<P> Part 1 was filmed back - to - back with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows--Part 2 from 19 February 2009 to 12 June 2010 . Director David Yates, who shot the film alongside director of photography Eduardo Serra, described Part 1 as "quite real"; a "road movie" that's "almost like a vérité documentary". </P> <P> Originally set for a single theatrical release, the idea to split the book into two parts was suggested by executive producer Lionel Wigram due to what David Heyman called "creative imperative". Heyman initially responded negatively to the idea, but Wigram asked, "No, David . How are we going to do it?". After rereading the book and discussing it with screenwriter Steve Kloves, he agreed with the division . </P> <P> The production filmed at Dartford Crossing for the dramatic chase where Hagrid and Harry are being ambushed by Death Eaters . </P> <P> Stuart Craig, set designer for all of the previous Harry Potter films, returned for the final two parts . He said, "We made a very different kind of film, which was shot a great deal on location . We travelled quite far, we built sets, and they spend a lot of time in a forest," he explained . "We built forest sets and integrated them into the real forests, so there were challenges there, as you might imagine ." Craig was ultimately nominated for an Academy Award for his work on Part 1 . </P>

Where was harry potter deathly hallows part 1 filmed