
Overall, the entire thing is BIG!
Top Gaffer Tom Gates summed up what it's like working on HBO's mega hit television series Game of Thrones when he stopped by the Panalux UK headquarters earlier this year. Since Season 1 shot in 2010, Tom has been a mainstay on Game of Thrones, a nearly year-round job spanning more than five international shooting locations and six stages at the Titanic Studios in Belfast.
Tom is unquestionably one of the most successful Gaffers to come out of the UK. His work includes high-end TV Drama and film productions: Bridget Jones's Diary, 51st State, Your Highness, The Night Manager, The Jacket, Saving Mr. Banks and the list goes on.
Having gaffered for nearly 30 years, Tom has weathered the ebb and flow of TV and film production in the UK. He is known far and wide for his love for his work, moving from job to job all year long without downtime or holiday.
When we sat down, we wanted to know how the UK entertainment industry has evolved over the course of his career, what he still loves about work, some of his fondest professional memories, and of course his experience working on GoT. An excerpt of our conversation is below:
PANALUX: LET'S START WITH GAME OF THRONES. WHAT A MASSIVE PRODUCTION! TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE ON SUCH A PROMINENT SERIES.
TOM GATES: It's like five movies in one honestly! It's six to eight weeks of prep and then seven months of filming. We have two main units. We normally shoot for 22 weeks and then there is another full-blown unit [headed up by Gaffer Mark Rocky Evans].
Everything about it is just huge! There are five DoPs, whereas most productions only have one. Plus there are 1,200 other people working on this one show. That gives you an idea of the size of production.
THAT'S MASSIVE. HOW MANY FILMING LOCATIONS ARE THERE?
GATES: There are six stages all [in the Titanic Studios] in Belfast, lots of castles and locations built all over Northern Ireland Winterfell castle and Castle Black are in Northern Ireland King's Landing is also filmed in Northern Ireland, and the other unit shoots in Spain, Croatia, Morocco, Malta, and Iceland
Some years there have been new locations but normally there are about 20 locations in total.
THAT'S A LOT. YOUR CREW MUST BE REALLY GOOD.
GATES: My unit shoots everything in Northern Ireland and so far I've always used local crew they are fantastic! They're really, really good. I have an excellent crew around me their jobs are hard. Mine is easy! I just turn up to set and do what I'm told.
I've got two really good Rigging Gaffers Bret McCrum, Gareth Hetherington a great HOD Rigger Hugo Wilkinson and an excellent Best Boy Ger O'Hagan in charge of me and everything I do!
IN TERMS OF PANALUX, YOU STARTED OUT AS AN ELECTRICIAN AT LEE LIGHTING BACK IN THE DAY. YOU MUST SEE SOME FAMILIAR FACES TODAY.
GATES: I started in Lee Lighting in 1976 as an Electrician. I worked on all of the films at Lee Lighting back then. But this is my first job with Panalux. I have known [Panalux Sales Director, TV Drama] Sinead for many, many years, and a few others who I met beforehand.
For GoT, [Panalux Group Technical Director] Chris Millard and [Panalux Technical Manager] Jim Algar were heavily involved in all the technical aspects of the job, which, at some points, were tricky. And [Panalux Manchester General Manager] Colin Smart and [Panalux Account Manager, Film and Drama] Laura Thompson were an enormous help from the beginning of the job with logistics and planning.
The Panalux team is very good. I'm quite old fashioned and I tend to stick to old lighting. At Panalux, I've been introduced to a whole new world of LED lighting! I'm going through the entire process of learning the new LEDs I'm trying to convert slowly. But I'll get there!
Panalux have a lot of lights. There are a lot of different ways to light a set and get roughly the same effect a 10k is a 10k. I'm old school and am used to what I'm used to. But with HBO, we've had to be careful about the production footprint and we ended up incorporating quite a lot of LED stuff last year.
[Panalux kit] worked throughout the whole year. We didn't have hardly any replacements for the entire year! What I appreciate the most is that there is no ego at Panalux. Egos are a pain.
YOU'VE WORKED WITH SINEAD FOR A LONG TIME, WHAT FORMS THE BASIS OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP?
GATES: We have a complete circle of trust. Sinead is smart and accommodating. We talk and always work it out. In fact, we spend all year talking and working it out! It's up to me, Sinead and [HBO producer] Lisa McAtackney to keep everyone happy.
AND WHAT IS IT LIKE TO WORK FOR HBO?
GATES: I would be happy to work for HBO forever! They are a fabulous company to work for, probably the best. I have a long association with the same company and the same people.
Here's an example: Just before Christmas, an HBO producer asked me if there was any way to make my life easier! That is unusual.
Producers, especially these producers, have to deal with so many things. Me and lighting is just one of those things. I'm always humble of that fact.
Here's another example: For the long night shoots, one of the producers are always there all night. That's unusual.
TAKING IT BACK A LITTLE BIT, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR CHANGES YOU'VE WITNESSED IN OUR INDUSTRY SINCE YOU STARTED?
GATES: It is slightly different now than when we were starting out. GoT is evidence of that change. It was more of a social thing before; there were fewer people and a lot less money. Today, there seem to be so many people I've never met before and I've done this my whole life.
IN LIGHT OF THESE EVOLUTIONS, HAS YOUR LOVE FOR THE JOB CHANGED AT ALL O
Europe Stories
04/11/2022
The best gamers know DTS Headphone:X technology ups their play. Now major magazines have caught on, too.
DTS Headphone:X technology creates immersive soundsc...
30/06/2022
New reports on Low- and High-band Spectrum Needs Deliver Complete 2030 5G Spectrum Vision for Governments and Regulators
30 June, London: The GSMA today releas...
30/06/2022
Verizon Consumer Group CEO Will Make Her Debut Keynote at the First MWC Las Vegas; Register Now For Early Bird Ticket Offer
30 June 2022, London: Get ready for...
30/06/2022
TVBEurope meets Gal Oz, co-founder and CTO of AI video technology company Pixellot, to learn how theyre transforming the way sport is produced
By Jenny Priestl...
30/06/2022
The two companies are reportedly planning to split the UK broadcast rights as part of a new deal with UEFA
By Jenny Priestley
Published: June 30, 2022
The ...
30/06/2022
Numerous companies are circling the broadcaster ahead of privatisation
By Jenny Priestley
Published: June 30, 2022
Numerous companies are circling the broa...
30/06/2022
Including Little Simz, It's A Sin, We Are Lady Parts, Cabaret, Boiling Point, Opera North's Rigoletto & Many More
30 June, London, UK. The South Bank ...
30/06/2022
Published On: June 23rd, 2022
--
--
--
--
data-orig-src=https://www.sg...
30/06/2022
Stockholm, Sweden - Mobile operator Three Sweden ( Three') has selected Net Insight for synchronizing its 5G network. The companies have worked in close coo...
30/06/2022
Channel 4 News is boosting its award-winning foreign coverage with the appointment of two new correspondents.
Secunder Kermani, the BBC's Pakistan and Afgh...
30/06/2022
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
This technological project - in the new sec...
30/06/2022
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Thales announced today the creation of S3NS, a P...
30/06/2022
RT continues to champion Women's Sport with historic first ever broadcast o...
30/06/2022
The Main Stage is set for Friday nights in the summer on RT One.
The first programme features Lyra, Rejjie Snow, Villagers, Cormac Begley,Mark Feehily and DJ...
30/06/2022
Ikegami Europe Announces Unicam UHK-X750 4K-UHD HDR Studio Camera posted: 30/06/2022
Accompanying image shows a perspective view of the new Ikegami UHK-X7...
30/06/2022
European broadcasting and cultural industry call to Europe: Save our Spectrum...
29/06/2022
London - 29th April 2022 - The BBC, Channel 4, Paramount and UKTV have announced their intention to join forces to tackle the current production management skil...
29/06/2022
Stranger Things took the action and suspense to a new level when Season 4, Vol. ...
29/06/2022
La emoci n cuando dos raperos suben al escenario para una batalla de freestyle e...
29/06/2022
The emotional moment when two rappers take the stage for a freestyle battle is i...
29/06/2022
More podcast creators than ever are switching their mics on with Anchor. With this comes more chances than ever for listeners to fall in love with new shows. An...
29/06/2022
It was June 2019 when director Baz Luhrmann first approached cinematographer Mandy Walker, ACS, ASC about collaborating on the new biopic Elvis. I was extremel...
29/06/2022
Media is moving faster than ever, and the stakes for holding consumer attention are extremely high. As new platforms reshape the definition of entertainment, pr...
29/06/2022
We've surpassed our initial expectations and are thrilled with the levels of...
29/06/2022
The BFI calling for the industry to invest at least 1 per cent of all production...
29/06/2022
Born and brought up in India, he is already a long-established user of Optocore ...
29/06/2022
Clear-Com is pleased to announce the appointment of Calvin Long to the company's renowned Applications Engineering team. Based in the Southeastern region of...
29/06/2022
Banijay, the world's leading independent producer/distributor, today announces the appointment of Rishi Negi as its new CEO for Endemol Shine India. In his ...
29/06/2022
Caton NDI Gateway enables cross network collaboration posted: 29/06/2022
Share high quality content over the internet without compromise
Recognising the ...
29/06/2022
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
NAVER Cloud hosts Koreas first cloud-based hardw...
28/06/2022
Spotify's RADAR Poland debuted one year ago as a way to introduce emerging artists to new fans. The program aims to help up-and-coming artists worldwide ope...
28/06/2022
Over the years, fans have been surprised by collaborations between their favorit...
28/06/2022
Since its launch in 2020, RADAR has served as Spotify's marquee program for emerging artists around the world, helping to support and propel artists onto th...
28/06/2022
LOS ANGELES (June 28, 2022) Light Iron, an industry leader in providing innovative post-production creative services and part of Panavision's end-to-end o...
28/06/2022
Satmotion significantly reduces installation time and resources, providing great...
28/06/2022
StarTracker Max has been built for broadcast and cinematic use, while the Mini is aimed at YouTubers, streamers and creative industries who are trying virtual p...
28/06/2022
Final Pixels Michael McKenna lays out the seven ways to reduce the impact of TV and film production on the environment
By Contributor
Published: June 28, 2022...
28/06/2022
NDI TVs Renato John-Paul Straume Fogliani explains how no day is the same in his job, and why he would advise anyone who wants to work in creative producing to ...
28/06/2022
Staff are protesting against President Macrons plans to abolish the countrys licence fee, as well as plans to merge a number of public service broadcasters into...
28/06/2022
Amsterdam, 29 June 2022 - VEON Ltd. (NASDAQ: VEON, Euronext Amsterdam: VEON), a global digital operator that provides mobile connectivity and services, will dis...
28/06/2022
FOX Television Stations Digital Properties are #1 in Total Minutes Against Compe...
28/06/2022
When planning the lighting installation for this giant live sports tournament, the team around Lighting Designer Anton Weber was faced with a number of creative...
28/06/2022
Sony's new gaming line offers an immersive experience to help lead gamers to...
28/06/2022
Amsterdam (28 June 2022) - VEON Ltd. (NASDAQ: VEON, Euronext Amsterdam: VEON), a...
28/06/2022
Darkly comic romantic drama begins filming in Belfast at the end of the month
W...
28/06/2022
Broadpeak Launches New Virtual Channel as a Service on broadpeak.io June 28, 2022 Advanced Video Streaming Application Allows Video Service Providers to Easily ...
28/06/2022
Home News & Press Blancco achieves goal of becoming carbon neutral
Blancco achieves goal of becoming carbon neutral Jun 28, 2022
Global leader in data s...
28/06/2022
Let's Find Out, RTEjr's children's science entertainment series, has picked up two prestigious international awards. The stop.watch production recei...
28/06/2022
ARRI commits CA$300,000 to the Canadian Society of Cinematographers' The Fu...
27/06/2022
W channel commissions Wedding Valley
London - 27th June 2022 - UKTVs factual entertainment channel W has commissioned a brand new UKTV original series, Weddin...