During the pre-exam sprint, Isabella had indeed gone through all of Hermione Granger's scenes in the script under Maggie Smith's guidance. This practice had earned her praise from Chris Columbus during the final audition.
But rehearsal and actual filming are two different things.
Practicing for ten years offstage doesn't mean you'll shine the moment you step onto the stage.
So being a bit stiff and only reproducing the director's instructions was Isabella's real mistake in her first shoot.
This kind of issue is very common for beginners, so Columbus didn't care much. As for Isabella…
Honestly, her emotions were complicated.
Realizing that her blank mind during filming was because the director explained the scene too well left her a bit embarrassed.
She couldn't help it—her usual performance was excellent, and she had done a lot of preparation before shooting. Yet for the first scene, she had lost her head? If zombies had seen this, they wouldn't even bother opening her skull!So embarrassing!
She liked to save face!But after blushing, Isabella thought it wasn't a big deal.
After all, this was her first acting experience in her second life.
Making mistakes is normal. Not making mistakes would only prove she's a geeeeniiiuss~.
Wanting to act well was her basic demand, striving to act well was her core goal, so mistakes could simply be corrected and not repeated.
Besides, the other two experienced actors weren't perfect either!
Cough, cough, cough.
However, just as Isabella was rubbing her hands together, ready to redeem herself in the next take…
Eh~The crew took a break~
After filming the first half of the "Iron Triangle boarding" scene, the crew's next shoot was the story before the trio boarded.
Students on the platform were saying goodbye.
This scene required a large number of extras, and the trio would not appear on camera.
Once this scene was done, Isabella and the others would return, still as part of a group shot with the trio. Harry and Hagrid would finish their private conversation, then board again. Hermione would talk to Harry, and then the train would depart Hogwarts.
The arrangement was simple—it was all about crew scheduling:When Harry boards a second time, extras need to pass in front of the camera;The departing train scene used a wide-angle lens, capturing every carriage, so each window needed students who were wistfully saying goodbye to Hogwarts.
Otherwise, it would look like a ghost story.
Also, after filming these scenes, the extras could leave, so filming them together was more efficient.
This realization hit Isabella like punching cotton—she had wanted to go all out.
Her anger built up, her hands raised, and then they told her it was break time?
What's the difference between this and hitting the boss's kill line in a QTE and then suddenly losing power?
She slumped helplessly into a seat in the rest area.
Her frustrated posture made Daniel and Rupert a bit worried—
"What's wrong with her?"
"Don't know!"
"I think she's unhappy?"
"Uh… If it were me, I'd be unhappy too. She, like us, didn't perform well. And she's a top student!"
Chris Columbus grinned—
"Oh, this Isabella is just too cute—"
Looking over, the assistant director, Columbus' right-hand man Michael Barnathan, who had assisted him in Nine Months, Stepmom, and Bicentennial Man, chuckled—
"She feels embarrassed, right?"
"She always knows what to do normally, but on set, she couldn't perform, and that made her feel ashamed?"
"Ha ha~ probably~"
Columbus nodded, smiling, and added, "And precisely because she feels embarrassed, doesn't that make her more like Hermione?"
"To be honest, Susie's eye for casting was quite good."
Michael Barnathan didn't comment, but asked, "Should we comfort her? If she's off, it could affect Daniel and Rupert. Of course, she might not perform well herself…"
"No need."
Columbus shook his head. "Sir Smith said she has talent, so I trust she's just sulking. She won't let her emotions affect others."
Columbus was right.
Isabella wasn't mad—she just felt foolish. She wanted to regain her composure and didn't want to drag others down.
But acting isn't a solo job, especially in group scenes. So when she tried to perform well…
The extras' scene wrapped in less than an hour. Then the trio returned to the set.
Just as Columbus was about to explain the next scene, Isabella, who had analyzed the scene during the break, raised her hand: "Director, can I share my thoughts on this scene first?"
"Of course," Columbus smiled and nodded.
Isabella immediately spoke: "The next scene is after Harry finishes his private talk with Hagrid and boards the train again. I think there are two things to note. First, Harry's emotion—during the private conversation, he received a family photo from Hagrid, which made him feel Hogwarts' warmth."
"So, when Hermione asks how he feels about going home, he won't look so sad like during the first boarding. He knows he's loved, and Hogwarts will wait for him."
"Second, Hermione's emotion—earlier, she was happy and unaware of Harry's difference. But after witnessing his private conversation with Hagrid, she notices the change in Harry and tucks away her happiness. She can be serious, confused, or concerned—but not smiling."
"Because she realizes everyone's family is different and can't project her happiness onto someone else's sadness."
"As for Ron…"
"The carefree troublemaker wouldn't notice any of this, so his performance can be anything."
Whoa—
Daniel and Rupert were dumbfounded.
Columbus clapped and gestured for her to continue.
"Why don't you direct then," he joked.
This tacit approval made Isabella breathe a sigh of relief.
Her cute, proud expression made Columbus wave his hand in amusement.
"Okay, now that Miss Granger has analyzed the scene, shall we try it?"
Honestly, Young Adult films don't require much acting.
The kids only need to depict the script's scenes about seventy to eighty percent correctly. Anything extra is just asking too much.
So once Isabella described Harry's main emotions during his second boarding, the crew's only job was to follow and find the feeling. After three or four rehearsals, Columbus called for filming. Just three takes, and he gave a thumbs-up.
"Cut, Good…"
9 a.m., officially on set.
By 3 p.m., the two-and-a-half-minute scene was completed.
But this didn't mean they could go home. Outdoor shoots used public resources, which couldn't be monopolized. Therefore, the under-18s' four-hour maximum daily working rule could be waived for outdoor filming, provided the crew reported to authorities in advance.
Warner Bros. knew the process well, so by 7 p.m., everyone was back to work.
Yes.
The first official filming day already included a night scene—when the trio first arrived at Hogwarts.
This scene was simple: the trio walked down from Hogwarts with extras, with Hagrid welcoming them.
The script only noted a few seconds; most lines were Hagrid's. The trio had only Harry's "Hi, Hagrid" and Ron's "Wow—" in close-ups. By 10 p.m., filming wrapped.
The next day, filming continued.
They shot the first encounter on the train.
Perhaps because of yesterday's smooth rehearsal, the first few takes went well. But when the scene reached "Ron discovers Harry's identity" in the script, Rupert's acting was off—his expression lacked exaggeration.
Then…
"Carrot?"
Isabella, observing the scene, spoke up.
"Hmm?"
Rupert, realizing he had wasted time, looked at Isabella with a bit of fear.
He had no idea what this "immortal being" wanted to say next.
Isabella, however, was used to his micro-expressions.
When you've become the class top student, the child other parents always talk about, people's eyes on you inevitably change.
It's normal.
So she said directly: "Have you watched Pokémon?"
"Huh? Yeah~" Rupert paused for a moment, then nodded.
"Okay."
Isabella smiled: "Then when you talk about Harry's scar later, just think of Pikachu in your head."
"I think doing this will make your expressions much more vivid."
'???'
The surrounding crew froze for a moment, then laughter erupted.
Everyone got Isabella's point.
Harry's scar really did look like Pikachu's lightning bolt symbol.
And Voldemort had left Harry with… what? A Pikachu engraved on his head?
That's just…
Cool.
"Oh~ That's it~ I can never go back~"
Cinematographer John Seale slapped his thigh, laughing uncontrollably.
He had shot many classics: Rain Man, Dead Poets Society, The English Patient, The Talented Mr. Ripley.
And now…
"Isabella, if I ruin the movie, it's all your fault."
He jokingly pinned the potential shaky hands on Isabella.
The girl knew he was joking, so she played along—
"Oh John~ You said that, huh? Then I'll have the director check your film."
"Because we all know, when a kid says they want to go to the bathroom, it usually means they've already gone in their pants."
"You didn't get it right earlier, did you?"
"Ha ha ha ha—"
Everyone on set laughed until their stomachs hurt.
Seeing Rupert's expression start to change, Columbus waved his hand and seized the opportunity: "Again."
Camera rolling, slate claps, a few seconds to settle…
"So… it's real? I mean… you really have that… that… scar?"
After Isabella's coaching, curiosity immediately lit up Rupert's face.
"Cut, Good."
Columbus was very satisfied.
Honestly, acting is tiring.
Although minors are legally protected, with short workdays and waiting time counting as working hours, and Columbus' demands weren't too strict, this work still required brainpower!
After several days on set, Isabella understood why Maggie Smith had said that natural acting is also very difficult.
Skills represent consensus in the industry. Once you've mastered the techniques, a director can tell you exactly what emotion a shot needs. But when you act instinctively, the director can't guide you too much—he can only explain what he wants to be shown, and you have to adapt yourself.
So…
No brainwork is ever truly easy, right?
However, work-related fatigue can be soothed by receiving your paycheck.
Yes~After filming began, Isabella finally received the first paycheck of her life.
In any entertainment industry, unless it's laundering money, actors aren't paid their full fees at once.
Hollywood follows the 33-34 rule: after signing the contract, actors receive 30% of their fee within the first week of shooting, another 30% after half the filming is done, and the remaining 40% after the project wraps.
For producers, this has two benefits:
First, it eases financial pressure;
Second, it keeps actors in check, preventing trouble.
Of course, if the cast includes A-list stars, the 33-34 rule becomes 13-33: big stars get a 10% deposit upon signing, never exceeding 15%, taken from the final payment due at wrap.
Every rule has two sides.
The producers' interests are protected, but the actors' profits are reduced—hence why Western stars sometimes live on credit.
Indeed, Western stars look glamorous, but if their pay hasn't arrived yet and they need to spend, they have no choice but to borrow.
Many have been buried by debt.
For example, Nicolas Cage became the king of bad movies because he had to pay off debts.
Even though Warner Bros. paid Isabella 30%, the final amount that reached her escrow account was only £64,054.
This was due to UK law requiring companies employing minors to withhold taxes on their behalf.
Otherwise, if a minor evaded taxes, it would pit the Minor Protection Law against tax law, because tax law places primary responsibility on the taxpayer, while the minor's guardians only bear civil liability at most.
Shifting tax obligations to the employer is like picking the softest target.
In life, only death and taxes are unavoidable, so Isabella didn't mind.
Moreover, she believed that £64,054 was just the beginning.
A good start.
Since effort brings reward and the future looked bright, Isabella's motivation soared. While she smiled and threw herself into work, she suddenly noticed that with a lighter mood, the world seemed different.
She realized her life was easy.
Not just because she didn't have to attend mandatory tutoring, but also because Harry Potter was the protagonist, and most of the film focused on him. Hermione's screen time was limited and concentrated.
For example, Hermione had few Muggle-world shots and rarely appeared at Gringotts or King's Cross, so…
Even if Isabella had a full day of shooting, her close-ups were few.
Most of the time, she was just in the background, watching Harry solo and occasionally adding a line or two.
She didn't show off, but liked to comment.
If one had to describe it…
Open your mouth, Harry's doomed.
At first, this chatter annoyed Harry.
Acting is personal—if I'm performing well and you suddenly say something, what's that?But soon, he came to enjoy it.
Firstly, Isabella wasn't truly a chatterbox.
She only spoke when the director asked or someone needed help.
Secondly, she had an adult perspective.
When she pointed out the core of the matter, it eased the constraints on set.
Of course, as a beginner, she couldn't always be right, but even if her idea was wrong, once Columbus rejected it, the correct approach became clear immediately.
This made filming smoother.
Thirdly, anyone with memories of school knows that when one person stands out, everyone else's life becomes easier because the teacher focuses more on the standout.
For example…
On October 25, after finishing the first flying lesson shots for new students half an hour early, Daniel, Rupert, and a bunch of kids crowded around Isabella, treating her like the big sister.
"Isabella~ do you have time today?" Daniel asked.
"Yes, what's up?" Isabella nodded, ready to change and go home.
"We want to watch a movie," Rupert said eagerly.
"A movie? Which one?" Isabella asked curiously.
"Dinosaur! It's supposed to be amazing!" Rupert's eyes sparkled as he asked, "Are you coming?"