ST. LOUIS, Sept. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Build-A-Bear® launched enchanting additions to its Harry Potter-inspired collection.  Guests can show off their House pride with new clothing and accessories, join the quest to collect House relics, or fly away with Hedwig and Buckbeak!

“We are thrilled to be bringing more magical fun to Build-A-Bear Workshop,” said Jennifer Kretchmar, Chief Digital Merchandising Officer. “Wizarding World fans are sure to be captivated by these new additions to our Harry Potter collection.  From magical creatures, to new ways to display your house pride, this enchanting assortment has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for the Harry Potter fan in your life or adding a new furry friend to your own collection!”

Visit your local Workshop or experience the magic of making furry friends in the palm of your hand! The online Bear Builder tool is a great way to make unique, customized gifts perfect for the Harry Potter fan in your life by bringing the fun of Build-A-Bear to you – it even includes a virtual Heart Ceremony!

SHOW OFF YOUR HOUSE PRIDE
Dress your bear in its Hogwarts house with themed hoodies featuring the house colors and crests of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff.  The hood even has openings for your furry friend’s ears! Complete the look with a matching house beanie!

Fans won’t want to miss the plush Sword of Gryffindor perfect for your courageous Gryffindor House Bear.

The plush toy locket is inspired by the one owned by Salazar Slytherin himself. Witches and wizards of Slytherin house will appreciate the decorative runes and snake-like S on the locket.

“Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure!” Your furry friend will be reminded of these wise words every time they sport this magical Ravenclaw diadem. This plush toy crown is inspired by the iconic diadem of Ravenclaw house.

If you know your Hogwarts history, you know that this Hufflepuff Cup is a must-have item for any fan of Hufflepuff house! This plush golden cup features a badger on the front and has an elastic band so it can attach to your bear’s paw.

MAGICAL CREATURES FLY INTO BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP
Harry Potter’s loyal owl Hedwig is ready to fly into your collection! This feathery friend has snowy white fur, spotted wings, large yellow eyes and the Harry Potter logo on her left talon. Just as Hagrid gifted Harry Potter Hedwig on his birthday, this loyal toy owl makes a magical gift for any witch or wizard in your life!

Now you can take to the skies with your very own Buckbeak! A magical beast that’s half eagle and half horse, this beloved Hippogriff has grey fur, soft plush claws and a fuzzy tail. Available exclusively online at www.buildabear.com, it’s the perfect companion for Care of Magical Creatures class or any magical adventure ahead!

WELCOME TO HOGWARTS
Your Hogwarts acceptance letter is here! Receiving a letter by owl post is an ambition for any budding young witch or wizard. This replica letter has an elastic band so it can attach to any furry friend’s paw. It features the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry crest and is signed by Professor McGonagall, Professor at Hogwarts and Head of Gryffindor House. You can write a name at the top of the letter to make a perfectly personalized gift for any Wizarding World fan!

CELEBRATE SEPTEMBEAR WITH BUILD-A-BEAR
Win free furry friends for a year by entering the Build-A-Bear Workshop SeptemBEAR Sweepstakes!  In honor of National Teddy Bear Day, celebrated annually on September 9, Build-A-Bear Workshop announced the month-long sweepstakes where fans can enter to win furry friends for a year.  Forty Guests will win this great prize, with ten winners drawn each week. Guests ages 18 and older in the United States and Canada can enter at www.buildabear.com/sweepstakes and Guests in the United Kingdom can visit www.buildabear.co.uk/prizedraw to enter.

For product images, please click here.

For more information about Build-A-Bear, visit buildabear.com, and follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

About Build-A-Bear®
Build-A-Bear is a global brand kids love and parents trust that seeks to add a little more heart to life. Build-A-Bear Workshop has over 500 stores worldwide where Guests can create customizable furry friends, including corporately-managed stores in the United States, Canada, China, Denmark, Ireland, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom, third party retail locations and franchise stores in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Mexico, the Middle East and South America. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $338.5 million in fiscal 2019. For more information, visit the Investor Relations section of buildabear.com.

About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, part of Warner Bros. Global Brands and Experiences, extends the Studio’s powerful portfolio of entertainment brands and franchises into the lives of fans around the world.  WBCP partners with best-in-class licensees globally on an award-winning range of toys, fashion, home décor, and publishing inspired by franchises and properties such as DC, Wizarding World, Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera, HBO, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. The division’s successful global themed entertainment business includes groundbreaking experiences such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. With innovative global licensing and merchandising programs, retail initiatives, promotional partnerships and themed experiences, WBCP is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world. 

About Wizarding World
In the years since Harry Potter was whisked from King’s Cross Station onto Platform nine and three quarters, his incredible adventures have left a unique and lasting mark on popular culture.  Eight Blockbuster Harry Potter films based on the original stories by J.K. Rowling have brought the magical stories to life and today, the Wizarding World is recognised as one of the world’s best-loved brands.
Representing a vast interconnected universe, it also includes two epic Fantastic Beasts films, (the third releasing in 2022), Harry Potter The Cursed Child–the multi-award-winning stage-play, state-of-the-art video and mobile games from Portkey Games, innovative consumer products, thrilling live entertainment (including four theme park lands) and insightful exhibitions.

This expanding portfolio of Warner Bros.  owned Wizarding World experiences also includes Harry Potter New York –a brand new flagship store, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London –The Making of Harry Potter, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, and the Platform 9 3⁄4 retail shops.

The Wizarding World continues to evolve to provide Harry Potter fans with fresh and exciting ways to engage. For the worldwide fan community, and for generations to come, it welcomes everyone in to explore and discover the magic for themselves.

WIZARDING WORLD and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are © ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s21)

SOURCE Build-A-Bear Workshop

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British actor Helen McCrory, who starred in the television show “Peaky Blinders” and the “Harry Potter” movies, has died, her husband said Friday. She was 52 and had been suffering from cancer.

Her husband, fellow actor Damian Lewis, said McCrory died “peacefully at home” after a “heroic battle with cancer.”

“She died as she lived. Fearlessly,” Lewis wrote on Twitter. “God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. She blazed so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air, and thank you.”

McCrory was one of Britain’s most respected actors, making her mark by playing a succession of formidable and sometimes fearsome women.

She played the matriarch of a crime family on “Peaky Blinders” and the scheming Voldemort ally Narcissa Malfoy in the “Harry Potter” movies.

Onstage, her roles included the vengeful Greek heroine “Medea” at the National Theatre in 2014. At the same theater, she excelled as a woman caught between a dull husband and a feckless lover in Terence Rattigan’s “The Deep Blue Sea” in 2016.

While many performers struggle to find meaty female roles in film and television, McCrory played a string of them.

“Having said that, there are a lot of things I turn down,” she told The Associated Press in 2016, describing the sort of roles where “all your lines are ‘But what did you do at work?’ ‘That’s so clever, darling.’ ‘How did you do that?’ ‘And then what did you do?'”

“Of course, there’s so much sexism within the profession,” McCrory said. “But I think you approach it in different ways, and my approach is just to forge forward.”

Our youngest daughter just graduated from college, so it’s the first year that we’re fully empty nesters (woo-hoo!). We’re going to miss having our kids around, which may be why back-to-school season really has gotten me this year.

It’s exciting but also a bit scary. We’ll need to make the emotional adjustment that comes with an empty nest and figure out what to do with a bit of extra income due to a shrinking set of bills and the elimination of college as a savings goal. We’re on the home stretch to retirement, so we’ll be able to put that extra money to work.

Thankfully, my oldest daughter and her husband have blessed us with a couple of grandkids. As a family, they’ll soon launch their own decade-plus-long string of back-to-school celebrations. To commemorate the season, we’re planning to revisit some of the high school-themed movies we watched with our kids. Here are four of my favorites, along with my commentary on the insights they can offer if you’re working on the financial end of your own college preparations.

“Fast Times at Ridgemont High” — Surfer Jeff Spicoli was more interested in partying than excelling in the classroom. But in the end, with a little help from his teacher, he got serious enough to pass. The lesson? Don’t wait until the end of senior year to save and plan for college. Last-minute cramming may have worked for Spicoli, but in real life, you’ll want to put a little away each paycheck. If it’s in your plans, complete the proper forms to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits early. Don’t wait until it’s too late. And you can’t start too early; we set up college savings accounts for our grandkids, and our oldest just started kindergarten this year.

The “Harry Potter” series — I read all the books and saw all the movies just so I could stay in tune with my kids (wink). And when my daughter graduated this summer, we set off for Orlando to experience the theme-park Potter experience. Truthfully, I enjoyed being transported to a world where you avoid bumper-to-bumper traffic by jumping into a fireplace to shift to a new location. While there are no magic fireplaces in the college savings game, there are cool tools that are nearly magical in terms of tax advantages. Check out the Coverdell Education Savings Account or a 529 college savings plan. They’re not quite flying broomsticks and magic wands, but they’re still pretty nifty.

“10 Things I Hate About You” — I really like this movie; I’ve watched it at least 20 times. Throughout the film, the character Kat champions the idea that you shouldn’t do something just because everyone else does it. That certainly holds true for college savings. Don’t spend extravagantly to keep up with the Joneses. Likewise, don’t put off saving just because you can’t be bothered. Build a savings plan and pick a college based on your own financial reality. Like Kat, you may get a happy ending.

“Back to the Future” — Marty McFly goes back in time to 1955, when life was simpler and cheaper. Remember that five-cent cup of coffee he orders? Unfortunately, the cost of a college education only is going to keep rising. According to the College Board’s Trends in Higher Education series, the cost of tuition, room and board, and other fees for the 2020-2021 school year at a four-year, in-state, public university is about $22,000. Those are big numbers, but every financial goal starts with a price tag and a timeline. Do your research, and don’t be afraid to be creative in your approach. Kids can live at home or start out at a community college if that’s the best approach from a dollars-and-sense standpoint. Here’s some good news: Last year, the College Board reported that we saw the^{ninth consecutive year of reduced education borrowing. Keep up the good work.}

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Dave Chappelle is facing some heat. The comic legend is being called out for recent jokes from his latest Netflix special, The Closer, in which he quips about DaBaby‘s homophobia, trans lives and the LGBTQIA+ community at large.

As theGrio previously reported, Dave Chappelle’s latest Netflix special is described as “closing out” his body of work on the streamer that includes, The Age Of Spin, Deep In The Heart Of Texas, Equanimity, The Bird Revelation, and Sticks Stones. While Chappelle has often found critical acclaim, many of his takes, specifically surrounding the LGBTQIA+ community, have fallen flat. It seems his latest special is no exception.

In The Closer, Chappelle dives right into one of the most controversial stories to come out of 2021: DaBaby’s homophobic rant at the Rolling Loud music festival. As theGrio extensively reported, the rapper received major backlash after making dangerous remarks surrounding the LGBTQ community and HIV/AIDS. While the controversy had many thinking about “cancel culture”, Chappelle joked that he was willing to “negotiate the release of DaBaby,” while also expressing his jealousy of progress in the LGBTQ community compared to the Black community, per The Daily Beast.

Chappelle then shared other stories surrounding LGBTQ people, including one in which, after Chappelle confronted a gay white man about filming him and his wife, that man then called the cops on him. Another story has him describing a time when he got into a fight with a butch lesbian, remarking, “I’m glad TMZ didn’t believe that—because I did beat the shit out of her. I’m not gonna lie. It was her fault. I had no choice.”

The comments receiving the most backlash, however, stem from his remarks made about trans people. He jokes, “Any of you who have ever watched me know that I have never had a problem with transgender people. If you listen to what I’m saying, clearly, my problem has always been with white people.” He still, however, makes some questionable comments surrounding the trans community.

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Chappelle defends Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who has a history of transphobic comments. Many trans activists have referred to her as a TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist), which she has taken offense to and written about at length. While defending her in the special, he says, “I’m team TERF!” He adds, “Gender is a fact. Every human being in this room, every human being on earth, had to pass through the legs of a woman to be on earth. That is a fact. Now, I am not saying that to say trans women aren’t women, I am just saying that those p–sies that they got… you know what I mean? I’m not saying it’s not p—y, but it’s ‘Beyond P—y’ or ‘Impossible P—y’. It tastes like p—y, but that’s not quite what it is, is it? That’s not blood. That’s beet juice.”

Chappelle also rememberers his late trans friend, Daphne Dorman, who loved his jokes. He reveals that he started a trust fund for Dorman’s daughter, and shares he won’t be making anymore LGBTQ jokes, “…until we are both sure that we are laughing together. I’m telling you, it’s done. I’m done talking about it. All I ask of your community, with all humility: Will you please stop punching down on my people.”

Read the full article on his comments at The Daily Beast.

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The post Dave Chappelle called out for jokes about DaBaby’s homophobia, LGBTQ community appeared first on TheGrio.

The phenomenon of acting out a scene while lip-syncing has risen to popularity on TikTok. But is there value in performing with another’s voice?

At first I pay attention because I recognize what I’m hearing. What I’m viewing through my phone screen is an eye-catching variation of the familiar. It manipulates material that’s recognizable and retains some of its essence, yet makes its essence considerably different. It doesn’t quite veer into uncanny valley territory — these are still humans after all, not robotic imitations of them — but perhaps some sort of lesser, parallel phenomenon that doesn’t provoke any feelings of unease. It’s entirely more fun, triggering the recollection of a fond memory and considering it in a new light. They allow me to look at how I know something to be from an alternate angle, and encounter something that’s wholly new.

TikTok lip-synced acting videos — where actors use short dialogue clips from films or movies, mouth the words, and put their own spin on them — act as a sort of funnel for whatever performance they are working off of. In other words, the lip-synced performance can critique or comment on the original, and perhaps become something else entirely. “Defamiliarization,” a term created by 20th century Russian literary critic Viktor Shklovsky, refers to the practice of presenting familiar objects in a strange way. Thus, it increases perception and changes the audience’s perspective. Tiktok lip-sync acting does exactly that, especially if it’s a widely known performance that has been watched multiple times in its original form. In lip-sync videos, when the familiar and different are pitted against each other, something else altogether comes out of that conflict. The original may bore us now, but as a lip-synced version, the audience can focus on it more and learn something.

Take one such lip-sync performance, this one based off of Helena Bonham Carter and her character from the Harry Potter film series, Bellatrix Lestrange. Derived from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the lilt to Bonham’s words is so distinct that I immediately recognize it — however, the total familiarity begins and ends with the sound. On the screen, her voice isn’t coming from her mouth, her character’s gothic get up, wild hair, and too-wide eyes nowhere to be found (though some creators will copy her look, expressions, and mannerisms exactly, and these I don’t find particularly valuable). Instead, TikTok creator Julia Gava is close to the screen, bound within the four by two inch frame. She is working with nothing aside from the original voice, not aided by a set or editing. Whereas Bonham Carter’s version conveys annoyance behind the madness, Gava’s microexpressions hint at some insecurity, anger, then finally sarcastic humor — her character’s manic state of mind comes through.

Bonham Carter’s dialogue coming from Gava’s mouth doesn’t hinder or necessarily help the performance, but it still gives the viewer a fresh understanding of the character. In fact, Gava owns it in spite of the lip-sync, and makes something new: perhaps an entirely new character, or at the very least intrigues the viewer enough to think about the original performance in a different light.

I first considered these videos with some interest, and not much in the way of appreciation, aside from being slightly entertained. Lip-syncing by no means is a new phenomenon — despite being popularized and persistent in the music industry, and it’s largely frowned upon by consumers, especially during live performances. Even if the singer puts on a show and performs, the knowledge that they’re not vocalizing in real time cheapens the performance; they aren’t making an effort, most would agree, so the value of the performance is significantly lessened. As audience members, we dedicate our time — and oftentimes money — to the performance, so we expect an equal exchange on behalf of the artist. The artist gives their part through live vocals, or more generally, putting in the work to give the audience a unique and memorable and authentic performance. The audience has listened to the studio version of the song before, maybe from a CD or download, so why would they pay to hear that exact same version? This naturally prompts the question: Why should an acting performance be considered any differently?

There is a side of me that wonders if it’s possible to create something worthwhile when the creator’s voice belongs to someone else. Sure, acting happens when the performer isn’t speaking — but when the actor isn’t speaking at all, instead using the voice of another, what becomes of the performance’s overall effectiveness or its value? Is it unaffected, a mere imitation, or does it feel cheapened, as in music? Is it possible to enhance the original?

Though it isn’t without value, lip-syncing isn’t what one would call necessary, or what one would consider a particularly invigorating art form; audiences associate worthwhile performances with authenticity, and there is some inauthenticity in declining to use such one’s own voice. But is someone’s true voice necessary for authenticity at all? Authenticity, whereas it’s valued above all in film, television, and stage plays, is considered a bit differently on social media platforms. Though social media users like to see the real, they don’t really. What is “real” is a painstakingly curated version of reality by the creator. Is acting’s “authentic” element really all that different? The actor manipulates the audience into thinking they are believing what they’re saying, and though voice is a useful tool in achieving such a goal, they can still believe their character’s story with the words of another, their physical choices informing how the audience perceives the character’s reality.

The fact of the matter is, a lip-syncer can still feel what they’re “saying,” regardless of if the voice is or isn’t theirs, by taking on the reality of that character. Despite the choices of inflection and tone belonging to the original performer, they can make their own choices, perhaps even more deliberately, based on how the words work their way from the outside in, then how they root their performance in acting from the inside out. There is value in that I, as the audience, can understand their take on the story of the character, and still feel convinced and moved.

Congrats to the new parents! Devon Murray and girlfriend Shannon McCaffrey have welcomed their first child!

The Harry Potter actor — who played Hogwarts student Seamus Finnigan in the celebrated film franchise — announced the exciting news to Instagram on Sunday.

“Yesterday 2/1/21 my life changed forever. Shannon delivered our beautiful little boy ‘Cooper Michael Murray’ weighing 6lbs 10oz,” Murray wrote. “Both are doing amazing now after a very long labour and a scary few minutes at the end.”

The actor shared the announcement alongside a snapshot showing a cupcake with a blue footprint in the foreground, and his new baby boy sleeping peacefully in a hospital bassinet in the background.

“It still hasn’t sunk in just yet that we have our very own little boy,” the new father continued. “I can’t wait to make the most amazing memories with Shannon and Cooper as we begin our little family.”

Murray praised his girlfriend, writing that he is “so amazed by Shannon and she is now my Hero.”

“I’m so proud of her for everything she has gone through,” he concluded. “I can’t wait to have you both home. It’s so hard having to leave you both. I will love you both forever until my last breathe ❤️🍼👶🏻.”

Murray first announced that he and McCaffrey were gearing up to become parents back in July, sharing a heartwarming snapshot of a sonogram and a cute baby onesie to Instagram.

“Baby Murray – 14th of January 2021,” Murray captioned the cute pic, revealing his girlfriend’s expected due date — meaning she ultimately delivered their baby boy two weeks earlier than expected.

After being inundated with congratulations and well-wishes on his pregnancy announcement, Murray responded in the comments to his post, sharing, “We’re both so happy, excited and nervous and can not wait until he/she are in our arms.” 

Check out the video below for more on the latest celebrity baby news.

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last 20 years, you know that Harry Potter is a worldwide phenomenon. From the books to the movies to theme park attractions, the wizarding world is a huge deal to millions of people.

Are you a Harry Potter fan in need of some new spots to visit? You’re in luck!

We’re here with the five Harry Potter locations fans need to visit (that aren’t Wizarding World at Universal)!

Harry Potter New York

This official Harry Potter complex in New York is an immersive way to experience the wizarding world! Complete with a Butterbeer Bar, immersive VR experiences, and a wand shop, this is a great place for any Harry Potter superfan!

Oh, and did we mention the shopping? This is also the first flagship store for Harry Potter, and it has a TON of exclusive merch. Whether you’re looking for Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans or a new Hogwarts robe, chances are that you’ll find it here.

The Harry Potter Rooms at Georgian House

For the rest of these spots, we’ll be taking a hop across the pond to the UK! Located in London, the Georgian House hotel offers a special Wizarding Experience. Complete with Hogwarts-themed rooms, magical afternoon tea, and a new “potion” mixology class, you’ll truly feel transported to the wizarding world!

This will make a great home base if you’re making the trek to the UK to check out some of the other spots on this list, especially since many of them are in London!

King’s Cross Station

If you know Harry Potter, then you know that King’s Cross Station is a very very important location throughout the series. Platform 9 3/4, located at King’s Cross Station in London, is the start of every journey to Hogwarts!

And yes, there is a Platform 9 3/4 photo-op! You can take pics pushing your trolley through the secret passageway! Plus, there’s an exclusive Harry Potter shop as well.

The Harry Potter Studio Tour

Wanna see where it was all made? Well, you’re in luck! Warner Brothers hosts The Making of Harry Potter Tour, a special behind-the-scenes look at the props, sets, and costumes of the Harry Potter films! Explore Diagon Ally and Hogwarts’ Great Hall,  meet creatures like Buckbeak and the Basilisk, and see everything that made the movies magical!

For many fans, walking through the sets and seeing all the props can get pretty emotional. It’s cool to see how the magic was made (pun intended)!

Spoon Café (Formerly Known as Nicolson’s)

Although it closed last year during the pandemic, Spoon Café in Edinburgh is in many senses the birthplace of Harry Potter as we know it today. Much of Rowling’s first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, was written at this café whenever she could squeeze in time.

A plaque hangs outside the building recognizing this location as the place where it all started. Spoon Café continues to be a pilgrimage point for many Harry Potter superfans.

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What do you think of these Harry Potter locations? Let us know in the comments! 

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