That sacred book we all grew to love

[pubesy]

yes, we all know what book i am talking about, the book of shadows, whether you consider the actual book to be merely a prop, or something much more, that book would have to be one of the most important books in television.

four questions about it.

1. did they use the same one book right throughout seasons 1-8, or was there a new book introduced at one point, or were there several "books" used as stage props?

2. if they did use the same book, how did they "add" the pages for the demons in the book? (IE. the producers couldn't have known every single demon they were going to use when they created the book in the very first episode.) were there heaps of blank pages in it or were they able to add pages into it?

3. who was the designer of the book? who wrote all the entries? every page always had beautiful detail.

and most importantly

4. what happened to the book once charmed ended? is it on display somewhere or is it stored away? i know it was kept under lock and key on set when not needed...but where is it now?

much appreciative of your answers

[woogyinthehouse]

pubesy said:

and most importantly

4. what happened to the book once charmed ended? is it on display somewhere or is it stored away? i know it was kept under lock and key on set when not needed...but where is it now?

Brad Kern kept the book im sure, and it sits in his office where he takes a look at some pages every now and then... ;D

[pipercharmedphreak]

I do know that they had two copies of the book. One that was the more valuable and detailed one that was looked through ect and one that was the "stunt" book-that was thrown around and whatnot.

[McGarrett]

LOL. That sounded kind of funny when you said it like that. 'Stunt Book'. But I guess if we can have stunt people and stunt animals, we can also have stunt objects.

[Hansemand]

pipercharmedphreak said:

I do know that they had two copies of the book. One that was the more valuable and detailed one that was looked through ect and one that was the "stunt" book-that was thrown around and whatnot.

S8D6: Book Of Shadows Easter-Egg
Reminder: US and CAN (region-1) releases only.

[pipercharmedphreak]

Yep. That's exactly where I got that info!

[pubesy]

I thought there must have been 2, how many times has it been thrown around! the poor book

[ami]

There is also the `evil book of shadows` which I assume is also a beautiful piece of a... book! I would have loved to get my hands on the book of shadows, or make my own with the spells etc. that is out on the web. I think in the beginning of Charmed you can see that there are quite a few blank pages in the end, so that would be possible to put in new info, spells etc. there.
Will see if I can find any more info, got a bit interested in this now.

[vandergraafk]

Brad Kern definitely has the Book of Shadows (the final version at least). As for the Grimoire or Piper's kiddy BoS (from Brain Drain) who knows?

[pubesy]

how do you know he has it? wouldnt it remain property of WB?

it should be displayed.

[vandergraafk]

I suggest you subscribe to Charmed Magazine or check out some back issues (you can bid for them on e-bay, the ones that are out of print). Though parts of this magazine are always fluff and its analysis of Charmed is second-rate (see powers and science ---ugggh), there has always been an ask Brad Kern section. He was asked about the Book of Shadows and stated outright that it is in his possession.

As for the WB, they would never have had any claim on any props from Charmed. They were simply the broadcast outlet for Charmed in the U.S. Studio stuff was shot at the Paramount Lot in Hollywood. The sets were all torn down (if not destroyed, e.g., the manor) after shooting was completed. If you want a peek at the house upon which the manor was based, you can visit LA's Echo Park area and pass by the house. Or, you can catch it on other shows. (See the thread for other shows where the manor has been shown.)

Since the merger of CBS and Paramount, both of which are owned by Viacom, the "owner" would have been CBS/Paramount. I imagine they gave little, if any, thought to preserving the Book of Shadows or any part of the sets. Heck, they couldn't even bother to preserve the rights to How Soon is Now for the Season 8 DVD! There I go again: ranting and raving!

[pubesy]

isn't it terrible to think that the set has been torn down and is no longer in existence. but i guess life goes on, and they need it for other shows. im glad in a way though that the cant use it as a set for another show. i'd hate that.

you know what i would really love to own? the scry crystal and map. i love how all the demons were based in san fran!

i bet the girls 'souvineered' a few props each. i know i would have.

[Hansemand]

Not all demons, Paige founds that out later on when she embraces her whitelighter side and get charges from The Elders.
I do recall one "southern sea head shrinker" demon that chased after Paige to the manor, where he eventually was vanquished.

[pubesy]

good point.

[Carrie De Luna]

Is it true that Holly Marie wanted to keep the book of shadows?

[pubesy]

they probably would'nt have let her

[ilovepo3]

pubesy said:

how do you know he has it? wouldnt it remain property of WB?

it should be displayed.

If you listen to the commentary on Forever Charmed Brad Kern said he took the book after the series was over.

[ljones]

I'm a little confused about the Book of Shadows. Can anyone with evil intent touch the book? In Season 3's "Once Upon a Time", Cole was not able to touch it:

[Cut back to the attic. Cole reaches for the Book Of Shadows but it flies off its stand and onto the floor. Cole turns into a demon. (Soon known as Belthazor.) He reaches for the book again and it moves along the floor. He groans.]

But in Season 1's "Thank You For Not Morphing", one of the Halliwells' warlock neighbors was able to carry it as far as the front door:

[Scene: Outside the manor. A mailman walks up the stairs to the front door. His index finger turns into a key, he unlocks the door and walks inside. He walks up the stairs and up to the attic. The attic door is locked so he breaks it down. He grabs the Book Of Shadows and runs back down the stairs. When he walks through the doorway, the book flies out of his hands. He picks it back up but it doesn't let him take it outside. He sees Prue coming up the stairs so he quickly closes the door and he throws the book in the living room. He shape shifts into Andy. Prue walks in.]

And in Season 2's "Witch Trials", a demon named Abraxas was able to steal it through a portal:

(They go over to the Book and look at the page it opens up to.)

Phoebe: "Rite of passage. Fight it with the Power of one or else..."

(A vortex opens in the wall and a gust of wind blows through the attic. A demon is sitting in the vortex. Prue hesitates to use her power and the demon steals the Book. The vortex closes.)

So . . . what gives?

[whitelightertony]

I forgot: was Abraxas able to actually touch the Book of Shadows? Or did he use telekinesis to summon it through the portal?

I think the shapeshifters could touch it because the Book wasn't strong enough at that point in time to protect itself against Evil.

[ljones]

whitelightertony said:

I forgot: was Abraxas able to actually touch the Book of Shadows? Or did he use telekinesis to summon it through the portal?

I think the shapeshifters could touch it because the Book wasn't strong enough at that point in time to protect itself against Evil.

Or perhaps the writers had committed a . . . BLOOPER!