Welcome to an exciting exploration of the fascinating world behind the making of Game of Thrones. Did you know that the White Walkers originally had their own language? Let’s dive into some intriguing facts about the series that captivated millions worldwide.
In the early stages of production, the White Walkers were given their own language called “Schroth,” created by David Peterson, the show’s language expert. However, the idea was eventually dropped as it was considered too cheesy to have them speak with subtitles. Instead, a sound designer crafted an ice-cracking sound to convey their eerie presence.
Casting for Game of Thrones was a complex task. The roles of Daenerys Targaryen and Catelyn Stark were recast after the pilot episode. Initially, Tamzin Merchant played Daenerys, and Jennifer Ely portrayed Catelyn. Emilia Clarke and Michelle Fairley later took over these iconic roles. Interestingly, Sansa and Catelyn are never seen together in the first episode because only Catelyn’s scenes were reshot.
In 2013, Gillian Anderson revealed she turned down a role in the series, sparking speculation about whether it was Cersei Lannister or Melisandre. Other actors considered for roles included Jared Harris, Mahershala Ali, and Sam Claflin. Arya Stark was particularly challenging to cast, with co-showrunner David Benioff discovering Maisie Williams through a promising audition video thumbnail.
Charles Dance, who played Tywin Lannister, took his role seriously. For a scene requiring him to skin a deer, he learned the skill from a butcher. Kit Harington, known as Jon Snow, is a distant relative of Sir John Harington, the inventor of the modern flushable toilet, a fact he confirmed with amusement.
Sean Bean, whose character Ned Stark met an untimely end, humorously kicked around his decapitated head prop. The series is notorious for its high body count, with an estimated 174,373 deaths in the first seven seasons. A study found characters have a 14% chance of dying within their first hour on screen.
The cast often found ways to entertain themselves. Peter Dinklage, who portrayed Tyrion Lannister, enjoyed staging his own death as a prank. HBO even released two official Game of Thrones-themed rap albums featuring artists like Method Man and Snoop Dogg.
David Peterson, the language creator, included Easter eggs in the Dothraki language, such as naming the word for eagle after Stephen Colbert. The most Instagrammed filming location is Krka National Park in Croatia, known for its breathtaking waterfalls.
The effects team used innovative techniques, like making Daenerys’s horse heart prop from gummy bear material, which Emilia Clarke found unpleasant. Costume designer Michelle Clapton revealed that some luxurious capes were made from IKEA rugs. The weapon masters crafted hero weapons from modern materials for safety.
The dragons’ sounds were inspired by various animals, including Tibetan chants and bison vocalizations. However, experts claim the dragons are too large to fly in real life. The White Walkers were brought to life using extensive foam prosthetics, requiring hours of work by skilled artists.
George R.R. Martin had a cameo in the original pilot as a wedding guest, but it was cut when Daenerys was recast. He later lobbied for a role as a severed head, but the cost was too high. Welsh actor Ian White played multiple roles, including a White Walker and Gregor Clegane.
The Battle of the Bastards drew inspiration from historical conflicts, requiring numerous stunt performers. Cersei Lannister’s walk of atonement was performed by a body double, with visual effects seamlessly merging the scenes.
As the series approached its final season, fans speculated about character survival, with some having better odds than others. Thank you for joining this behind-the-scenes journey of Game of Thrones. If you have any topics you’d like us to explore, feel free to share your thoughts. Don’t forget to subscribe and like if you enjoyed this exploration. See you next time!
Explore the art of language creation by developing your own fictional language. Use the example of “Schroth,” the language initially created for the White Walkers, as inspiration. Work in groups to create basic vocabulary and grammar rules, then present your language to the class.
Engage in a role-playing exercise where you take on the roles of casting directors and actors. Recreate the casting process for a scene from Game of Thrones, considering the challenges faced in casting iconic characters like Daenerys Targaryen and Arya Stark. Discuss the impact of casting decisions on character portrayal.
Create a short documentary exploring the behind-the-scenes aspects of a favorite scene from Game of Thrones. Focus on elements such as special effects, costume design, or on-set antics. Use interviews, research, and creative storytelling to bring your documentary to life.
Analyze the historical inspirations behind key scenes in Game of Thrones, such as the Battle of the Bastards. Research the real-life events that influenced these scenes and present your findings in a multimedia presentation, highlighting the parallels between history and fiction.
Delve into the world of sound design by creating your own soundscape for a scene involving the White Walkers. Use everyday objects and digital tools to craft eerie sounds that convey their presence, inspired by the ice-cracking sound used in the series. Share your soundscapes with the class and discuss the creative process.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
—
Hi, I’m Aaron of House McCarthy, Editor-in-Chief of Mental Floss, and welcome to Mental Floss video! Did you know that the White Walkers in *Game of Thrones* originally had their own language? Fans of the TV series may know that a pilot episode was filmed in 2009, but about 90% of it was reshot and turned into the episode that aired in 2011. The White Walkers initially had their own language, dubbed “Schroth” by David Peterson, who creates the languages for the show. However, it was ultimately scrapped because having the White Walkers actually speaking with subtitles was deemed too corny. For season 2, a sound designer created an ice-cracking sound that brought the concept of Schroth to life without the need for a language.
Casting *Game of Thrones* was no easy task. The roles of both Daenerys Targaryen and Catelyn Stark were recast after the pilot was filmed. Daenerys was originally played by Tamzin Merchant before Emilia Clarke was cast, and Catelyn, now played by Michelle Fairley, was originally portrayed by Jennifer Ely. That’s why you never see Sansa and Catelyn framed together in the first episode; only Catelyn’s parts of the scenes were reshot.
In 2013, Gillian Anderson mentioned that she turned down a role in the show, though she didn’t specify which one. Fans speculate it could have been either Cersei Lannister or Melisandre. Other actors reportedly considered for roles include Jared Harris, Mahershala Ali, and Sam Claflin. Arya Stark was the hardest character to cast; co-showrunner David Benioff found Maisie Williams while going through audition videos in a hotel lobby with poor Wi-Fi, selecting her video based on a promising thumbnail.
Veteran actor Charles Dance took his role as Tywin Lannister seriously. For a scene in season 1 that required his character to skin a deer, he worked with a butcher to learn the skill. Kit Harington, who plays Jon Snow, is a distant relative of Sir John Harington, the inventor of the first modern flushable toilet. When asked about the family connection, Kit confirmed it was true.
Sean Bean’s death in season one shocked viewers, but the actor had some fun with his decapitated head prop, joking that he kicked it around like a football. *Game of Thrones* has a massive body count; estimates suggest that 174,373 individuals have been killed on the show in the first seven seasons. According to a study, characters have a 14% chance of dying within the first hour of being introduced.
The cast often finds ways to amuse themselves on set. Peter Dinklage, who plays Tyrion Lannister, enjoys staging his own death as a prank. HBO has even released two official *Game of Thrones*-themed rap albums featuring contributions from artists like Method Man and Snoop Dogg.
David Peterson, the language creator, doesn’t work in a vacuum. In 2012, Dwight Schrute from *The Office* was teaching Dothraki, which led Peterson to canonize the phrase “throat rip.” He also includes Easter eggs in the language, such as naming the Dothraki word for eagle after Stephen Colbert.
The most Instagrammed shooting location for *Game of Thrones* is Krka National Park in Croatia, known for its stunning waterfalls. The show’s effects team is known for its creativity; for example, Daenerys’s horse heart prop was made from gummy bear material, which Emilia Clarke described as having an unpleasant taste.
Costume designer Michelle Clapton contributed significantly to the show’s iconic looks, revealing that some luxurious capes were made from IKEA rugs. The weapon masters create hero weapons from modern materials for safety, while the arrows are made to mimic real ones.
For the dragons, the effects team drew inspiration from various animals. The sound designer used techniques including Tibetan chants and vocalizations from bison to create the sounds of the dragons. However, experts say that the dragons in *Game of Thrones* are too large to fly in real life.
The White Walkers were created using extensive foam prosthetics, a process that takes hours and involves many artists. Some production team members even appear in the show, with showrunner D.B. Weiss noting that there are at least 20 or 30 versions of him in the series.
George R.R. Martin had a cameo in the original pilot as a guest at Daenerys’s wedding, but when Daenerys was recast, the scene was scrapped. He later lobbied for a role as a severed head on a stake, but the cost was prohibitive.
Welsh actor Ian White played multiple roles on the show, including a White Walker and Gregor Clegane. The Battle of the Bastards was inspired by real-life conflicts, requiring a large number of stunt performers.
Cersei Lannister’s walk of atonement was performed by a body double, with the VFX team merging the scenes together. As we approach the final season, predictions about character survival are rampant, with some characters having better odds than others.
Thank you for watching Mental Floss video! If you have a topic you’d like us to cover, leave it in the comments. Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel and give us a like if you enjoyed the video. We’ll see you next time!
—
This version removes any inappropriate language and maintains a professional tone while preserving the essence of the original content.
Language – The style of expression or the choice of words used in a literary or artistic work. – In Shakespeare’s plays, the language is rich and poetic, enhancing the emotional depth of the characters.
Casting – The process of selecting actors for various roles in a theatrical production or film. – The casting of the lead role in the university’s production of “Hamlet” was a topic of much discussion among the drama students.
Roles – The characters or parts played by actors in a performance. – Each actor in the ensemble was assigned multiple roles, showcasing their versatility and range.
Effects – The technical elements used to enhance a performance, such as lighting, sound, and visual effects. – The special effects in the play’s final scene left the audience in awe, creating a memorable theatrical experience.
Music – The vocal or instrumental sounds combined to produce harmony and expression in a performance. – The music composed for the ballet added an emotional layer that complemented the dancers’ movements beautifully.
Inspirations – The sources of creative ideas or motivation for artistic work. – The director drew inspirations from classical literature to bring a fresh perspective to the modern adaptation of the play.
Visuals – The elements of a performance that are seen, including set design, costumes, and lighting. – The visuals in the production were stunning, with elaborate costumes and intricate set designs that transported the audience to another era.
Opportunities – Chances for advancement or participation in artistic endeavors. – The university’s theater program offers numerous opportunities for students to engage in both on-stage and behind-the-scenes roles.
Characters – The individuals portrayed in a literary or dramatic work. – The characters in the novel are complex and multi-dimensional, each with their own unique backstory and motivations.
Creativity – The use of imagination or original ideas to create something; inventiveness in artistic expression. – The creativity displayed in the student’s short film was evident in its innovative storytelling and unique visual style.
