How the Cinematography of 'Game of Thrones' Tells Its Epic Story
A camera operator shares what they love about being behind the camera for 8 seasons.
I truly believe that Game of Thrones is a show that has really marked the changing of times while it has been on the air. The show has evolved with special effects and digital cameras, and as it enters its eighth season, things have never looked better on the screen. The CGI has finally caught up with the growth of the dragons and the mix of practical and special effects makes each scene glorious.
Recently, HBO caught up with camera operator Sean Savage to talk about what it's been like for him to be behind the A-camera on the dragon unit for all eight seasons.
Check out the full video from HBO's Game of Thrones YouTube channel.
We know that GoT relies on its cinematography to add subtext and drama, but it was cool hearing him talk about how the director and cinematography team added Jon Snow's trampling scene in the Battle of the Bastards as well as the 23 days they spent shooting only the battle sequence to get it right.
That shows the true team effort behind Game of Thrones and accentuates what we already know about the complex shooting style of such an epic television show.
It was great hearing about other hurdles like abandoned sets due to storms, floods, and snowfall.
The video focuses on legacy, not only of the show but of the people behind it. We often focus on the famous creators of televisions series but GoT definitely pushes the crew into the spotlight as well. Savage talks about how familial the set is, and how they all sort of came of age with the show. Now their experiences and triumphs have a swan song and for the 73(!) episodes he's shot, his legacy and the legacy of his crew will certainly stand the test of time.
What's next? Read our Game Of Thrones Season 8 Preview!
Season 8 is shaping up to be one of the wildest on television. Early prognosticators are assuming that upwards of 10-20 million may tune in for each episode, and we know almost all of them are written at movie length. It's going to be a blast. How excited are you for Season 8 of Game of Thrones?
Got predictions? Leave them in the comments.
I can't wait to see what happens in this epic and bloody battle.
The new season of Game Of Thrones will debut on April 14th, 2019.
