Filming updates from the HBO TV series

[Werthead]

Filming has begun.

Shooting got underway at ridiculous o'clock this morning after several days of preperation, with Doune Castle in Scotland standing in for the exteriors of Winterfell and also some of its interiors. Peter Dinklage and a blonde Lena Headey were seen preparing for filming, whilst a Scottish battle re-enactment team were taking the roles of Lannister guardsmen. A white dog was seen as well, presumably the animal that's representing Ghost. Sean Bean was reported as not being around and not turning up until next week, leading to speculation that they were filming perhaps the Ghost/Tyrion/Jon scene in the courtyard and maybe the pivotal "The things I do for love," moment (since that's the only scene where Cersei is around but Ned isn't), or possibly new material not in the books.

From here filming moves to the Paint Hall in Belfast next week (I'm in Belfast on the 3rd for GRRM's signing and the after-party, which hopefully some of the actors might attend) and then to Morocco for the Dany sequences later in the month.

Some pics - none of the actors in costume as yet alas - are available on the Winter is Coming blog.

 

[Culhwch]

Hmm, doesn't look very Winterfell-y to my eyes. Hopefully they do a bit of set-dressing or CGI it up a bit for the final product.

I'm glad filming has started though, seems like we've been talking about it for ages....

 

[Werthead]

Another visitor to the set said they saw Peter Dinklage chatting to Ron Donachie (Rodrik Cassel) and possibly Kit Harington (Jon Snow). They also said they saw the great hall of the castle and it had been decked out as Winterfell's great hall with banners everywhere. They also saw the white wolf pup playing Ghost and said he was very cute.

It sounds like there were rehearsals and set-up this weekend, maybe some filming done, but the bulk of the Winterfell footage will be shot this week.

 

[Boaz]

You da man, Wert.

 

[Rykker]

When is this scheduled to air on HBO? A year from now? Farther or shorter out than that?

 

[Werthead]

When is this scheduled to air on HBO? A year from now? Farther or shorter out than that?

The date we're guessing is January 2011. If it gets picked up (and it hasn't been so far, this is just a pilot), they won't be remounting the shoot until maybe May or June (as far as we can tell so far, given some of the actors have other commitments). Because HBO like to film the entire season before showing it, and given this series will have extensive post-production requirements, that makes a September launch look very tight, almost impossible. They can't show it much later than September as then they'll run into Christmas, and HBO don't like to break their shows up into smaller runs like the normal networks do.

Combined with the fact that they've already said the advertising campaign may use the "Winter is coming," tagline, that makes a January 2011 launch look much more realistic to me. If they can film around the actors who aren't available and they can start shooting again say in March, than it could be September 2010, but I don't think that's likely right now.

 

[Culhwch]

So what's the process, then? They film this pilot, show it to the bigwigs, and they then give the yes or no to go ahead? Does that mean, if it's a no, we never get to see the pilot?

 

[Werthead]

So what's the process, then? They film this pilot, show it to the bigwigs, and they then give the yes or no to go ahead? Does that mean, if it's a no, we never get to see the pilot?

Exactly. They film it over November, show it to the bigwigs in December and we should get word in January or February.

And if they say no, we never see it, unless it somehow leaks on the Internet. If they say yes, we'll see it when it arrives on screen as Episode 1 of Season 1.

 

[Werthead]

Relaying from Westeros:

Filming proper began today at Doune Castle with everyone, including Sean Bean, turning up in costume. Apparently everyone looked great. Director Tom McCarthy was bemused that some local fans had turned up to wish everyone luck. I'm not sure if he was recognised (as well as a director, he also played Scott Templeton in the final season of The Wire, so he may have been) or if he was sporting a big DIRECTOR jacket or something. One of the observers also had a funny moment where they almost literally bumped into Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) coming out of the toilet.

GRRM and Parris were on hand to see the initial shooting, which apparently was the feast sequence. The public weren't allowed to watch that, but according to people who were hanging around for a bit but they said that Peter Dinklage had been awesome in rehearsals, 100% pure Tyrion.

Apparently for looks, Sean Bean was looking good as Ned Stark with dark hair and a close beard, Jennifer Ehle as Cat had auburn hair (tending towards ginger, apparently, although that might be so it shows up better under the lights) and Rory McCann as Sandor Clegane had make-up to depict his partially burned face. Lannister and Stark banners were very much in evidence, but it was unclear if Baratheon ones were around. Other banners, possibly of the other Northern houses, were also around.

Overall, it all sounded very exciting

 

[Bazza]

So what's the process, then? They film this pilot, show it to the bigwigs, and they then give the yes or no to go ahead? Does that mean, if it's a no, we never get to see the pilot?

If HBO doesn't greenlight it there's always the possibility that another network will pick it up. However I do think only HBO has the clout and the money to make this the top notch production that it deserves. But from the amount of pre-production buzz alone, and the success of the non-mainstream fantasy genre True Blood on HBO (extremely high ratings), I'd say there's a very good chance they'll pick it up.

 

[Werthead]

German medieval band Corvus Corax have confirmed they are working on the pilot. They appeared in-situ as the musicians at the Winterfell feast and played an acoustic version of this song. It's unclear if their contribution to the project will continue beyond that.

 

[Boaz]

I'd never really thought about the soundtrack...

GRRM also posted, on his Not A Blog, about watching the filming at Winterfell and seeing some of the actors being fitted into their costumes.

 

[TK-421]

The latest (funny due to typing on a French/Arabic keyboard) blog entry from GRRM is from the filming in Morocco of the scenes when Dany first meets Khal Drogo in Illyrio's courtyard. They used a piece of the set of the film Kingdom of Heaven. Seems like the wedding scene is the next to film.
I am possibly going to Marakkesh in 2011 for a business meeting and the filming is taking place just outside the city. Very cool.

 

[sielah]

I used to live just down the road from Doune Castle. It was also used in 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'.

"Fetchez la vache!"

 

[Boaz]

TK, if I were you I'd leave the Storm Trooper mask, the bikini, and the blow up raft at home.

Take the train from Casablanca going south
Blowing smoke rings from the corners of my mouth
Colored cottons hang in the air
Charming cobras in the square
Striped djellebas we can wear at home Well, let me hear you now

Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express
Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express
They're taking me to Marrakesh

 

[Clansman]

TK, if I were you I'd leave the Storm Trooper mask, the bikini, and the blow up raft at home.

Incidentally, TK, what lake is that? I know we are both from Eastern Ontario, and that lake has a distinctly Eastern Ontario look to it.

 

[TK-421]

Boaz, that is excellent advice.

Clansman, indeed it does and that is my little secret. I wouldn't want to give too much away of myself.

 

[Ursa major]

Boaz's advice needs augmentation, TK: you'll also need to dye your hair red....

 

[Werthead]

Filming of the pilot episode of GAME OF THRONES wrapped today. The last few days of filming took place at Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate, Morocco and nearby locations, including the massive Jerusalem set erected for Ridley Scott's KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, which is standing in for the city of Pentos.

The scenes involving Daenerys, Viserys, Ilyrio, Drogo and Jorah Mormont, including Dany and Drogo's wedding, were filmed at this location.

The pilot took three weeks to shoot and involved a cast of almost thirty speaking roles and over a hundred extras, making it one of HBO's biggest pilots. No word on the budget, except it was very substantial. Behind the scenes they had a multiple award-winning director (Tom McCarthy), one of the hottest screenwriters in Hollywood (David Benioff) and have now signed up a strong VFX guy, Robert Stromberg, hot off post-production on Jim Cameron's AVATAR, to oversee the visual effects process.

The timeline going forward seems to be that editing and mixing of the pilot episode will begin in a few days (presumably back in the States) and continue for a while, with a break for Christmas. From the sound of it, one of the FX houses involved doesn't expect to be working on it until February. According to George RR Martin, HBO have said they will have a yay or nay decision for the pilot going to series by the end of March at the latest.

Assuming the series gets picked-up, and all the indications are that something will have to go astronomically wrong in editing for that not to happen, filming of the remaining 11 episodes should resume around May or June for about thirty weeks, taking them into the autumn. The show would then air on HBO and hopefully BBC-1 in early 2011.

 

[Culhwch]

2011! It's strange, but I find myself more impatiently waiting for this than for the Dance...