On 3/24/2015, the San Francisco Chronicle (
visit link) ran the following story:
"'Game of Thrones’ cast gets frenzied welcome
By Beth Spotswood Updated 2:57 pm, Tuesday, March 24, 2015
“Politics, intrigue and attractive people: What’s not to like?” asked San Francisco’s Sacha Ostern, who considers himself a “Game of Thrones” superfan. Ostern managed to snag a ticket to Monday night’s season five U.S. premiere at the War Memorial Opera House. “I’ve seen every episode,” Ostern beamed. “It’s incredibly well done.”
Ostern wasn’t alone. Thousands of fans crowded along Van Ness Avenue to catch a glimpse of their favorite “Game of Thrones” stars, most of whom made appearances on the red carpet leading into the screening. In fact, a glimpse was all that most people got. Security was so incredibly tight Monday evening that handfuls of angry reporters were turned away. Worried-looking security guards and suited-up HBO staff attempted to wrangle the crowd, but the hysteria over the event was far more powerful than any laminated badge or wristband. The chaos level made the show’s storied “Red Wedding” episode feel like afternoon tea at the Ritz.
As each star arrived, the crowd would swell. Actors were met with screams and applause from the official fan section as well as from the crowds gathered on the sidewalk and spilling onto Van Ness, which was jammed with cars at rush hour. Kristian Nairn, who plays Hodor, received a particularly enthusiastic fan welcome, as did actor Peter Dinklage, a.k.a. Tyrion Lannister.
The world premiere of the first episode of season five, set to air on HBO on April 12, was held at the Tower of London, appropriate for a show known for the odd decapitation here and there. While previous U.S. premieres have been held in New York, this year HBO selected San Francisco as the host city in hopes that our tech-savvy nerd base would become some of the first subscribers to HBO’s recently announced Internet channel, HBO Now. Turns out, tech-savvy nerds love “Game of Thrones.” Who woulda thought?
'Totally a nerd!’
“Oh, I’m totally a nerd!” said Conor Johnston of San Francisco. Johnston works across the street from the Opera House as an aide to Board of Supervisors President London Breed and boasts that he’s seen every episode of “Game of Thrones.” “I think it would be irresponsible viewership to jump in at, like, season three,” he added.
Johnson is not the only one in the office who’s a fan. “President Breed requested that the throne replace the dais at the Board of Supervisor chambers,” he joked, referring to the massive throne made of swords that is the object of the complicated intramural warfare among the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. On Monday, it rested atop the grand staircase at City Hall, scene of an equally chaotic after-party.
Outside the Opera House, fans snapped photos and cheered on the show’s stars, begging for tickets to the premiere from anyone who made it past security. Inside the Opera House, the vibe was oddly blase. Few of the coveted seats were full at the scheduled show time, and when the premiere began 45 minutes late, numerous empty seats remained. Much like Hollywood itself, the folks who have access to the coolest perks don’t care nearly as much as those willing to stand in the cold for a glimpse of Hodor or Daenerys Targaryen, the flaxen-haired “mother of dragons” on the show, played by real-life brunette Emilia Clarke.
Most of the cast members happily sat through the entire premiere and were scattered throughout the orchestra section, providing attendees with the surreal experience of watching “Game of Thrones” with Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), Rob Snow (Kit Harington) or Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen), not to mention the guy who started all the fuss, author George R.R. Martin. Of the 3,000 or so allowed into the screening, only a third were welcome to attend the after-party held across the street at City Hall.
HBO clearly threw some serious money into the premiere party, with massive, rustic centerpieces, lavish food and drink spreads, and interactive activities for guests.
On the inside
But City Hall seemed comparatively desolate compared with the hoopla of “Game of Thrones” enthusiasm outside. Perhaps the real action was upstairs on City Hall’s second floor, where VIPs like Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff mingled with the stars. Downstairs, however, the “wildlings,” people who were clearly not HBO executives, slumped at tables marked “HBO Executives,” and no one had to wait in line for the bathroom.
“The fan sections sounded way more fun,” Ostern admitted, eyeing a chocolate “Game of Thrones” sword on an untouched banquet table of free food.
Perhaps the most exciting and most genuine part of the evening was experiencing fans’ shared enthusiasm for the epic books and HBO series. Josh Constantine of San Francisco arrived in full “Game of Thrones” garb, complete with animal pelts hanging from his shoulders.
“I would kill someone to rule Westeros,” he joked with a fellow enthusiast. “But I would rule benevolently.”
Spoken like a true Baratheon.
Beth Spotswood is a Bay Area writer and frequent contributor to SFGate.com and The San Francisco Chronicle."