What It’s Really Like to Work on Game of Thrones
What’s it really like to work on the Game of Thrones set? I know I’ve wondered what it’s like to work on a hit series with such a vast number of locations for filming. Ireland’s “Her” website wondered the same thing, and last month they sat down with one of the many anonymous faces who works hard to bring Westeros and Essos to life on our screens.
Her.ie interviewed Emma Andrews as part of their “What It’s Really Like” series. Emma is a textile artist and jeweler by trade, and she’s part of the stitchery team that creates the costumes, set dressings and fabric props (think wall tapestries, flag crests and the like) for the world of Westeros. She’s assigned to the drapes department, which Her department has won two Emmys, for Art Direction, first in 2012 for Season 2’s “Garden of Bones,” and then again this year for “The Laws of Gods and Men.”
But when asked what it’s like to be boots on the ground in the creation of the series, it turns out it’s not very romantic at all.
We start in our workshop at the studios at 7.30am. The set decorator, called Boss, will give us the concept for a set, as well as any plans and measurements we need. We choose the fabrics, decide on the sizes, style, trims etc. and then the making begins. There is usually a lot to make and a short amount of time to make it. We work at a furious pace, cutting and sewing and cutting and sewing some more. In a blink of an eye, it is 6.30pm and time for home.
People may think the film industry is glamorous but it is not! It is great fun and very rewarding but there is no glamour. I work in a shed with a concrete floor and no heating!
How she got hired in the first place:
A buyer from GOT lifted my business card from a shop in Belfast and then contacted me about doing some embroidery for the show. After working on the embroidery, I moved into drapes, which is a part of the set decoration department.
After leaving college, I felt there where only two options for me… either go into teaching or try and make it on my own. I had no idea that the film industry had any jobs to suit me.
One phone call changed my life. This is my dream job with good prospects for a long future in the industry. I will never stop making my own designs but can now enjoy that part of my life more as I am more financially stable.
What the work schedule is like:
Working on GOT is a full time job for six to seven months of the year and for the remaining five months, I continue to do drapes work on other shows. Last year, I worked on The Fall, Shooting for Socrates and a few television adverts. With any spare time I have, I design and make my own range of jewellery.
I love what I do. I have met some amazing creative people and really do feel part of a team. Drapes was made for me. I still cant believe I get paid for doing something I enjoy so much.
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