[Touchy decision made re accent for GoT...afterall, it is NI:]
Tweet: >Voice coach for #GameOfThrones says "UK" accent(s) used; Aidan Gillen won't be using his native Irish accent<
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Tweet: >Westeros: Nice to see the BBC's NI desk taking an interest. RT @JacMac30: More Thrones news on the BBC http://bit.ly/dBWNox #GameOfThrones about 2 hours ago<
The BBC Article follows [The series is expected to generate 20Million pounds for Belfast's economy--wondering about the total amount invested by taxpayers in the project.]
>20 July 2010 -- Game of Thrones cast gets local additions
Game of Thrones is expected to be broadcast next year A fantasy epic being filmed in Northern Ireland is to star some of the brightest local acting talent.
Game of Thrones begins filming in Belfast next week, and Northern Ireland Screen has announced Conleth Hill, Ian McElhinney and Derek Halligan will join the cast.
They will join Coleraine actress Michelle Fairley, who was recently cast as the wife of Sean Bean's lead character in the series by US broadcaster HBO.
Much of the series will be shot on a huge set at Belfast's Paint Hall Studio in the Titanic Quarter.
Scenic locations such as the Mourne Mountains will be used to recreate the fantasy landscapes from the world created in George RR Martin's series of novels, A Song of Ice and Fire.
Conleth Hill is best-known for his stage roles and was most recently seen in the cinemas in Woody Allen's Whatever Works.
On his blog, author Martin wrote of him: "Hill, like Varys, is quite a chameleon, an actor who truly disappears inside the characters he portrays, more than capable not only of bringing the slimy, simpering eunuch to life."
Ian McElhinney is a fellow stalwart actor of Belfast's Lyric Theatre who was nominated for a Tony award in 2001 for directing Stones in his Pocket, written by his wife Marie Jones.
Derek Halligan first appeared on screen in 1982 Troubles drama Harry's Game and his credits include Divorcing Jack, Fifty Dead Men Walking and Hollyoaks.
The cast also includes Mark Addy, Alfie Allen, Aidan Gillen, Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lena Headey and Jerome Flynn.
The series is set in a fantasy medieval world, which has led to some niche casting calls for extras.
Amputees were being sought last month, as were hirsute men not planning to take that job at the bank any time soon; hairy recruits to the series must keep growing their hair and their facial hair until next January.
The production team now "urgently require experienced male horseriders aged 16 to 65 with swarthy skin and dark hair and, if possible, long dark hair".
The chance of appearing in the show will be even greater if they have "a mediterranean, hispanic, mixed race or latin look about them".
An open casting call takes place on Wednesday evening at Lusks Equestrian Centre in Carryduff.
The government estimates the series will generate £20m for the local economy.
Filming for the nine-part series is expected to last until the end of the year, with the show going to air next spring. <
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-10696107
6 comments:
Sad economic news for UK movie industry. Total amount spent on UK feature films fell to £643 million (982 million) in the first six months of 2010. This compares with £726 million between January and June last year. The £643 million figure is still the second highest on record after 2009 though, driven mainly by Hollywood movies shooting over here. Big-budget movies using British studios included the latest Harry Potter and Pirates franchises, plus John Carter of Mars.
Production volume fell by 15% overall in the first six months, with 51 movies shooting (60 in first-half 2009). And indigenous production has been badly hit, down 22%. Twenty nine home-grown productions have cranked up so far in 2010 compared with 37 in 2009. Total UK independent investment (including co-pros) has fallen by 21% to £80 million. Indie British films that have shot so far in 2010 include Burke & Hare, The Great Ghost Rescue and Bel Ami.
The amount spent on home-grown UK films also fell by 18% last year to £169.2 million, according to the latest UK Film Council figures
judith, no doubt Hollywood is still spending ridiculous amounts on mediocre(at best) films. It seems all the lead roles are given to a handful of actors. Meryl Streep & Robert Downey Jr are two who consistently bore me to death--can't understand why they seem to appear in almost every major film.
The large number of British actors chosen in recent yrs, for US movie & tv roles, is a common topic of conversation on programs dedicated to show biz news. Comments usually include words to the effect UK thespians often work harder and for less remuneration than their US counterparts. IMO, competition usually produces better results in almost every human endeavor, so the influx is very welcome. One in particular is even more warmly welcome than the others, and you know who it is;) teehee
Very depressing since US movie industry is all about bottom line! I was rewatching Bridget Jones Diary and wondering why the wonderful Shirley Henderson didn't have the lead instead of a bit part. I despise Renee Z! I almost hate to think of RA in an American movie, he deserves better.
judit, no doubt RA will help make the movie better and the bar will be raised so the powers that be in Hollywood stop foisting little lord DiCaprios:)on us. Leo's not that bad an actor, but out of an over 300M population surely we can find acting talent that is visually inspiring as well. Is that too much to ask?
If you're not fond of Renee Z, you probably missed her as Beatrix Potter. We really enjoyed it - hubby surprised me when he said he'd watch, then afterwards expressed his approval. Her sweet animal drawings come to life as she's writing letters to a sick nephew, but it's done in a clever way so that it doesn't seem strange at all. The story focuses mostly on the difficulty she had as a 19thC female promoting her books, and the romance that blossomed between her and the young publisher. Really heart-warming story - filled w/beautiful scenery.
Had forgotten she played Bridget Jones as well. Her British accent seemed much smoother in the Potter film. During both movies I'd wondered why they chose an American for those roles--probably due to name recognition in the US.
While watching 'Michael Collins' starring Liam Neesom, was surprised when Julia Roberts appeared as his girlfriend. Might've been for the same reason - although most of us know Liam, so I'm not certain why the addition of Julia. It was really a small role for her. Perhaps she was trying to help support the Irish Film Industry at the time.
We saw Collin's death mask in Trinity College Museum, Dublin. He was born in Co Cork, as was one of my gggfathers; and he was also killed in Cork during the Irish Civil War. It followed their War of Independence(or possibly Easter Rising) about 1917. Michael signed a peace treaty w/the English Parliament agreeing to divide the country. When he arrived home he discovered there were people rather upset that he'd made the compromise...hence the death mask.
judit, no doubt RA will help make the movie better and the bar will be raised so the powers that be in Hollywood stop foisting little lord DiCaprios:)on us. Leo's not that bad an actor, but out of an over 300M population surely we can find acting talent that is visually inspiring as well. Is that too much to ask?
If you're not fond of Renee Z, you probably missed her as Beatrix Potter. We really enjoyed it - hubby surprised me when he said he'd watch, then afterwards expressed his approval. Her sweet animal drawings come to life as she's writing letters to a sick nephew, but it's done in a clever way so that it doesn't seem strange at all. The story focuses mostly on the difficulty she had as a 19thC female promoting her books, and the romance that blossomed between her and the young publisher. Really heart-warming story - filled w/beautiful scenery.
Had forgotten she played Bridget Jones as well. Her British accent seemed much smoother in the Potter film. During both movies I'd wondered why they chose an American for those roles--probably due to name recognition in the US.
While watching 'Michael Collins' starring Liam Neesom, was surprised when Julia Roberts appeared as his girlfriend. Might've been for the same reason - although most of us know Liam, so I'm not certain why the addition of Julia. It was really a small role for her. Perhaps she was trying to help support the Irish Film Industry at the time.
We saw Collin's death mask in Trinity College Museum, Dublin. He was born in Co Cork, as was one of my gggfathers; and he was also killed in Cork during the Irish Civil War. It followed their War of Independence(or possibly Easter Rising) about 1917. Michael signed a peace treaty w/the English Parliament agreeing to divide the country. When he arrived home he discovered there were people rather upset that he'd made the compromise...hence the death mask.
haha...don't ask me how that happened. It couldn't be a brief post...only a tome would do:)
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