Hello and welcome, Acting Fans, bloggers and people of the Internet, yep, it's time for another round of H&H news.
Okay, so here we go.....erm....uhm...oh, yes, it's coming back to me now, as you read in Wednesday's post we went about going the long way round in coming up with our next Actor's Log at our last H&H meeting. Afterwards it was my job to make those discussions and ramblings into a workable script. So I immediately got down to it, and then sat their looking, much like Chris mentioned (in terror, that is), at the blank screen trying to remember how to start it.
I suddenly remembered I had actually written down some notes this time (we are getting more and more on ball with this, honest), now if I could only read my own handwriting. (Hahaha, I'm not kidding either - I should have been a doctor). But, with sheer determination, I did manage to decipher it and Chris had also posted a reference post to my Facebook wall that helped jog the vlog memory. Okay, with the mostly-deciphered notes at hand and this post, I was ready right, right? Well, yeah, sort of, I just had to remember which order the lines were going to go in. So with much going back & forth from my word doc, the notes and FB I got down to wrestling it together.
Vern's Spirit Animal
Now this does seem like I'm trying to make this sound more difficult than it actually was but there really was quite a lot of information processed at our last meeting, plus I discovered my Spirit Animal - the actor Richard Harris! I was really surprised how he came across in the interview and ended up liking my favourite Dumbledore a whole lot more, especially him being willing to show himself in a humorous light, like sharing his outtakes and mistakes with the audience. I am playing it up a little bit, yes, but it is a wordier Vlog script, we even got to use a short exchange of lines that both me and Chris came up with on a real-life night out (yep, and we were a little bit drunk too - what can we say, Method Acting). Just how did I remember this line if indeed we were drunk? Well, it amused us so much I decided to wrtte it down on my phone and saved it as draft text. See, I told you we we're getting better at this - even when we've been drinking! So at last that line has gotten used, where and when in the vlog, you will have to watch it to find out, well, once we film it that is. Which shouldn't be too long away!
Welcome to this week's down-to-the-wire Friday Blog, Acting Fans, whoo I'm getting bad at this but here we are nonetheless. Sadly there's little new to report since the last H&H head-to-head but we are continuing on with the next phase of our plans for your favourite Actors at Large.
Vern did indeed get our bit of writing bashed out into Word and sent it on to me, where I did the brush up and polish on our verbiage. It's now ready to go and we hope to get it pencilled in shortly for shooting. The next phase of our latest scheme though requires a bit of a Scavenger Hunt.
Obscure UK Comics reference FTW!
Yes, Internet Chums, in touch with the ground, we're on the hunt - we're after props! And a rather specific set of them it is too. Once again we've made a rod for our backs but if we can beg, borrow or scrounge up all the stuff we need then hopefully it will lead to something rather amusing. To say any more, well, we'd be into [SPOILERS]! So stay tuned, folks, for further developments as m'colleague said, 'SOON'.
Welcome back, fellow bloggers and Acting Fans, yep, you gets it - its Wednesday so here comes your Blog! Well, I am please to announced that this time we have some stuff to actually blog about on the status of H&H. I know, shocking! I hope you're all sat down. Yes? So we shall begin...
Yessir, me and Chris had a meet up (Yes, we actually did it - in person and everything! No 21st Century textual interfacing, nope, just two actual faces) last night at H&H HQ and, well, Chris was armed with good ideas for things to do while we struggle to get Episode 6 sorted out. We are going to start planning out a Summer Special (well, we hope we can get one done before we lose the sunny weather!) and we talked a bit more (and laughed) about a new YouTube channel trailer for H&H. In fact we even actually managed to bash out a first draft, yep, we did and it flowed. (Yeah! Go us!) We even came up with a premise that might explain something of just a little bit of our characters' mysterious past, well, maybe. Possibly. Okay, don't hold me to that.
We even worked out we could give a taste of the series so far in the channel trailer with some clips and which clips we could use in the trailer as well. We even did a few line runs too to get a feel for it. Oooh, what else? Oh, I know - we even went over some of the earlier things that we wrote and found a nice little sequence that is now going to used as a short - now we've changed a few lines after we did line run through of that too.
And don't worry folks, we haven't forgotten about the episode 6 of series one. We did have a chat about that and got some possible alternative ideas for filming that too, in case we need to use them to get it done.
Lastly we discussed something secret. Oh, no , I couldn't possibly tell you what it is at all. At all at all. After all, what is a blog post from my good self worth if there isn't at least a bit of a tease, HA HA HAAAAH! So I think all in all we had a very productive evening, well in-between the laughing and both of trying to compose ourselves so we could continue and get it written down.
Well, that's it for now folks, more on Friday and there WILL be more to report, oh yes!
Friday and welcome back, Acting Fans, yes it is so it means another blog post but this time we do have something for you and, no, it’s not a blog on about more planning!
Nope, it’s a video that we have in store but alas it’s not episode 6 quite yet, I mean I know we can be fast at filming - but not that fast, internet pals. That shall be done in due time...
So what exactly is this video? I hear you ask, well, it's been a bit of a lost week for H&H Productions this week so, rather than leave you guys & gals empty-handed we've got another 'Behind The Acting' we had aside for just such an occasion - this time it’s the props turn. Yep, Tune in to listen to us discuss some of the main props used in the show so far, some of which you might not have even noticed, or knew what they might be - but I'm sure most of you out there would have seen discerning viewers of H&H that you are. And it should be just below here this here text:
Well, that’s all for today folks see you very soon,
C'mon grab your friends, We'll go to very distant lands (alright, somewhere in Halifax), With Vern the Dude & Chris the Human, The Fun will never end!
Greetings, Acting Fans, it's Friday update time once again and...I don't quite know how to put this...well, we've only gone and actually done something!
Yes, It's true! Flabber your Gast! Not only did we get the shooting wrapped for the next 'Behind The Acting' as Vern mentioned on Wedneseday we did indeed get up to some Second Unit Shenanigans last night. Fearless of the wind-chill factor, we hung out on the platform of Halifax Station to catch some nice establishing shots.
That, however, is not all. We had hoped to find a sort of elevated vantage point for some shots of the tracks. We didn't find one. What we did find instead was some potentially brilliant locations to shoot. We only had to wander a little off the beaten path to find some spots of Halifax that we had never seen before and it all started here:
Mystery Bridge? Why not? After you...
"Follow me" "Okay."
The Gate
So keep 'em peeled while watching upcoming episodes of H&H, Acting fans, the sharper-eyed among you might be able to spot the locations. As we got further from the Station and, as it turned out, lower rather than higher, we decided to postpone the elevated shot of the tracks for a trip to a local landmark Wainhouse Tower to take some shots of it in all it's glory by night. Once we shot the tower we took the scenic route back to King Cross to check out the usefulness of Savile Park for some scenes and it's looking promising as long as we can get some additional bodies up there with us. That was it for this week, Acting Fans, apart from the fact that today IS the First of March and we don't want to leave you empty-handed at the start of a new month - so here's the next episode of 'Behind The Acting' to tide you over!
Welcome back, Acting Fans and fellow bloggers to this weeks Wednesday blog post - let me tell you what’s been happening since Chris found out about getting some free foam.
We have been filming again, yep, you read that right actual filming. Alas we haven’t starting to film the last episode just yet (although we hope to start soon). Nope, Acting Fans, we have been filming an introduction to 'Behind The Acting' episode 3, yes, we're putting up another behind the scenes video to tide over while Episode 6 of the series is still in production. Now this is other bit of filming that we have been doing is not the Top Secret bit, oh no, that I STILL can’t say any more about. Shush.
Today we'll be doing a little more filming for another 'Behind the Acting' episode this one is a rather special one I've been wanting to film for a while as it is all about the props of 'Harcourt & Haigh: Actors at Large' and used throughout the series thus far, including some we built ourselves especially. I've been itching to let you know a bit about the stories and ideas behind our choices, so that's exactly what we're gonna do.
FreeFoam!
Oh, I almost forgot m'learned colleague Chris did in fact get around to getting himself over to the Windsor Beds & Upholstery company (after a timely reminder from me, his mind's still a bit blown from seeing Cloud Atlas) and, thanks to Rick and the guys there, has got us a big bag full of the stuff so the puppet can move head and be built. Yay! One more cast member got for the last episode! We're still on the hunt for some warmer (and less foamy) bodies for the last episode, we haven't had any replies from the Amateur Dramatics societies we've contacted so far but fingers crossed!
Well, that’s it for now acting fans so it’s good night for him and it’s good night from me.
Belated Gung Hay Fat Choy, Acting Fans! We do hope the New Year of the Water Snake is treating you well and also commiserations to those of you who got 'Ralph'ed yesterday on Valentine's Day.
Just try to remember it's all a ploy by the cards and chocolate industry to boost sales during the long stretch to Easter! (Why, yes, I am cynical...yes, and single, why do you ask?) Or you could get a bit of your Romance quota from elsewhere. Which, thanks to a friend of mine, I did. Knowing I was at a loose end, my Bud invited me along to a showing of the new ZomRomCom 'Warm Bodies'.
Skinny little Marcus. He Grew Up. He Filled Out
And seeing as how they don't come around so often I thought I'd give it a go, even though the same producers brought us the *shudder* 'Twilight' films. Though it's not a patch on the first, it certainly warmed my cockles and had a few laugh out loud moments, some of them being a nicely wry turn on the soundtrack. So be sure to check it out if you fancy a fun film with a touch of black humour. 'Enough of this seasonal frivolity,' I might hear you say if this a) wasn't a blog article but a conversation and b) you have a particularly archaic speech pattern. 'What about an update on H&H productions, isn't that what this blog is supposed to be about?' Well, as it turns out, 'Warm Bodies' is a pretty good segue - you see 'warm bodies' are exactly what Vern and I lack. Now hang on, hang on, PLEASE don't run away screaming from your computer/internet enabled device! It's not like that, not at all. We have NOT been turned into Zombies. ("Rurgh." "Shhh!") No, sorry, what I meant to say is that we lack ADDITIONAL warm bodies ("Braaaaaaaaaains!" "Shush, Vernon!"). That is our search for additional Cheap-as-free actors has, so far, not been very effective. I've managed to get a one or two potential extra 'extras' from friends as far afield as Greater Manchester but we could still do with more. Failing that we may have to go with the Ultra Top Secret Emergency Backup Plan. So besides casting our net wider in the attempt to bag us a shoal of actors, Vern will be taking time over the next couple of days to plan out some shoots that we can do regardless of the still-somewhat-changeable-weather. That is we have at least a couple more 'Behind The Acting' episodes to finish off to tide you over until we can get Episode 6 done.
That's it for this week, folks, so it's goodbye from me and it's a "Huuuuuuuuunnnngry!" from him,
(Now will you PLEASE stop chewing my elbow, Vern, I'm trying to finish typing!)
Hello, Acting Fans and fellow bloggers, yes, it’s Wednesday again (whoa, they're coming around fast). Right let's get on with this. What have we been doing? Well this week we're up to something besides the usual planning and preparation, we'll be getting in touch with folk about helping us out.
To whom have we got in touch with? I hear ask (and I do indeed hear you, my ears are that good). ACTORS, of course! Not just any actors, though. Actually the Studio Group Actors at the Workshop where I was in fact once a member many years ago. The place where I learned some of my craft. We are not only actor-hunting, though, we are seeking a meeting as we could also do with use of their building for the some of upcoming scenes.
We are to meet them Thursday afternoon to see, hopefully, when will be the best time to use the building. Fingers crossed and as to the rest of what’s happening we're still on with the planning and find materials for the props and puppets that we need to make. As well as a few more people to get in touch with about sorting things out for the upcoming shoots.
But that's for another blog and another time!!
So it’s Goodnight from him and it’s Goodnight from me.
Welcome back, Acting Fans and fellow bloggers, Friday it is and this here is our blog post. Yeah! Just what has been happening in the world of H&H, well we're still in that there planning stage (yeah, I know - I keep on saying that) but there is so much to do. We will get to the more exciting stuff soon. Promise.
So what about today? Why have you even bothered to read this post? Well, you lucky, lucky lot we have another treat for you whilst we're between things. Yep, We've got another episode of 'Behind The Acting' for you! This time it’s the go of the Deleted Scene. Yep, The things that were cut out of the series. Rather than bore you with 10 hours of Alternate Takes we've boiled them down to some of the more amusing scenes that we had to drop for whatever reason.
Here is the video I hope you enjoy it and share it with everyone, yep, even the postman, the bus driver and that person who's sitting next to you on the bus.
So it’s good night from him and it’s good night from me.
Welcome back, fellow Bloggers and Acting Fans, we are getting back in the swing of things here at H&H Productions (Not in full swing yet but a little swing, maybe a nice gentle swing, if you will - gradually building up speed) and here is this Fridays blog post - so let’s get down to it.
What have we been doing and just what, as I mentioned on Wednesday, do we have in store for you today? Well, calm down, sit back in that chair of yours and I’ll tell you, dear listener...er...I mean Blog reader. After our couple of weeks off over the holiday season, we've been trolling through all of the footage shot for H&H so far, looking back at our progress. In particular we've been going over some of the things that went, well, a little wrong but why exactly have we been torturing ourselves with past mistakes?
To bring you the first of what shall be a series of videos that go 'Behind The Acting', and that's what we'll be calling them, to show you what goes into the making of an episode. This first one is full of Outtakes. Yep, we sorted through to pick out some of the more entertaining mess-ups that happened on set, along with one or two other high jinks for your enjoyment.
There are more episodes of 'Behind The Acting' to come to keep you tide over while we're on filming hiatus, though they won't be going up as regularly as the episodes themselves did - you're probably looking at once a month or so as we'll be busy. We have a lot to do, with hard planning and sorting out ahead of us, for what will be (if we can pull it off) the BIGGEST episode of Series 1. Don't worry, we'll be keeping you up-to-date on what's going on here on the blog.
So for now it’s a goodbye him, and it’s a goodbye from me.
