By Anabel Pasarow

A screening of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” at the Warner Bros. lot for Harvard-Westlake families and their guests raised $65,000 for financial aid. More than 500 people attended the viewing July 9, six days before the film premiered.

The event featured an exhibit that displayed props from various Warner Bros. movies. A room was devoted to Harry Potter with props from the first five movies, including the famous “sorting hat” for guests to try on. The hat told guests which Harry Potter house they were in: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw.

Before the showing, Alan Ball, Director of Annual Giving, and Jill Shaw, Director of Communications and Alumni Relations introduced the Warner Bros. Vice President of Production Sarah Scechter, who then introduced President Tom Hudnut. Many Harvard-Westlake students who attended the screening brought their friends from other schools.

A small majority of the attendees dressed up as characters of the movie and competed in a “craziest costume” contest. Twenty attendees won prizes.

“The enthusiasm of students, parents, grandparents, and alumni was amazing.” Ball said.