Belfast area extra Rimshot popped in to give us a report from the set of Your Highness currently filming in the Paint Hall. Here is what he had to say:
Hello All
I’m still working on ‘Your Highness’ and I’m still bound by contract not to reveal any details about that production.
However, from a GOT point of view, it seems that they are going to film in Scotland for 2 weeks while sets are built in the paint hall. This is just from talking to transport crew on the set. Also, several costume crew I spoke to are planning to send their CVs to the GOT production offices so I imagine we’ll see some of the YH crew on GOT.
Actually, my brother in law’s girlfriend designed the warrior outfit that Natalie Portman is wearing in YH and she has sent her CV/portfolio to the GOT office so hopefully she might get a job. The feeling on the YH set is that we would all like to get work on GOT and it seems natural to go from one to the other.
Having had a good look at all the YH sets in the paint hall, there is at least 2 that I think could be used on GOT but again I can’t tell you what they are I’m afraid.
Anyway, its not long now!
Winter Is Coming: Very interesting info about filming in Scotland. I remember there were some initial reports this past spring that Scotland would be an alternate filming location, similar to Morocco, but we hadn’t heard anything official so I assumed that meant that it was ruled out. Seems like that might not be the case. I’m not too familiar with Scotland’s geography, does it snow there in Oct? If so, this might be where they will film some of the exterior scenes. Especially the opening prologue scene.
Also, it looks like there will be at least some Game of Thrones-specific set construction and that they won’t be using strictly Your Highness sets, as many had originally speculated. Whether it means they will be doing alterations to existing Highness sets or constructing their own, completely new sets remains to be seen.
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101 Comments
I just have to ask: brother-in-law's girlfriend? How does that work?
MicheleQuote Reply
his wife's brother's girlfiend
CommodoreQuote Reply
we need more paint hall and AGoT infiltrators … i hope we get some (semi)official daily/weekly updates from the production team. with all of this fan fervour i think that a LoTResque blog (maybe use this one?) with updates and even video would be pretty awesome …
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
Winter, I was wondering the exact same thing about snow in Scotland, so I did a little research.
I guess it depends on where you are. There are some ski resorts in Scotland that seem to have snowfall in October.
Here's a rundown of October 2008.
The 4th was cloudy with outbreaks of rain, heavy at times. Snow was reported at Lerwick (Shetland) at midday with a temperature of just 0.3 °C. The 5th was sunny, with a few showers in the north.
Blustery on the 21st, with frequent and heavy showers (lying snow above 600 metres). Showers on the 22nd over the north and west with rain reaching the west coast during the evening.
Sunny intervals and showers on the 26th, with snow falling on the mountains. Showers in the north on the 27th, turning wintry to low level later.
Scattered showers in the north and east on the 29th and 30th, some of the showers wintry at times. Aviemore reported snow lying at 0900 UTC on the 27th, 28th and 29th, with a depth of 5 cm on the 27th.
Paul GudeQuote Reply
You'd have to go pretty far North for snow. If they want guranteed snow they should head over to Norway really.
Amusingly Scotland is pretty much how i saw 'the North' and even saw the Starks as having Scottish accents.
legion_quest666Quote Reply
Re: accents
I hear most characters with vague English, with varieties according to class (e.g., flea bottom = cockney). I hear other accents only in certain characters. Rickard Karstark is a very thick Scottish. Dude is a total highlander. Roose Bolton is sort of Welsh. Ygritte has a thick Irish brogue. The Greatjon is, oddly enough, American. So is the Hound. Oberyn, the Sandsnakes, Arianne, and Darkstar (but not Doran or Arianne's other companions) are sort of a mediterannean mishmash of spanish, italian, and greek. Thoros is basically yiddish, and Sallador Saan is something like Lebanese.
Don't ask why — when they jump out of the page at me, that's just how they talk.
JRQQuote Reply
I'm guessing the Scotland scenes would be the opening Others possibly along witht the finding of the dire wolf pups scene. Maybe there's also a few castles up that way that could fill in for Winterfell with the appropriate backdrop.
lordnedsheadQuote Reply
Lordnedshead, I was thinking the same thing. There had been a discussion earlier regarding how the scenes with the Others were going to be filmed:
invertebrae
cold count? I don't even know what that word was before my usess iPhone auto correct changed it.
and I meant a winter scene after opener, meaning we are going to see snow for most of the pilot. A fact we hadn't really discussed here. Logistics of filming I mean. Time to chill out the paint hall!
…ryan
WinterIsComing
Ryan: That thought popped into my head recently as well. Obviously the NI landscape won't be cold enough for snow in Oct. Will they really film that scene on a sound stage? Seems like it could look tacky that way.
I personally think Scotland could be the answer. That being said, Norway *would* guarantee snow. Still, maybe the partnership with the BBC makes Scotland more attractive?
Paul GudeQuote Reply
Scotland is more mountainous than Ireland, although it's not exactly the Alps. For this reason my assumption when the Scotland thing came up is that they would film the stuff in the Vale there, or perhaps some of the stuff for the Night's Watch.
However, once again, neither is required for the pilot. Jon won't reach the Wall until the second or third episode, and the Vale won't be until even later.
The only other option is the area around Winterfell, but then they'd presumably need to go back and film in Scotland regularly throughout the whole series for that.
All that borne in mind, my guess is that the opening Others scene will be filmed in Scotland. You'd get snowfalls in the Highlands in November, no problem, but the question would be more about it settling and looking right.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
one think i thought i'd mention, if it isn't obvious, is that HBO mostly funds their pilots (BBC may be chipping in here), and perhaps they are throwing a little more money at this particular one due to its progress and fan interest?
it is possible, and if so, might allow more set construction, shooting days, location permits, etc.
…ryan
invertebraeQuote Reply
Finally some news. It's been dry around here. Real dry. Photoshop fan art can only suffice for so long. What's to say the Scotland shooting will be outdoors? Could be shooting the whorehouse scene for example. That's an indoor set that wouldn't necessarily be re-used.
furreverQuote Reply
JRQ:
American? Really? See, to me, the Greatjon is John Rhys-Davies. Not that that's necessarily who should play him (they'd have to used forced perspective or put him on stilts, he's a big guy but not that big), but that's who he sounds like when I'm reading lines like "Your meat, my lord, is bloody tough!" or when he's leading the Stark bannermen in proclaiming Robb King in the North.
Otherwise, I like your accents; makes me wish I was better at mimicking them, as I've read the books aloud to my wife….
entomologistQuote Reply
Why would they go all the way to Scotland for an indoor scene, especially one in a whorehouse? I could see it if it were an exceptional castle interior but there has to be a building in N. Ireland that could represent a brothel. If not it would probably be cheaper and easier just to construct a set.
lordnedsheadQuote Reply
I actually doubt any of the YH sets will be used for GoT, especially with this news of 2 full weeks of set construction. That's enough time to build everything they need, no doubt.
That theory never made much sense to me, though it is possible if the set was designed to be permanent and able to be redressed. It is done in Hollywood a lot, but I am pretty sure they will want their show to be as unique looking as possible. Also the theory about using the YH set and then reshooting if it goes to series is not smart business – that's more expensive than just building a new set that's likely to get built anyway.
I am just thinking, after the Pilot, I wonder how they are going to handle the who directs the Dany scenes. The way things are, they can really have two separate productions going on and it might even be useful to them to have a separate director (or directors) do those sequences. All told, the Dany section might work out to just 2 or 3 hours of screen time over the course of the season. Could be they just hire one director to do all of that, while other directors do the Westeros sections of the show.
BrudeQuote Reply
Hi, first time poster, long time lurker –
I spent a semester abroad in England mostly and Scotland some.
Two points about the place regarding accent and weather from a Midwestern American:
1. Accent: In Edinburgh I could barely understand people at pubs. The language is a brogue on steroids. Any actor worth his salt can throw his voice, though.
2. Weather: Keep in mind, England is at the same latitude as Maine is in the States. Scotland is further north and obviously more mountainous. I climbed the highest peak on the islands back then, Ben Nevis, and even in late summer/early fall it was cold and misty up there. I don't know about snow all year round — probably not, as the peaks only reach 3-4,000 feet as I recall, but it's rough terrain to say the least. Very steep. There were mountain goats aplenty.
It is the perfect location for any scene located around the Eyrie. While the mountains aren't incredibly tall, they are almost twice as anything I've ever hiked in the Rockies.
MCAQuote Reply
twice as *steep* as anything — my bad
MCAQuote Reply
Brude, you make me wonder about the whole "getting picked up" thing. Would they want to ship people home from Morocco after shooting the stuff for the pilot or simply bang out the other scenes while they're there regardless of whether or not they've been officially picked up?
I also think the idea of using the YH sets worked when people were assuming only HBO execs were going to see the pilot. While that still might be the case, the fact that they're making new sets would indicate to me that they might be going for production-quality shots throughout.
Can anyone refresh my memory as to how long the current script would make the pilot?
Paul GudeQuote Reply
@Paul: I think it was just under an hour, HBO standard. Not 100% though
JGQuote Reply
The leaked script was 60 pages, exactly, which translates to about 60 minutes of screen time (give or take).
We know that something has been cut from the pilot, but we don't know if other stuff has been expanded or added. It's not uncommon for scripts to go through quite a few revisions throughout pre-production and even during production, so some of what we read could be changed quite a bit by now, for all we know.
BrudeQuote Reply
Thanks, JG and Brude.
An hour format lends itself more to streaming online than being sold on DVD, I think, so one strike against my pet theory.
It was great seeing new information come to light today. Looking forward to see what we get tomorrow.
Hold down the fort, and I'll see you in the morning.
Paul GudeQuote Reply
@JRQ: Just as an aside, Yiddish does not equal Jewish and/or Israeli.
@Brude: Regarding the re-using old sets theory, I couldn't agree more that is doesn't make much sense in several ways, and I commented on that once. I like your separate Morocco crew idea; we haven't discussed the logistics of shooting in two places so far apart much yet, but doing it this way seems to save both time and money. Do you have any examples from previous productions or experience with that?
@MCA: Nice first-hand experience, I hope to go to Scotland one day. Mind though, that the same latitude on this side of the Atlantic means a different thing due to the gulf stream and the milder climate it causes.
Still, Scotland seems a good place for what they need, and close, snow or no snow (at least snowy peaks). I agree with the majority that it probably means they are going to shoot the prologue there, as well as the initial outdoor scenes (not necesserily much snow needed all over the place, just the chilly pre-wintery atmosphere, some drifting snowflakes etc.)
MarkoQuote Reply
As someone who lives attached to Scotland, I know it snows in certain places much earlier than it does further south. Geography, go figure. While it is more mountainous, there are plenty of flat plains extra. It all depends on where you go. It has as varied a countryside as England, or the US. The UK is all gorgeous. Pick carefully and you can probably find places in England, Scotland, Wales and North Ireland/Ireland that looks similar enough for them to be used in the same scene, even.
Also, "all the way to Scotland"? Seriously? It's like, a couple of hours on the ferry from Northern Ireland or something, and probably 2-3 hours on a plane from anywhere in the UK. It's not exactly world's end …
ElliraQuote Reply
You're not really going to get the large snow drifts you can find in places like the U.S. midwest, in the UK. Their winters are much wetter.
GMSNQuote Reply
Our winters are much more random. You can't really guarantee any particular type of weather, to be honest.
SilverstarQuote Reply
Neuschwanstein for the Vale
Guess Scotland will be the North and King's Landing will be in Ireland?
JennyQuote Reply
Now that we are talking about locations again, I thought to bring up a project I get reminded of every now and then when reading about GOT: The Arn the Knight Templar movies from Sweden (a big coproduction in fact, and the biggest filming project in Scandinavia ever). As an adaptation I'd judge them semi-successful, but if you've seen the international market version where they cut and merged the two movies into one you might have a different opinion. Anyway, it is medieval AND shot in Scotland (the north) and Morocco (the holy land). An interesting parallel, perhaps :)
MarkoQuote Reply
What is that castle from Jenny? That definitely isn't Scottish landscape is it?
MozartQuote Reply
No, this is a bavarian castle.
amir mishaliQuote Reply
@Marko
evvv, they cut them into 1 movie for the non-scandinavian audience….
But, but.. I allready felt like they left out lots of important parts, most of book 2 was bascially removed from the movies, so I can only imagine the horror that it will be when it's only 1 movie.
The book trilogy is awesome, imo. And the book about Arn's grandson is also quite good. I also liked the movies, after I had gotten over the shock that most of the Knights Templar stuff had been cut.
But cutting it back to only 1 movie…. ohhh, the horror.
mortenQuote Reply
Yeah, Neuschwanstein is in Germany…
LaurenQuote Reply
Neuschwanstein was also the direct inspiration for the Eyrie (as Gibraltar was the inspiration for Casterly Rock). Except the Eyrie is about 17,000 feet up the side of a mountain, whilst Neuschwanstein is only a few hundred feet up on a big hill, I believe.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
The British Isles have a milder climate than other places at the same latitude due to the warm water of the gulf stream (leading to some predictions that, should ice caps melting-> no more gulf stream, this will be the only place on the planet that gets colder due to global warming! Nb: it's only one model and could be completely wrong).
Our weather is changeable and often wet, we don't tend to get long stable periods of any weather unlike our continental neighbours, and can go from tipping with rain to intense sunshine and back to rain again in a day. As for the winter, in the south there tends to be little or no snow, but in Scotland and north east England there is almost always some snow, it can be up to a few feet deep even in Newcastle. It tends to be windy everywhere. Right now it's only autumn, February is usually (but not always- our weather is far from reliable) the coldest month. Over the next few months the snow will build up on the Scottish peaks.
There will certainly be more snow in Scotland than Northern Ireland, it's not far to go, so if they want real snow it's a sensible choice.
shinyteapotQuote Reply
It'd be good to know when and where in Scotland. I'd been thinking of flying over to Belfast in Oct but if they're coming to me … ;)
JacMac30Quote Reply
I like your separate Morocco crew idea; we haven't discussed the logistics of shooting in two places so far apart much yet, but doing it this way seems to save both time and money. Do you have any examples from previous productions or experience with that?
Well, using "second units" is a common way to shoot things the main director may not be needed for in film to accommodate the shooting schedule or so the the director can just focus on the actors scenes and such, but usually second unit work will be things like long distance shots of stand-ins for the real actors in costume just walking or some such thing. Establishing shots or "beauty shots" that don't involve actors.
However, sometimes second unit work can also be much more complex, like the Smeagol/Deagol scene in LotR, which was directed by Jackson's wife and Philippa Boyens. It's rare a second unit is given that much to do, but a very good second unit director may be trusted with something like that sometimes.
If they use a whole second crew and director(s) for the Dany sequences, it wouldn't really be a "second unit," though. It would be more like a "second-first unit," if there is such a thing. But using additional crews on shoots is done all the time, but this would be maybe be somewhat unusual as it wouldn't strictly be a second unit.
Another thing to consider, is that Dave & Dan would have to somehow be available as producers in on two separate continents if they shoot at the same time…that may not be so likely and might mean they just schedule two separate stages of shooting. One in Europe for the Westeros stuff and one in Morocco.
I have a feeling for the Pilot, Tom McCarthy will be doing both parts of the shoot, all of my speculation on the above is for if/when they go to series.
BrudeQuote Reply
I have zero knowledge of how these things work, but it seems like having 2 crews filming at the same time might cause just as many difficulties – if not more – as having the same crew film in two locations. At least for the pilot, as I expect D&D and McCarthy and other important people are going to be heavily involved in making sure everything goes exactly how they want / need it to.
Unless they are really pressed for time, it seems like they would probably have crews working both areas, setting up the shoots and sets and all that stuff, and the filming crew can finish one location, be on a plane, and be ready to shoot in a few days… which seems a little more workable. But again, I am speaking out of me ass :)
ChrisQuote Reply
There is most always a 2nd unit involved in any larger scale production. 2nd unit usually will pick up the less important shots, not involving the stars (wide shots, stunt shots, close-ups, etc.).
2nd unit will also shoot more dangerous shots, ie. helicopter shots at high altitude over scottish mountain tops.
i wouldnt' be surprised to see a 2nd unit involved in the pilot to reduce the number of shooting days, which have their own costs associated.
meaning, if you took out 2nd unit, and had to add those days to a first unit crew, they would be more expensive.
also, 20 days with a 40 man crew, would cost less than 40 days with a 20 man crew, pound for pound.
…ryan
p.s. also with multi country shooting, they will usually find local crew for tax and logistical purposes, non key-crew, grips, electricians, PA's and so forth. another reason a 2nd unit would work, they can pick up crew from wherever they are shooting.
invertebraeQuote Reply
Chris, to join you in this type of semi-uninformed statement making, I would think that if they're really interested in saving time the first and second units could be at opposite locations and just swap when the time comes.
McCarthy & Co. could be shooting main scenes in Ireland while the second unit does establishing shots, etc. in Morocco and then they switch places with the second unit picking up shots in Ireland and Scotland.
I'm also talking out of my ass, though.
Paul GudeQuote Reply
Oh, okay, so what Ryan said.
Paul GudeQuote Reply
@Brude
sorry, repeated most of what you said.
an important thing to know about production, is that it's all budgeted up front, and along with a dollar amount comes a finite number of shooting days.
this makes it easy to see where things go wrong or right. if you come in under budget but went over on shooting days, nobody cares.
if you are over budget, but made all your days, then your days cost too much.
if you're over budget, AND you went long on the shoot, then you have multiple problems to address.
HBO will want to see how these guys can produce episodic drama. i would imagine they would shoot it like a normal rigorous production, and i think it's incorrect to assume that they don't have a cut off time, so they should just take longer to make it, eschewing 2nd unit etc.
i will say though, to brude, that the morocco dany thing, they wouldn't have a unit JUST for morocco. i think they would treat it like 1st unit 2nd unit.
if 1st unit is shooting 8 days in ireland on stage, 9 days on location in ireland, 3 days in scotland on location, and 5 days in morocco, that means they are shooting for 25 days.
if they can bring that down to 20 days, by having 2nd unit pick up shots in that span, they will. that doesn't mean they won't fly the key 1st unit crew to all of those locations though. but they may be there for less time in each locale.
sorry, but i love this stuff, it's what i do for a living, and it makes me giddy to think about this process being applied to this series, and now i'm thinking about what dailies will look like, and the editing process, VFX, sound design, scoring, transferring the footag, etc.!!!
okay done ranting.
…ryan
invertebraeQuote Reply
I would expect at least McCarthy to be present on all locations, supervising the great majority of the shooting – for the pilot that is, as it's his job to establish the tone and what note from scratch.
MarkoQuote Reply
I think that would support the basic idea of a second unit picking up shots that don't need McCarthy's direct involvement.
Paul GudeQuote Reply
Do we know that they will actually be going to Morocco for the pilot?
Seems to me to be a waste for a few scenes, mainly internal, that could be knocked up on a stage?
legion_quest666Quote Reply
*SPOILER*
I'm thinking the scene with the horse jumping over the campfire would require an outdoor shot. Perhaps not, but it seems like a good idea.
*SPOILER*
Paul GudeQuote Reply
@legion
i think you're still under the impression that what they film this october will never see the light of day.
nothing could be further of the truth. not only is it likely HBO is requesting they shoot this as though it's EP101, it's possible they will throw more money at the project to ensure its viability.
reasons they may NOT show the pilot would have more to do with continuity than being an exercise in futility.
they'll shoot every scene as they would if it were a functioning series, more likely than not.
at least, that would be what my gut is telling me. the cost to do this is too high to be throwaway. some if not all of this pilot will see the light of day.
unless of course HBO doesn't pick it up!
…ryan
invertebraeQuote Reply
@Ryan
I was thinking the same as Legion, or at least that they could potentially shoot a lot of Dany's scenes indoors in Ireland, and spend a lot less time in Morocco as far as the 1st unit. I think he referred to the fact that Dany's scenes do in fact mostly take place indoors that early, rather than saying they could just throw the settings out the window and film them where ever. *SPOILER* Especially as they won't be needing a set for the inside of Illyrio's house again until ADwD with Tyrion, unless I'm forgetting something. So presumably that reduces the need to make sure such a set is in Morocco, at least for Season 1?*END SPOILER* Anyway, I know nothing about this, and am probably wrong.
DemokritosQuote Reply
Hm… Guess I should have double checked the pilot, as it looks like it's mostly the Dothraki camp. But they could hypothetically still shoot Illyrio's house in Ireland, if that might be beneficial to them.
DemokritosQuote Reply
yeah,
but there will be establishing shots, and the wedding, both outdoors, not to mention their consumation, which you COULD do somewhere else, but i am guessing they will indeed travel to morocco for the shots they need.
any shots with tamzin outdoors, will be shot by the 1st unit. and any sex scenes will not only be 1st unit, but a closed set to boot, meaning not even all of the crew will be around for that.
and yeah, any and all interior shots will almost certainly be filmed at the paint hall. no need to go to morocco to shoot dany in ilyrio's home, trying on her dress.
…ryan
invertebraeQuote Reply
Exactly, I didn't say they weren't going to put the effort in, but for the sake of two scenes, one of which takes place in the dark (and is a sex scene, so it isnt like the background will even matter;).
Seems to me a huge waste of money to go to Morocco, shipping your actors and crew and backstage stuff just to get a shot of a girl on a horse and camp fire shag?
Or is that just me?
legion_quest666Quote Reply
here's a nice point of comparison. here's an excerpt from John Bartley, one of the directors of photography for LOST:
“We’re a 10-day show, 8 days for main unit, 2 days for second unit,” Bartley says. “Five out of those days roughly are on location. Right now we’re shooting a flashback set in Florida. Another upcoming episode is largely set in London; for those scenes, it’s likely that a few palm trees and other Hawaiian giveaways will have to be digitally removed."
I don't see them shooting more than 15 days for this pilot. Sopranos, when you do the math, spent about 12 days per episode. Rome spent 18 days per episode, for just a 10 episode season, and that was too expensive for HBO (of course the locations and sets were expensive as well, but so will GoT's).
…ryan
invertebraeQuote Reply
See, the guys from Lost says the same as me; if it looks like it's going to cost too much, get the computer out and make the best of waht you have near you.
I think it would make sense to do that here. The Dothraki can camp in any general area and backgrounds can easily be changed.
Morocco seems a long way to go for a field, a fire and f**k…….imo of course!
I have no idea how this all works, they might have money to burn and fly out to Morocco and film all sorts.
legion_quest666Quote Reply
@Legion
It seems to me like filming Dothraki camp shots in Ireland now would make shooting supposedly nearby scenes in Morocco later less believable for the viewer. I suppose in the second episode (Or whenever the next Dany scenes show up) they could just act like a day or two of travel has already happened and they're a way off from Pentos, but I'm not sure exactly how different/similar any of the landscapes (Not to mention climate) in Ireland and Morocco might be. Seems like they'd be too different, though.
DemokritosQuote Reply
Winterfell is set in a region of Westeros with woodlands set amongst tall hills broken up by farmland in the valleys, there are no tall mountains near Winterfell. Ireland would be perfect for Westeros and Scotland for the North beyond the Wall and the Vale. Morocco will be the setting for the Lands across the Narrow Sea and Dorne. Of course Venice for Bravos.
JoniasQuote Reply
So to me the filming taking place in Scotland has to be the prologue.
JoniasQuote Reply
legion
i think it's a balance. it's possible a 2nd unit will go to morocco and get establishing shots. you're not going to see full CG environments in this pilot, and it's cheaper to put a few guys on a plane, have them pick up some local crew, cast some extras and get the shots.
the question will be where the wedding itself takes place. my prediction, however, is that D&D feel strongly enough that the morocco shots feel authentic, and scout locations to shoot the wedding and consummation scenes. get it all over the course of 2 night shoots, and be done with it. give the 2nd unit another day there to cover some of the wide shots, and move on.
i just don't see them faking morocco at paint hall to save a buck. will just make it look cheesy and unusable.
all of that said, it's up to those guys. if hbo likes the pilot, and the morocco stuff was done as temporary shots, knowing there would be reshoots if the show is ordered, then yeah you could be right.
but i doubt it.
the fact that they have committed to morocco tells me they've done their scouting and probably know exactly where they'd shoot, which tells me they likely have relationships with local production crews, and permits for the locations they like.
…ryan
invertebraeQuote Reply
In the dead days of waiting for the final casting announcements this is a great topic; fascinating to someone like me who is not involved in the business but loves to know the working details. Ryan, Brude, Paul, Adam, thanks for info.
(We need to somehow arrange Operation: Black Box where we strap Ryan into a shipping crate of his preferred color motif, toss in his necessary equipment, and parcel him to the Paint Hall. I have a feeling he could pop out, talk the talk, walk the walk, and just become part of the production crew.)
(Crew: What's in the box?)
Question: if they're shipping Tamzin, Harry, and Iain to Morocco to film any outdoors scenes, would there even be a reason for them to then be flown to Dublin to do interiors? It seems to me a waste of time and money to even have them in Ireland; the streets of Pentos would probably be Moroccan exteriors, right? Else why even go to Morocco in the first place. And don't forget, one of the clues GRRM dropped was that Iain Glen would be returning to Morocco.
To the casting that remains: I have a feeling there's only one major announcement left, and they'll cover the casting of Bran, Drogo, Maester Luwin, the Hound (officially), Illyrio, and Benjen. Ricken, Tommen, and Myrcella may just be nameless children stand-ins for the moment, but who knows? Either way it will probably be a single press release, and then truly minor parts (the Septa, etc.) wouldn't even be announced officially; Red-Headed Whore probably won't warrant a THR blurb.
About Yea HighQuote Reply
you know, i just looked at the pilot script, and it looks like they changed it from the books already, likely with the same conundrum in mind: how to shoot the opening scenes of Ned's first chapter in knee-deep snow.
A description from the pilot:
"South of the Wall the grass is still green and the sun is shining, but the air is cold enough to cloud the breath of four guardsmen as they escort Gared toward the stump of a massive oak tree."
but then later, some inconsistencies:
"Overjoyed, Bran plops down in the snow and rubs the wolf pup’s soft fur against his cheek."
"Leaving the horse behind, he ranges into a snow drift, and scans the ground until he finds the source."
ROBERT: "It SNOWED on us! SNOW!"
@WiC
depending on which route they take (green grass and shining sun vs. snowy winterfell) looks like our speculation may be moot.
the prologue, however, is most DEFINITELY in a snowy forest:
"Snow drifts across the bodies of the fallen dead."
"…his horse’s hooves kicking up fresh-fallen snow."
"…the snow-covered lean-to."
"Ser Waymar stands unsteadily, brushing the snow from his cloak."
…ryan
invertebraeQuote Reply
While we're speculating about the production, how long before filming will they have to have the casting finished? I'm pretty sure people have said before, and I remember seeing it mentione that Bran will need to be cast very soon so they can work out his school schedule, but perhaps with new information the answer's a bit more specific. And hopefully they tell us as soon as the major cast's locked in, instead of sitting on it for a week or something. At very least we'll need some more of George's clues.
DemokritosQuote Reply
If they think to get that in Scotland……I honestly think they will be out of luck at this time of the year, they'd need a few more months.
If they want snow like that, either they are going to need to use the fake stuff, or get to Norway….
legion_quest666Quote Reply
Update: the Rory McCann page on IMDB lists him as the Hound:
Rory McCann
Time to make it official?
About Yea HighQuote Reply
Between About Yea High and Ryan, I think my main point has already been covered, which is that I figure they'll be using Morocco for *something* in the pilot. I brought up the horse bit because to me that's a prime choice for an awesome visual, if you're going to showcase the location. Like I said, though, it seem like it would be a good idea. Of course, it's no guarantee.
Paul GudeQuote Reply
@AYH
i would probably fit in a box too, with my stout self.
paint hall will be home base for them all, the interiors will be lit and sets built by their main crew and key crew. the interior shots with dany no exception.
these productions can be pretty nimble, so i don't think taking a plane from morocco to belfast (about 3 hours) would be that crazy, when they could pick up a lot of local crew after landing.
i have a DP friend who shoots in iceland all the time. he says he gets off the plane, and a scary looking icelander named "big al" picks him up in a van on the tarmac with all the gear in it, and they drive to their location, set up, and start shooting.
…ryan
invertebraeQuote Reply
@AYH
interesting about rory mccann indeed. i wonder who controls the editorial and info on imdb. hopefully they wouldn't confuse our speculation with an announcement and add it errantly?
hmmmmmm.
regarding where to find the snow. that's what they have location scouts and location teams for. hopefully they can find somewhere, or explore some zack snyder style greenscreen hoopla (though i hope not).
…ryan
invertebraeQuote Reply
This is how I pictured the Vale though only on a larger scale The Vale
JoniasQuote Reply
I don't trust IMDB as official. There was that thing where Holly Marie Combs was listed as Catelyn for a while.
Paul GudeQuote Reply
In case anyone forgot:
http://winter-is-coming.blogspot.com/2009/05/holly-marie-combs-as-catelyn-or-how.html
Paul GudeQuote Reply
She'd have been a fine Catelyn, not as good as the one they have, but would have been fine all the same
legion_quest666Quote Reply
Charmed was a fun little show, but she wasn't what I expected for Catelyn at all. I was happy to find out it was a rumor.
The main point, though, is that it's very possible someone who's convinced that Rory is the Hound (which I'm all but sure of, and if he isn't he most certainly *was* at some point in time) added him themselves.
Paul GudeQuote Reply
I should probably note that my "All but sure of" means that I still think he is, just acknowledging that there hasn't been official word yet. Like others have mentioned, it looks like they might just be waiting to announce everyone at once.
Paul GudeQuote Reply
This is the thing.
Yesterday I said he wasn't big enough for an official announcement, which is why one hasn't come.
Now I'm beginning to wonder that maybe something fell through….but then if that had happened, GRRM would likely have said something.
Either way, we need some new news or clues or something. I really like the idea of a production blog and hope HBO do something like that, and firmly believe our very own WiC should blatently get the job for such a thing!
legion_quest666Quote Reply
ok, I didn't take the time to read all the comments on here, but as for snow fall in october in Scotland, if anyone has seen the movie cold mountain (Jude Law, Nichole Kidman), most of the snowy mountain scenes were shot with fake snow. It's not hard to make it look snowy guys, and not that expensive either
RopWrstlngQuote Reply
Once again, I couch this in terms of being complete speculation. I still believe Rory to be the Hound now. However, thinking in terms of Legion's last post…
If Rory had been cast as the Hound, D&D making their "Woof Woof" clue and GRRM making his clues, everyone guesses correctly and then something fell through, it would make a lot of sense for a complete moratorium on clues to be adopted.
Paul GudeQuote Reply
Yeah, it's the fact that GRRM is suddenly clueless…..seems like maybe he was told to stop with the clues or something like that went down.
That or the madness is setting in and we're seeing things!
legion_quest666Quote Reply
@Paul & Legion
I think/hope that Winter's comment in the last thread was right, and it's just a matter of them waiting for everyone before they make a final announcement, with Lena Headey an exception by request of Maureen Ryan. George, in this case, would just be holding back on clues because he knows it will be so long before the official announcement that we'd all go crazy. And/or he wants to throw all the clues at us at once again and drive us absolutely batshit later.
DemokritosQuote Reply
Like I said in my last post, I'm still of the opinion that Rory has been cast as the Hound. The fact that Maureen Ryan got the go-ahead to break the story about Lena Headey and not Rory McCann is the only other thing that's weird to me, but I can totally see it as the story being "Lena Headey is Cersei" and any other cast members were off limits.
Paul GudeQuote Reply
I think he's not doing clues because he's trying to get the book done ASAP. That's my guess. He might also be getting a dozen calls and emails a day from Dave & Dan, the PM, Art Director, etc. asking for details and minutia so they make sure they get things right on the show. With the author not only alive, but also an experienced Hollywood guy who is also a Producer on the show, he's maybe going to actually have say in how things are done on the show, whether he wanted that burden or not (I'm guessing not). Yes, it's unusual, but it's also unusual for the novelist whose work is being adapted to be so well versed in how these things are done.
I don't think Maureen Ryan got any go-ahead to break that story about Headey – she just got some inside info and then HBO had to quickly gin-up a press release for THR that same day since the story was out.
As for Rory on IMDb, yarp, that's clearly a fan who jumped the gun and submitted his name (and without noting it as "Rumored"). I am guessing his official character name in the credits will be "Sandor Clegane" and not "The Hound." There were people all over the IMDb and Westeros boards calling his casting "official," which it never was. I thought about submitting a change to IMDb to remove his name but since I'm 99.5% sure he has been cast in that role, I figure why bother. Maybe I'll submit a name change for the character when he is announced.
BrudeQuote Reply
Didn't Winter say Maureen had asked HBO for a go-ahead? or even for an exclusive before she knew who was cast, and then they gave her Headey?
MarkoQuote Reply
Marko, that's exactly right. Winter said she told him she heard it from HBO herself as an exclusive.
Paul GudeQuote Reply
I love reading all this stuff! Can I respectfully request, not require, that anyone here with any television/movie production credentials identify themselves? I like to read all the speculation based on general knowledge, but would like to know who has the meat.
hayrickman<—meatless. probably vegetable broth in comparison
hayrickmanQuote Reply
My understanding was that Winter said that Maureen learned it from a source, but then confirmed it with HBO and was given the go-ahead by them to break the news.
Mr. MisterQuote Reply
Hi, Hayrickman.
I've worked as an extra on the movies Expiration Date and Lost on the B Side. So, as far as actual films go, I'm completely bottom rung.
I also produced and edited interview segments with Chris Jericho, Lauren Weedman, Mo Willems, Jay Lake, Matt Ruff, Emma Bull, Will Shetterly, and a bunch of musicians for Groupee Backstage Live. Not exactly film work, but some of the principals translate.
Paul GudeQuote Reply
Mr. Mister.
Here's the quote:
Paul: Mo Ryan got the ok from HBO before posting the news. She told me so herself. Actually she told me a few weeks back she was going to try to get some info out of them so I guess they gave her the Cersei scoop.
Great for us that her persistance paid off. Who knows how long HBO would have waited to release that info on their own? I think they are finally realizing how closely fans are following the development of this project. Hopefully that means we will get more and more info given to us in a timely manner.
I interpret Winter saying "Actually she told me a few weeks back she was going to try to get some info out of them so I guess they gave her the Cersei scoop," as him indicating that HBO gave her the information.
However the first sentence, where he says, "Mo Ryan got the ok from HBO before posting the news." could be interpreted the way you lay it out. It's the second part that made me take the other interpretation.
Paul GudeQuote Reply
@Paul thanks .. bottom rung, but still been there, done there and got the t-shirt
hayrickmanQuote Reply
VEERY OT
But I'm reading the Temeraire series now and I think it's FAAAABULOUUUUS!!!
For all of those who are desperately looking for something really good to read.
JennyQuote Reply
Oh, an update on the DVD listing on Amazon.com.
While walking home with my daughter from her preschool yesterday, I ran into an ex-boss of mine back when I used to work at Amazon.com. He's moved from Customer Service to the distribution centers. I asked him about what it takes to get an ASIN put into the catalog these days. He noted that the staff could basically create an ASIN for anything. (He actually said, "They could make an ASIN for me tomorrow if they wanted to," which brought thoughts of The Prisoner to mind.) I mentioned that Treme and Boardwalk Empire aren't listed yet, but they've been picked up.
He said there are most likely two reasons for that:
1) HBO was more dogged in getting that title into the catalog, possibly because they're going to have the related product sooner.
2) Someone at Amazon.com put the ASIN in early because they're a fan of the show and excited to get it in there.
I hope for #1, but suspect #2.
Paul GudeQuote Reply
hayrickman, I worked as a talent manager for a number of years in Los Angeles (writers, mainly) and I also worked on a number of small productions, indies, documentaries and commercials before that, though all of that was almost a decade ago.
However, I may soon be working on an independent feature film by a young director who just did her first music video for a major artist. This is great because I'm looking to get back into it. Been working on my own script for an indie sci-fi film the last few months.
BrudeQuote Reply
@Jenny
I have the first three of those in my library but haven't gotten around to them yet. I lean more towards sf than fantasy so tend to put off the fantasy books in there until later. I actually didn't get started on AGOT until after my wife read it and told me how good it was, and I was always a huge GRRM fan dating back to the early 80s.
gofalconsQuote Reply
@ Paul, maybe you could ask him what the heck the '2035' release date is about for ADWD? That's got to be a fan in the listing department putting that date up to stop people asking about it?
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
@hayrickman
I worked as a reader for a day, going over script submissions that would have been better suited papering my dog's kennel.
I have worked on scripts and polishes without success (a few sniffs, no sales), off and on, for a number of years. I use Final Draft, but screenwriting is not my day job. I once tried to write an adaptation of the Belgariad by David Eddings, but after 3/4ths of the script was done realized it was abominable.
I was called "amateurish" by Presto Productions. I think they're out of business now, or at least the current Presto is not the former Presto. (The maker of such signature films as Mr. Write, as well as, uh, Mr. Write.)
I currently live in the Greater Los Angeles area. I have a dog.
I know nothing, Jon Snow.
About Yea HighQuote Reply
hayrickman. I'm a commercial film director once removed from Hollywood. However I have done film titles for six feet under (didn't direct) a Canadian import wonder falls (cancelled) and Mona Lisa smile. I've also done promos for six feet under, sopranos and sex and the city.
I work in a studio inside silver cup studios, a NYC stage where hbo shot sopranos, in treatment etc. They are currently shooting 30 rock, fringe, gossip girl, sex and the city 2 and a couple other shows just a couple floors below me.
My work: http://www.ladies-gentlemen.tv
my blog: http://www.liftingfaces.com
…Ryan
invertebraeQuote Reply
Adam,
I know from my time there that long release dates are pretty much exactly what you've described.
I worked there from 1999 until around 2003 and 2012 was a popular date to use at that time.
Paul GudeQuote Reply
@About Yea High and Brude. Thanks for the insight… these are tough and competetive industries … good luck in the future.
hayrickmanQuote Reply
commercial film director = I direct commercials, not that I am an incorporation directing film, sorry.
…ryan
invertebraeQuote Reply
Ryan, you know I'm on a big Lee Pace kick right now. I'm supposed to be getting Wonderfalls on Friday.
I've still got my fingers crossed that we'll get to see you work on promos/credits for GoT.
Paul GudeQuote Reply
nice, yeah wonderfalls was fun to shoot. i don't know if they ended up changing the titles after i did them or not. our concept was built upon an original song made by andy partridge of XTC. flew up to toronto and shot it on their set of the souvenir shop where the main character works.
i'll be sending a package along to HBO soon to try and be considered. it's a little early yet for that, but is it ever really TOO early?
…ryan
invertebraeQuote Reply
Definitely not too early as far as I'm concerned. At the very least, you can tell them that you've already started your market research.
Paul GudeQuote Reply
Something I'm periodically doing at the moment is doing Google searches for new interviews with Dinklage/Addy/Bean/Headey/Ehle etc to see if they have any reaction to their new roles, but nothing so far. The only actor who appears to have commented so far is Harington, aside from NCW's oblique comments that might have been referring to the show.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
There might be some stuff in the NI news in the next few weeks once they start doing stuff.
Things going on at the Paint Hall seems to make their local news quite often.
legion_quest666Quote Reply
Yeah, I've got my feelers out for any news coming from NI. As always though, if anyone sees or hears something that I haven't reported on yet, be sure to contact me!
WinterIsComingQuote Reply
I might have a few more days on YH at the end of the month. If I hear any more news about GOT I'll let you know.
rimshot44Quote Reply
@rimshot44
Like where in Scotland the filming is? ;)
JacMac30Quote Reply
And if we find out where in Scotland th filming is, does any readers of this blog live in the vicinity?
Speaking of which, if Rimshot, before he might get to work on GOT and comes under the Official Secrets Act, might muse aloud on which pubs & the like might be usually used by extras, crew and staff from Paint Hall and/or Crannog House, in case other followers of the blog, unbound by oaths of secrecy, might find the occasion to mingle in and possibly overhear, shmooze and pump said extras, crew and staff for meager gleanings of news, rumours and tit bits to share with their fellow obsessives?
The poster formerly known as
Thoros of Myr
prometevsbergQuote Reply