Jessica Durando

USA TODAY

Neil Marshall served as guest director of 'Game of Thrones' fourth season's penultimate episode.

USA TODAY Network interviewed Marshall about his experiences with 'Thrones' before the airing of 'Watchers on the Wall.'

Q: How did you discover 'Game of Thrones?'

A: I haven't read the books. I encountered it through the TV show.

Q: You were pulled on to a season 2 episode as guest director last minute. Something must have gone right for them to ask you back. What was it?

A. I think it was partly because I did the work in such a short time and what I bring to the table is a battle strategy. I study military history. When it came to the new episode, which is an enormous battle, I give it maximum impact. I shoot it in the way I would shoot in a movie. I go for the biggest spectacle. It used to be that TV was all about closeups. But now we watch TV on huge widescreen televisions. I want to get the big shots in.

Q: What's been the most surreal moment while working on set shooting this enormous battle?

A: There were quite a lot of surreal moments. In one night we had a month's worth of rain but we had to keep filming. We kept shooting. I ended up standing in a river, standing on a box trying to film the shot. The other surreal moment is the 25-foot woolly mammoth (created through visual effects). On the set we needed something for people to stop walking in the space. These guys were just running around with this framework and they were dressed in green Lycra suits. That was pretty surreal.

Q:Tell me about the giants in the episode.

A: The giants are just big people. We used two guys who are over 7-feet-tall and they are actually half the size (of the giants). We shoot them against green. I'm directing these guys that are 2 feet taller than me.

Q: How long did it take you to direct the episode?

A: We shot it in about four weeks, which is a long time for a TV show. Because of the visual effects we had to do work on a green screen. Logistically, it was the most difficult thing I've ever worked on. They are real so they look no different than other humans except five times bigger.

Q: As a guest director, how much freedom did you have to put your own spin on the episode?

A: Quite a lot. The writers, David (Benioff) and Daniel (Weiss), trust my instincts on shooting the action and the drama. They wanted my ideas. They wanted my input. I don't mess with the script. For me, it is how can I translate that to screen and make it as dramatic as possible?

Q: Who did you bond with most during the episode?

A: The whole crew and whole cast are absolutely amazing. It was great to work with Kit (Harington). He has a natural ability with the fighting scenes. His fights are seriously impressive because he is really good at it.

Q: What goes on behind the scenes to make action moments so gruesome?

A: There is a mischievous sense of adventure between the people involved. We are coming up with new ways of killing people because so many people are dying on the show. You have to come up with new ways of doing it. When you are actually doing it on set it is so much fun. It is messy, sticky and bloody.

Q: How do you feel about all the violence?

A: I think it is authentic to the world that they live in and you accept that. There is no sense of holding back. They want to show the ugliness as well as the beauty of this world. I think that is in the spirit of the books and we are just maintaining that.

Q: Are there any pre-show rituals?

A: No. Just open a bottle of wine and see how it goes.

Q: What can you tell me about the finale?

A: I can't tell you anything. You'll just have to watch it. I don't know how it ultimately resolves itself and that is fine. I can't wait to see it.

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