HOTD Season 2 May Look Completely Different In Consequence Of Following “The Mandalorian”

House of the Dragon uses a green screen, like most productions. They may switch to “The Mandalorian” style 360° LED background from season 2.

By Pratyush Singh
October 28,2022
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House of the Dragon has been shot in many locations, including Spain, Portugal and England. As a very high-budget production, House of the Dragon is eagerly looking for cost-cutting, and maybe they have made up their mind about using a 360-degree LED screen background for season 2. There have been reports that House of the Dragon would need four seasons so that George R. R. Martin’s tale can be told, so House of the Dragon is here to stay.

There are many logical reasons for HBO to invest in this technology after Disney Plus’s “The Mandalorian”, a Star Wars franchise TV series, adapted to this technology in 2019. They were facing the same problems as HBO’s House of the Dragon, as they also needed heavy VFX. Season two of House of the Dragon will have much more dragon graphics than Vhagar killing Lucerys Velaryon and his dragon Arrax.

Here’s how the House of the Dragon crew will better be able to produce the series with minimal props and budget. This will prove to be a boon for the viewers.

 

What Is A 360° LED Screen Background?

Stagecraft movie set
Stagecraft movie set

More precisely, this technology is called ‘Stagecraft’, which is designed and developed by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), a visual effects company. Although it was originally created for the Disney + series The Mandalorian, it is now used commercially by ILM.

The Volume is the corporate name for a 360-degree LED screen driven by Epic Games’ Unreal Engine that can display whatever scene a director requires for the background of their production. It is defined as an advanced breakthrough technology. Since its initial release in 2021, ILM’s Stagecraft has quickly become the must-have item for any new fantasy or sci-fi production. Stagecraft does not only make the director’s work easy but also the actors’, as they can see what they’re interacting with, unlike a green screen.

In Stagecraft, the background is not a still image, but a 360° view of the scene, which moves precisely with the camera, imitating a real background fully. Apart from the numerous benefits of film production, Stagecraft is also pocket friendly. Moving to different locations with cast and crew can be challenging and money-consuming, which can be avoided using Stagecraft, which only requires a tremendous initial amount.

 

Is Stagecraft Good For House of the Dragon?

Matt Smith riding a dragon in front of a blue screen
Matt Smith riding a dragon in front of a blue screen

HBO put the new tech through its paces during season 1 of House of the Dragon, and it appears that the tool had its pros and cons, as affirmed by Clare Kilner, a director of House of the Dragon. During their conversation with numerous producers about the use of StageCraft, the Hollywood reporter spoke with Clare Kilner who reported on the benefits and drawbacks of the new technology. House of the Dragon has already made use of this technology for some major scenes, unlike the Star Wars series’ Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett which relied heavily on StageCraft.

Finally, StageCraft is a tool in a kit. Just like you will not use a screwdriver to brush your teeth, no production should rely solely on a tool which has specific functions to play. If House of the Dragon decides not to use StageCraft to generate its fantastical world in season 2, it could pave the way for even more global advancement in film production.

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