Harry Potter 2 On Set Update

Director Chris Columbus has been flying under the radar, concentrating on getting the second film done. "We've been completely isolated, I have to tell you," Columbus said at the party, in a rare break from shooting. "We all went to New York for the premiere (of Philosopher's Stone) and went directly to Leavesden Studios, which is a horrendously isolated place. So people are phoning us and saying 'You wouldn't believe how big this is!' And my feeling is I don't care. It's a very healthy way of working."

There's also much less of a learning curve the second time around, according to the students who should know. "We know the people, we know what we're doing, we know the set, it's easier to learn my lines now, I know what I'm doing," says Emma Watson, aka the precocious Hermione Granger. "Of course," she adds, "Hermione isn't in this film as much as she was in the first."

There is a lot more of Harry's buddy Ron Weasley and assorted other Weasleys in this tale of Harry's return to his hateful muggle family, and of malicious dark forces that follow him into the non-magic world. This suits Rupert Grint (Ron) fine, since having free time involves being recognized a lot "and it's very weird. It's the biggest change in my life. It's a good change I suppose," he says with a shrug.

"I'll say this about the children," says Robbie Coltrane, back playing Hagrid the Giant.

"They're not so 'Ooh, ahh' this time around. I think they've figured out how to conserve their energy -- which is the trick to making films and not going insane.

"For my part, it's been like going back to school. My wife was giving me the 'Well, have a good time, it'll be so nice to see your little friends again.' You know, like my mother used to."