The filming locations and schedule for Game of Thrones has been a closely guarded secret. However, a few things have leaked out over the past week-and-a-half, so I thought it might be a good idea to compile everything we know so far about the filming plans into one post.
Filming for this first season will be broken down into three blocks. For more on the logistics of filming in blocks, see this excellent post by Werthead over at the Westeros forums. Basically, it allows for a slightly more flexible filming schedule without needing to switch directors out constantly. The blocks are believed to be broken down as follows:
Block 1: Episodes 2-4 (July-Sept)
Block 2: Episodes 5-7 (Sept-Nov)
Block 3: Episodes 8-10 (Nov-Jan)
*The scenes needing to be reshot from the pilot will most likely be worked in over the whole of the shoot.*
Speculative Block 1 schedule
Last week of July: Filming interior shots at the Paint Hall
First week of Aug: Filming on location in Ballymoney (Leslie Hill)
Second week of Aug: Castle Black scenes
Mid-Aug: Filming Vale scenes?
Second half of Aug: Filming the tourney scenes
Early Sept: Filming 6 weeks in Malta for Dany scenes
Mid-Late Sept: Filming Winterfell scenes
Actors in Belfast currently: Sean Bean, Mark Addy, Jamie Sives, Jason Momoa, Aidan Gillen, Conan Stevens, Peter Dinklage, Luke McEwan, Owen Teale
Actors who will be in Belfast soon: Finn Jones, Miltos Yerolemou
Locations: Paint Hall, Magheramorne quarry, Leslie Hill in Ballymoney, Shane’s Castle
Map of Filming Locations
I will keep this post updated with more info as it becomes available. Please feel free to add anything I may have missed in the comments.
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83 Comments
No word from our stark children yet?
Jéssica de F. MacielQuote Reply
Jéssica de F. Maciel, I didn’t include them in the confirmed section since we haven’t had any spy reports indicating they are there. However, considering they are necessary for most scenes AND they haven’t tweeted in a couple weeks, I’m guessing they are present.
One notable absence from any reports has been Peter Dinklage. If you will remember there was some concern his work on Knights of Badassdom may interfere with filming for Thrones. It seems like they scheduled the filming of non-Tyrion scenes first for just this reason. Once they start filming the Castle Black stuff later this month, he should join the rest of the principal cast in Belfast.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
Consider your notable absentee now notably present! – I saw the one and only Peter Dinklage in Callender Street in Belfast when I was out at 1:15 today on my way to heading home. He was just strolling along on his own with a carrier bag blending in very normally.
I was on the phone at the time and in a rush to catch my bus so I was nowhere near enough plucking up the relevant courage to seek him out and say hello.
What I did notice however, was no indication of any blonde hair – think bushy mop of dark hair and fairly bushy goatee, but definately so no blonde streaks… so there ye go!
ezeqielQuote Reply
Jéssica de F. Maciel,
Yeah, I think our Sansa mentioned something like “good to be back” about two weeks ago, then we know she met Finn Jones and she tweeted again last week that she was having a blast. So I’d say she’s there as well, but she could have been there only for the read-through and costume fittings and retured home for now.
We also know Maisie was training with Miltos 2 weeks ago.
NymeriaQuote Reply
ezeqiel, Awesome! Thanks for the report!
Nymeria, yes, it seems nearly everyone involved in this first block of filming was in Belfast a couple weeks ago for the script read-through and other prep work. At some point, they all returned home (with the exception of Sean Bean and a few others who it seems stayed in Belfast to do some early filming, possibly pilot reshoots). Now the actors are returning as they are needed.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Nymeria,
Winter Is Coming,
Thank you guys!
JehphgQuote Reply
There is no word from stark children so the cant filming winterfell scenes.So if there will be a trailer,there wouldnt be any winterfell scenes in the trailer.Isn’t it too bad?So maybe they won’t show a trailer untill id-late sept :S
Andemir DumanQuote Reply
Maybe? I certainly would not expect anything before late september – rather later.
sjweningsQuote Reply
I guess we still don’t know how the pilot reshoots factor into this schedule? Are they mixed in with the 1st block? Spread out between more than one block? I guess it depends on how much will be reshot, but it seems like it must be a lot.
BrudeQuote Reply
Jason Momoa update/tidbit:
Joe Flanigan, an actor who worked with Jason on Stargate Atlantis is filming in Dublin, he tweeted the following today:
Grace ValentinoQuote Reply
Brude, nothin is certain, it’s still all speculation.
My guess though is they will wait until Oct/Nov to reshoot much of the exterior shots, that way they will stay consistent to any shots that they do decide to use. This would include the prologue and any scenes set in the Winterfell courtyard.
The interior stuff could be done at any time really. The big one will obviously be the feast scene. I don’t think this was shot yet, as I think that Dinklage arrived only recently. My hunch, based on some reports, is some of the pilot interiors (involving Ned and Catelyn) were already reshot prior to the official start of filming.
For the Dany scenes, they will likely reshoot them during Sept when they are in Malta.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
In regards to the presence of the Stark kids, it stands to reason that if Miltos is filming, Maisie Williams likely would be too, right?
InkasrainQuote Reply
Inkasrain,
According to a tweet from yesterday, Miltos is still training, not filming yet.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
New blog update from GRRM. Sounds like he has added a new POV to ADWD. Normally this would be bad news for me, but he says he’s very happy about it because it’s his “sharpest sword for slicing through the Meereenese Knot”.
He also expresses frustration about the fact that it’s already August, and Worldcon is bearing down on him “like a freight train”.
http://grrm.livejournal.com/170843.html
LexQuote Reply
Anyone have any idea what’s being filmed in Ballymoney or WHERE the set is? AND – where was the location for Winterfell in the pilot?
silverjaimeQuote Reply
silverjaime, not really. I speculated that they would be filming down by the river, but that was just a total guess. The only thing I know for sure is they haven’t been filming at the Dark Hedges, at least not yet.
The location for Winterfell in the pilot was Doune Castle in Scotland.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
Castle Ward was also used for Winterfell and not sure if we ever confirmed it but I think Shane’s Castle was possibly used as well.
MormegilQuote Reply
silverjaime,
I have been researching Ballymoney since yesterday, with the exception of The Bann River and Dark Hedges, Ballymoney seems to be associated with the beautiful rolling hills, pastures and pristine woodlands found around it, so my guess like others is they are filming there for the topography that you find around Ballymoney.
tysnowQuote Reply
Chatting to my brother earlier and he has noticed the addition of the pink production directions “GOT” signs now going up the Ravenhill Road in Belfast.
What this means in terms of the geography of Belfast, the signs were pointing up the Ravenhill (due South, towards South Belfast), so in relation to the other known filming locations:
1. Painthall (East Belfast – you’d head down the Ravenhill to get there not up)
2. Shane’s Castle / Magheramorne / Ballymoney (all due north, again you would head down the Ravenhill if travelling to any of these, the opposite direction of the signs)
3. Tollymore Forest Park (this is south of Belfast and in line with the direction of the signs)
The Ravenhill would be one of the likely routes to take heading to South Belfast (and beyond to Tollymore) for anyone travelling from the Painthall location (and I believe the production office across the road from it)…
So after all the above surmising, it may be that some scenes could be shot in the near future @ Tollymore?
Either that, or someone has went and flipped the signs in the opposite direction in badness!
My brother was thinking about following them later this eve to see if they go somewhere else in the city, so he may comment on here to confirm himself or he’ll let me know.
Anyone else local (i.e. silverjaime/rimshot) seen these same signs on the Ravenhill to confirm if they are recent or longstanding directions?
ezeqielQuote Reply
What I noticed about the photos I came across concerning the countryside around Ballymoney was how scattered the farmhouses were and that an occassional little hamlet of structures was dotted here and there. I also could not see any contemporary structures about nor cell towers or power lines (with the exception of the roads).
They could actually utilize the area from the photo on my previous post, as once you get south of the Neck, Westeros is fairly populated, with farmsteads and holdfasts, and since the structures in the photo give no indication of the century when they were constructed I see no problem with them being shown in the background of filming. I do notice two towers in that photo but they could easily be edited out in post production.
This may be one reason they are filming in the area.
tysnowQuote Reply
tysnow,
sometimes the link to the photo in my previous post does not work for some reason, here is the full path
http://image58.webshots.com/158/9/31/87/432093187bUgeef_fs.jpg
tysnowQuote Reply
ezeqiel, Tollymore is certainly a possibility. We know they’ve filmed there before and I would say it’s likely they will film there again.
Of course, it could be anywhere really. They need many more locations then they used in the pilot, so it could be some other location. If you or your brother decide to follow the signs, be sure to let us know where they lead.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
ezeqiel: Anyone else local (i.e. silverjaime/rimshot) seen these same signs on the Ravenhill to confirm if they are recent or longstanding directions? ezeqiel
I haven’t seen them – but Ravenhill to South Belfast, then…? I would go from Belfast on teheM1 to Hillsborough and then off to Ballynahinch then it’s a 20 min drive to Tollymore. If the signs are going to South Belfast it’s maybe to go onto the M1 at Stockman’s Lane and cut out the City Centre?
I went to Tollymore 2 weeks ago and asked the guy on the gate if he knew when the film people were to be there and he said not yet, so maybe it’s time now.
I can’t open your pic but I know what you mean. Maybe we could do a convoy round Ballymoney and see if we can spot them, like the tornado-chasers in USA do! What we need is a heads-up that they’ll be somewhere for a few days and then we could suss the area out in the evenings!
silverjaimeQuote Reply
OT: Okay, everybody, I found him. I found Roose Bolton.
http://martinspaven.com/gallery/Portraits/Peter%20Wingfield.jpg
Seriously; give him some contacts that make his eyes colorless, and he’s it. He’s Welsh, too. I always thought he was Canadian, but he’s a native Brit.
I also found the Greatjon: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/images/2007/09/27/little_john_357x470.jpg
Josh ParkerQuote Reply
Mention of the rolling hills by Tysnow gave me another idea for possible scene:
Robert and Ned in the barrowlands
Whatever they are shooting around Ballymoney, the most likely is the part of the journey from WF to KL.
The RabbitQuote Reply
Just want to add that I absoultely admire all the job done by our spies from Ireland!
Hats off!
The RabbitQuote Reply
@silverjaime,
I haven’t seen them – but Ravenhill to South Belfast, then…? yep, straight up the Ravenhill, on up past Forestside, on to Carryduff, through it to Ballynahinch – its a really straightforward trip and is clearly signposted for Newcastle (Tollymore) from approx Forestside.
The hardest or fiddliest parts of the trip for anyone inexperienced is getting from the Painthall to Ravenhill and then finding Tollymore from Newcastle.
In addition to this tho Mormegil mentioned Castle Ward aswell, so if it were to be used again, the way to travel would be the same route up until Carryduff but take the turn to Saintfield/Downpatrick instead…
ezeqielQuote Reply
OT: And here’s Shagga son of Dolf: http://www.stewartcunningham.com/images/largeimages/scotsman.jpg
Josh ParkerQuote Reply
Unfortunately I can’t agree. I love Peter Wingfield, but I find him way, way too likeable for Roose Bolton, and not really creepy at all.
But I do think he’d be great in some other role in the show.
LexQuote Reply
I couldn’t agree more…thankyou so much Irish
Coltaine777Quote Reply
Lex,
Probably because I’m remembering Wingfield from Highlander…
LexQuote Reply
The GOT Direction signs are really to get vehicles out of Belfast so they will probably stop just outside Belfast. This was the case for the ones I saw pointing traffic onto the M3 (the direction for Magheramorne). The ones on the Ravenhill are probably to get traffic onto the road to Newcastle.
By they way, if anyone wants to see what the Ravenhill road looks like, then check out one of my travel vids…!
RimshotQuote Reply
…search for ‘DocFourFour’ in YouTube!
RimshotQuote Reply
That’s kinda the point. We don’t want the audience to see him and say “Okay, he’s a bad guy. He can be creepy, but he shouldn’t scream I’M GONNA TURN ON ROBB AND KILL HIM the minute you see him. Wingfield can definitely be creepy.
What do you think of Gordon Kennedy as the Greatjon and Chick Allan as Shagga?
Josh ParkerQuote Reply
Ah yes! So it is – and the signs would be needed at the first part……
silverjaimeQuote Reply
Rimshot,
Going to do that in the morning!
I think I might snitch a day off work and lie in wait at the Paint Hall for some unsuspecting actor driving out, and follow them! Or actually – the buses would be easier to follow. How about a convoy?
silverjaimeQuote Reply
Good luck to our spies! You guys are great.
Phoenix_tornQuote Reply
I don’t think I’ve seen them act, but they definitely look the part!
LexQuote Reply
Just did it – very good filming Rimshot! – now all you have ot do is use that the days you go off extra-ing and we’ll all be happy little bunnies!
silverjaimeQuote Reply
Hi folks, first time post from another lurker :D
Me and my hubby went on a GOT hunt this afternoon around the greater Ballymoney area after 3 empty bus passed us in the town centre with “extras” signs. unfortunately we weren’t able to track them down tho we did spend 3 hours searching the greater Ballymoney area including the Dark Hedge and the river area (we did enjoy the hunt tho :D)
We are thinking of heading off on friday again tho so if anyone has any suggestions as to a good place to start looking please let me know.
PaulaMcQuote Reply
PaulaMc,
Good to see a lot of first time posters popping up lately. Thanks for the report!
LexQuote Reply
I’m still voting for JE freeman for bolton (he is the crazy scientist from Alien 4)
Damryn of DorneQuote Reply
In my mind Bolton was always Tobin Bell
FlayedandDisplayedQuote Reply
PaulaMc,
Could it be that they’re heading up through Ballymoney to the Glens of Antrim somewhere?
silverjaimeQuote Reply
First official word from Malta.
Times od Malta in this article points birefly:… the six week of filming scheduled to start later in the year…
The RabbitQuote Reply
Can confirm that the GOT signs spotted yesterday on the Ravenhill do indeed direct towards Newcastle and presumably Tollymore Forest Park.
I saw more signs this morning further up the route at the roundabout @ the top of the Ravenhill/Ormeau Rds, another at the Forestside junction, and finally at the turn-off @ the Carryduff roundabout for Newcastle.
There’s a big airshow due in Newcastle this weekend, so would expect the Forest Park to be busy with campers/visitors, so theres a possibility of sightings increases over the next few days from other fans or the general public.
ezeqielQuote Reply
Are they moving from Ballymoney to Tollymore, today, I wonder.
Just to say loud once again: Hats off to all you folks in Ireland!
The RabbitQuote Reply
Tollymore you say, well they’d best watch out for old men who I want to play the late lord Frey riding a motorbike nude. If you get the reference you’re awesome. Except that the the town the movie takes place in is speed Tullymore.
GrimtuesdayQuote Reply
My current understanding is that Episode 4 is indeed where the production is starting off. The pilot and Episodes 1-3 appear to be being held back until later in the production.
I don’t know the reason for sure, but it’s pretty easy to guess. Back when most shows were shot out-of-order, it was common for the first episodes of a season to be held back until later. Why? To give the actors time to bed into their roles and get comfortably under the skin of their characters so the first few episodes the audience sees come across as stronger. When the episodes where they started out air, any potential weaknesses in acting through unfamiliarity can be overlooked by the audience already aware of how good the actors can be.
For example, when Season 1 of BABYLON 5 was aired the first episode shown was the third or fourth filmed for exactly this reason.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
Adam Whitehead, really? That’s interesting. So do you know if the current block of filming is episodes 4-6 and next block will be 1-3? Or are we correct in our guess of the way the blocks break down and they have started with episode 4 and the end of this block will consist of shooting scenes from episodes 2 and 3?
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
I don’t have any more info than that, other than that Episodes 1-3 are being held back until ‘later’.
My guess would be that it makes more sense to film the ‘quieter’ mid-season episodes focusing on Eddard’s investigations and politicking in King’s Landing first, then go back and film the opening stuff (based on when they’re filming in Winterfell, that seems to track) and then round out the season with the presumably more action-heavy final block of episodes leading up to the finale. Dany’s stuff, of course, appears to be being tackled separately.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
Adam Whitehead, okay, thanks for the info.
Well they are certainly filming the tourney scenes soon, since Finn Jones is on his way there and Conan is there already.
What could they be filming in Ballymoney though? I still think that the Ballymoney location would work well for the King’s Road scenes. I can’t think of anything within episode 4 that would require a large river and/or rolling hills and pastures.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
If 4 is the episode with the tourney, it could be for that. The tourney field is located outside King’s Landing next to the Blackwater, thus requiring a large river and fields.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
silverjaime,
If they where heading to the glens then wouldn’t it be easier to go via Larne or Ballymena?
PaulaMcQuote Reply
Adam Whitehead, hmmm… that is a possibility. That would track with the reports I’ve heard of three buses of extras driving through Ballymoney. I know they would need some extras for the King’s Road scenes, but not that many.
The only problem with that theory is that Rimshot said he was going to be in the tourney scene and it was going to be at a location used in the pilot. I don’t think Ballymoney was.
We need more pieces to this puzzle, it’s hard to figure everything out based on the limited info we currently have. Hopefully some more stuff will leak out soon.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Well he shouldn’t be hard to miss…..will keep any eye out for him down here.
ElaineQuote Reply
Do you guys really spend all this time debating where the filming is being done? I mean, damn that’s hardcore fanboy-ism.
Julian WalkerQuote Reply
Indeed Watson! The game’s afoot!
I can’t tell you where the Tourney scene is (although you’ve all but guessed it!) but it isn’t Ballymoney (home of Joey Dunlop and a beautiful part of the country). I honestly don’t know what it happening there.
By the way, it looks like GOT is going to have to make a bit of room on the bench!…
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/titanic-story-gets-a-touch-of-the-tudors-for-18m-tv-drama-14888614.html
RimshotQuote Reply
PaulaMc,
Probably – I just couldn’t think of anything in Ballymoney. Shane’s Castle (for the tourney) is set on the shores of Lough Neagh, which could equate as a river I suppose.
If we knew what time the buses left at we could follow them!!!
And yes it is – and fangirl-ism. But it’s also fun!
silverjaimeQuote Reply
Hell yeah we do. And yes it is fanboyish, but as silverjaime says, it’s fun.
Actually I enjoy this more than I do the casting stuff. But I’ve always been fascinated by the behind-the-scenes stuff on TV and film production. I love watching the “making of” DVD extras and even tried, unsuccessfully, to start a career in the film industry.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
After the exciting last few weeks, this news drought is depressing…
NymeriaQuote Reply
FlayedandDisplayed,
Problem with him, and Freeman, is that they’re American.
Josh ParkerQuote Reply
Rimshot,
Looks like they’re filming it in March 2011, after production on GoT concludes and before potential Season 2 filming begins. That was likely the reason for the timing.
Adam WhiteheadQuote Reply
Nymeria,
Yeah but when you think about it, that pace was really unsustainable. Once the bulk of the casting was done and filming began, we were going to have a bit of a lull until HBO starts up the marketing campaign for the show in earnest. I was hoping for a few more spy reports and the like, but we’re only a week and a half into filming, so we should get more and more as time goes on.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
I was also a bit scared when I read that Lena Heady had been cast in “Safe House”.
But fortunately, a bit of research told me the filming is schefuled for march 2011.
http://www.deadline.com/2010/07/lena-headey-to-star-in-‘safe-house’/
NymeriaQuote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
yeah, but I’m still waiting for GRRM to give us clues on the smaller roles, since I see little chance in them being announced by HBO or Mo Ryan.
Though, reading his Not a Blog, I completely understand he has more pressing (and great great) things to do.
Where’s c0venant when we need to start a good conversation? :)
But I’m acting like a spoiled child. FaBio made an excellent post on who’s gonna “make the cut” to fill the news drought. Nice job. It’s just that I prefer to stay away from those spoilerish posts since I haven’t read AFFC yet and am about to reread ASOS, and since it’s been 5 or 6 years, there’s a lot of good stuff I don’t remember.
NymeriaQuote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
According to the info provided by @Adam Whitehead the only thing that pops up in my mind, and actually takes place in “4-6 block” and eventually requires such location and extras is the Cat s journey from KL to Crossroads Inn on the King s Road.
The RabbitQuote Reply
We should have some Belfasters put up signs asking for ”contributors” to this blog under the GOT ones in the city. Maybe then we’d get some hardcore spy reports :P
SimQuote Reply
Ok then – we’ve all but guessed it………Shane’s Castle? Tollymore? aaarrgghhh!
silverjaimeQuote Reply
Sim,
Hey – good idea. Rimshot can drive round and film it and I’ll jump out and place the signs…..
silverjaimeQuote Reply
I found this movie still from Anton Chekhov’s the Duel featuring Michelle Fairley. It’s not a great picture of her, but hey, unless I’m mistaking, up to recently, there was no such thing as a recent picture of Michelle Fairley! Now if we could get a clip from that movie…
http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2010/07/10/dd-pinkmovies18__0501926521.jpg
NymeriaQuote Reply
Looks like you’re right about the Winterfell scenes in September, WIC , – I just heard from the horse’s mouth that the Tollymore location is to be used in September – same place as before of course (I’m sure some of you know where that was?) so I won’t go haring down there just yet…….
silverjaimeQuote Reply
silverjaime,
AFAIK, the Tollymore forest was used for the prologue, not Winterfell.
But I could also see it used for the beheading and the finding of the pups.
NymeriaQuote Reply
Here’s a glimpse at Alfie Allen in the upcoming Soul Boy, to be released at the end of August. Too bad GoT won’t be making use of his dancing skills :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_6NS_lLgis
NymeriaQuote Reply
Giving The Mountain many of Kevan’s lines could be interesting, but could also feel somewhat unrealistic. It would be more believable that a calculating commander as esteemed as Tywin Lannister would rely on a trustworthy, seasoned general for advice and strategy. Meanwhile The Mountain would be Tywin’s rabid dog, as he is in the books; perhaps they could create some tension/dislike between Kevan and Gregor.
As others have pointed out, characters like Tywin and Robb need a “right hand man,” something seen in countless epics (Braveheart, Kingdom of Heaven, Spartacus, etc). The Greatjon is Robb’s right hand and has to be included in season one. His brash, loud nature contrasts perfectly with Catelyn’s. Catelyn has reservations about most of Robb’s bannerman, and the issue of Robb’s judgement will be essential to establish as early as possible.
More Rice CooksQuote Reply
Driving through Ballynahinch today at around 12pm and saw 2 pink GOT signs. The first wasn’t very clear as to the direction but the second was pointing towards Newcastle. Saw a few more along the road before they disapeared around the turn off for Castlewellan/Tollymore in Clough. Came back through Ballynahinch at 6.30 pm and all the signs had been taken down including the ones along the road.
PaulaMcQuote Reply
Rimshot,
Rimshot, any advice for a virgin extra? I’m also gonna be involved in the tourney scene..
YoYanTamQuote Reply
What we know so far about the filmiing in Malta?
Quite a lot, or probably nothing?
The first info was 3to 4 weeks.
Then Malta press reported 6 weeks of shooting later this year.
GRRM in his LJ post mentioned the possibility of visting Malta – in October.
At last Armita said via norvegian press that one episode is already filmed, during the past few weeks.
A bit confusing.
The RabbitQuote Reply
The Rabbit,
the 3-4 weeks info was from somebody who said their friend would be involved in the Malta production for 3-4 weeks, clarifying later that this didn’t mean the production only lasted 3-4 weeks, that it probably lasted longer.
Also, I believe this same person mentioned September.
So I think it is fairly possible that the shooting in Malta will start somewhere in mid/late September and last until sometime late October, making GRRM’s October visit fit.
Lastly, I for one think it’s entirely possible that they already filmed a scene of Dany’s story line in Belfast. Why not? Especially if the set is easy to build, like, say, the interior of a tent at night? No need of Malta’s architecture, scenery or hot weather for that! And we’ve also previously speculated that the Dothraki Sea would be shot in NI. Another possiblity.
NymeriaQuote Reply
Hello! Sorry, I missied this post but thanks to Nymeria for pointing it out.
Welcome to the wonderful world of the extra! I take it this is your first time?
I won’t pretend to be a world expert or anything but I’ve been doing it for 8 years now so I’ve picked up a few things. Here are a few pointers…
– Be punctual. Always arrive 5 minutes before they tell you to. Make sure you know where you are going. When you get there, someone will direct you to the car park. It is possible that, due to the Tourney location, a bus will be taking the extras from the paint hall so you will go there first. However, you will be told all this when they ring you (probably a day or two before your shoot day).
– Be attentive. You will get information during the day. A rough breakdown of the day is.
– You will arrive and probably get breakfast (if it is an all day shoot). While breakfast is happening they will start taking people in for costume fitting. I take it you have already been fitted? If you know your code it helps. If there are alot of extras, they might do the costume fitting first. You will queue for costume and then for hair/makeup.
– Once you have been dressed/made up and have gotten breakfast, you will be directed to a holding area for the extras. At some point the 3rd AD will come in to describe the scene or scenes of the day to the extras. This is important because, as I’ve said before on here, they won’t always tell you exactly what to do so you have to think on your feet! So if you have a feel for the scene then it helps. For example, if you are in the crowd watching the tourney. What mood are you in? Who are you cheering for? After the 3rd AD had been in, the waiting begins!!! This leads me to my next point
– Be patient. There will probably be alot of waiting so come prepared with a book/game or whatever helps you pass the time. This is a great opportunity to get to know other extras.
– Don’t be an ass. I’ve been on a few shoots where people just don’t know how to behave. This is a job for you and it is a job for Sean Bean,Peter Dinklage or whoever else is in your scene. They are not there to sign auotgraphs or have their picture taken. Don’t bother them! If they approach you that’s fine (as Alfie Allen did with me on the pilot.)
– Listen to your directions. Once on the set, the 3rd AD will place you in your spot and tell you what your action is in the scene (walking past/cheering in the crowd/picking up severed limbs etc). You will repeat this move several times so know where you start/end and get your pacing right. Also, a little initiative sometimes helps, for example…
In the pilot, I was in a scene where the two lads were sparring and I was loading up a brazier. Joffrey has a wee go at Robb and then he, the hound and the others walk away. I worked out a bit of business with the other stweard where our path would be blocked by these guys walking past and we would give them a bit of a look. It worked well and the 3rd AD liked it as it added a bit to the tension. Nobody told us to do this but it worked. However, this comes from experience so I would advise you to listen to all the instructions and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you are not sure.
If we get talking on the set then I can help you with whatever you need. I’m a tournament workman (I think there are about 20 of us) and I have a big ginger beard! What role have you been given?
If you have any other questions, you can tweet me @DocFourFour.
Hope this helps and enjoy the Tourney. Sorry for the long post but everytime I start talking about the extra world I can’t stop. (I really have to write that book!)
(I still hope Blackadder wins!)
RimshotQuote Reply
Rimshot,
Sorry, the quote didn’t quite work there!
RimshotQuote Reply
Rimshot,
Thanks for your reply, some good info there. I assume if I bring a book or iPod or whatever it’s ok to bring a bag? Stupid question but is there an area where you can leave your stuff whilst on set? Yes, this is my first time…
I’m in the crowd and I’ve been fitted already, growing a beard as well which is another thing that’s new for me..
Thanks again for the info…
YoYanTamQuote Reply
Yes you can bring a bag. There will be a unit base where all the extras will be getting changed. This is where the bulk of the waiting will happen. Then you wil be taken to set. Normally you don’t bring anything to set as there isn’t really anywhere for it but I usually bring a book and just stick it somewhere in between shots. A coat is sometimes a good idea too if your costume is a bit flimsy.
If you look for a Tournament Workman with a reddish beard, wearing a bandanna that’s probably me so come over and say hello!
RimshotQuote Reply
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