♪ (MUSIC PLAYS) ♪
(GASPS)
(WATER SPLASHES)
BARRIE GOWER:
 The process of prosthetics is
 something I don't think people
 are quite aware
 of how extensive it is.
It's such a complex department,
and the build
that goes into these things
is quite time consuming.
 From seeing our actor come
 to our studio
 and we take
 a head cast of him...
 to sticking the makeup on
 on set is, um,
 you know,
 it's quite a long build time.
But I think what's great for us
is that it's lovely to see
 all our hard work
and all these things we've built
 actually make it to the screen
as well, at the end of the day.
(GROUND CRACKLES)
(SLATE CLAPS)
MAN: Okay. And we cut.
GOWER:  Just an average
 prosthetic makeup,
 we usually say,
is about 4 to 6 weeks to build.
We have so many patient actors
that sit in our chair
for like four or six
or eight hours at a time.
So, by the time we usually step
on set to do a rehearsal,
 we've already pretty much done
 a full day's work.
 So to then film
 and have our fun on set
 making sure everything's
 not falling off people
 for 12 hours.
The de-wig in the evening
can take a good, um,
 an hour, you know,
 or two hours.
People are quite unaware
of the length of time
and the process that goes
into these things.
-(GRUNTS)
-(SOLDIERS YELLING)
GOWER: So, each year, it's got
bigger and bigger and bigger...
(MAG YELLS)
...to the point now
with season eight,
where we're sort of
maxing numbers
about the 70 or 80 mark
on set.
And in the workshop, we usually
have a team of about 50 people.
It's a big department to manage.
I think we are very fortunate
to have accumulated
a really talented pool
of prosthetic people.
 I got hired season four.
We only had six wights filming,
 and these were
 these green screen guys,
 and at the time, that was
a huge thing for us at the time.
Cut to Hardhome
the following year,
where it just exploded.
-(WOOD CRACKLES)
-(WIGHTS SHRIEK)
We had something like about
 forty to 50 prosthetic guys
 out there at any one time
 playing the wights
 and White Walkers.
♪ (DRAMATIC MUSIC BUILDS) ♪
(DISTANT SHRIEKING)
When we found out two years ago
there's only 13 episodes left...
(SHRIEKING)
 ...I think we were obviously
 gutted and distraught.
 But I think it's
 a real testament to the guys
 that they
 stuck to their word
and they're basically
finishing the franchise
when it should naturally end.
 It's become such a huge part
 of our life now,
I think finishing next year
and moving on to other projects
is really daunting.
 I think it's probably scary
 for a lot of folk
because we've just become part
of this incredible family.
The end is nigh, but I think
it's gonna be a big end.
(UNDEAD DRAGON SHRIEKS)
♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪
