Day 3: Filming at Doune Castle

Today is officially the third day of filming. Although, from the reports we’ve been getting, it is likely the first day they will actually be filming. It sounded like the last couple days consisted of mostly rehearsals and equipment set up. Today all the main cast will be present, including Sean Bean.

No set reports or photos yet. However, GRRM checked in from Scotland this morning with a blog post in which he discusses meeting some of the cast members.

I’ve met Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner (and their charming moms). They’re terrific, bright and beautiful and bursting with enthusiasm, excited to be a part of this.

And now I’m having pangs of guilt about all the horrors that they’re going to have to go through in the months and years to come, thanks to me.

I’m going to have to rewrite the books so only nice things happen to Arya and Sansa. Might change the story some.

Also ran into Ron Donachie, Jennfier Ehle, and Kit Harington, and all of them were great The rest of the cast is around here somewhere too, but we haven’t bumped into them yet. But I expect we’ll meet them all today on set.

In addition, we’ve gotten some info regarding today’s shoot from a stand-in for Lena Headey and Jennifer Ehle. Props to Ran from Westeros for the find. Anyway, this stand-in, MissKatiana2, has tweeted that she will be working on Monday and Tuesday. And that Sean Bean, Jennifer Ehle and Lena Headey will be there as well. She also described a scene that she was blocking the other day:

on ‘action’ – i had to come out of the castle ‘cellar’ & go up the castle steps with my ‘hand maiden’ behind me carryin.. the train of my dress, did that twice & then the real actress did it!

UPDATE: Commenter Mauberly points us to an article in The Press and Journal regarding the filming at Doune Castle. No new info here, but it is nice to see more press about the show.

UPDATE: Got a detailed report from an anonymous source who claims they were at the filming today. Can’t be sure as to the validity of this report, but here is a summary of what they had to say (they asked to not be quoted directly).

-The entire cast is there, along with McCarthy, Benioff, Weiss and GRRM.
-Mark Addy is in a wig and beard.
-Ehle is present and was apparently nursing a baby (has she had a baby recently?).
-The wolf pups are there.
-The great hall is set up for the feast. All the food is real and looks delicious. A ton of effort has been put into even the smallest detail. They apparently have a popular German medieval band there playing drums and bagpipes.
-Dinklage’s performances have been amazing and quite funny.
-Over 100 extras in full costume. Costumes look beautiful.

UPDATE: A poster by the name Crakehall is posting about his set visit over on the Westeros forums. Sounds like he might be the one that sent me the report above since he is reiterating the info present in the email. But he has offered up one extra tidbit over there: that GRRM did his cameo appearance today.

UPDATE: Here’s photographic proof that Crakehall was there (you can see GRRM and Parris in the center of the photo).

UPDATE: More from Crakehall:

I did see the banners, however, and they are awesome, so don’t you worry In fact, the great hall gave me the biggest ‘dork’ moment of my trip. The woman who was taking me through laughed when I started pointing out the houses.

UPDATE: Great report from JacMac30 over at the Westeros forums:

Photos weren’t allowed and the two security people John (I think) and blonde haired raccoon hat wearing lady said they were getting stick for the existing photos up on the net so no photos from me. I’d like to repeat how lovely they were btw, really nice and friendly.

People I saw:

Mark Addy, wearing black brocade. Saw him trying the crown on too while a crew member was taking what I presume were continuity shots. Beard long but not too busy, black with grey.

Ron Donachie – all I can remember is he had long grey whiskers on his cheeks. I was so take with them that apparently I missed Kit Harrington next to him.

Jennifer Ehle, couldn’t see her outfit. She was wandering outside the castle with her baby. Her husband and son turned up later. Hair quite ginger (long wig unless her hair is very long these days). More ginger than I expected. Not what I’d call auburn but then it may look different under studio lights and on camera. It was tied back in multiple plaits.

Jack Gleeson, wearing long crimson brocade coat. Nearly bumped into him on the way out. He looks great as Joffrey.

Think I saw the woman who will be playing Septa Mordane among the extras. There were lots of Lannister and Winterfell soldiers, and Winterfell staff. Looking really great. Winterfell staff were in grey/blue outfits while the Lannister red was more subdued than I expected but still looking great.

Rory McCann – by this point I was a bit giddy at being so close to the following so details are lacking. He has the right side of his face done up but I can’t remember the details. Wearing black (or dark brown) and red I believe.

Sean Bean – is Ned! Longish hair, close beard. Wearing a blue/grey under a dark leather coat.

Peter Dinklage – blonde shaggy hair. Think he was wearing a red velvet outfit. I did wish him luck as he was being called to set. (As they all were).

The Winterfell folk trouped past. – Richard Madden, redder hair than I expected but looking good. Can’t remember much of Alfie Allen, I was very close to them at this point that I couldn’t see their clothing easily. Sophie Turner, wearing the same blue/grey colour as Sean I think. Don’t think Maisie and Isaac were on set today. Could be wrong.

Finally while I was waiting to get into a the one and only toilet…who should come out but Jaime Lannister! Poor Nikolaj, I laughed inanely! Really wasn’t expecting him to come out! He was wearing a light blue and light brown leather over coat. I was surprised it wasn’t crimson. Poor guy must have been wondering why I was laughing at him coming out of the toilet! Tall, blonde and a lurvely smile! Definitely Jaime!

Also spoke to Tom McCarthy and wished him the best for the film. He seemed surprised and chuffed that a fan of the books was there. Oh and I saw DnD from afar.

I was really impressed how everyone just seemed to bring the books to life in front of me. I hadn’t expected that. Can’t wait to see this on the small screen!

Quick ‘hello’ to transport guy I chatted to in the castle and a final thanks to go to Mo Mr. Driver who ended up giving me a lift back to the car park instead of having to wait on the bus. He enjoyed hearing what the filming was all about. Said he learnt more in those 2 minutes than he had all weekend

Anyway, that’s the long giddy story boiled down. Really pleased that I took the day off work now!

Filming continues tomorrow but that will be them done at Doune. Regards the CGI debate, from what I saw outside I don’t think they’ll be shooting the outside of the castle. There’s too much filming rig about. The mats etc out the front were to attempt to stop the grass turning to mud. Historic Scotland insisted the big trucks are not allowed to drive onto the grass to turn etc (info from Mr. Transport). They’ve covered the grass in the court yard with loads of sand.

Think that’s it….

Jackie – happy to answer questions if I can. Oh..Mark Addy…no, don’t think there were lifts but then I think Robert sits down for the whole of the feast so maybe he had a cushion. He is bigger than Sean Bean though (he was um…shorter than expected

UPDATE: Jackie (aka JacMac30) has responded to a few questions here and over at the Westeros forums. Here is what she said:

I was attempting to reply regards the authenticity of the costumes etc. I can’t say I’m an expert on medieval costumes but they seemed close to me, esp the staff and soldiers. I didn’t see any armor as the soldiers were dressed for the feast. The colours were quite muted and the fabric is similar to that seen in Merlin (I stress fabric). I don’t mind Merlin but I know it’s a bad word around here. The Lannister crimson/red was darker than Uthors.

Sean was wearing a leather coat to the knees with scroll work inlay (or maybe another pattern, I didn’t like to stare). Quite dark colours.

Nikolaj was also wearing a knee length leather coat and as stated earlier, not red/crimson but a light greyish colour I think (again I was embarrassed at the time for having just laughed at him coming out of the toilet!). I think there was cream too.

Didn’t really see the Stark’s attire as I was too close to them.

Rory was in dark colour but I think he also had read on. He is significantly taller than Sean Bean and a similar height to Nikolaj.

Mark Addy’s looked very Royal and rich.

I think Crakehall might be right and that we saw the back of Lena as she was being helped up the stairs to the feast hall. If so, then her outfit was very intricate and regal. Quite an ellaborate head dress.

The house hold staff were wearing various styles. The kitchen staff had head scarfs and leather like aprons wrapped around their waists. Some wore long tabards over trousers, some had shorter tabards (think they were the servers at the feast).

Other extras looked like they could be other lords of the north, they work skins on their shoulders or big leather collars. There was someone with a shaved head and looked quite savage. I think Septa Mordaine was there too.

As for the banner I saw, I should have stated it wasn’t in the main hall at the time it was in the preparation area. I never saw the main hall.

Responding to Ran regards external shots. Unless they took some shots before they put the scafolding up (to block the light from the halls windows, not for cameras) then I don’t see them filming wide shots of the outside. I wasn’t there for the King’s arrival so don’t know if that was shot from outside. I doubt it as there was no set put up around the Historic Scotland visitors shop which is in the gate way.

I’m not there today. Figured yesterday couldn’t be topped and I really should get some work done, talking of which…. I am smiling a lot today though.

Jackie. – ps. I did boo quitely when the Lannister guards men were called to the main hall

…………………

To answer some of your questions:
1) the people on the left are indeed in costume but some were wearing ‘normal’ coats over the top. I did see them reading lines at one stage. My impression is the woman (dark hair)and RAF style coat might be a Stark lady in waiting. The guy with the leather looking coat might be a steward not sure.

2) the puppy was about knee high and quite big. Not a newly born pup. He/she was being trained on the grass just to the left of pathway seen in the photo. Visually perhaps not intimidating to the castle dogs but I’m not sure they’d be filming that or not. Looked like it was being trained to sit and pay attention ;)

3) Sean’s hair was dark but not black. More a dark grey.

Think that’s it…

Jackie – still smiling ;)

• Published on 10/26/2009 at 9:09 AM CDT
• Last updated on 10/26/2009 at 9:09 AM CDT