Below is a three-and-a-half-minute video that shows how many of the special effects were created in the first season of “Game of Thrones.” Granted, part of the reason I like it is because it’s set to the show’s stirring theme music, but the true appeal of the reel is the way it’s edited to show how real scenery is mixed with green- and blue-screen backdrops to create the fantasy realm of Westeros.
Much of the footage we see here is a look into the work done by special-effects wizards BlueBolt. From plain landscapes that morph into ornate vistas with castles, we get to see the reason why Game of Thrones has been nominated for an Emmy for special visual effects. [blastr via BuzzFeed]
If you’re a fan of the show, you’ll definitely enjoy this. But for anyone who hasn’t seen the show or read the books, you should stop watching at the 2:40 mark to avoid a late-season spoiler (I also discuss the spoiler below the video).
In order to preserve the tiny shred of faith that I have in humanity, I don’t often read YouTube comments. But I have to say that I enjoyed this one from Taospark:
“You guys have to make the final shot with Daenerys with the baby dragons really good.”
“Uh, can we have like an hour of test footage of Emilia Clarke topless to work with? Also, it may take us a while to do it.”
Well played. And thankfully, the nudity on “Game of Thrones” is all 100% real.
(P.S. Have you seen Emilia Clarke as a brunette? Yowza.)
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!SPOILER ALERT!
I hope they can use those special effects to recreate the Battle of Blackwater.
Brunette Emilia Clarke > Blonde Emilia Clarke
It’s a testament to the effects guys that not ONCE during the running of season 1 did I ever, EVER think that any of the shots were anything but practical.
almost done with book 3 – A Storm of Swords, and once again, Martin has shocked and angered me. But in a good way.
Total agreement on the brunette Emilia Clarke. I keep getting a “meth head Olsen twin” vibe when she’s in blonde mode.
@MFillmore
I just finished Storm of Swords too, and fuck GRRM is such an asshole.
Brunette Emilia Clarke=BOING! (in my pants that is)
Agreed. So for the record Emilia Clark Brunnette > Emilia Clark Blonde > Emily Deschanel > Zooey Deschanal?
Also- incase anyone was curious if Martin has toned things down by the fifth book *SPOILERISH ALERT* a baby gets eaten in the first five pages.
Crap, I’m almost done with Storm of Swords and now I’m frightened, because yesterday was a really good day in the book. I agree, Emilia Clarke has a whole new level of hotness as a brunette.
Queen Cersei as a brunette:
[www.flixster.com]
I too just finished Storm of Swords and as a friendly public service address I would advise anyone who got too chocked up over the end of Episode 9 to drop out now. That scene is just baby-town frolics for what is coming.
Wait – was there a girl in those pictures?
@ MFillmore & Hee Moy
I advise you to stop reading the series at book 3…I was an early adopter of this series and loved 1,2, and 3…Book 4 is horrible and having read the first few chapters of Book 5, it ain’t much better. GRRM blew all his story load in 3 books, and now he’s stuck in the strip club with sticky pants, asking us to borrow 20s
Jimmy, isn’t that how those Hollywood types get you? They give you three awesome movies and then you’re stuck watching Fast Five asking yourself what you’ve done with your life.
But how did they make Dinklage look so short? Was it like how Tim Conway did Dorf?
I came in here looking for spoilers, left with an FX boner.
@Jimmy
I liked the 4th book better than the 3rd. Mostly because Martin intorduced a whole bunch of new characters and by then I knew not to get too attached to them before he did something horrible to them.
I almost threw Book 3 out a closed window. Fucker.
Yeah, books 4 and 5 are not nearly as awesome as 1,2, and 3. They’re not complete shit, and are still pretty addicting, but not as much as the others.