Credit: Elio Garcia
Long in the making, the set reports by Ran from Westeros.org (don’t miss the MGoT interview with him, either) are finally being published. HBO powers took their time in approving his text and photos, and now in what appears to be the major promotional open season he has been given the get go. The first part you can find here, and the second one is here. Ran promises five in total, so keep an eye out for three more each day through Friday.
In the first installment, Ran begins recounting his experience from late October last year when he visited the Paint Hall studio location (where the production is centered) and the Magheramorne quarry set alongside George R.R. Martin. In short, the major sets he first saw were Bran’s bedchamber, a chamber at Castle Black, Winterfell’s feast hall (a replica of the real life hall at Castle Doune in Scotland, where the pilot scenes were shot), and the High Hall at the Eyrie. Some choice quotes:
It was marvelous to one moment be inside this massive, modern sound stage, and the next be transported into the heart of Winterfell. The work of the set decorators was very thorough, and what impressed me most was not just the quality of the things that were found or specially made to fill the room, but how much effort had been put to making it look truly lived-in.
When we left the High Hall, we passed a number of props lining the long hallway. Among them? Two statues from the tombs of the dead lords and kings of Winterfell. Very cool! What they can do with plaster and resin and the like is simply stunning.
The second part covers a tour of the prop room, the sky cells beneath the Eyrie castle, and a visit to the animal tent with direwolves and ravens. More quotes:
Now, as you know, the heraldry of the setting is near and dear to my heart, and I only wish those banners hadn’t been wrapped up so I could look at them. However, I did notice that they all had labels indicating who they belonged to. They comprised many names straight out of the novels: Karstark, Umber, Hornwood,Cerwyn, Glover … and Bolton, I couldn’t help but notice.
One detail [the animal handler] Esther noted? She had a bruised rib … because she had been practicing the Grey Wind “hits” on a certain “great” character, and she had been bowled over. Despite this injury, she seemed to really love her work. This was the general sense of the whole thing: all the crew I met seemed genuinely excited to be involved in a production like this.
Hear Me Roar: It’s a rich portrayal of his marvelous experience Ran is painting in the reports, and one cannot but imagine how it would feel like to be there in his stead. As Winter has noted, it’s great to get confirmation of certain details and scenes that are in the show. One day, hopefully, a knight from the castle of Wyknett will tread in Ran’s footsteps, ever so lightly, lest he disturbs the magic of ASoIaF coming to life. When HBO is shooting Season Two? Why not.
UPDATE: The reports are now complete, follow links to part 3 (armour, throne room set), part 4 (art dep’t), and part 5 (Castle Black set). A useful index to the entire series of reports from Ran’s Northern Ireland visit is here.
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59 Comments
I shall boldly go where no Wyknett Knight has gone before!!!
Tar KidhoQuote Reply
I’m new to this sort of stuff, but does film companies sometimes offer guided tours for common folk (in studios that are basically in use)?
The reason I’m asking is that me and some friends are going to Ireland this summer and we’ll also take a round trip of Northern Ireland (to see Giant’s Causeway e.g.) and if it’d be at all possible to see the studio…
Great report by Elio by the way!
Johan SporreQuote Reply
Indeed, the report was wykett!
Tar KidhoQuote Reply
I also later learned from an extra who had been present that day (hats off to EdricStorm, and his would-be-extra brother ezeqiel) that Jerome Flynn was absolutely amazing as Bronn, and that he was very good in what was proving to be a physicially demanding role.
I have to say, ever since that promo photo of him came out, I’ve been really looking forward to seeing Flynn’s performance. His casting utterly bewildered me, but in the few clips & photos we’ve seen he has looked perfect for the part. Can’t wait.
Maxwell JamesQuote Reply
Ran=woman
ArturoQuote Reply
Good to hear Roose Bolton’s banner is in Season 1 even if the man himself may not be.
MormegilQuote Reply
I loved the pic of GRRM (sitting at the foot of Bran’s bed) in the first post and was hoping for more of the same, but the report itself was enjoyable enough that I didn’t miss my Martin fix as much as I expected to. In fact, the news about the ravens and the dogs/direwolf pups was enough to bring a big smile to my face. :)
McSherrieQuote Reply
Arturo,
Ran=man
KnurkQuote Reply
I love that they’re breaking new ground in the “raven training” realm. Nice report!
News comes faster and faster. Now that we know we’ll be getting weekly content in the Master’s Path stuff, this waiting time is gonna freaking fly by.
Always Support the Bottom!
Fire And BloodQuote Reply
And yes, Ran (Elio) is a dude. Emphasis on “dude,” since he has surfer’s hair.
Fire And BloodQuote Reply
This is so incredibly fun. Thanks Ran, you lucky bastard.
My favorite parts so far are “I’ve been a bad actor”, and the ravens eating the messages.
mummerQuote Reply
Did I read that right in the second post? The production has *two* ravens? It seems like you would need more than that, yeah?
GeckoQuote Reply
They may well have* some “Extra” Ravens for the crowd scenes but only two “Hero” Ravens who do the acting (carrying messages, calling out “Snow”, eating eyeballs etc…)
*Or they could just be using SFX to turn their 2 Ravens into a flock.
MormegilQuote Reply
The ravens sound wonderful. I do have a soft spot for unusual pets though….
Definitely looking forward to reading the rest of these. I imagine none of the visitors knew where to look in the prop room. It must have been filled with cool stuff.
Out of all the localities I think I’m looking forward to the Eyrie most of all. It’s just so spectacular in the books. That said, the reports about the grandeur of the Red Keep are also getting me excited.
Also– just converted someone new to ASoIaF, and presumably to GoT as well. XD
Always support the bottom!
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
looks like ‘other ways’ to watch the show is leading the pole…HBO need to find a way to get eps on itunes or whatever as soon as possible…or fans will find a way….
coltaine777Quote Reply
That is so awesome that Ran got to visit the set. It’s nice to know that HBO/George have been fan-friendly through the production of the show. Ran is so lucky! I want to meet the direwolves!
I enjoyed hearing about all the little details and that HBO is doing justice to the level of complexity George instilled in his world. I also loved reading about the animals (direwolves!!), and it’s funny how the ravens seem to have personalities- they can’t be kept together or they’ll fight.
LinaQuote Reply
I think its called a “Murder” of ravens. =P
Matt C. DerQuote Reply
I thought it was a Murder of crows. Oh well, semantics I suppose.
SleekyQuote Reply
Sleeky,
http://www.pubquizhelp.com/animals/groups.html would have us believe that the collective noun for ravens is an “unkindness” or a “storytelling”
These are both clunky and awkward, however. I think that a group of ravens should be referred to as a “martin”
GaRQuote Reply
That quote about the bruised dog trainer is even more impressive if you think of the scene they’re probably talking about (with the Greatjon). She’s not just training that dog to jump up and knock her down, but to (pretend to) bite her fingers off. I’m not sure I’d have the nerve for that job.
mummerQuote Reply
I’m pretty sure a group of crows is called a “feast.” (Also it’s customary to substitue “for” for “of” in this case.)
pualoQuote Reply
I never heard either unkindness or storytelling as a collective noun for ravens. I don’t know about Westeros ravens , but here in Vancouver ( yes, another ) they’re pretty solitary characters.
Almost any day of the week you can see ravens being pursued by murders of dive bombing crows trying to live up to their collective designation. Since they give the same treatment to hawks and even eagles, they must see ravens as unkind.
So maybe it’s not surprising that the feathered actors have to be kept apart. ;) I love the eating of the messages…
After all our agonizing over the size of the ‘direwolves” , it has to be reassuring that HBO haven’t decided how to handle it yet. At least it shows they recognise it ‘s something that will have to be dealt with..That should cheer some of us up.
obsidianQuote Reply
obsidian,
I live in Vancouver as well… but I didn’t think we had ravens. Aren’t all the blackbirds here just crows?
LexQuote Reply
Ran is not “common folk”. He is a personal friend of GRRM and co-authors a book with him (A Book of Ice and Fire, which should come out after Dance is published).
The tour was made only for the press, and he obtained an special invitation thanks to George’s influence.
KateQuote Reply
For the Harry Potter movies, they had a tour of movie related things that went from city to city. I didn’t go, but some friends who did were really impressed with all the details and work that went in to it. Who knows, maybe if GoT gets really popular this could happen for us too :)
clemintineQuote Reply
Yes, I know. That’s why I asked if common folk (i.e. me) would also be able to take such a tour the coming summer.
Johan SporreQuote Reply
clemintine,
Well, to be honest I think I’d rather see the props and sets in the studio where it was actually filmed, but I wouldn’t say no to that either :)
Johan SporreQuote Reply
In a new Not a Blog post, GRRM adds a story (and pic) of even earlier days:
http://grrm.livejournal.com/197581.html
Tar KidhoQuote Reply
I doubt if there will be any tours of the Paint Hall. It is a working production facility and, by the time one production wraps, work is usually underway on the next so old props/sets are put in storage or scrapped altogether. There are at least 5 major productions coming to NI in 2011 so I imagine the Paint Hall will be a busy place (and hopefully I’ll be a busy extra!)
RimshotQuote Reply
Rimshot,
Fingers crossed for you Rimshot. I’m busy over here in the UK. Not GoT but hey ho, still some big stuff.
Samantha HirstQuote Reply
Love that sign!is this what all the signs on set were like? Talk about the wall please
JohnQuote Reply
Great to read those, particularly about the animals :)
As for the poll below, I suppose it’s too late now, but it would be interesting to see the difference between ‘other because I don’t want to wait for the DVD and no other options are available to me’ and ‘other despite having the option of subscribing’- though perhaps not many people would admit to the latter?
ShinyteapotQuote Reply
Regardless of the reason for finding “other” methods, it is never the case that these folks will never be able to watch GoT, it’s only a matter of timing. If we want it THAT much that we can’t wait, we should fork over the money. Otherwise, we should learn patience. For goodness sakes, fans of these books should acquire that virtue if none other!
I think it is a very sad testament to our dedication to this series, and particularly our appreciation of the care that HBO has put into it as well as the investment they have made in us, if we aren’t willing to give HBO our money. This series is far from free, and it won’t be around long at all if HBO doesn’t see it as a good investment. If the most dedicated fans won’t pay, who will? In that case, we can kiss our hopes good-bye of the problem of HBO catching up with George . . . they just won’t make it that far.
Sadface.
JDQuote Reply
OT….Just wanted to give a heads up to everyone…Youtube.. ‘Devils Island trailer’…it may be the best trailer I’ve ever seen…it’s going viral…it’ll bring a tear to your face but it’s incredibly well done….apologies again for going off topic…
coltaine777Quote Reply
coltaine777,
its …’DEAD ISLAND’…
coltaine777Quote Reply
Huge announcement from the people who brought you Belfast Moot and Belfast Moot 2…
…coming tomorrow….
theMountainGoatQuote Reply
JD,
An easy position to take when you have access to a legitimate screening of the show on or clsoe to the premier date.
But telling people they shouldn’t acquire it by other means when it flat out isn’t available by other means is some bullshit. I’ll be buying the Blurays when they’re available, but I’m not waiting until then to watch it.
GaRQuote Reply
GaR,
First off, no need to cuss. I was trying to persuade, not attack. Second, please note that I was speaking about those who are not planning to invest in the series at all. Finding illegitimate means to watch it now specifically because of not having physical access to a subscription but buying it later is a grey area that I most certainly wasn’t discussing in my post. Third, I would be surpised if 40% of the polled readership of this blog does not have access to ANY of the channels that will be carrying GoT. But perhaps I am mistaken.
JDQuote Reply
As for the discussion about the poll…
I already have HBO, so I won’t need to find “other” ways to watch Game of Thrones. If you TRULY have no legitimate way to watch the show in your location, I guess I support downloading/whatever they need to do to watch episodes. That will only (hopefully) gain more fans and further boost the series’ popularity, which will in turns hopefully boost revenue.
However, if you have the ability to get HBO, I would strongly recommend it. First, while Game of Thrones will probably be the most awesome programming they air, the channel also has some other really good shows. And movies/TV movies/miniseries. HBO really is the best of American television. Second, we’ve been so demanding/critical of HBO’s every move that who are we if we don’t support them? Subscriptions are their revenue; there is minimal, if any, advertising! So if we want GoT to live the long, healthy life we’re all hoping it lives, we need to pay up!
Would you download the text of George’s novels and read them on your computer? I’d wager nearly everyone would say no. Granted there’s a huge price difference, but I think we would all still consider that ripping off someone whose work we appreciate so much. I feel the same way about the HBO production. Everyone we’ve grown to love and value – David and Dan, Maisie and Isaac and Emilia, the direwolves, the fantastic sets/props/art people- all of their hard work is what we’re paying for!
LinaQuote Reply
You seem to be forgetting that people exist outside of the USA.
clemintineQuote Reply
JD,
First off, don’t tell me how to post. Personally I’d rather see profanity such as “bullshit” than redneck colloquialisms like “cuss” on here.
Secondly, if you’re going to comment on the attitude of people who’ve given an answer on a poll, it’d be nice if you didn’t lump us all in with those who pirate because they don’t want to pay. Ideally the poll would differentiate, but sadly it doesn’t, and I know for a fact I’m far from the only one on here who’ll be downloading because it’s their only option.
I’d like to know why you consider my chosen course of action as a “gray area” though. I’m not taking anything from anyone.
GaRQuote Reply
I subscribed to HBO a month ago in preparation of GoT. I won’t say it was the only reason I got it, but it’s pretty close.
I couldn’t handle using “other” means when I could legitimately pay for a subscription to help support the network giving me the show. When I first read Martin, I borrowed a book from my brother-in-law. After I was hooked (shortly after “The things I do for love.”) I went out and bought the series. Why? To support Martin.
We constantly get gauged by taxes, insurance premiums, at the gas pump etc. The one place I won’t ever complain when giving over my hard earned money is when it is used to support art. I’m not rich by any stretch of the imagination, but fair is fair.
The ReaderQuote Reply
clemintine,
Oh, no, I wouldn’t presume to forget about them. I know that many delightful people who post here are indeed not from the US. I was, in fact, thinking of this list:
http://winter-is-coming.net/features/international-airings/
And this post:
http://www.westeros.org/GoT/News/Entry/Remarks_from_International_Screening/
. . . which suggests that the previously mentioned list should grow even longer! What I meant was that I would be surprised if 40% of people polled on WiC live outside the combined total area covered by those channels. But like I said earlier, I could be wrong!
Like Lina and The Reader said, paying to watch the show is our best way to support something we love (or really hope to love). I want to see every book made into a season. Indeed, I want to see some made into TWO seasons! *coughstormofswordscough* That is why I feel so passionate about this topic.
JDQuote Reply
I just hope that the majority of us here subscribe in one way or another, at least those that have the ability to. HBO, GRRM, the producers and the actors have all been about as good to us fans as you could ask for from such a high-level production, so I think they’ve definitely earned it.
And for anyone who doesn’t yet have an HBO subscription, it’s well worth it. There are lots of quality shows on year-round.
ChrisQuote Reply
As one of the people who will be finding “other” ways to watch the show, I would like to give a different perspective.
First, I live in a major U.S. city, and it is possible for me to subscribe to HBO, but I will not. I would be more than happy to pay HBO $15 a month, or $5 an episode online, which would be higher than a subscription price.
I do not currently have a cable subscription, and I do not want one. Because I do not have a cable subscription, I would have to first pay the cable company for basic, then the HBO upgrade, which after taxes and hookup fees, comes out to over $100 per season of Game of Thrones (assuming it fits into 3 months). Out of that, HBO would get about 1/3 at best of that money (I’m being generous, as it is likely way less). This would get me a standard-def signal. To get an HD version I would be looking at $200 to $300 per season, and HBO would still get about the same amount as above.
My only point is, clearly there are a lot of people willing to pay $15 a month for an HBO subscription, but as more and more people, like myself, drop cable in favor of (legal) online options, there are going to be less people in the pool to upgrade to HBO, even if they would be willing to pay a fair for quality content, just without paying for the crap. It sure would be nice if there were a place to buy what we want, and still be able to ride the roller coaster of fan excitement throughout the season (which is a benefit to HBO, because more excitement leads to more subscriptions/purchases).
Before I get flamed: I recently found out that my job will be sending me on the road for work for the entire duration of Game of Thrones, so I will be watching the show legally from the comfort of my hotel room. As for supporting the show, I will be buying the blu-rays once they are released.
ZarkQuote Reply
JD,
In my situation, I live in Switzerland and it doesn’t look like it’s coming here any time soon. Even if it did, it’d be dubbed, and I don’t speak Italian or German, and only a smattering of French, because that’s how they do foreign TV here. (I think in the Netherlands for example they provide subtitles, so different countries have different dubbing/subbing preferences). Even if I did understand those languages, I really fricking hate dubbing. When I’m watching foreign language films, I always choose subtitles because I like to hear the original actors even if I don’t understand them. And even if it were magically broadcast here in Switzerland, it’d be a season behind so I wouldn’t be able to take part in the immediate online discussion.
And even if it was in English, and on time, I don’t own a TV. Everything is expensive here. So on top of investing in a tv, it is 50 francs a month for cable, plus an extra 50 francs a month tv and radio tax (I don’t own a radio either for that reason), and this is just a crummy basic package. I don’t have that much. See where I’m going with this?
So if HBO provides streaming outside of the US, even if I had to sit through commercials, I’d watch it. If they put the episodes on iTunes or something the day afterwards for purchase outside the US, I’d do it. When I lived in Canada it was hard enough scrounging around for legit ways of getting US television shows because of stupid arbitrary internet boundaries (I’m very pro net neutrality) and frustrating. I don’t understand why content should be restricted to one country. In Switzerland, it’s impossible.
clemintineQuote Reply
I won’t flame you, I feel for you! If I could watch HBO for an extra $15 a month on my computer, I would, because they are a quality station, and one few I would actually pay for because 99% of tv crap. It’s all the junk you have to pay for before getting HBO that’s the problem.
clemintineQuote Reply
Zark,
I’m not in the business of flaming anyone, don’t worry. I was actually in the same position as you for a long time, and I thought I was going to die with each season of The Tudors and The Sopranos that I waited a year to see. So I feel for you–a full cable package is a pricey a plunge for one show, even an awesome one, and I was ready for a long wait for GoT. However, an uphevel turned boon lead me to a new living sitaution, complete with cheap cable. Whew.
clemintine,
To be honest, of all the obstacles you listed, the word “dubbed” made me cringe the most! It surprises me that they would choose dubbed over subtitles–silly Switzerland! At any rate, I appreciate your perspective. Like I said before, I was speaking about when illegit means are used to see the show in order to avoid paying for a subscritpion or DVD/Blu Ray.
Additionally, I have to agree with you that (although I know there are some logisitcs problems involved that are not HBO’s doing) it is frustrating when an episode available for purchase on the so-called world wide web, and yet only within certain countries.
JDQuote Reply
I’ve been away for a while, and am suffering overload here catching up of the huge amount of info suddenly available.
Not sure if this will be much of an interest to anyone, but I have been looking at the extended Iron Throne Trailer – particularly the extent of CGI, and I believe that we have the first look at an extensive CGI backdrop (At least to my knowledge) – that for Winterfell.
I’ve uploaded a screengrab, along with a couple of shots that I had taken on a visit to Castle Ward.
Screengrab from trailer for Winterfell .
Photo from Castleward – used as a set base for Winterfell
The quality is difficult to see from the trailer – but at the scale we have available, it looks pretty impressive. I’m very interested to see how they have taken various design elements from the real castle and used them as a basis for the modelling Winterfell to blend the style and create a ‘whole’.
MartinQuote Reply
I’ve added a second version of the screengrab to highlight the CGI elements.
Screengrab of Winterfell – CGI elements emphasised
MartinQuote Reply
Martin,
I knew some of that shot was CGI hadn’t realised it was the whole of the background.
MormegilQuote Reply
If I could just pay HBO $15 or $20 US a month, or $5ish per episode I would be a happy camper.
I’d still buy the Blurays as well, but as it is… well. Fail.
Martin,
Wow, well spotted. That is some hell of decent CG. Subtle; the way it should be.
GaRQuote Reply
^to watch online, I mean. Preferably with the option of actually downloading the file, but streaming would suffice.
GaRQuote Reply
Day 3 Set Report
http://www.westeros.org/GoT/Features/Entry/4819/
MormegilQuote Reply
Which character is this I wonder? Couldn’t be Rhaegar could it?
MormegilQuote Reply
GaR,
Hi – Thanks for brushing all people who don’t favor profanity as rednecks. Generally, I don’t like generalizations.
Larry D CurtisQuote Reply
Martin,
Nice comparison, thanks! :) Hope to get a CGI in the making video one day, the like of those for John Adams and BE.
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
That would be great – if they could release that sort of video.
It is pretty seamless – and I probably wouldn’t have spotted it without knowing Castle Ward very well.
I’ve done 3d modelling before professionally, both for my main job, and also freelance via an independent for Bioware (games company). So it’s a real interest of mine – and seeing those matte backgrounds is half the joy for me.
MartinQuote Reply
That’s a remarkably stupid comment. I called “cuss” a redneck colloquialism. That’s a different thing from accusing people who don’t like profanity of being rednecks. For the record, I am aware that bothr ednecks and non-rednecks are capable of getting theit knickers tied up in knots over mere words.
GaRQuote Reply