagon Alley as it was brought to life in the books and films,” said Brad Globe, president, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. <br /> <br />“Our vision is to create two amazing theme park experiences that combine into one, complete, magical journey,” said Alice Norsworthy, executive vice president, marketing and sales for Universal Orlando Resort. <br /> <br />The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade opened at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in June 2010 as a fully immersive Harry Potter themed environment - bringing to life the bestselling books by J.K. Rowling and the blockbuster feature films from Warner Bros. Since that time, it has become a global phenomenon, entertaining millions of people from around the world. <br /> <br />Visitors to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter are swept into the adventures of Harry Potter. They can tour Hogwarts castle, shop in Hogsmeade and dine at the Three Broomsticks. They can soar above Hogwarts with Harry, be chosen by a wand at Ollivanders, sample Butterbeer and much more.[/quote> <br /> <br />A mock-up image of the park can be seen below: <br /> <br /><img src='http://www.thesnitch.co.uk/site/images/normal_The_Wizarding_World_of_Harry_Potter_-_Diagon_Alley_Rendering.jpg'> <br /> <br />->Stefan<- http://thesnitch.co.uk/site/news/comments.php?NewsID=70375 <a href='http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2013/04/new-houdini-play-coming-to-uk.html'>Wild About Houdini</a> is reporting that Evanna Lynch is set to star as Bess, the wife of magician Harry Houdini, in a British play called <i>Houdini</i>. <br /> <br />The play will depict the early years of Houdini and his brother Theo. <br /> <br />[quote>Join us for what promises to be an explosive theatrical spectacle, when the prestigious promoter Martin Beck offers only Harry an opportunity that will change his life forever. <br /> <br />This intricate look inside the lives of two of the greatest performers the world has ever seen, explores the impact of family, love and jealousy. Watch as two masters of the stage perform, entrance, delight and surprise, performing a number of famous illusions in this gripping life story that is certainly not for the faint-hearted. <br /> <br />Discover the legend. Believe in the magic.[/quote> <br /> <br />To find out more, click <a href='http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2013/04/new-houdini-play-coming-to-uk.html'>here</a>. <br /> <br />->Stefan<- http://thesnitch.co.uk/site/news/comments.php?NewsID=70374 <a href='http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57582634-1/printable-bionic-ear-sends-hearing-to-the-dogs/'>CNET</a> is reporting that scientists at Princeton University have created a functional bionic ear using a 3D printer. <br /> <br />The printer, fully-functioning ear, is said to detect radio frequencies far beyond the normal human range! <br /> <br />[quote>To create the ear, the team used bioprinting in hydrogel, first using a computer program to break down the structure of the ear into thin slices. These slices were then printed with a 3D printer using cells from a calf, which later formed the cartilage, plastics, and silver nanoparticles to create a precise model of a human ear with the antenna already embedded. Part of the challenge was merging a soft material (tissue) with a hard one (electronics), which the cartilage helped.[/quote> <br /> <br />To find out more, click <a href='http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57582634-1/printable-bionic-ear-sends-hearing-to-the-dogs/'>here</a>. <br /> <br />->Stefan<- http://thesnitch.co.uk/site/news/comments.php?NewsID=70373 <a href='http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2318642/BAZ-BAMIGBOYE-Helena-Bonham-Carter-joins-Bill-Nighy-Beebs-spying-games.html'>The Daily Mail</a> is reporting that Helena Bonham-Carter is set to play a MI5 agent in two movie thrillers produced by the BBC. <br /> <br />The two movies, called <i>Turks & Caicos</i> and </i>Salting the Battlefield</i>, will be produced as part of The Worricker Trilogy. <br /> <br />[quote>He explained that in Turks & Caicos, the jazz-loving Worricker is in exile, pursuing some of the people involved in the events of Page Eight. <br /> <br />‘The islands are part of this alternative economy, where so much of the world’s wealth is hidden away, and a group of people have opted out of pathetic obligations such as paying tax.’ <br /> <br />Helena will play a former MI5 agent in both films, with Winona as a high-powered PR in the Turks & Caicos part of the trilogy.[/quote> <br /> <br />->Stefan<- http://thesnitch.co.uk/site/news/comments.php?NewsID=70372