In the wake of the big green light announcement last week, a few tidbits of interest to the GOT fan community followed.
-Northern Ireland is thrilled about HBO’s decision and the fact that the producer Mark Huffam, a native of NI, is involved in the project. BBC reports the project will generate £20 million ($30m) for the local economy. A video report is available here. Note that the outdoor set they show has been identified as belonging to the previous Belfast production of Your Highness. Speaking of numbers, Northern Ireland’s Minister of Culture reports in his blog that the proposed budget for the (first) season is £30 million ($45m). This puts the budget per episode at $4.5 million. The diagram here shows how the figure relates to budgets of some other notable shows (courtesy of our Russian friends).
Hear Me Roar: We need to keep in mind that HBO gets to use the Paint Hall studios for free and received substantial tax breaks when they decided to shoot there, so more of that sum translates directly into production quality, thus rivaling shows with somewhat higher budgets. As long as lower expenses mean we are more likely to get further seasons, I am all for it.
-The Irish Film and Television Network site reported on the series pick up, summarizing what there is to know about the production. The new and most interesting piece of information is that filming will supposedly also take place at Shane’s Castle in County Antrim), a location we have not heard about before. Here follow links to a selection of photos:
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Gallery 1
Gallery 2
-Nikolaj Coster-Waldau gave two interviews for the Danish press after the green light was given. Here is a translation of what he says about his role and the series:
I am totally game to get started. I know both the director (Tom McCarthy) and the other actors from the pilot episode. It is a fantastic alternative world that has been created, and a very intense drama that takes place in it.
I have not received the script yet, but we will start around July 1st, and I am going to play one of the key roles in the story. It is a relatively expensive series and can probably best be compared with the series Rome, when we are talking size.
There’s not all that much overnatural stuff going on, like it does in Harry Potter, but the entire story takes place on the brink of winter. If nothing is done about it, everyone will succumb to the winter.
Game of Thrones has a bit of that same stuff with rival families [as Deadwood, Rome, and The Sopranos]. I play the queen’s twin brother, who is soon established as bad guy #1, but as we also see in Sopranos, characters are not simply black or white. They have a reason for doing the things they do.
Hear Me Roar: It is obvious from the quotes that Nikolaj digs what the series is all about. Notably, his words also imply that McCarthy is returning to direct some more of the series. He mentions July 1st as the date when the shooting recommences, but that could well be a mistake, as June has been mentioned several times before instead.
-A trailer for the final season of The Tudors has been released, as well as a behind-the-scenes reel, featuring Tamzin Merchant as the fifth wife and queen to Henry VIII. These two videos, and of course the upcoming season scheduled to begin airing on April 11, give the fans ample opportunity to see more of the actress cast to embody Dany in HBO’s series.
-Lastly, the Oscar night on Sunday saw Robert Stromberg, the visual effects supervisor on Game of Thrones, win a joint Academy Award for art direction in James Cameron’s Avatar. For more of his mastery, check the recent Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, where he served as the production designer.
Hear Me Roar: Congratulations! We cannot but be excited that he is on the team bringing the world of Westeros alive.
[Thanks to various commenters for pointing out individual items and for translations.]
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55 Comments
Good Stuff already from the new contributors.
David MooreQuote Reply
If I remember correctly, "somebody – somewhere" mentioned the end of June, as the beginning of the filming, that said, NCW is maybe right.
@The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
Just speculation but I wonder if the Shane's Castle location has already been used for the Winterfell Crypts scene.
IIRC we don't know where the Crypt scene was filmed and it seems Shane's Castle has a Crypt complete with tunnels underneath it.
MormegilQuote Reply
The budget seems a touch on the low side, but they might have found good deals shooting in Ireland, and we're in a recession after all.
Basically Rome was notoriously expensive, so I expected to see it coming under. And John Adams is unfair as it was a mini-series (anybody have per episode numbers for Band of Brothers or The Pacific?).
So GoT is on par with Deadwood, which looked fabulous but lacked many of the effects GoT will eventually need. I'm guessing/hoping the budget will change if popularity soars, and overages can be doled out toward the back end of season 1 and then season 2 for sure.
…ryan
Ryan DunnQuote Reply
nice roundup there!
LaurenQuote Reply
Shane’s Castle, while mostly a ruin, looks like a good starting point for The Twins or Riverrun.
@Ryan: yes, the budget is not overly generous. But on the other hand, the far cheaper Seeker manages to look quite good, and has a couple of effect shots in every episode. I guess it all comes down to make the right decisions regarding CGI/sets/location shots. A clever combination should do the trick.
DunkeltrollQuote Reply
As long as the visual effects don't suffer, then the lower the budget the better. This means it costs less to renew the show and if GoT doesn't come out with a very strong audience HBO won't have it on the cancellation plate.
Jarred MelanconQuote Reply
Do production budget figures include cast and crew salary?
Mike ThompsonQuote Reply
Its going to take some time for me to get used to Tazmin as Dany since for the most part she is not how I imagined her, but I'm definitely going to give her a shot.
Congrats to Stormberg as well, nice to have an Oscar winner working on the show!
@nickdenningQuote Reply
I am a bit sceptical to Robert Stomberg, actually.
Oscars and sucessfull movies or no, for all i know he is just good at making amazing, but fake-looking stuff. Avatar just looked like a really, really good cartoon. I don't want that for Thrones. It should be more real than amazing.
sjweningsQuote Reply
Oh I just have to say – big shame on you who thought Tamzin Merchant is not beautiful and will be the best Daenerys tv could ever imagine…
The intelligence showing in her eyes in that behind the scenes reel convinced me if I ever had any doubts…
She will for sure be able to play our sweet dragon queen Dany poeple. for sure.
Again – shame on you…
@LivveHultQuote Reply
Agreed. My first thought was near the wall aswell. With additions digitally offcourse.
But either case, I do not think it's Winterfell.
@LivveHultQuote Reply
Oh give the man some credit. Avatar looking like a really good cartoon? Only that? I found it to be amazing, my only beef with it was the story being one we all have seen before – nevertheless it was gripping and intense.
And look at the details in it.
I think he can't possibly turn AGOT into a cartoon, so you don't need to worry. There are to many people high up in HBO exec counting on this show to be realistic and grittyly "dirty" both in moral, sexiness, and on screen.
@LivveHultQuote Reply
I was a bit concerned at first when I heard about the budget, when compared to Rome. But Rome's first season was (as far as i rememer) almost entirely set in the bustling city, or among soldiers on the march, or whatever. Most of A Game Of Thrones takes place in Winterfell or out in the countryside or whatever so it shouldnt need as big a budget. Maybe they could shoot all the outdoor King's Landing scenes in one or two goes, even if they are from seperate episodes?
However, I hope they aren't too cheap with the battle scenes in season 1. There are 2 we see in AGOT: Tyrion's wildmen on the left flank of Lord Tywin's army, and Robb leading a surprise attack on Jaime Lannister's party. Small-ish battles but important.
BBC tv report on Game Of Thrones:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_irela…
Dolorous DaveQuote Reply
Congratulations to the new contributors!
I see you've taken my advice for a roundup post… and given top interest to the piece of info I unearthed (Shane's castle and photo links). I'm flattered. :)
NymeriaQuote Reply
Mine first reaction was: Riverrun!
@The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
Shane's castle could also be supplemented with some set construction, like we saw in Cairncastle….
Also, someday suggested on Friday that its numerous seperated buildings is reminescent of Castle Black…
All I hope is that we get some spies that live near or visit the place to let us know of any interestigng activity around Shane's castle in the next few months!
NymeriaQuote Reply
I must say it is nice to see a new post go up without having to do any work. :) Nice job Marko, or should I say, Hear Me Roar!
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Thanks Winter, thanks everyone. :)
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Good stuff, HMR.
sjweningsQuote Reply
WiC, you are absolutely deserving no-work–period after almost one year and a half of brilliant suff brought to us.
Thanks again!
@The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
I have to say, after watching those clips I feel MUCH better about Tamzin Merchant. I was fairly neutral to this point, but these new clips show a much better actress, and a much more attractive and confident person than I was expecting. I think the casting director was probably right again.
This show might have the best casting ever!
LexQuote Reply
Congrats to HMR and F&B, you deserve this as you already had proven with this magnificent update.
And as sure as WiC deserves a little break form his outstanding job on this site.
Man, you should be invited to the season premiere, no doubt about that.
Keep the great work coming!
CaedesQuote Reply
Just in agreement … I was maybe a little harsh on Tamzin on what I though Dany should look like but after watching both clips and the fact that she is comfortable with nudity tastefully done I think she can pull it off … can't wait for next year … what an adventure its going to be!!!
Marilyn BonesQuote Reply
While I never was against the choise to cast Tamzin Merchant, her role in the Tudors is quite a bit apart from what she has to deliver in GoT. In the Tudors trailer, her character comes across as a very self-confident, youthful schemer – using her body to get what she desires, while unaware of the more political facedes of the court.
Dany however starts out more or less the opposit of that – raised as a princess but to young for sexual experience, and trustful to / depending on in her brother / husband / advisors.
DunkeltrollQuote Reply
Thanks for the update. I just want to say that Tamzin looks to have a lot of potential as Dany. I can't wait to see her in character. She is quite the 'fire'ball in the new Tudors season!
NicoleQuote Reply
The only clip I'd seen previously was the Tudors scene where Tamzin is first introduced to the king. She was acting very shy, nervous, etc. The preview for the final season shows that a lot of character growth has happened, and now I can totally picture her as Dany. In fact, I'm newly excited about this piece of casting that I'm only now understanding. She actually looks pretty hot in some of those clips.
LexQuote Reply
I'm sold on Tamzins look for Dany now, but it's gonna take more than a trailer and a very short behind the scenes thingy to convince me wereas i wasn't convinced before.
I am hopeful, though.
sjweningsQuote Reply
There's a new Momoa article that's pretty much all about Conan. However he does mention that he's training to add 10-15 pounds of muscle. So they'll either have to reshoot his pilot scenes or he's going to cut weight before filming in June. http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/…
dizzy34Quote Reply
I hope they re-shoot! The buffer, the better <3
Stella MarisQuote Reply
Yeah if the show looks as good as Deadwood we'll be in heaven.
According to its Wiki page Band of Brothers cost about 125 million to produce. So about 12.5 mil and episode.
Steven ScottQuote Reply
Band of Brothers was 12.5 million per episode. Some of these numbers are rumours anyway, and unadjusted for inflation and other factors (such as incentives, tax breaks and the like), so it's hard to compare them directly.
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
10-15 pounds in how long?? That really should take at least a year.
sjweningsQuote Reply
"I am a bit sceptical to Robert Stomberg, actually."
sjwenings, you have seen Stromberg's work on John Adams, right? If not, check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTUs7hDq2PA&fe…
BrudeQuote Reply
Heh, not in Hollywood land where the juice flows freely…it's sad but true.
dizzy34Quote Reply
Tasteful nudity? We are talking about the same book series arent we?
I've said it before and Ill say it again, she is perfect for the part… we are all going to fall in love with her before its done…
DaveQuote Reply
… I forgot to add the smiey face onmy first comment :) …
DaveQuote Reply
oh winny your so fine, your so fine you blow my mind, hey winny *clap, clap, clap clap* hey winny….
DaveQuote Reply
Supposedly the Tudors cost $3,5 Mil pr. episode… Setting-wise the Tudors is close to Thrones, I'd think…
Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainme…
FlxdeQuote Reply
Seeing Shane's castle leaves me wondering what for it is being used.
My first idea was that it could certainly be a Castle Black with the open space and lonely towers. It looks like it's hard to defend and that's what Castle Black should be. But then there is this river next to it which could make it anything else but castle black and of course there are the crypts…
perhaps it's a mix. Castle Black for the buildings and the crypt for Winterfell
TremereQuote Reply
Hi, just for the record…
The set shown in the clip is 100% definitely from 'Your Highness' as I did a day's work as a body double on that set. The location, Clandeboye, is a very big forest area so it could be used by GOT as it's 30 minutes from the Paint Hall (or 'Ground Sub Zero' as I like to think of it now!)
Shane's Castle is 20 minutes from me so if I see any activity I'll let you know.
And congrats to Marko & AYH on your new roles!
@ AYH I haven't finished GOT yet but I'm getting there!
Rimshot44Quote Reply
Thanks for keeping us posted ;)
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Oh yeah, that was impressive, enough. Didn't know he was involved. He had a big hand in that?
sjweningsQuote Reply
Just a small check on wikipedia on the forest of clandeboye:
Clandeboye is home to the largest area of broad-leaved woodland in Northern Ireland, comprised mostly of Oak, Birch, and Beech.
Excellent!! It may just be my own ideas, but a big forest with these kind of trees is just how I envision a medieval setting. Mind though that back in those days Europe didn't have too many pine trees. Ireland for example didn't have any until those damned English showed up ;)
It just adds to the feeling of fantasy and it romanticises the setting. It is of course also nice for the weirwood trees. Perhaps you can find Eddard's Godswood there Rimshot??
TremereQuote Reply
It can only be castle black. Riverrun should be a grat fortress in its own right in pretty much prime condition. When I read the book I always thought about a castle I visited as a kid in Lithuania, Trakai. http://www.euro.lt/img/saliu_nariu_nuotraukos/lie…
Winterfell should be something really imposing, I also wondering about Harenhall (probably cgi?)
tlearQuote Reply
Once again, thanks for your input Rimshot!
NymeriaQuote Reply
that's a very nice castle indeed!
NymeriaQuote Reply
Those clips of Tamzin finally piqued my interest. I started Season 1 of the Tudors yesterday, and I'm nearly finished. It's actually better than I expected, and gives me a bit more of an idea of what we might be able to expect from Game of Thrones (albeit with better story, cast, and effects).
LexQuote Reply
I'm pretty sure all the wide shots of every castle will be CGI. They'll only use real castles for close shots. There just isn't anything in the real world that could pass for the castles in the book.
pualoQuote Reply
Cool … in terms of GOT like intrigues, including rebel masses, third season is the best :) (writing, pacing and the dramatic arch are best in the second one, though). Seems it will be topped by the final one! Worth watching, definitely … as an appetizer.
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Well, Season 1 has been pretty awesome so far. From what I've heard, the next few seasons are even better, which I'm excited about. Also, I have been very impressed by Sam Neill's performance! I don't remember him being as good of an actor in previous roles, but he was great in Season 1 of the Tudors. I think he might fit in nicely in the GOT cast somewhere. Has anyone mentioned Sam Neill yet?
LexQuote Reply
He's been discussed by the fans, for pretty much the same reason you noticed him, I think … no proper rumours about him, though.
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Wonderful news ! The pictures from North Ireland are soo beautiful, Ireland/North Ireland posess such natural beauty and such breathtaking vistas…great choice to film the series there. I am looking forward to seeing the fourth and final season of "The Tudors", I have followed the show for the past few years, and it was a solid show all around, with good production value, a good cast etc.
One thing I am not clear about…in the behind-the-scenes bit the show is advertised as a Showtime original series… But the series is an Irish/Canadian/UK co-production, on IMDb the US is not even listed as being part of the production. I am aware that Showtime is involved financialy in the project, but it is hardly the main entity producing the entire series?!?! Peacearch is the company mainly responsible for the development, finances and production of the show, with Michael Hirst at the helm as executive producer and main screenwriter (he did script ALL the episodes).
loco73Quote Reply
HBO does produce all its shows in-house, in cooperation sometimes with other companies but they can really lay claim to these shows as original programming…but Showtime and Starz….not really. Showtime did the same with "Dead Like Me", which was produced by MGM for Showtime, and they claimed it as original programming….hmmmmm me smells something funky here!!!!
By the way in Canada, "The Tudors" airs on the main public broadcaster, the CBC, so I don't have to subscribe to Showtime to see it. Admitedly it is a tamer version but still its free. Many HBO and Showtime series find their way on Canadian TV channels, with a year or more behind, but still one does not have to pay for the premium channels unless to see the shows on their original broadcast date. For example Bravo Canada is airing "Dexter" uncut and uncesored, while Space (the Canadian counterpart of SyFy) will start airing the first season of "True Blood" on March 14 also uncut and uncensored…I love Canada….LOL
loco73Quote Reply
Sorry, my bad, the US is now listed as part of the production of "The Tudors" on IMdb (it wasn't before) and the UK no longer appears there…
loco73Quote Reply
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