A report from WiC reader silverjaime indicates that with a week left before principal photography begins, things are really starting to pick up at the Paint Hall studio.
Anyway i just drove past the Paint Hall where it’s all going to be happening, and it already is! There was a group of people (extras?) being taken inside by a staff member; there were numerous people outside the Hall along with lots of vehicles and huge trailers; there were a few security men standing at the gates, as one of the numerous Belfast Tour buses had just stopped – the Paint Hall was always a stop on their route. And best of all – there were a few marquees set up outside which I could see contained horses and ponies! The security guy told me that the filming was starting on Monday – which I took to mean NEXT Monday, but having seen the horses there already, maybe a few scenes are being started THIS Monday? All the “no Photography” signs are up although lots of people on the buses were taking pix.
Winter Is Coming: It’s getting close now. Casting news, set reports, the next few weeks should be exciting! It sounds like what is going on at the Paint Hall might be preliminary filming. Camera tests, rehearsals, establishing shots, and the like. We know principal photography is scheduled to start next Monday and that is when the majority of the main cast will be shooting their scenes. Still, it is exciting to hear all the activity that is already going on in Belfast!
UPDATE: Another report from the set, this one courtesy of Rimshot – of course keeping professionally within the confines of non-disclosure:
I’ve be given 2 roles as a ‘Tournament workman’ and a ‘Kings Landing Peasant’ for which I’ll be shooting for 5 days in August. It won’t be at the Paint Hall but it is a cool location that I’ve never filmed at before and is only 20 minutes away from me and has been hinted at before on here. The group of people that silverjaime saw were probably extras who were there for a costume fitting. Unlike the Pilot, all the costume fittings are happening at the Paint Hall. I know the fittings began last Tuesday (there was a sign in the costume marquee that said ‘Prepare for fittings on Tuesday!’) and I imagine that they will carry on right up to the beginning of filming. Of course, there will be fittings throughout the shooting schedule as at the moment they are only prepping extras for the first 3 episodes (they are prepping/filming in 3 episode blocks). Given that there are going to be loads of extras I was pleasantly surprised at the time and attention they gave my costume when I went for my fitting. I think I was the first ‘Tournament Workman’ that they had done so they were getting the look right on me. They would occassionally bring in the head of costume to look at me and make any changes. I am really happy with the look and the costume is comfortable which is a big deal when you have to wear it all day for 5 days! The costume department had racks full of costumes all in various sections (Dothraki / Wood People / Peasants / Pentos Slaves etc). I can’t describe them but they look cool!
Rimshot concludes with mentioning that there is indeed a lot of activity, props abound, and you can see the backs of big sets being built through the open massive doors of Paint Hall. There are even rumours about wolves on the set!
Hear Me Roar: More exciting first-hand stuff, it is cool to imagine a wolf pup playpen amidst all the frantic preparations to create the living, breathing world of Westeros in Northern Ireland. It would be interesting to learn whether the first set of three episodes they are preparing for includes the pilot or not. Perhaps they will leave reshooting the first episode for later.
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74 Comments
Woooo!
Firelix ZschieschowQuote Reply
So exciting. Wish I had time for a weekend in Belfast.
OzXaroQuote Reply
Exciting!
Hopefully, some of the photos taken by tourists will pop up somewhere on internet. :Greedy:
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
I know – the view from the top of a double-decker bus was better than I had from the car – maybe I should book a tour!
silverjaimeQuote Reply
If only we all lived in Belfast. We could ALL be extras! :)
LexQuote Reply
Either that or Malta; they're gonna extras there as well after all.
Samantha HirstQuote Reply
gonna need extras even. It would help if I could type properly. lol
Samantha HirstQuote Reply
Looking at a clip of Lorna Doone earlier and noticed Aiden Gillen looked very Littefingerish in it, dressed in grey and sporting a goatee.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/mormegil99…
Looks like he bumped into Maester Aemon while there as well http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/mormegil99…
@Mormegil99Quote Reply
Yes indeed its all kicking off! I had posted some stuff earlier but it was right in the middle of the cast flood so it got lost!
Anyway, as I mentioned I've be given 2 roles as a 'Tournament workman' and a 'Kings Landing Peasant' for which I'll be shooting for 5 days in August. It won't be at the Paint Hall but it is a cool location that I've never filmed at before and is only 20 minutes away from me and has been hinted at before on here.
The group of people that silverjaime saw were probably extras who were there for a costume fitting. Unlike the Pilot, all the costume fittings are happening at the Paint Hall. I know the fittings began last Tuesday (there was a sign in the costume marquee that said 'Prepare for fittings on Tuesday!') and I imagine that they will carry on right up to the beginning of filming. Of course, there will be fittings throughout the shooting schedule as at the moment they are only prepping extras for the first 3 episodes (they are prepping/filming in 3 episode blocks).
RimshotQuote Reply
Given that there are going to be loads of extras I was pleasantly surprised at the time and attention they gave my costume when I went for my fitting. I think I was the first 'Tournament Workman' that they had done so they were getting the look right on me. They would occassionally bring in the head of costume to look at me and make any changes. I am really happy with the look and the costume is comfortable which is a big deal when you have to wear it all day for 5 days! The costume department had racks full of costumes all in various sections (Dothraki / Wood People / Peasants / Pentos Slaves etc). I can't describe them but they look cool!
RimshotQuote Reply
After my fitting I had a look round and there is indeed alot of activity. Construction work is at full steam. The big Paint Hall doors were open and I could see the backs of alot of sets. There were alot of props lying around too. One guy pointed to a large white marquee that was set away from the others, over by the water. 'See that?' he said 'That's where the wolves are'. I was so tempted to sneak a look but there were loads of people around it.
Anyway, so for being so vague but you know the drill by now!
RimshotQuote Reply
Brilliant! Must be really exciting for you going to be in it! So there were wolves AND horses in the marquees? Hopefully not together. Any more clues as to locations?
silverjaimeQuote Reply
How much of that can we use to update the post proper? Thanks a bunch for the reports! again :)
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
@silverjaime – Yes, I’m very excited! As I mentioned before, the Tourney is the one scene which, when I read it, I thought ‘That would be a cool scene to be in’ and now I’m working at it! I really can’t wait to see how they have put it together. I can’t really give any more location clues because once I get into specific details then I could get into trouble. I’ll say this though, the location was used in the Pilot.
@Hear Me Roar – I’d say it’s all safe enough but I’m not sure about the Wolves location though as I don’t want to get anyone into trouble and they guy said it as if it was on the QT! It’s your call.
RimshotQuote Reply
You don't have to respond, as I don't want to get you in trouble, but on a guess I would say the jousting will be at Shane's Castle. They've held jousting exhibitions there before, so it seems a likely choice.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
If it's okay to ask… what are "Wood People" supposed to be?
@DragonStargazerQuote Reply
Yup, had the same thought. A new location that was mentioned before (came up in an article on GOT, hadn't known about it at the time of the pilot filming).
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Wildlings? My guess.
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Well, I've always wanted to see Ireland. Maybe time for a change of address?
Franny BeeQuote Reply
It will be cool to see a "making of" the show, either on HBO or on the DVDs.
shadallionQuote Reply
Oh yes! that would be great – are they going to do it?
silverjaimeQuote Reply
I think HBO does often do these sorts of things, both on the network and on the DVDs. With a production this massive, that requires this much behind-the-scenes stuff to make it look as great as it will, I'm certain they will do something.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Can we make a conclusion that the Hand s tournament will be in the thrid episode?
Interesting,
Because we know that Gendry first appearance is in the Ep. 4, and that happens before the tournament in the books.
I have nothing against it,of course. I am just noticing it.
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
Yes earlier on the blog here I said I'd been to one years ago done by stunt riders. The 'arena' they do it in looks excellent – it'd be fantastic all done up with the right props and so on, and all the banners of the different Houses.
One thing I'm a bit worried about – do the costumes of the high-born men include tights or hose? Or is it leather leggings? Just always find the hose in costume dramas very off-putting – not many men have great legs!
silverjaimeQuote Reply
a write up in the Belfast Telegraph http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/u…
TPFKA Thoros of MyrQuote Reply
"Can we make a conclusion that the Hand s tournament will be in the thrid episode? "
It looks that way. It seems fairly early-on to have the tournament too. Wonder if they will have the whole tournament storyline within the third episode? Or will they break it up over two episodes?
The only other possibility is that Rimshot is needed as a 'Tournament Worker' in a scene where they are erecting the stands, lists, etc. Not necessarily to be featured in the tournament scene itself.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Nice find! Sent out a tweet about it. :)
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Exactly. The same questions poped up in my head.
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
If the shoot the first episode later, the tournament could be in episode four, then. Potentially.
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
HBO is actually pretty much known for their lazy extra materials. It varies from show to show but still the pattern is there. Most likely the first season box set will include a couple of commentary tracks (which are usually the only extras worth a damn in the HBO sets) and a couple of 15min making ofs that have been used to promote the show on HBO before the premiere.
I hope I'm proved wrong, though.
agorQuote Reply
GRRM on composers:
Re: Composer for the HBO series
We have several composers in mind. In fact, the leading contenders have already been interviewed, and it's just a matter of making the final choice. (I have my own favorite).
Bottom line, it's probably too late to be tossing any new names into the hat. The composer will be one of those we've already interviwed.
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
Er, is your link supposed to be a link to this entry, or something else?
AoedeQuote Reply
Hooray, he answered my question! Nice find Rabbit, you knew before I did :)
Now to ask Bear McCreary if he's one of them… ^_^
KangaQuote Reply
Fixed it! Sorry.
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
I defer to Rimshot, him being the boots on the ground and all, but I'd guess that references to "Tournament Workman" in ep. 3 might not mean that the tournament is shown in that episode– perhaps ep. 3 includes some scenes of workmen doing preparatory things such as building grandstands and setting things up for the tournament, which is actually shown in a later episode.
Dennis BrennanQuote Reply
This was my thought as well. Like if there's a scene where Ned or Littlefinger are outside talking about the tourney and how they don't really need it, can't pay for it, etc you could have the "workmen" in the background putting stuff up.
@VohdreQuote Reply
I think, given that we only have 10 epsiodes and not 12, that events are going to move VERY quickly. Hopefully it works out. I'm still wondering if 10 episodes instead of 12 was a good idea…
LexQuote Reply
Rimshot…as thankful as I am to have you tell us these little tidbits, I'm still insanely jealous of you. haha
Kelsey Catherine SchmitzQuote Reply
Hi Guys
Just to clarify, I’m booked for 5 days pretty much in a row in late August so I suspect it is the Tournament proper and not just setting up scenes (this wouldn’t take 5 days).
BTW – My drive to work takes me over the M3. From this evelated road I can see the Paint Hall. So now, every time I drive to work, I can see the marquee with the Wolves in. It gives me a little smile! The big doors were fully open this morning and I could see the back of a huge set. Also I think a few more marquees have been put up which will probably be used to house extras/crew as holding/eating areas.
RimshotQuote Reply
If any of you are ever in Belfast I recommend going to ‘W5′ for 2 reasons. [1] It is an excellent interactive science museum (our kids love it!) and [2] if you go to the back of the museum and look out the windows, you can see the whole Paint Hall complex!
RimshotQuote Reply
I think an extra (Rimshot?) reported last year that a "behind the scenes" crew turned up for a couple of days shooting. Could be wrong.
@JacMac30Quote Reply
Duly noted ;)
@JacMac30Quote Reply
Ditto; I'm suffering serious Extra-Envy right now. :P
Samantha HirstQuote Reply
Yes – I go that way to work too and tried to look over without getting killed changing lanes – I thought there were more marquees! but I didn't get a look at the doors.
silverjaimeQuote Reply
Thanks for the heads-up on W5 – I have to go there with work quite often – I feel a meeting coming on…..
silverjaimeQuote Reply
Well I went ot the Paint Hall this afternoon so here are afew tid-bits: the production office is across the road from the Paint Hall – not in Stranmillis Embankment where it may have been before. The big doors were open and I could see the stages being built – it's still hard-hat in there, so they're not finished yet.
Sean Bean is in Belfast already – don't know about anyone else.
Shooting starts next FRIDAY ( according to the security man), and NOT at the Paint Hall but at Larne – wasn't that to be Castle Black? I saw a huge trailer taking out wooden things that looked like the sides of a tower – going to Magheramorne Quarry in Larne for the set.
silverjaimeQuote Reply
I met the Voice Coach who had basically just arrived and hadn't started yet, so I asked about accents, he could only tell me that Aidan Gillen would NOT be speaking with an Irish accent and all of them would be "UK" accents, but he couldn't say whether there would be a mix or not, or whether there was a make-believe accent for all. A nice man and I didn't push him or anything.
Just before i went, a sleek car came up and a PA-type girl and a guy got out to go to the production office – he was tall and very slim and young with brown hair – might've been David Benioff himself.
Anyway as I'm not an extra or anything I'm sure it's ok to post this.
silverjaimeQuote Reply
Well, well….thank you so much.
You will promote yourself as one of ours favorites agents!
Next Friday? You mean this Friday or the next – that will be 30th of July. That is interesting, or just the security man misheard something.
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
Thanks for the inside info. VVery nice of you to drop by! Interesting that there still isn't any certainty about the accents. As a non-native english speaker I won't notice it if there are slight different accents, but I can imagine that US and UK people will be annoyed if there is a lot of mixture in the accents.
KnurkQuote Reply
Thanks for the inside info. VVery nice of you to drop by the Paint Hall! Interesting that there still isn't any certainty about the accents. As a non-native english speaker I won't notice it if there are slight different accents, but I can imagine that US and UK people will be annoyed if there is a lot of mixture in the accents.
KnurkQuote Reply
@Knurk – no I think the voice coach knew ok what the accents would be, but he wasn't for telling me!
silverjaimeQuote Reply
Yes he said next Friday (30th) twice, but maybe he meant 30th at the Paint Hall and 26th -29th at Larne.
silverjaimeQuote Reply
I really have nothing to add to this discussion, but I feel an urge to state the obvious- this is all brilliantly exciting and it's seems like it's only going to get better!
Michelle in NYQuote Reply
Ah, then I misread. I'm curious how the kids will handle their accents.
KnurkQuote Reply
Hi Guys, im a local Belfast GOT fan tryin his utmost to get a part in the production. My bro and I called down to the Painthall this evening and can confirm there is alot of activity about, but also alot of barriers etc to prevent snooping eyes and there was no wolves howling either!!
FYI – the primary horse master casting call is tomorrow throughout the Belfast area for those with or without horses, in particular with hispanic looks etc and given that the is also a local show horse competition being held in Belfast until 22-7, id say there will be plenty of people attending!!
ive joined a number of casting agencies in hope of getting selected, and hopefully given my medieval acting and horse-riding experience i may get in there, but ill keep ye all posted!!
EdricStormQuote Reply
Now that you know the lay of the land, ask people AT the production which extra casting agency is the right one to ask and make sure that's the one you bug the most.
Critical_GeekQuote Reply
Well good luck you – hope you get something.
silverjaimeQuote Reply
@ Rimshot – would you be willing to give us a hint how or with whom you got cast with? I'm trying to get involved as an extra myself (beard and mullet on super-gro!) and signed up with the Extras NI open casting day a month back – if you can't say or hint then thats cool, as I'm just trying to increase any chance I might have as to who to register with.
Maybe you can tell me this though, were you given much notice in advance of when you were needed to be on set for the costume fitting? I know you've said that you're required for filming for 5 days in late August – is that typical of the notice an extra is given? From my own research I expected that extras would only get the call a day or 2 in advance of their needed dates, but would be happy to know this isn't necessarily the case!
Anyways, good luck with your dates, any inside info you can keep supplying is greatly appreciated by all I'm sure and maybe hope to see you on set sometime in the next 5months!
ezeqielQuote Reply
Good news to me… It makes sense that characters from different regions would have different accents, however, I think it would have thrown off viewers having so many different dialects because they would naturally associate that character from being from that region in real life – ie. Littlefinger would be the Irish guy and not the guy from the Fingers.
It would work if this was actually set in Europe, but I think it would get confusing in a made up world because viewers don't know which accents represent which areas.
ChrisQuote Reply
As somebody else who works as an extra (though not on this), the notice given varies from production to production. The norm is usually very little notice given, a few days for example, but, like Rimshot, I've been on productions that have given me quite a bit of notice. I know for The Duchess (going back a bit now XD) I was given two weeks notice for my costume fitting, with another week following that before the actual filming. Yet on the other hand, I've had a call for Casualty that wanted me in Bristol for the next day, which caused a scramble let me tell you! lol.
So yeah; though Rimshot is the only one who can answer, from what I understand, NI Extras are the only ones providing the extras work for the Ireland based shooting, hence them holding the open casting. As the open call said, they can call you at any time between now and December, so patience is a virtue I'm afraid. Part of being an extra. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting……………….and a little more waiting. lol
Samantha HirstQuote Reply
i ezeqiel! There are no hints needed as I haven't done anything special to get picked! Basically anyone who is a member of Extras NI or anyone who signed up on the open casting day has an equal chance of getting selected. One thing I did do was send them an updated picture of myself with longer hair and beard and I know this was sent to the extras department on GOT (not Extras NI) as they mentioned the photo when they rang me. So it was probably a case of my face fitting the 'Tournament Workman' profile! So if you haven't been selected yet I'd say the chances are good that you will at sometime as they will be needing loads of extras for this, especially the big scenes. Send them an updated photo in a month or two as it will remind them that you exist!
RimshotQuote Reply
As far as notice goes, as Samantha has correctly pointed out, this can vary wildly. As I mentioned before, they are prepping in 3 episode blocks which means they can book extras now for scenes to be shot a month or more in advance. However this is not always the case. I have worked on many productions where I've been asked to be at a location the next day (I was once asked if I could be in Portaferry in an hour when I was in Larne!) Also, production schedules will almost always change which means, even though I'm booked for late August, I could get a call tomorrow saying that the Tourney shoot has been brought forward by a week. It is up to me to be flexible.
RimshotQuote Reply
In my experience, the four vital qualities of an extra are [1] Flexibility [2] Reliability [3] Puntuality and [4] Consistency . I believe that I get more work because I have tried to show these qualities and that Extras NI know that I can usually do whatever job they ask me to do. Once you get more work, you can begin to build on another quality which is equally, if not more important than these four – Experience. Experience has helped me so much as there have been so many times where I have to figure out what to do on set myself. The 3rd ADs won't always tell you what to do!
RimshotQuote Reply
I remember in a scene in 'Your Highness', I was told to play a big kettle drum while Zooey Dechanel was being tortured. I was led up to the balcony and told where to stand. So I waited up in the balcony and soon realised that no AD was going to tell me what to play! So I chatted to the other drummer and we worked out a suitable dirge-like beat. 'Action' was called and we did our best. After, the 1st AD came to us and said 'good drumming'. If I had just stood there and did nothing I would have ruined a shot. Like I said, experience! I could write a book about my 10 years so far as an extra but maybe another time! Sorry for the rant but I can't help it!
RimshotQuote Reply
To answer your other question, I got the call while I was in London last Tuesday and they needed me for the fitting on the Thursday. Thankfully I was going home the next day so it all worked out ok. I really hope you get a role somewhere. Let us know when you do!
If I start writing a book about being an extra now, will it be finished before ADWD? :)
RimshotQuote Reply
No :)
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Oh I dunno, it would probably be an interesting read, and well worth the wait. XD
Samantha HirstQuote Reply
If one of the agencies is Extras NI then you have a very good chance of being involved.
RimshotQuote Reply
Would you still be jealous after I spend 5 days shovelling horse manure and removing limbs from the arena?
RimshotQuote Reply
Hi silverjaime. Good job on the info! Did you hang about at the gates? Sorry to disappoint but the guy in the sleek car was me! They really treat the extras well!
RimshotQuote Reply
That I agree with, I'd love to read it. But I'm an irreparable optimist, and ADwD will be out soon :)
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Haha! You wish. ;)
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Cheers for all the info Rimshot, an interesting insight into how the extras scene works – which is basically that it varies from shoot to shoot! but still very interesting to read and put in the locker for any future use I hope to have for it.
Feel free to pop down anymore extras related tales or anecdotes – they're a good read.
I'm on the look out for any and all local info – if I get cast or any info at all, I'm happy to post here
ezeqielQuote Reply
I just parked and spoke to the security man who was very nice. I wasn't there more than 5 mins. – I was afraid someone would ask me to leave!
silverjaimeQuote Reply
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