The newest Making Game of Thrones post from showrunner’s assistant Cat Taylor has her talking about the exhilaration of filming on location in the beautiful Northern Ireland countryside.
This season alone we have been up and down the northern coast of Antrim and into the corners of the country. Filming only a few miles from the world famous Giant’s Causeway and in tiny coves that are so startlingly beautiful it’s distracting. We have filmed on cliff tops and beaches, taken over the grounds of stately homes, caves and even old quarries. In what used to be empty rolling fields, there are castles and battlefield camps. Woodland clearings become campsites full of wagons and horses. A Godswood is just off a dirt track on the way south from the city. It’s all amazing to see.
Winter Is Coming: The post also includes the latest behind-the-scenes photo from the set of season two. It is not the scenic photo above, which one would think would accompany a post like this, but rather a nighttime photo of a truck. Color me confused. How about some juicy set pics, HBO?
Loading ...
93 Comments
Arry? That’s your name, isn’t it boy?!??!?
Edit: FIRST!
AzazelusQuote Reply
Looks like a good place for Storm’s End! (The photo above, not the truck one ;0 )
spacechampionQuote Reply
“How about some juicy set pics, HBO?”
Yeah… As much as I appreciate what HBO are (still) doing, it would be nice to see something a bit more interesting – like an actor in costume.
sjweningsQuote Reply
Yeah, I am going slightly into the impatient mood of anticipation of something more jucier than a truck.
It is about a time :)
The RabbitQuote Reply
A truck! a feckin truck!! Seriously??? Why hire a talented photographer and have her take atmospheric pictures of a truck?
So far this year HBO has not given us much to get excited about. If it wasn`t for our own spiders we would know nothing at all.
Its really pissing me off.
Two FeathersQuote Reply
By this time last year we had pics of Ned, Dany and Bronn in costume, two trailers with actual footage from the show, four Artisan videos and a 5-min behind-the-scenes video. And it will be one year ago on Friday that we got that batch of 10 EW photos, including first looks at almost all the main characters in costume.
This year we have two teasers, neither of them with any footage, and some behind-the-scenes photos of cars and trucks and dead extras. So… yeah.
I realize this is season two, so the promotion won’t be quite as extensive, but give us something at least!
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
And … that’s why I don’t really care about this Making Got things . I mean no offense I understand that everything related to the series has to be posted on the site but it’s nothing really to get excited about . If we don’t get atleast a 1 minute teaser trailer with footage in December i’m gonna lose my interest .
JohnQuote Reply
John, I hear ya. I think the MGoT post before this one was the first one that didn’t get its own post. This one I thought deserved its own post, more for the content of the post than the boring photo.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
I am hoping for a liitle trailer or footage or something of a kind after the Boardwalk Empire finale at 12th (?) of December.
But it is another month of waiting..so HBO give us something (at least some photos) in meantime.
The RabbitQuote Reply
I was wondering why they were such excellent photos (of abandoned lots).
Epic WunderscheisseQuote Reply
I think the truck is the one seen in other C. Taylor´s photo on a previous thread. I took that truck for a shiny castle. Right, I´m myopic.
HBO is making advertising for Arryflex with an Arriflex camera.
How many amazing cameras must contain that shiny truck. *Envious*
Oh my, I’m easy to please as you see. I really like that truck.
andreaQuote Reply
lmao at the truck. talk about unspectacular. ;p
and the guy looks like he’s taking a piss or playing golf.
jkbQuote Reply
I have met the lovely Helen Sloan, she is the salt of the earth. When she is working she is on set all day and must take hundreds of cool photos. Obviously though she can`t pick the shots to be used as promo material, which is a shame as we would be singing a different tune today.
Can someone higher up HBOs command chain than Cat Taylor please poke her with a pointy stick to wake her up. We all know NI has pretty scenery, we all know that the crew have long extension cables. This is not very interesting to most GOT fans.
Two FeathersQuote Reply
Not to pile on, or to beat a dead horse, or to (insert witty adage) but this is ridiculous.
This same time last year we had at least four ‘gates going strong. We had stuff to write about, at least.
The natives are getting restless, Cat. Thus far you are not measuring up to the Cogmeister.
I may have to go back to doing TITANCON posts.
(Do I have any more footage or pictures? No. I can make stuff up though.)
Fire And BloodQuote Reply
I suppose it’s not Cats decision what to show and what not to(?)
sjweningsQuote Reply
This thread needs a well-lit, obscure picture of a tissue.
ChrisQuote Reply
Not to mention that mighty Rabbit struggles to find ANYTHING around the web…:cry:
The RabbitQuote Reply
So this is officially Truck-gate, then?
Which is essentially a -gate about the lack of -gates. So meta.
the goatQuote Reply
Yeah, I don’t think it’s Cat’s fault. Cogman was giving us about the same amount of info in his posts, although his posts were supplemented with new photos of actual characters (Bronn) and props (the Hand’s Chair) plus the occasional Artisans video. So there were more meaty updates overall and Cogman’s posts were there to provide a bit more flavor.
Now all we have is Cat’s updates and these really sterile set photos. So her posts feel very lacking in comparison.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Actually a little voice inside my head tells me to be glad there aren’t any trailers or awesome pictures as of yet…
Little-voice-inside-my-head:
1.’You were way too spoiled for season one, Liesie’!’
2. ‘Right now you don’t have this neurotic urge to check out this site every 5 minutes or to watch trailers again and again and again, resulting in a healthier lifestyle, which is good of course’
3. ‘The awesomness will come eventually, trust me!’
Hmmm somewhere this sounds sensible, but still…. *looks at feet*
LiesieQuote Reply
I’d give my leftnut for a picture of Carice as Mel. HBO you slackers!
KnurkQuote Reply
my previous comment looks like I´m making fun of your frustration at having no news from HBO. But it´s not that. When the only camera at your disposal is a journalist camera that was recovered from a battlefield of World War II you get very happy with an Arryflex´s truck, that´s all.
andreaQuote Reply
I really don’t get why HBO has been so tight lipped about the new season. This isn’t the kind of show where you can be super spoiler secretive because there isn’t much viewers can’t find out at a hundred different sites that reference the books. So why not create as much buzz as possible with lots of production stills and behind the scenes cast interviews until the new season premieres?
SGQuote Reply
I WANT MORE
YOUR A BLIND CAT
JUICE GIVE ME MORE
I NEED MORE
(were are the Croatian press when you need them)
A TRUCK?
Nimble DickQuote Reply
Terrific Irish landscape!
LouisaQuote Reply
“By this time last year we had pics of Ned, Dany and Bronn in costume, two trailers with actual footage from the show, four Artisan videos and a 5-min behind-the-scenes video. And it will be one year ago on Friday that we got that batch of 10 EW photos, including first looks at almost all the main characters in costume.”
Wow. I knew we were getting less this time around, but that really puts it in perspective!
I agree, Cat’s posts are okay… but the photos so far have been EXTREMELY underwhelming. What’s a guy gotta do to get an official Stannis pic?
LexQuote Reply
You know, I may be looking too far into this, but I took the picture to be more of a “this is the experience for many of the people involved in this production” type shot. What we see on-screen will indeed be epic and amazing to see (hopefully…), but for many of the people involved in the production it isn’t quite as glamorous as we might think (which isn’t to say that it isn’t fulfilling, but the actors, writers, directors, and D&D do not make this show all by themselves). I mean, it is called “Making Game of Thrones” after all.
But like I said, I may be looking too far into it. Either way, I’d like to see a trailer with some actual footage soon. This is getting a bit tiresome.
Pastor_of_MuppetsQuote Reply
Yup ! I sure have had a lot of time for my other obsessions.
ObsidianQuote Reply
http://i41.tinypic.com/e3wk2.jpg
plop_Quote Reply
Actually the truck shot is interesting. It shows just how bright filming lights are on a dark night.
KGQuote Reply
Yeah, nothing wrong with the photo as such, it looks great, atmospheric. And it’s just a truck in the night. Helen is fantastic. Whoever is selecting the photos for publication this year, however, is just silly. I’m now afraid we’re only getting some footage in a month, and no real promotion until after new year’s and the TCA meeting.
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Have you guys thougt that this may be a new strategy from HBO to build anticipation among the fans (sort of Apple event-like)?
I mean, look at how desperate for a fix of news regarding the show we all are. I at least am checking daily the website hoping to find some news, a picture, a teaser.
I really do hope that we will get something more substantial after the finale of Boardwalk Empire…
BotelQuote Reply
I haven’t posted in awhile, been busy, but the main reason is that there hasn’t really been any GoT news coming from HBO, not like last year. The low posting numbers on WiC to me are a strong indicator on this fact.
My theory is that all the GoT hoopla along with the effect of the show becoming engrained within the entertainment arena, with other shows inserting GoT into their episodes, is detracting from BE and HBO’s other shows. The viewership is down on them, except for TB, because all the viewership really care about and look forward to are GoT and TB. So expect a very low key approach, I’d wager we don’t get a full teaser until Luck premieres, there may be a snippet during BE’s finale, but that will just be part of a promo reel for next year. I personally believe HBO will begin a hard court press for Luck starting after Thanksgiving, and we won’t hear or see much until January concerning GoT. HBO has invested more money into BE and probably Luck (salaries), which was suppose to be their flagship for the next five years, until GoT like a Lannister has fucked over their sibling. We of course knew if HBO nailed GoT, it would be one of the most if not the most talked about show on television, and they did it, at least for season one.
HBO should go with their bread and butter; BE and Luck’s demo will be primarily the 45-70 demo, while GoT is the 15 to 40 year old. Now tell me who are those that will twit, blog, facebook and text concerning shows, GoT’s demo plain and simple. That is why GoT is becoming a tour’de’force of HBO along with TB, and they need to realize this and embrace it fully, instead of keeping a low key approach.
OOPS! just noticed that HBO moved up Luck to December, I wonder why? Perhaps they will push up GoT too a few weeks.
tysnowQuote Reply
Yeah, I was thinking this yesterday. It seems that whomever is selecting the photos this year is not a fan of the books. It’s like, in both cases, the higher-ups decreed that MGoT can’t release any pics of the main characters. But last year the person choosing the photos knew just the right ones to release that would be approved by HBO but still get the fans excited (the Hand’s Chair, the dagger, the lineage book, etc.). This year, the person choosing the photos seems to think, “Oh, no main characters? I guess I’ll just have to post this picture of an extra and a truck and some catwalks at the Paint Hall.”
That’s my theory anyway.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Yeah, it seems like the vision is: bring the fans just yonder that hill, just so they can see the lights. Oh, the tease. Oh, the terrible, terrible tease.
Epic knows nothingQuote Reply
I think more than anything it’s frustrating because it doesn’t give us anything to talk about. I mean, an actual prop or even a partial shot of a character would at least be titillating at the same time as allowing us something to argue about. D: Instead we end up in a loop talking about things we expect to annoy us (the Reeds, Tullies, etc), which isn’t a good thing for the show, exactly.
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
tysnow- Luck hasn’t been moved up to December- its premiere date is still January 29th- what they’re showing on December 11th following the Boardwalk Empire finale is a sneak peek of the first episode. There will be no hourlong drama in the Sunday slot for the rest of December and most of January.
What HBO usually does- is start showing commercials and small clips and “buzz” clips of brand new shows seasons early- like they did with Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones, and Enlightened. If it is a returning show though- you generally won’t see clips and ads until either the start of the show in its slot a season earlier (“Luck” in this case) or during the finale of the show right before that (“Boardwalk Empire” in this case). Myself- I’d expect someting shown on the night of Boardwalk’s season finale- December 11th- as they are not only also previewing the first episode of Luck that night- but they are taking a break on their Sunday night dramas until Luck rolls out for real on January 29th- they don’t want people to forget that HBO’s coming back after the 6 week winter break- they’ll want to show you something to whet your appetites that night.
So yeah I’d expect something shown on December 11th. If not- the latest you’ll see something is January 29th.
yellow jimQuote Reply
but yes to stress the point again- HBO always promotes brand new shows and returning shows differently- so really you’ll just drive yourselves nuts comparing what HBO gave us this time last year to what they’ve given us this time this year. This is what they do.
yellow jimQuote Reply
believe we might have been hurt by SO much coming out of the Croatia shoot…. What do you want to bet that when something is promoed, it will mainly be much of what we have already seen. Damn you Croatian press!
Janeh227Quote Reply
I suspect a big part of it is risk management. Last year they could afford to release stuff that was not 100% finished because only a small number of people would pay attention. That’s not the case anymore. I also think they’re playing up the secrecy a bit because they know when footage is finally released folks will go wild.
Assuming it lives up to expectations, of course!
Maxwell JamesQuote Reply
Why don’t we have a summary post for all the cons next year and people can post what they might be going to and have a natter about that? Desparate maybe, but at least it is something to write about. Although I suppose we now have NoNewsGate, BadPressGate?
As for cons, there is:
Feb = Throne Con, Birmingham, Lena + Maisie
Apr = Eastercon (Olympus 2012), London, GRRM
Plus Titancon, Comic Con, Worldcon, etc etc
There are so many, it’d be handy to have in one place ;) Not that I’m lazy or anything, oh no…
dimensionallytQuote Reply
LOL!!!!
EdQuote Reply
Hey Winter, have you enough info for a fresh post today? ……. If no post today I will comment here, if you have a fresh post coming up I would rather wait and hijack it.
All will become clear.
Two FeathersQuote Reply
Two Feathers, go ahead and comment here as I don’t have plans for a new post at the moment. Although depending on what you have to say, that may change. ;)
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Two Feathers,
Please hijack it, oh please! *Sansaface*
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
LOL!
Yes, please ;)
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
If the trailer debuts on Dec 11th what are the odds of glimpsing the Blackwater? Or would there still be a lot of CGI work to be finished?
Blueberry2Quote Reply
uh oh… I think Two Feathers was intercepted by the HBO secret police.
Epic WunderscheisseQuote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
Ok guys , this is my last bit of news from Westeros for this season, as there is only a couple more days filming left in NI. Its been a lot of fun this year, and from what I have seen I think it will surpass season one.
Firstly the speculation over Oonas character is unfounded. She IS Jeyne Westerling, just not exactly book Jeyne. The snippits of dialog that lead us to question her characters identity, served to at least give us something to discuss in these hard times. For sure Robb will be getting more screen time than we first thought.
Finally , I will give you a whisper to consider in the form of a riddle. Think carefully as it could potentially effect other characters…….Two that have past return on the morrow.One big as a horse one small as a sparrow.
Two FeathersQuote Reply
New post, Winter? Lol! I’m half-way serious, actually.
sjweningsQuote Reply
This just in: This photo of a nearby forest was leaked to the web.
Epic WunderscheisseQuote Reply
My guess is no. They will likely want to put that through the full post-production process before releasing any footage.
Good to hear about Oona. Still curious to see how that all plays out. As to your riddle, I am stumped. Anyone else have any ideas?
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
It sounds like it could mean two characters who died last season could return this season (possibly in flashbacks???). It almost seems like the far-too-obvious and unlikely explanation though, but as an opener to better guesses. ;p
The “bigness” of one character could refer to the actor or character being a major one, or it might literally refer to size. Either way, the implication would then be that the sparrow was a child, which seems unlikely given how few children died and how minor the ones that did were.
OR
It might not refer to characters at all, but possibly to sets/locations, etc.
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
Hmmmmmm. OR, maybe has to do with a certain little girl and a certain tall man?
HELP. THE SPOILER TAG HAS DISAPPEARED. ):
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
I ve told you: Two Feathers stepped in GRRMs shoes of clues!
I like it :)
The RabbitQuote Reply
Maybe it is Conan Stevens or Jason Momoa coming back in another role other than Gregor or Drogo, and Tamzin Merchant (originally cast as Daenerys) being cast in a role (Meera Reed anyone?!?!?!)…
AzazelusQuote Reply
Hmm
Why my first post is awaiting moderation?
I didn t curse ;)
My guess: GreatJon and SmallJon
The RabbitQuote Reply
This post is not about the irish shooting.
But if you want to see how will look the french DVD/Blu-ray just go there (the Bluray one is just the same with a blue strip on it).
But I don’t know if the american shall be the same (but there are good chances). I thought that maybe you’ll be interested to see it ;)
Bye !
CrysQuote Reply
Two Feathers,
Can you answer if you were in Winterfell this season?
And that DVD box cover is pretty cool.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
No , not this season unfortunately. Really was hoping to be there but the Winterfell stuff remains a mystery.
Two FeathersQuote Reply
Steve Hugh Westenra,
You are warm.
Two FeathersQuote Reply
A character as big as a horse sounds like Drogo to me – fits that clue like a shoe. Maybe a vision of Drogo in the HoTU?
Small as a sparrow? No idea for now…
OhDanyBoyQuote Reply
Two Feathers,
But about which part? Haha.
*feels accomplished*
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
Two Feathers,
OKAY. Trying to put this without spoilers, but I know there is a part in the second book that gets argued about on Westeros a lot regarding the certain girl and the tall man, could it be related to this thing? It has to do with, ah, kissing.
Sorry for the vagueness. ):
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
Steve Hugh Westenra, really curious what you’re talking about.
AhorwittQuote Reply
If it is about characters that died in S1: we have few possibillity:
First is obvious: big as horse= Drogo in flashback
Second little less obvious = Eddard Stark in flashback (as far as I remembered someone twitted Sean Bean was seen in Belfast during S2 shooting – of course, he could be in Belfast for whatever other reason).
The RabbitQuote Reply
Been lurking around not commenting much, not much to comment on, but now I am really getting antsy for some real news, pics or something. (The truck, while a lovely shot, does not quite do it for me.) I would like to see the Hand’s chair again. I still want that chair. As for the riddle… big as a horse …the Mountain? I’m not good a riddles.
OT Has anyone noticed that NatGeo is doing a show with Knights in armor who get to really wack each other in a joust.
OldGranQuote Reply
Steve Hugh Westenra,
No, you have gone cold again.lol…….
Think again.
Two FeathersQuote Reply
Two Feather’s is it Drogo and Rhaego making a reappearance ?
Rhaegar’s GhostQuote Reply
Two Feathers,
Children…
hmmm…
Micah, stable boy…or someone who did not appear in S1 but “was dead” already ;) ?
The RabbitQuote Reply
Now thats just spooky that Rhaegars Ghost gets a cigar. Very Twilght Zone….:)
Two FeathersQuote Reply
The Rabbit,
Sorry Rabbit. Thanks for giving it a shot…. Like all riddles its obvious when you know the answer….:) :)
Two FeathersQuote Reply
Hmmmmm. OH OH. What about one of the adult characters but as a child? Sandor as a child, Varys….
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
GRRM just anounced Rattleshirt on his Not A Blog: Edward Dogliani … eta: forgot the link: http://grrm.livejournal.com/249766.html
LisaQuote Reply
Love your enthusiasm,thanks . But the honours have been won.
Two FeathersQuote Reply
Ralph Phineson ( Dagmer Cleftjaw) just tweeted that he had filmed a scene with Ralph Fiennes today. Don’t know if it was for GoT, but considering that they filmed some Winterfell scenes… Now THAT World be an awesome Ramsay! ( Wishful thinking I know…)
Chris77Quote Reply
Two Feathers,
A question if you are allowed to say?
The latest Casting call from Extras NI for babies, has it something to do with your riddle?
The RabbitQuote Reply
Two Feathers,
Ahaha. It’s cool, I misinterpreted your response to Rhaegar’s Ghost (I thought you meant that the suggestion was creepy because I’d confused what they said with their name).
I’m guessing this has to do with the House of the Undying! Pretty cool (although I never was really a Drogo fan, but I’m sure that will make people who are very excited). XD
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
The Rabbit,
Yes to your question…….check back a few comments for brain relief.
Two FeathersQuote Reply
Thanks very much Two Feathers.
It was due to our special connection he was named after me after all lol.
Rhaegar’s GhostQuote Reply
Rhaegar’s Ghost,
Sweet! It was fun while it lasted……….. Back to waiting for HBO to do “something”.zzzzz
Two FeathersQuote Reply
So, they left House of Undying for the end of the filming schedule…
The RabbitQuote Reply
The Rabbit,
That’s actually an interesting point, since presumably it will require the most pot-production. One would have thought they’d do it earlier. I suppose it’s possible they filmed it in parts though, and needed to wait for Momoa or other actors involved.
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
No it was for the movie “Great Expectations”. ;)
AnvilQuote Reply
Two Feathers,
the baby is Aegon?
andreaQuote Reply
andrea,
No Andrea, its poor little Rhaego, seven bless him.
Two FeathersQuote Reply
Two Feathers,
I had not seen his uncle’s comment!!! uncle right? (well, it´s just a ghost after all)
andreaQuote Reply
andrea,
You may still be right though, I’m pretty sure Aegon shows up in the HotU visions, as well. At least in the book.
the goatQuote Reply
I’ve read, that Jason was seen in Northern Ireland the day before yesterday, but don’t know if it’s true. But i know he has to be in LA on sunday.
CavegirlQuote Reply
the goat,
for what you say between the spoiler tags I thought it might be Aegon but is not him apparently.
andreaQuote Reply
andrea,
Well, Two Feathers is speaking from first-hand knowledge that Drogo & Rhaego will be appearing. What I’m saying is that Aegon, (and Rhaegar and Elia) might also be appearing, since they were in the book.
the goatQuote Reply
I do understand that they have some strategy of realeasing photos and other promo material, and probably they will become much more generous after christmas, … but the truck????!!!!
really, I mean, the Making Game of Thrones blog photos for this season are mostly completely useless and uninteresting, c’mon this does not need to be a still from the filmed material and even from the actual set but anybody with a slight sense of beauty could make couple of lovely photos of locations that would look much more interesting that trucks and at the same time without disclosing much about the episode filmed
RazhaQuote Reply
Two Feathers,
Thousands actually… :)
Just wait a tiny bit longer…
BirdieQuote Reply