Coordinates

33°51′35.9″N151°12′40″N

{{infobox television |show name

Game of Thrones |image |caption |genre Medieval fantasy |format Serial drama |creator Series:David BenioffD. B. WeissNovels:George R. R. Martin |developer |writer David BenioffD. B. WeissBryan CogmanJane EspensonGeorge R. R. Martin |director Tim Van PattenBrian KirkDaniel MinahanAlan Taylor |starring Sean BeanMark AddyMichelle FairleyNikolaj Coster-WaldauLena HeadeyEmilia ClarkeIain GlenAidan GillenHarry LloydKit HaringtonRichard MaddenSophie TurnerMaisie WilliamsAlfie AllenIsaac Hempstead WrightJack GleesonRory McCannPeter DinklageJason Momoa |narrated |theme_music_composer |opentheme |endtheme |composer Ramin Djawadi |country United States |language English |num_seasons 1 |num_episodes 10 |list_episodes List of Game of Thrones episodes |executive_producer David BenioffD. B. Weiss |producer Mark HuffamFrank Doelger |cinematography Alik SakharovMarco PontecorvoMatthew Jensen |editor |location Northern IrelandMalta (Season 1)Dubrovnik (Season 2) Iceland (Season 2) |camera Arri Alexa |runtime 60 minutes |company HBO, Created By, Management 360 |distributor HBO |channel HBO |picture_format 1080i (HDTV) |audio_format Dolby Digital 5.1 |first_run United States |first_aired |last_aired present |status Season hiatus |followed_by |related |website http://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones |production_website http://www.makinggameofthrones.com/ }}

''Game of Thrones'' is an American medieval fantasy television series created for HBO by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. Based on author George R. R. Martin's best-selling ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' series of fantasy novels, the first of which is called ''A Game of Thrones'', the television series debuted in the U.S. on April 17, 2011.

Highly-anticipated since its early stages of development, ''Game of Thrones'' was well received by fans and critics. The series was picked up for a second season on April 19, 2011, two days after its premiere.

Plot

The cable television series closely follows the multiple storylines of the ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' series, and author Martin has stated that the show's pilot script was very faithful to his work. Set in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, where "summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime," ''Game of Thrones'' chronicles the violent dynastic struggles among the kingdom's noble families for control of the Iron Throne; as the series opens, additional threats from the snow and ice covered region north of Westeros and from the eastern continent across a narrow sea are simultaneously beginning to rise.

Cast and characters

Sean Bean leads the first season cast as Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark, patriarch of the protagonistic family of the series, the Starks. His wife, Catelyn Stark née Tully, is played by Michelle Fairley. Their children are Robb (Richard Madden), Sansa (Sophie Turner), Arya (Maisie Williams), Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) and Rickon (Art Parkinson). Kit Harington plays Ned's bastard, Jon Snow, and Alfie Allen plays Theon Greyjoy, political hostage and ward for Lord Stark. King Robert Baratheon is played by Mark Addy, and his wife, Queen Cersei Lannister, is played by Lena Headey. Cersei has two brothers; her twin, Ser Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), and the clever dwarf Tyrion (Peter Dinklage). Cersei's oldest child is Prince Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson), and his bodyguard is Sandor "The Hound" Clegane (Rory McCann). Aidan Gillen plays Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, Master of Coin for King Robert's Small Council.

Across the Narrow Sea are Viserys (Harry Lloyd) and Daenerys "Dany" Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), exiled children of the previous king that King Robert overthrew, on the run for their lives and trying to win back the throne. Dany is married to Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa), the leader of the Dothraki, for the promise of an army for Viserys. Iain Glen plays exiled knight Ser Jorah Mormont, who is sworn to help and protect the siblings.

Production

Conception and development

The series began development in January 2007. HBO, after acquiring the rights to the novels with the intent of turning them into an international cable television series, hired David Benioff and D. B. Weiss to write and executive produce the series, which would cover one novel's worth of material per season. Initially, it was planned that Benioff and Weiss would write every episode save one per season, which author and co-executive producer George R. R. Martin was attached to write. However, Jane Espenson and Bryan Cogman were later added to each write one episode of the first season.

"''The Sopranos'' in Middle-earth" is the tagline Benioff jokingly suggested for the television adaptation, referring to its intrigue-filled content and dark tone set in a fantasy world setting. Traditional high fantasy is described as generally incidental to the series, with HBO programming chief Michael Lombardo finding the storytelling appealing rather than the low-key magic or the exotic milieu, in spite of the network's new developmental policy to "[take] shots at shows that we wouldn't have taken a shot at five years ago."

The ''Game of Thrones'' budget has been compared to that of ''Rome.'' The pilot reportedly cost HBO between , and the total budget for the first season has been estimated at .

HBO hired expert language creator David J. Peterson from the Language Creation Society to develop the Dothraki language – "possessing its own unique sound, extensive vocabulary of more than 1,800 words and complex grammatical structure" – to be used in the series. The first and second drafts of the pilot script, written by Benioff and Weiss, were submitted in August 2007 and June 2008, respectively. While HBO found both drafts to their liking, a pilot was not ordered until November 2008, with the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike possibly delaying the process.

Casting

Season 1

On May 5, 2009, it was announced that Peter Dinklage had been signed on to star as Tyrion Lannister in the pilot, and that Tom McCarthy was set to direct. On July 19, 2009, a number of further casting decisions were announced, including Sean Bean being given the role of Ned Stark, thus confirming a rumour first reported a couple of days before. Other actors signed on for the pilot were Kit Harington in the role of Jon Snow, Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon, Harry Lloyd as Viserys Targaryen, and Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon.

In the beginning of August 2009, it was revealed that Catelyn Stark would be portrayed by Jennifer Ehle. On August 20, more casting announcements were made, including Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister and Tamzin Merchant as Daenerys Targaryen, as well as Richard Madden in the role of Robb Stark, Iain Glen as Ser Jorah Mormont, Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy, and Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams as Sansa and Arya Stark, respectively. On September 1 Lena Headey was announced as Cersei Lannister. On September 23, Martin confirmed that Rory McCann had been cast as Sandor Clegane. Isaac Hempstead-Wright was confirmed as Bran Stark on October 14, followed by an announcement of Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo three days later.

After the pilot was shot and the series picked up, it was announced that the role of Catelyn had been recast, with Michelle Fairley replacing Ehle. Later, it was also confirmed that Emilia Clarke would replace Tamzin Merchant as Daenerys.

Season 2

The series was picked up for a second season on April 19, 2011, two days after its premiere. Casting for the second season began in May 2011. HBO has announced the casting of Gwendoline Christie as the female warrior Brienne of Tarth, Liam Cunningham as the former smuggler Ser Davos Seaworth, Oliver Ford Davies as Maester Cressen, Stephen Dillane as would-be king and Robert's brother, Stannis Baratheon, Natalie Dormer as Lady Margaery Tyrell, betrothed of Renly Baratheon, Carice van Houten as Melisandre of Asshai, Gemma Whelan as Yara Greyjoy ("Asha" in the novels; her name was changed for the TV show to avoid confusion with the wildling Osha), Nonso Anozie as Xaro Xhoan Daxos, Tom Wlaschiha as Jaqen H'ghar, Kerr Logan as Matthos Seaworth, Roy Dotrice as Pyromancer Hallyne, Hannah Murray as Gilly, Karl Davies as Alton Lannister (a character who does not appear in the books), Ben Crompton as "Dolorous Edd" Tollet, Michael McElhatton as Roose Bolton, Robert Pugh as Craster, Patrick Malahide as Balon Greyjoy, Daniel Portman as Podrick Payne and Ian Hanmore as Pyat Pree.

Filming locations

Principal photography for the first season of the series was scheduled to begin on July 26, 2010, with the primary locations being the Paint Hall Studio in the Titanic Quarter of Belfast, Northern Ireland, and the city of Mdina, Malta, a change in location from Morocco. The filming in Malta resulted in controversy when a protected ecosystem was damaged by a subcontractor. For the initial shooting of the pilot in 2009, additional filming locations included Cairncastle, Shane's Castle, Castle Ward, Magheramorne, and Tollymore Forest Park, all in Northern Ireland. Doune Castle in central Scotland was also used.

For the second season, HBO confirmed that the city of Dubrovnik, Croatia, will be used instead of Malta for shooting scenes in King's Landing and elsewhere. New shooting locations in Northern Ireland include Ballintoy Harbour in County Antrim. and Gosford Castle, outside Markethill in County Armagh.

Broadcast

''Game of Thrones'' premiered on HBO in the United States on April 17, 2011, and on Sky Atlantic in Britain and Ireland on April 18, 2011. The series was aired on Canal+ in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden on May 4, 2011 and in Spain on May 9, 2011, and on April 18, 2011 on HBO Central Europe. It will also air in Greece, South Africa, Portugal, Estonia, and Russia on Novacinema 1, M-Net, Syfy, ETV and Fox Life on October 2011 and also aired in the Arab world on OSN Series on April 20, 2011 and in Israel on Yes Action on April 21, 2011. The series started airing in France on June 5, 2011 on Orange Cinéma Séries, and is expected to begin in Australia on July 17, 2011 on showcase, in Italy in November 2011 on Sky Cinema 1, and in Germany and Austria in November 2011 on the TNT Serie channel. The first episode of the series premiered in Brazil on Sunday May 8, 2011 on the local HBO channel. The series is scheduled to begin broadcasting in Québec, Canada on Sunday, August 7, 2011 on the Super Écran network. In India, it premiered with a double-episode special - the first two - on the "local" HBO channel, on 22 August 2011 (Monday) at 1830 IST; it was, as with most non-Indian media in India, censored.

Broadcasters carrying the show include: – HBO – showcase – ORF1 – RTBF – HBO – HBO – HBO – HBO Canada, – Super Écran – HBO – HBO – Canal+ – ETV, Fox Life – Canal+ – Orange Cinéma Séries – TNT Serie – Nova Cinema – HBO – HBO – Stöð 2 – HBO – Sky Atlantic – Yes Action – Sky Cinema 1 – HBO - HBO Asia – HBO – HBO – Ziggo or HBO Netherlands – Canal+ – HBO – HBO – HBO – Syfy – HBO – Fox Life – HBO – HBO Asia – HBO – HBO – M-Net – Canal+ – Canal+ – SF zwei, TSR1 – HBO - HBO Asia – CNBC-e – Sky Atlantic – HBO

Other media

The first season's soundtrack by composer Ramin Djawadi was released in June 2011, and had been written within about ten weeks of the show's premiere.

An extension series called ''Thronecast: The Official Guide to Game of Thrones'', presented by Geoff Lloyd and produced by Koink is made available on the Sky Atlantic website as well as through the UK iTunes store. Each episode features episode analysis and a cast interview.

Reception

Anticipation for the series was described by various media outlets as extremely high, with a dedicated fan base closely following the show's development. By April 2011 multiple entertainment news outlets had put it at the top of their lists of television events to look forward to in 2011.

The majority of reviews for the show were very positive, with critics noting the high production value, the well-realized world, compelling characters, and giving particular note to the strength of the child actors. Tim Goodman's review for ''The Hollywood Reporter'' stated, "a few minutes into HBO's epic Game of Thrones series, it's clear that the hype was right and the wait was worth it." Mary McNamara from the ''Los Angeles Times'' called it "...a great and thundering series of political and psychological intrigue bristling with vivid characters, cross-hatched with tantalizing plotlines and seasoned with a splash of fantasy." ''New York Post'''s Linda Stasi gave ''Thrones'' 3.5/4 stars stating, "The art direction, acting and incredible sets are as breathtaking as the massive scope of the series." Many critics praised Peter Dinklage for his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister, with Ken Tucker from ''Entertainment Weekly'' stating, "...if Dinklage doesn't get an Emmy for his clever, rude Tyrion Lannister, I'll be gobsmacked" and Mary McNamara from the ''Los Angeles Times'' stating, "If the man doesn't win an Emmy, heads should certainly roll."

, ''Game of Thrones'' has a Metacritic average of 79 out of 100 based on 28 critic reviews, categorized as "generally favorable", with a user score of 9.0 termed "universal acclaim".

The premiere episode attracted 2.2 million viewers its initial airing on April 17 in the U.S., and totalled 5.4 million viewers across multiple Sunday and Monday night airings. It averaged 743,000 and reached a peak 823,000 in UK and Ireland on its April 18 premiere. HBO announced that they would be commissioning a second season on the strength of the reception of the premiere episode. By the final episode of the season, which aired June 20, the ratings had climbed to over 3 million.

On July 14, 2011 ''Game of Thrones'' was nominated for 13 Emmy Awards that included Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series, and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Peter Dinklage as Tyrion).

References

External links

Official UK website

Official US Website

* Category:Fantasy television series Category:HBO network shows Category:Incest in fiction Category:Serial drama television series Category:Television programs based on novels Category:2010s American television series Category:2011 American television series debuts

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Coordinates	33°51′35.9″N151°12′40″N
name	Jon Snow
birthname	Jon Snow
birth date	September 28, 1947
birth place	Ardingly, Sussex, England
occupation	Journalist, television presenter
relatives	Peter Snow, Dan Snow
ethnicity	English
credits	''Channel 4 News'' }}

Jon Snow (born 28 September 1947) is an English journalist and presenter, currently employed by ITN. He is best known for presenting Channel 4 News.

He was Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University from 2001 to 2008.

Early life

Snow was born in Ardingly, Sussex. He is the son of the schoolmaster and Bishop of Whitby, George D'Oyly Snow, grandson of First World War general Thomas D'Oyly Snow (about whom he writes in his Foreword to Ronald Skirth's war memoir ''The Reluctant Tommy''), and cousin of retired BBC television news presenter Peter Snow.

Education

Snow was brought up at Ardingly College, a minor public school, where his father George D'Oyly Snow was headmaster. He later attended the independent St Edward's School in Oxford. At age 18 he was for a year a VSO volunteer teaching in Northern Uganda.

After mixed success in his first attempt to pass his A level qualifications he moved to the Yorkshire Coast College, Scarborough, where he later obtained the necessary qualifications to gain a place studying law at the University of Liverpool. However, he did not complete the degree, being rusticated for his part in a student protest. However he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters at Liverpool University in 2011.

Life and career

After leaving Liverpool, Snow worked for New Horizon Youth Centre, a day centre for homeless young people in central London - an organisation with which he has remained involved and of which he subsequently became chairman. Snow was an assistant to Lord Longford.

Journalist

Without any journalistic experience he joined the radio station LBC as a journalist, and happened to be in the right place at the right time when he was sent by IRN News Editor Derek Grant to report live on commercial radio throughout the Balcombe Street Siege in London. As a result of his reporting and an inside tip from his cousin and ITN employee Peter Snow, Jon moved on to television news organisation ITN in 1976.

He served as ITN's Washington correspondent (1983–1986) and as diplomatic editor (1986–1989) before becoming the main presenter of ''Channel 4 News'' in 1989. In 1992 he was the main anchor for ITN's Election Night programme, broadcast on ITV; he presented the programme alongside Sir Robin Day, Alastair Stewart, and Julia Somerville. (Previously ITN's programme had typically been presented by Sir Alastair Burnet, who left ITN in 1991. The 1992 election night programme was the only one hosted by Snow. He was replaced by Jonathan Dimbleby from 1997 onwards.) He has won several RTS Awards - two for reports from El Salvador, one for his reporting of the Kegworth air disaster, and two as "Presenter of the Year".

In 2002 he returned to radio, presenting Jon Snow Reports on Oneword Radio, a weekly show and podcast. He wrote regular articles for the Channel 4 News website, and writes 'Snowmail' – a daily email newsletter on the big stories coming up on the evening edition of Channel 4 News.

He is known for his vast collection of colourful ties and socks.

Snow declined an OBE because he believes working journalists should not take honours from those that they report on.

Memorable incidents

Whilst working as a journalist in Uganda he flew sitting next to president Idi Amin in the presidential jet. He has recounted how whilst Amin appeared to be asleep he thought seriously about taking Amin's revolver and shooting him dead, but was worried about the consequences of firing a loose round in a jet.

In 1976, Snow rejected an approach by the British intelligence services to spy on his colleagues. At first he was asked to supply information about the Communist Party, but he was then asked to spy on certain "left-wing people" working in television. In return he would have received secret monthly tax-free payments into his bank account, matching his then salary.

In 2003, at the height of the "dodgy dossier" affair, Alastair Campbell walked into the studio to rebut statements by the BBC. With no notes or preparation Snow questioned Campbell about the affair.

In 2004, Snow published an autobiography, Shooting History.

He refuses to wear any symbol which may represent his views on air; in the run up to Remembrance Day he condemned what he called 'Poppy Fascism' because "in the end there really must be more important things in life than whether a news presenter wears symbols on his lapels".

On 28 February 2008 Snow courted controversy by claiming that the silence of the British media on the decision to allow Prince Harry to fight in Afghanistan was unacceptable with the following statement: "I never thought I'd find myself saying thank God for Drudge. The infamous US blogger has broken the best kept editorial secret of recent times. Editors have been sworn to secrecy over Prince Harry being sent to fight in Afghanistan three months ago." These remarks provoked criticism from some members of the public and other media outlets, with some accusing Snow of wishing to undermine the safety of the Prince and his troops, and (according to Snow himself at the end of that day's bulletin, and later reported in the ''Daily Mail'') one captain in the armed forces called Snow's actions "treason".

On 9 February 2009, Snow interviewed Lt-Col Yvonne Bradley, the military counsel for Binyam Mohamed, a British resident detained for five years at Guantanamo Bay. Snow asked if Mohamed's allegations of torture were justified. Lt-Col Bradley said there was no doubt at all that he had been tortured. Mohamed was released and returned to Britain on 23 February 2009. In November 2010 Snow was sent to Haiti to report on the cholera outbreak.

Personal life

Snow was briefly engaged in 1979 to fellow ITN journalist Anna Ford, who later became an equally high profile television news presenter. For 35 years his partner was human rights lawyer Madeleine Colvin, with whom he has two daughters. In March 2010 he married Precious Lunga, a ­Zimbabwe-born academic.

Affiliations

Trustee of the National Gallery and Tate Gallery from 1999 to 2008.

Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University from 2001 to 2008, regularly attending ceremonial events at the University. In 2009 he was awarded an honorary degree by Oxford Brookes - Doctor of the University.

Honorary professor and guest lecturer on Stirling University's Film & Media Studies course.

Honorary Fellow (since 15 February 2006) of the Royal Institute of British Architects, an annually-conferred lifetime honour which allows the recipient to use the initials ''Hon FRIBA'' after his or her surname. Snow has an honorary degree from Aberdeen University, in recognition of his services to broadcasting.

Chairman of the Prison Reform Trust from 1992 to 1997.

President of the Cyclists' Touring Club in January 2007, succeeding Phil Liggett.

Patron of Reprieve, a legal action charity which uses the law to enforce the human rights of prisoners, from death row to Guantánamo Bay.

Patron of the African Prisons Project, an international non-governmental organisation with a mission to bring dignity and hope to men women and children in African prisons through health, education, justice and reintegration.

Patron of Media Legal Defence Initiative, a UK-based charity that provides legal support to journalists and media outlets.

Patron of the tree planting charity Trees for Cities.

Patron of The DIPEx Charity, a UK-based charity that produces two health websites, Healthtalkonline and Youthhealthtalk, featuring people's real life experiences of health and illness.

References

External links

Jon Snow's Blog on the Channel 4 News web site

Snowmail Jon Snow's daily email newsletter

Jon Snow on the Impact of New Media at IIEA, 4 September 2009

Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:ITN newsreaders and journalists Category:English television journalists Category:British radio journalists Category:Old St Edwards Category:People associated with Oxford Brookes University Category:People associated with the University of Liverpool Category:People from Sussex

ko:존 스노