Foxtel builds epic graveyard to mourn Game of Thrones deaths in latest experiential campaign via DDB Sydney
To commemorate the highly anticipated eighth and final season of Game of Thrones, DDB Sydney and Foxtel have built a 2000 square metre graveyard that pays tribute to the bloodshed and more than a hundred thousand individual deaths over the past seven seasons.
The ‘Grave of Thones’, situated inside Centennial Park in Sydney from April 12 – 14, was designed by DDB Sydney and built in a collaborative effort from Revolver/Will O’Rourke and The Glue Society.
The final resting place is designed as a place for GoT fans to reflect on the deaths of the show’s most iconic faces, as the show prepares to reach its epic conclusion.
It features more than 30 gravestones, including two grand family mausoleums housing the deceased members of House Stark and House Baratheon and the headstones of some of Game of Thrones’ most infamous characters, including Joffrey Lannister, Ramsay Bolton, Khal Drogo, Tywin Lannister, Littlefinger and Olenna Tyrell.
Every single grave has been created in staggering detail, closely referencing the lives and deaths of the characters featured, including Hodor’s headstone which honours one of the show’s most loved characters and depicts his tragic death at the exit of a cave.
The graveyard was created by a huge and passionate team of Australia’s top sculptors, designers, painters and builders, who worked hundreds of hours to build graves richly layered in GoT stories and references.
Game of Thrones fans are invited to pay their respects at the graveyard, which is open to the public from Friday, April 12 to Sunday, April 14, from 7am – 6pm. Visitors are also encouraged to bring tributes to lay on the tombs of their most beloved characters.
Those at the ‘Grave of Thrones’ will be able to download a map at graveofthrones.com, where they can also find an audio tour of the cemetery, illustrating the meticulous detail featured on each grave.
The eighth and final season of Game of Thrones premieres worldwide on Monday, April 15 at 11.00am AEST. Consisting of six episodes, viewers will be able stream new episodes every Monday exclusively in Australia on Foxtel Now or watch on Foxtel.
Agency: DDB Sydney
Chief Creative Officer: Ben Welsh
Executive Creative Director: Tara Ford
Creative Director: David Jackson
Senior Creative: Tim Woolford
Senior Creative: Tommy Cehak
Designer: Ramon Rodriguez
Head of Integrated Production: Sevda Cemo
Producer: Sam Harris
Planning Director: Joseph Smeaton
Managing Partner: Penny Dixon
Senior Business Director: Kirsty Mould
Senior Business Manager: Lisa Zimpel
Project Director: Liv Pultar
Content Editor: Richard Maxton
Sound Engineer: Danny Grifoni
PR: Mango Communications
Managing Director: Tabitha Fairbairn
Head of Consumer: Ben Handberg
Event Producer: Jim McGorty
Production Company: Revolver/ Will O’Rourke
Artists/Project Direction: The Glue Society
Project Director – Pete Baker
MD / Executive Producer: Michael Ritchie
Executive Producer: Pip Smart
Executive Producer: Jasmin Helliar
Producer: Isabella Vitelli
Production Designer: Enzo Iacono
Construction Manager: Greg Hajdu
Construction: Gregsets
Photography: PhotoPlay
Photographer: Romello Pereira
Producer: Libby Hams
Client: Foxtel
Executive Director of Television: Brian Walsh
Director, Content Marketing: Jo McAlister
Director, Publicity & Talent: Jamie Campbell
Chief Sale & Marketing Officer: Kieren Cooney
37 Comments
Pretty epic.
Ha, screams of Tommy. Well done, this is great.
Nah yeah that’s cool.
Well done guys, this is great.
class!
will it get many eyeballs though? or just those walking past?
Epic. Top work Pete Baker!
Fantastic. Even better live.
Brilliant And it outhobbits those Hobbits.
This is stellar. Well done DDB / Glue. Will pop by today!
Awesome work Pete Baer
Props to all involved. Woolf, Tara, Tommy & Pete. Absolutely smashed it.
Brilliant idea and execution DDB, Revolver, Glue & Gregsets. Hats off to all.
Is it just me, or are DDB really smashing it of late (well, Sydney is anyway).
Congrats to all parties involved – this looks goooood. Shame that I don’t live in Sydney anymore, otherwise I’d be there paying my respects. Well maybe not to Joffrey, ‘cos he’s a right c—
None of the characters in GOT were buried so it makes very little sense and even less relevance
Confucius say man who pisses on fire get burned dick.
I have never watched an episode of GOT (yes, I know, I know), but I think this is brilliant, and rapturous credit for not only conceiving it, but actually producing it. I only wish some of my more out-there ideas had been produced, and what’smore, with such dedication and detail.
Beautifully produced. Great extension through the audio tour. Very impressed. Once again DDB shows they are a proper agency that does great work for real clients our parents have actually heard of. Congratulations to all.
Absolutely amazing. The Glue Society and Revolver/Will O’Rourke kill it again.
Genius! DDB being brilliant again. Congrats to everyone involved.
‘Very creative’ but … is it going to increase viewership?
Doubt it – would’ve thought that was locked in already.
So, what purpose does it serve, other than being a bit of fun? I admire the skill, but think it’s about as useless as Dumb Ways To Die – shared by squillions but had zero effect. But, ‘nice work if you can get it’.
Could not agree more. Golf clap for creativity, but won’t do a single thing for anything even mildly commercial for GOT. Also completely agree re: Dumb Ways To Die… while we’re at it, may as well throw TAC Graham well and truly under the bus. Complete hubris and back patting of the highest nature.
I think this is great. If the fans can get down there in the 2 hours it’s open, even better. Selfies and Instagram hit.
But wtf with the video of the actual graves? Shot on an iPhone 4 with shaky hands? Why do such a mammoth job and let it down with that?
Get a grip
Love it. Can’t wait to see the tributes.
This is brilliant – hats off team.
Class work Tommy & gang
Love it. Love the concept, the theatre, the craft, the setting. Congats to the team at DDB and Glue Society including Pete Baker.
Love this. Congrats to everyone involved. Brilliant stuff.
“Killed it’. Well done Tara, Tim and the brilliant team a Will O’Rourke & Glue Society.
@GOT Nerd. If I had a grip, a gaffer, a cameraman, a few decent cast, a more realistic set and a director perhaps it could have been a more interesting campaign rather than a pop up dodgy looking theatre set that no one will see.
Who hurt you?
@GOT Nerd. Do you know the story of The Emperor’s New Clothes?
Only people who work in advertising would care about this, let alone think it is clever, effective or impactful. Why would Foxtel/HBO waste their money?
@Philip L what planet are you living on? Perfect timing for Foxtel Now to make a play at the massive GoT base in Aus (which is the largest illegal download market outside of the US). If Foxtel Now even adds 100,000 off GoT (which they will) then this will be a roaring success — with this idea playing a great part of it.
Well done Tara & team!
@Henry Innes. A pop up that lasts two days in a park only a tiny proportion of the country visit…….
Not sure I agree but lets see if the mainstream media pick it and if the public care.
The rise and rise of Tommy Cehak. Well done mate!
Nice one Tara Tom and Tim