American Cinematographer - March 2017 - 70

◗

Shooting on Location

McLachlan says. Speaking to AC by
phone shortly after returning from
Northern Ireland, where Thrones'
production office and stages are located,
and where a good portion of the series is
shot, he describes the complex
approach:
"The first six seasons each
consisted of 10 episodes and five directors. Each director was paired with a
cinematographer and a first AD, and
each 'team' was responsible for two
back-to-back episodes. There are two
70

March 2017

separate but complete production units,
Wolf and Dragon. Each has its own
equipment; the packages are identical,
including camera gear, grip equipment
and lighting. Both crews are shooting at
the same time, albeit in different locations - Wolf may be in Spain while
Dragon is in Northern Ireland, or both
might be at Titanic Studios in Belfast,
shooting on different stages. The way
the system operates, the crews stay put
and the five director-cinematographer
teams cycle in and out of the locations.
American Cinematographer

This is only possible because Game of
Thrones is comprised of numerous story
threads that take place in different kingdoms, and the series boasts a large
enough cast to keep both crews busy at
all times. Cast availability is always part
of the equation."
The logistical plan was the brainchild of Thrones producer Chris
Newman, who, along with executive
producer Bernadette Caulfield, breaks
down the shooting schedule for the
entire season on a large, color-coded,
checkerboard chart. Each directing team
is represented by a different color, and
there are separate columns for Wolf and
Dragon.
Newman explains, "The colors
help us avoid scheduling a team in two
places at once - or two units on the
same stage. The chart also breaks down
the scenes and [indicates where] each cast
member will be." Caulfield adds, "We try
to schedule the season in episodic order,
starting with blocks one and two, then
three and four, and so on. As the earlier
episodes shoot out [of a particular location], later episodes move in."
The series shoots in Northern
Ireland, Spain and Croatia; Iceland joins
the fold in season seven. Most keys come

Top photo by Helen Sloan. Bottom photo by Macall B. Polay, SMPSP. Both images courtesy of HBO.

Right: Producer
Chris Newman on
location during
production of the
fourth season of
Game of Thrones.
Below: Series
executive producer
Bernadette
Caulfield (left)
surveys a set
alongside
cinematographer
Anette Haellmigk.



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - March 2017

Contents
American Cinematographer - March 2017 - Cover1
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American Cinematographer - March 2017 - 1
American Cinematographer - March 2017 - 2
American Cinematographer - March 2017 - Contents
American Cinematographer - March 2017 - 4
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American Cinematographer - March 2017 - A
American Cinematographer - March 2017 - B
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American Cinematographer - March 2017 - 31
American Cinematographer - March 2017 - I1
American Cinematographer - March 2017 - I2
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