Ran, I am sorry I didn’t ask George a single ASOAIF related question, however I did ask him whether he had ever considered revisiting his "Thousand Worlds" mythos and perhaps filling in some of the back story. His answer was (as best as I can remember) that he wrote those almost thirty years ago and that he is a different person and writer now, so it would be very difficult.
I’ve just typed up a few questions that WERE able to be asked today. I will try to ask more at the party tomorrow as well. Now, these aren’t from a transcript…they’re not word for word. They’re the answers he gave in essentially the wording he used, but I’ve written it from my notes and memory. He also mentioned that he’s really overall very pleased with the actors, especially the children. He said Maisie, Isaac, and Sophie are all amazingly talented, grounded actors. One story involved Isaac climbing to the top of these stone walls and towers with a harness on and just having no fear. Was great to see him so excited about the people breathing life into his works.
In any case, here’s the questions and answers so far:
1) Q: To what extent are you consulted when it comes to additions or changes to the story to make sure it doesn’t create inconsistencies for you that’s in store for the rest of the series. Have you had to review any secrets of the book series the eighth and development of the show?
A: Yes I have actually, there have been many meetings and such to discuss this and the result has been I had to share several secrets of the upcoming books In order to help out with the writing of the series itself.
2) Q: Do you think that once the show comes out and you begin watching it, It’ll influence what you write in the rest of the books? I.e. do you think you’ll be influenced by the actors and write something that maybe when you wouldn’t have otherwise written?
A: My honest answer is I don’t know. I will try everything I can to not let it influence me but the fact is, I’m human and I’ll be watching the show just like everybody else and who knows what will happen? I like to think that nothing will influence what I have in store for these characters and the rest of the books.
3) Q: Are the designs for the costumes and swords and that sort of thing brand-new or are they taking it from you and existing art, posters, replicas, miniatures etc. Do you influence them? Because we know you’ve given descriptions in the books and that sort of thing… or are they being designed by artists and set designers from scratch?
A: Honestly it’s entirely brand-new. HBO has been doing it their own way with their own artists and designers because to take it from anything existing would breach copyright infringement. So for the sake of legal reasons as well is artistic pride, it’s really been done for the ground up and it will be HBO’s version of all these designs, elements, weapons and armor and that sort of thing.
4) Q: Have you seen any of the footage that’s been shot so far?
A: I’ve seen a rough cut of the pilot that was put together and I’ve been there for some shooting so far and everything that I’ve seen really looks great. I’m very excited about it–Very happy with it so far.
Stubby had introduced me to George earlier in the day, and it was so fantastic to finally meet him, shake his hand and have a chat. My day would have been absolutely great just with that experience, but wait, there's more ... dinner with George - I'm sat a fair ways down the table away from George, but honestly it was perfect to begin the evening like that. Paxter was sat opposite George and Cam made a joke about whether he would accept $50 to swap spots. Later Parris left the table and Cam had an opportunity to sit next to George for a while. After the meals were eaten, Paxter and Ski got up together (obviously sharing a room featuring a frosted glass window to the ensuite is not enough! :lmao: ) and I said to simhanada "QUICK let's move down GO GO GO!!!" and I ended up getting to sit right opposite George for the rest of the night, so so so so cool!
Today George talked about the HBO series, he said he wanted to show us photos that he'd taken when he was on set for some filming, but HBO wouldn't let him because it showed the actors in costume (oh my! like we can't imagine what they're going to look like!) and bits of set in the background. So instead he just talked generally about the bringing his books to the screen, thought I don't think there was particularly anything that I didn't know.
I did my best for Jake to get him into the show, at dinner last night I told him in front of George that I could see him as a knight!! HINT HINT GEORGE!!! It's true though - Jake could definitely pass for one of Renly's knights of summer. Oh, and also last night, I was very impressed that George himself brought up that very taboo subject of which we must not speak, and again today in his panel he mentioned it, so I think finishing the series is very much foremost in his mind, even though sometimes it might appear that he's not focussed on it.
So I got my ASoIaF calendar first thing this morning - after hearing last night that they were just about sold out, I was very relieved. George is doing a signing tomorrow after his reading - I'm thinking Valar Dohaerys will look good on the cover.
[Note: This interview is published in Trimaginas, a Spanish-language fantasy publication.]
Nice to see you, too! And definitely. BTW, here's the fruits of my labors that evening.
I was mondo lucky and got invited to a dinner party where GRRM was guest of honor. Unfortunately, I was mostly brain dead and didn't ask anything interesting. But HBO-series wise, he is going to be writing one script per season. They are going to attempt one book per season (although GRRM posited that when they hit SoS, it'll have to be split over two seasons). He said that the number of episodes per series isn't necessarily set in stone, so they might be stretching out to 12 episodes later on. I also asked him if having the series dramatized was going to affect how he envisions the characters and he said that was a good question. He thought about it for a second, and then said that there's one actress (they're currently in negotiations with, so he couldn't mention the character or the actress's names) who doesn't look anything like the character she auditioned for, but she's so damn good that they want her, and if she does get cast, it's definitely going to have an effect on the how the character gets written in the book.
The only other thing I remember (and it's of no interest to anyone, I just thought it was funny) was that I was burbling on about NTLive and Alan Bennett's The Habit of Art, and GRRM said that they'd tried to get Richard Griffiths for Game of Thrones, but it fell through. I was just joking and said, "Who'd you get instead--Ian McNeice?" and he laughed and said, "Yes, actually."
[Note: This remark expands slightly on this report from the same event.]
He did say "I have this (after he read the prologue) and about 1400 other pages".
GRRM read the ADWD prologue. He fielded the typical questions: Jon Snow's parent's etc. He could not announce casting news or "HBO would kill him" and since he is sans net here in SD, did not know the news about about Gregor's casting. He has "1400" finished ADWD pages, hasn't begun on the 4th Dunk & Egg short story and had to review all the casting videos for Shae "many times".
Hope you're doing well! I hope this is a somewhat innocuous email that you might answer for me. Melisandre mentions that she expects Sam to show her (and Stannis, if I recall) the Black Gate under the Nightfort. There's no mention of Sam's having left Castle Black before taking ship to Braavos, so am I correct in assuming that he never returned to the Nightfort to show the gate to Melisandre?
I am sure she found it on her own.
I live in Phoenix and I just got back from a Dance With Dragons reading and a brief question and answer period with George at Leprecon in Mesa, Arizona. George was simply fabulous. I make it a point not to read any Dance sample chapters that he posts. I want to read the entire book in its entirety for the first time. I decided to break my rule however, when I saw that George was doing a reading in my neighborhood.
It was a Bran chapter and man was it good to get lost back in Westeros if only for a few moments. George later told me that he thinks he has read this chapter once before but he didn't seem sure... George had me spell-bound. I did notice that he seemed to stop a time or two to correct something with a black pen. Proof reading has got to be the bane of all authors.
This reading was easily the treat of my month. A very special moment for a long-time fan. Thanks George. You rock.
After, GRRM was nice enough to hold a Q&A period. He has another one scheduled for tomorrow. I'll try to get there, but my kid has a football game that I can't miss if there is a time conflict. Among the things he spoke about concerning Dance were that while March was a great month, things have slowed down a bit lately, but his writing continues. Over 1300 pages so the end is inevitably closer.
As mentioned before, one of his Sansa chapters for WoW is written already. Similarly he added that there is also an Arya chapter written for WoW (not sure if this is news or not).
Regarding the HBO series, George mentioned that casting calls are currently going on in New York, LA, London, Dublin and Australia. When asked about how writing for TV has changed since his last television efforts, he mantioned that one of the things he struggled with on episode 8 was getting used to a computer program called Final Draft that is apparantly an industry standard. One of the funnier moments was when someone asked him about character cuts. He said that numerous smaller characters would either be cut completely or possibly physically referenced in the background without lines. He listed the Nightswatch as examples. Jon and Sam would be the largest roles. Then possibly Grenn and Pyp might have a few lines. Toad, Rast and others may or may not have small lines after that. Finally he mentioned that Desmond (Guardsman at Winterfell) has been cut. He that said "So those Desmond fans out there are fucked".
Now for the big scoop (at least imo). I asked him to please give us some insight as to wether Syrio Forel is alive or dead. He chuckled and said that Syrio was alive in the series at least because he had written some scenes for him in episode 8!!!!!! Whew! That puts alot of doubt to rest in my mind!
So there you have it. I hope some of this helps. One last thing. George was nice enough to take a picture with me. I showed my eight year old daughter who asked me "Who is that?" I told her "George R R Martin". She didn't miss a beat when she replied "is not your bitch!" I guess sometimes I sing too loud in the shower!
[Note: This interview was conducted in May, but was published in October, and was conducted by Geek's Guide to the Galaxy hosts John Joseph Adams and David Barr Kirtley.]
Just got back from dinner. Had a great time. Being able to talk to two published authors (Wild Card author Mary Anne Mohanraj also joined us) was rather spellbinding. They had some great publishing stories and we talked alot about other books and authors we all liked. So there wasn't too much ASoIaF talk.
However, GRRM did talk a little bit more about ep. 8 which he is writing. He really wouldn't get nailed down about where the episode ends but he did say it would also involve the NW finding Otho and Jafer Flowers and the Dothraki and the Lamb Men. So pretty cool!