NORTHERN IRELAND — With an estimated production cost of $6 million per episode for season 1 to $15 million in season 8, and with $285 million in profit per episode according to Bloomberg, Home Box Office’s (HBO’s) original fantasy drama series “Game of Thrones” (GoT) is literally the biggest and greatest show on Earth.
While the show was shot in different locations around the globe, many of the scenes and around 80 to 90% of its artisans such as costume makers and extras, including the Wildlings and the White Walkers, came from Northern Ireland, said Patrick, a seasoned guide from coach travel company McComb’s.
While Northern Ireland has been feted as location to many great international and Hollywood films, including the biggest museum for James Cameron’s blockbuster “Titanic,” Northern Ireland is most proud as the main backdrop for GoT, said Patrick.
In fact, many of his friends and family have been cast in GoT at some point, and even if they were just extras, “They feel like superstars!” Patrick exclaimed.
Since “Thrones,” it has been common among them "Thronies," he said, to hear from friends and family who had been extras to hear stories like “Did you see me? I was one of the (hundreds of Wildlings) in the cliff running behind Jon Snow!” or “I was that Night Walker (among hundreds) chasing Bran Stark!”
In Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge, the world's first and only official “Game of Thrones” studio tour, thousands of the show’s original costumes, props and sets are on display, alongside interactive areas where secrets behind the show’s special effects, prosthetics and soundtracks behind the Seven Kingdoms are revealed.
Did you know that since it’s impossible to have snow all-year-round for shooting Winterfell scenes, the series had a department solely dedicated for snow? According to the show's official guide book, the series used 52,000 bags of faux snow that is actually made from a mixture of paper and water. "The smoke from fires and explosions appeared thanks to 500 kgs of powdered coffee creamer," the guide book added.
Alongside surprising trivia, it is also possible to actually bump into a cast member while visiting the site! According to Linen Mill Studios staff, among those who have been spotted in the area was the Iron Throne winner himself, King Bran Stark (played by British actor Isaac Hempstead Wright).
The Houses
Targaryen
Stark