76 replies to this topic

[Galen M]

Tyrionthebest, on 15 September 2011 - 10:59 AM, said:

Why do you keep saying durka durka ? Is it a meme or something ?

from yahoo answers:

Quote

It's a generic "arabic sounding" word used to ridicule muslim terrorists. The phrase "durka durka mohammed jihad" was made famous in the movie "Team America". When Gary "the actor" had to infiltrate the terrorists lair, these were some key words exchanged that allowed him passage.

[Padraig]

mr. peasant, on 14 September 2011 - 06:13 PM, said:

It's not just lasting 7 seasons but having 7+ seasons where the main characters are continuously played by the same actors without needing to be recast.

That's part of what I mean when I say that getting to anything like 7 seasons is immensely challenging.  There are a number of reasons why a show may end.  Falling ratings is one.  Getting stale is another.  But , given what HBO have said, if the showrunners wanted to do something else then its very likely that the show would end.  Certainly if a number of leading cast members left the show, I think they might reconsider their options.  OTOH, they do sound very committed and passionate about the project, so its not something we have to really worry about.

In fact, all the cast sound committed.  And that's the main thing.  If the material is good then the main cast members are not going to want to walk (never mind that they will be under contract for a number of seasons anyhow).  Its HBO, so its not lacking in prestige either.  Now they might get an incredible offer from somewhere else but there is still plenty time in the year to film other material.

I'm not saying that recasting is not an issue but I wouldn't overplay it either.  I doubt the cast are badly paid for instance.

[Été]

IIRC he only speaks gets a single spoken line in ACoK, he just needs to loom scarily in the background, brooding. So I'm seconding the sentiment that Gregor's actor mainly needs to be super-tall, since full plate will easily create the illusion of massive bulk.

[mr. peasant]

Padraig, on 15 September 2011 - 05:14 PM, said:

I doubt the cast are badly paid for instance.

I agree - if you mean relative to time spent on set. Meaning, an actor who only works for 30 days total during the 5-month filming period will earn less than one who is working full-time on a show with an equal filming period. Or in other words, someone who only has to be on-set for a few days will need to find other projects/jobs in order to equal income-wise someone who has to be on-set everyday.

Padraig, on 15 September 2011 - 05:14 PM, said:

I'm not saying that recasting is not an issue but I wouldn't overplay it either.

Bear in mind, of course, that for virtually every long-running TV series (anything more than 5 years), there have been unplanned/non-story-initiated changes in cast at some point in its life. This isn't over-playing an issue but simply stating a 'fact of life' in show business. This typically stems from pregnancies/maternity leaves, re-negotiations falling through when contracts expire (most long-running shows will almost certainly require all cast members to renew their contracts at some point in the show) or because the actors choose to move onto other projects. This last one does make sense. How many of us would want to work year after year in a job where you have zero chance for promotion? Hence, as was the case with Conan Stevens, some view that it is better career-wise to appear in a major role for a smaller production than a minor role for a bigger production. Also, some actors choose not to stay in one role for too long lest it leads them to get typecasted in said role - which would be career suicide for them.

Often, shows that tend to not have such shake-ups tend to be ones with smaller, more tight-knit teams or ones where the actors get the odd opportunity to try their hand in other areas of interest (e.g. writing, directing, producing).

Edited by mr. peasant, 15 September 2011 - 07:10 PM.

[Padraig]

mr. peasant, on 15 September 2011 - 07:09 PM, said:

Meaning, an actor who only works for 30 days total during the 5-month filming period will earn less than one who is working full-time on a show with an equal filming period.

And if both shows were HBO.  Sure.  OTOH, you can't say that when comparing a HBO production and a small UK production (for example).  That's what i'm trying to point out.  You are generalising too much.  And thus overstating the problem.   Maybe I sound like i'm understating the problem because of that?  But I did say that it would be immensely challenging to get this series to 7 seasons.

So yes, there are all sorts of reasons why this wouldn't get to 7 seasons.  Cast members may definitely want to move on at some stage.  But the show could have ended before contracts even become an issue for the main cast members.   And as stated, that's the advantage of a 10 episode HBO series compared to a 22 episode US network season.  It will leave you with a lot more time to try your hand at other areas of interest.

So basically, I don't see the point of listing all the reaons why recasting could be a major issue and ignoring all the positive factors.  Its not like HBO has a major history of cast members fleeing their shows.

[HashRouge]

Padraig, on 15 September 2011 - 05:14 PM, said:

That's part of what I mean when I say that getting to anything like 7 seasons is immensely challenging.  There are a number of reasons why a show may end.  Falling ratings is one.  Getting stale is another.  But , given what HBO have said, if the showrunners wanted to do something else then its very likely that the show would end.  Certainly if a number of leading cast members left the show, I think they might reconsider their options.  OTOH, they do sound very committed and passionate about the project, so its not something we have to really worry about.

In fact, all the cast sound committed.  And that's the main thing.  If the material is good then the main cast members are not going to want to walk (never mind that they will be under contract for a number of seasons anyhow).  Its HBO, so its not lacking in prestige either.  Now they might get an incredible offer from somewhere else but there is still plenty time in the year to film other material.

I'm not saying that recasting is not an issue but I wouldn't overplay it either.  I doubt the cast are badly paid for instance.

In some ways then it may actually be advantageous to the producers that certain key characters get killed of a few books in (sure you know who I'm talking about!) as they won't have to worry about keeping so many actors involved for the whole series. Minor characters can probably be recast without too much difficulty - I mean, does anyone actually remember what any of Robb's banner men look like other than the Greatjon?

[mr. peasant]

HashRouge, on 16 September 2011 - 08:06 AM, said:

In some ways then it may actually be advantageous to the producers that certain key characters get killed of a few books in (sure you know who I'm talking about!) as they won't have to worry about keeping so many actors involved for the whole series.

Not quite true since there is no guarantee that the actors who decide to pursue other projects/careers will match the timing and the characters that are killed off.

Padraig, on 16 September 2011 - 03:42 AM, said:

And if both shows were HBO.  Sure.  OTOH, you can't say that when comparing a HBO production and a small UK production (for example).  That's what i'm trying to point out.  You are generalising too much.  And thus overstating the problem.   Maybe I sound like i'm understating the problem because of that?  But I did say that it would be immensely challenging to get this series to 7 seasons.

Which is entirely my point. All else being equal, a show with a smaller cast (who spend more time filming the show per season) will have an easier time retaining cast members since they are less likely to need to subsist their income with other projects (that might clash with the main show's filming schedule - especially in subsequent years; i.e. season 2 of the side project) or have the time to do so.

The main reason why I feel that I'm not overstating the problem is because the show aims to follow the storyline from the books. As such, it has already been predetermined which characters need to stay and which actors will have to leave, with little to no flexibility to accommodate real life issues and hiccups.

[Padraig]

mr. peasant, on 16 September 2011 - 10:40 AM, said:

Not quite true since there is no guarantee that the actors who decide to pursue other projects/careers will match the timing and the characters that are killed off.

In fairness, I'm pretty sure he knew this. He just meant that at least we are not relying on everyone remaining till the end.

I don't buy the subsist their income point. That suggests the main cast members are badly paid.  And a lot of actors like having time to do other things rather than worry about having little money.

[Todd Sand bastard of AZ]

It's impossible to find someone the exact same size and build as Gregor, but Stevens is probably as close as you can get. Not to mention Stevens played up the dumb brute attitude well. I hope this rumor isn't true.

[Rinso]

Meh, Conan Stevens didn't have much to work with the role anyway since they restricted Gregor only to the tourney. If the new guy has the same haircut and beard, nobody aside from the geeks like us will notice.

[Alexia]

Rinso, on 16 September 2011 - 08:16 PM, said:

Meh, Conan Stevens didn't have much to work with the role anyway since they restricted Gregor only to the tourney. If the new guy has the same haircut and beard, nobody aside from the geeks like us will notice.

Conan Stevens was so adorable though.  I smiled when I saw Gregor in the tourney, because I was thinking of how hard Conan went after the role.  I don't mind saying it, I'm disappointed.

I'm sure the new guy will be fine, but I liked Conan darnit.  And besides... I found an online video of him and Rory rehearsing, and he was shirtless...

[Rinso]

Alexia, on 16 September 2011 - 08:51 PM, said:

I'm sure the new guy will be fine, but I liked Conan darnit.  And besides... I found an online video of him and Rory rehearsing, and he was shirtless...

And they say that we guys are shallow and only look skin-deep...
Not that I wasn't mesmerized by Emilia Clarke's naked butt in Episode 1, but that's beside the point!

Anyway, I actually agree - Conan Stevens was a good addition to the cast. I remember reading on his site how he envisioned and approached the role of Gregor - how he saw him as more than a grunting brute, and came up with the idea that the Mountain would be incredibly arrogant and would view the other human beings as inferior life-forms or something... It was really cool - the guy seemed dedicated to actually make Gregor an actual performace.
The guys in charge, though, apparently decided that it was enough to just let him grunt and yell at the tourney and nothing more. I would have loved to see him among Tywin's battle commanders as it was in the book, but alas...

[littlespider]

Alexia, on 16 September 2011 - 08:51 PM, said:

And besides... I found an online video of him and Rory rehearsing, and he was shirtless...

The reason he was shirtless is that he found out that someone would be stopping by the rehearsal in a minute to film them, so he stopped the rehearsal, stripped his shirt off, did however many pushups it took him to look bulbulous, and then got up and resumed the rehearsal.

He talked about this in an interview he gave as a shameless self-promotion attempt (it's linked on winter is coming...I'll try to dig it up). I dunno....seems a little silly to me. He's a cool guy, I guess, and it's cute that he made such a big public deal lobbying for the part and then made such a big public deal talking about playing the part. But then he takes off when (possibly) said publicity helped to land him other and potentially more lucrative parts. I'm not saying this is how it happened, but I suspect this may be the case. Kinda obnoxious if you ask me.

But I do think he was perfect for Gregor. When we saw his face at the tournament -- very fierce!

I'm sure Ian will do a fine job, though.

Edited by littlespider, 17 September 2011 - 01:44 PM.

[Padraig]

littlespider, on 17 September 2011 - 01:43 PM, said:

But then he takes off when (possibly) said publicity helped to land him other and potentially more lucrative parts. I'm not saying this is how it happened, but I suspect this may be the case. Kinda obnoxious if you ask me.

That's very harsh.  He had a very small role as a 1-D villian in GoT, while he has a bigger role in Spartacus and appearing in the Hobbit is a big deal in itself.

I don't think he ever disguised his actions previously.  He was trying to build a career and getting a role in S1 was a step on that journey.  He never pretended to be a lifelong fan of the book series or anything.  It was a job that he knew he could do very well.  Glad GoT could help him in his career.  I can't begrudge him success.

[GoodGuyA]

Été, on 15 September 2011 - 05:43 PM, said:

IIRC he only speaks gets a single spoken line in ACoK

SWORD!

[StarkWard]

He is a bit skinny, but you can never know what heavy armor can do to a person's built...

[the savage]

I really hope Stevens is back for Season 4 of the show.  Ian Whyte might just be a stand in that can do some damage in heavy armor.  IMO, he won't be right for Gregor's ASOS scenes.  After seeing Conan Stevens in Season 1, and then reading ASOS, he is the only actor I could IMAGINE

Spoiler

pulling off the line "then I bashed her fucking head in, LIKE THIS," as horrorifically as it's supposed to be.

[Ser Dermett Corbray]

Conan was really memorable in his GoT scenes, it's a shame he left. In fact, his image was planted in my head once I started the book

Interested to see a screenshot of Whyte in his Clegane outfit, see how similar they got him to his predecessor. They could probably have him entirely in his armour, never see his face tbh. It's his men (Raff, Tickler etc) who have more contact with, the er, "character" in them scenes.

[Urien the Ragged]

they got the wrong whyte, they needed Paul Wight, he'd be the perfect mountain. i have no idea why he hasn't been mentioned.

[Ser Dermett Corbray]

Urien the Ragged, on 11 February 2012 - 05:33 PM, said:

they got the wrong whyte, they needed Paul Wight, he'd be the perfect mountain. i have no idea why he hasn't been mentioned.

He's probably way too busy to do any other work away from the WWE. Especially work that would have him have to fly across to Ireland and that. Good shout though. He has the immense size but I think he's a bit weighty to be Gregor.