Harry Potter Inspired Model Making and VFX collaboration

Step into the magical world of model making through an exciting collaboration between the NFTS Model Making and VFX departments. Inspired by Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Model Making students have recreated a screen-accurate 1:18 scale miniature of The Burrow, the iconic Weasley family home. Working from original blueprints by art director Gary Tomkins, students developed detailed 3D Rhino models to support the complex fabrication process. Over four intensive weeks, they combined traditional model-making techniques with digital technologies, including laser cutting and 3D printing, to bring the miniature to life led by our very own Head of Model making John Lee who worked on two of the original Harry Potter films. A unique aspect of the NFTS experience is its collaborative approach. Students worked together to plan, problem-solve, and schedule every stage of the build, preparing the project for filming as a professional production team would. The completed miniature was then featured in a film shoot that combined the model with a live-action performance by a model making student portraying a wizard. The project was subsequently handed over to the talented VFX students, who enhanced the footage with digital environments, matte paintings, atmospheric effects, and a bespoke title sequence. This year, we were delighted to collaborate with Cinematography alumni Nina Oyens, alongside NFTS composer Francis Smith and Sound Design alumni Alex Lunney, whose contributions added a final layer of cinematic Potter-inspired magic to the finished film.