Back Filming the Elm for Halloween

Welcome Acting Fans, fellow bloggers and people of the worlds' Internet, it is Friday - once again a my turn to ramble on, so ramblers lets get rambling.... What have we been doing. Well we haven't been into the woods but we've been around some trees...

Pretty sure there's an Elm in there somewhere but trees aren't my strong point. Dammit, Jim, I'm a Filmmaker, not a Tree Doctor!

Well as said in Wednesday's Blog we were going to be filming again and, yep, fortune was with us this time we once more got behind and in front of the camera. We did it on Thursday now at first we were just going to do the INTerior shots of the Halloween special but, as the day turned out be so nice, clear and dry day, we thought why not get some of the EXTerior shots too. At first we were just going to do one of them which involved an old character popping up from previous special, plus it was also going to be a test for a deliberately lower-tech camera to see if the effect it would give was going to work.

And it worked very well indeed thanks to the older digital camera Chris had bought way back in the early Noughties. The jittery movement of the video on the camera gave the exact effect that we were after. After all, if you can do it camera it always better, cheaper and easy in the edit, so with this test  shot being so much better than we thought, and only being able to film 6 min on this old camera, we decided it would be best to gun it and get the rest of other sequences we were going to use it on done too. Especially as we had the day, the light and the nice weather.

So with both of us out there taking turns to film different sequences using both the the old camera and our trusty Lumix, we got all of the EXTeriors done and in record time, as some of them were just one takes. (Yep, we are really getting that much better). Besides one battery crash (Chris had warned me about the OG DC's battery life) that left us briefly powerless and meant I had to walk back to H&H HQ to get the spare batteries (luckily we had plenty, we just didn't bring them all out with us, d'oh!) it all went well. Then it was on to actual H&H stuff, in-character and everything, as that was all INTerior and we decide to go mainly with a static two shot partly for speed and partly for contrasting atmosphere with the more , let's say, 'lively' EXTeriors. Though this meant just going through some main scenes in single takes without any cutaways so we needed lines bang on. Which, after a slow start and a few small fluffs, we did eventually get them down and in the can.

Once that was done along with some clever reversal shots, making sure lighting would match up as we had filmed one half of them much earlier before we went on out extended EXTerior shoot, it was on to the last two POV shots and the endcap scene with H&H (yes, that's us). That was the real easiest one an, once again I got to eat a prop, always the best props are edible I find, but in true H&H style, just as we were getting ready to finish for the day, we remembered a short sequence we hadn't done! Once again Chris donned his outfit to do this last scene which is, well, it was just as important as any other scene and more importantly would have harder to re-shoot at a later date. Finally with everything done in and around H&H HQ. It was a wrap now, all we have left to do is the end of which I can tell you NOTHING about....mwhahahahah!!!

Well that's all for now folks see you in the future.

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

Making A List, Checking It Twice

Happy Humpday, Acting Fans, and it is a happy one here at H&H Productions - fingers crossed we are actually going to get some actual production with some actual filming tomorrow! Yes, you read that right - Filming! Yes, it has been a while thanks to unfortunate circumstances and filming-unfriendly work patterns. Keep your Fings crossed for us!

And, seeing as it has been a while, we are wracking our brains to draw up a list of exactly what we will need for tomorrow, besides some good luck for a change. The script is in place, a couple of new co-stars have been drafted and we are raring to go. Let's just hope the weather is with us when it comes to our outdoor shenanigans.
Heads have already been put together at our usual meet-up this Tuesday at our usual haunt (Nero's once again) all we have to do is get everybody and the stuff together. Hopefully we will be ready well in time for Goth Christmas! Now I'll leave you with this short, short blog as I go to check the list a third time.

TTFN

Christopher Haigh

In The Blink Of An Eye

Welcome, Acting Fans, fellow bloggers and people of the World's Internet, yep, it's Friday once again and, CRIKEY!, nearly September already - how quickly the time goes, so let me get on and tell you all the story of where we are and what we have been up to in and around H&H HQ.

After our brief break, well, on the blogs at least in between we have been busy discussing, writing and filming some more Vlogs just for you lot! First Chris went away a long weekend to the Beacons festival acting in show for a friend, and also a bit of recon to see if the H&H live show (which we are working on) would work and fit in at the Beacon festival. Which We think might just about fit in (but more on that later), especially after some of the other performances Chris saw.

Last week we filmed not one but two, yes, you read that right, TWO Actor's Logs in one go. One of which was an idea we had waaaay back when we filmed 'Analogue', we were going to film it at that same as that Log but, well, to be honest we forgot as we got to the end of that shoot (we need a secretary or PA or someone, really). Instead we got around to filming it at the same time as the Logs we filmed last week. It is going to point out something that I bet none of you have noticed yet. Hmmm, I wonder what that could be - teehee!

What was the other Log about? In fact that is the next Log due to appear and to give you a bit of a hint, it delves a bit more into the rigours of ACTING!-training that H&H have to go through to be the great performers they are. Well, maybe and this one once again had some good consumable props, one of which Chris very kindly purchased from a local off-licence as Tesco didn't have any in at all, and it was used in both of the Vlogs filmed, so talk about getting his money's worth. And I did have one hard thing to do in the Log and that was not to blink when I was saying my lines, which is a lot hardened than it sounds. Go on I dare you try it not to blink while speaking it really, really hurts after a few seconds and then BOOM!!! blinking eyes.

All staring and no blinking makes Jack something something...

Now I bet you are all wondering why that was at all important, well, well, my dear H&H Fans - you'll will just have to wait for the Actor's Log to go to find out, Mwhahahahahaha!!!

Well, that's all for now, I shall see you all in the Future!!!

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

Bat-Signal To Noise

Greetings, old Acting Chums, and a Happy Batman Day to you all! That's right TODAY is BATMAN DAY, celebrating 75 years of everybody's favourite Caped Crusader. If you don't believe me, just ask DC! Yes, the old Batarang-throwing codger is getting on a bit but he can still, well, twang a Batarang.
Besides the Bat-Birthday though, there's something even more important that has taken place today! More important than Batman?! Well, of COURSE it can be only one thing! Yes, you've guessed it - post-play our Colossal Acting Talent was rip-roaring and ready to go with the next Actor's Log, so we've only gone and filmed it today!

That's the truth, we've been a Dynamic Duo ourselves with this latest bit of business called show, refusing to let the heat (or the humidity) prostrate us. We even experimented with a looser more ad-libbed approach to the whole thing. Fings crossed the whole thing comes together in the Editing Suite, which I'll now get back to! Yes, that means it's time to type...


TTFN

Christopher Haigh

One Of Our Posts Is Missing

Hello Acting Fans, fellow bloggers and People of the Worlds. Yep, it's Friday and it's time for a blog.... Now can any spot the (not so) deliberate mistake, yes, we are missing a post, no, not a fence post - the Wednesday Blog (Whoops! We have had a busy week though with work and prepping sometimes these things slip our minds, especially this Wednesday as Blog Writer/Editor Chris failed to foresee a colleague's leaving curry might lead to more shenanigans. Bad Chris!)!

What's been going on then? Well we did once again get a meet up this week and planned out what we need for the shoot we had this week. Hold your horses, WHAT? Yep, that's right, folks, you've read that right we have been filming! In fact it was yesterday (Thursday 26th June) we filmed at once again the Old Cock in town. Before I write anything more I must give a BIG 'Thank You' to the Landlady of the Old Cock for once again letting us film there. As well as letting us film the Summer Special there last year just before their drastic re-fit. So THANK YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU!

Anyhoo we got ourselves (that's me, I and Chris) and our regular extra body Logan Darkholme (soon to be Daniel Kilburn, yep, he's getting hitched soon) to get this latest Actor's Log done. And as a testament to us we are getting better no animals or actors were harmed and no props were left behind. Ah, well, one did get broken though, Chris got a bit overzealous with the item he picked up cheap off Ebay for the shoot. Oh, dear. The Art of Comedy demands some sacrifices! We armed ourselves up in one of the back rooms, somewhat away from the public and too much ambient noise and set to it. Well, there was one thing we didn't have that was a print of the script! We are both currently without working printers, bah! Now this wasn't a problem as it first sounds, as me and Chris are getting better at learning our lines and improvising too (I mean, we have been working on H&H for a couple of years now, so we should know the characters inside and out. After all they are us.) Plus Chris had had some last minute ideas about some extra funny business that weren't in the script, so with Logan/Spyke/Danny (they're all the same person, remember) dressed up as yet another different character we set to it and, well, I can successfully say it was a very fun and good shoot. Normally we take more time with an extra cast member but once again it was a easy working with Logan as he always puts in a good performance and we have know each other years, too. Also we didn't give him any lines, and at one point forgot to give him any direction. Ooops!

With all the shots in hand it was back to H&H #2 to pick the shots and then Chris was off with his stick drive to edit. And, folks, it was all once again done in one day, ready to go live THIS MONDAY in fact, yeah, just in time for June, right down to the wire but still the June Actor's Log nonetheless!

Well, that's all for now, folks, see you all in the Future......

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

Today Was A Good (Fri)Day

Hello Acting Fans, Bloggers and people of the Internet and welcome back to this  (Good) Friday Blog post where I can answer the question, 'so what have we been up to?' with, 'quite a lot in fact.' Let's get down to it!

First, as we said in last Friday's blog, we got our filming on last Sunday, and this time we got more than enough footage, helped along by buying some bits & bats of props on the spot. Like a green drink that tasted like leaves (I kid you not, it did) and some safety glasses. (Got to love them pound shops!) With them in hand, we were ready to film and get it done. It went well, very well and, oh boy, did we have a laugh too.

Then on the Wednesday, as Chris mention very briefly, we went up to People's Park to film the last bit for the Vlog. Which, of course, you shall see - soon in fact! 'How soon?' I hear you all cry out at once. Well this Bank Holiday Monday in fact, which brings me to the last point the Actor's Log vlog itself.

What you lookin' at! Well, hopefully you'll look at it.

Yes, Chris locked himself away in the H&H Editing Suite (AKA his bedroom) Wednesday night and some of Thursday to get it edited together and today has brought the first cut down to show me and I can tell you all it's still very funny, I think one of our best so far (yep, I know thats a bold statement) but Chris wanted a fresh pair of eyes to look over it anyway, just in case we could it a bit more tighter. And he was right here's is a few cuts her & there that we have come up with, well, a few slight trimmings here there to get rid of the baginess (he's a star). So don't worry it'll be ready for Monday.

Well, thats all for now, folks, see ya soon. When we make a Bank Holiday Monday less boring! We hope you've had a great Good Friday and have a Great Easter Weekend!

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

 

A Shot In The Park

Just a quick one this Wednesday, Acting Fans, as I'm nose to the grindstone, or rather eyeballs to the monitor, here at the H&H Editing Suite. You see today we have been to People's Park, braving the rampant toddlers and the odd (make that VERY odd) local Halifax bod. Despite these aforementioned obstacles we now have the last shot for the Next Actor's Log in the can, so it's on to putting it together.

We do hope you got some Sun yourselves today but that's it for now as I get on with this business called 'Show'.

TTFN

Christopher Haigh

Acting Gear

Hello Acting Fans, fellow bloggers and people of the Internet, yep, it's Friday so it's my turn to ramble on online! As to what's has been happening at H&H HQ?
Well, not much new, as me and Chris haven't been able to get our weekly meet up in this week but we have been in prep mode for us filming this Sunday.
Yep, we are indeed going to be filming the next Vlog down in our good buddy's comic shop Legacy Comics owned by one Simon Shaw in fact. Yes, once again he has very kindly lets us have the use of his shop (well, one of the up stairs rooms - we won't be actually filming in the shop as we don't want to disrupt his business!)

Legacy to the Rescue!

Chris his been doing some testing with one of the required props we bought especially for this very Vlog and I have a few odd things to pick for the shoot on Sunday too. Which is...well, I can't tell you that it'd be ruining the surprise AND the Magic of Filming! All I can say is the testing is going well so far, touch wood, and it's looking like it'll do us a solid, or at least a fairly solid but a bit wobbly.

Yes, so Shatner willing the next Vlog shall be hitting your eyeballs very soon, very soon indeed. Then it's on to the next next Vlog which is already written too! We are getting better at getting on with these (well, when we don't have that day job interference that is) as the H&H machine gets back in acting gear!

So that's it for now see you in the Future!

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

 

(Not Very) Dear Diary

Welcome, interneterers, fellow bloggers and Acting Fans, yep, were back for another Wednesday blog post. So sit right there and let me tell you how and what we have been doing this week!

Well it has been very busy down here at H&H HQ, yep, we have been steaming along with the Next Phase of H&H. Once again we have been busy filming. Yep, you have indeed read that right FILMING! 'But what?!' I hear you cry, well now just calm down and I will tell you. We have been filming the 2nd Actor's Log video and it was a lot of fun to do (with much laughing on set), yes, we filmed and it was done in record time too! What do you mean 'What's an Actor's log'?! It was clearly explained RIGHT HERE:

Yes, THAT Actor's Log - these are a major part of the next phase of Harcourt & Haigh, so from now we hope to get at least one of these quick turn-around short shorts on the channel a month so there's something new (and Funny, we hope) to see on the channel in between the Series and Specials being made (plus it keeps us on out toes). The very next Vlog is based on semi-true events that happened to M' colleague Chris too and, well, when I heard it I knew it just had to be a blog so we met up this Monday gone (the 11th) and got down to film, then Chris took it off to the editing suite for the cut.  Now it has been done and is ready to go. Yes, folks we filmed and edited it all within two days (we are indeed getting better at this) and I can say it came out a lot better than I ever imagined!

I can also say this is probably one of my favourites so far, of all the things we've done so far too, I so can't wait for it to go up, and when will it go up, I bet you are all wondering....well it will be soooon!

Well that's all folks.... and we will see you on Friday

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

 

So We Begin...

Welcome, people of the internets and fellow bloggers and, yes, all you Acting Fans you lot too. Once again it's Wednesday so here is our blog on what's been happening down here at our HQ/Production Office/My Flat.

Well, as it turns out we have actually been filming once again, yep, yes we have! "Just what is it we have been filming", I hear you wonder (you really wonder quite loud, you lot). Now just sit back down there and I will tell you, geez, you're such an impatient bunch! You may remember (if you've been paying attention like good little Acting Fans) that we said that we were going to be starting something 'big' over here at H&H Productions. Well, we have indeed started the next BIG thing for H&H and paradoxically it's actually quite short, for a Big Move that is. Anyway, that was what we were filming for yesterday (Tuesday the 5th November) taking the advantage of a gap in Chris's shifts to get it done and even by our stands it was a very quick shoot and edit. A short cut, if you will. Yes, folks it was done in the same day this time but you will find out exactly how and why it was able to be done so quick soon.

"What is it", I hear you ask and, "When we will be able to view it?" Well, what it is I cannot say just yet because, well, you see it'd be [SPOILERS] so, no, I mustn't. I simply I canno..... HOLD ON! I CAN tell you WHEN you will see it, HA HA, of course! So pin your ears back and listen closely folks, in a move we have totally nicked from the Doctor Who Marketing Team, we here at H&H Productions as you to SAVE THE DAY!
We want you to SAVE THE DAY of the 11th NOVEMBER to be precise!
Yes, the next BIG but SHORT thing goes live on THIS COMING MONDAY! So please be there to witness a new phase of H&H, a bold NEW Era in ACTING!

Well that's all for now folks so stay tuned and...

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

 

SURPRISE!

Welcome back everybody, yep, it's Wednesday and it's blog time! Well now, as you can see, we have been busy since last we wrote. And trust us nobody is more surprised than us! Chris had been busy organising the YouTube Channel trailer setup this weekend. First recording the narration on Sunday (with the help of post-night out throat from the Saturday before, for extra gruffness) and then, while he was messing about, er, I mean sorting out the start of the trailer on Monday, he realised we might be able to get it done with a lot less additional filming than we at first planned. He set off yesterday with his Test proof version in hand to show me which I watched, just laughed at it and said, yes. During the quick meet up yesterday, we filmed just one shot for it. One shot. Which we were able to do at H&H HQ, that plus a quick scan on the interwebs for some stock footage of 'EXPLODO!' and we got the trailer done!
And There it is ☝!

Now we were planning to film additional scenes that we scripted especially for it but I think the way Chris has put it together (with a clever bit of footage recycling) is much better and, well, flows better too with a short punchy runtime. In fact it might be more of an intro than, well, our current episode intro, which gives us something to think about (and work with) when it comes to the Season 2 episode Intro.

Getting the Channel trailer out of the way sooner than expected means we have time for more things on our plate. Yes, we plan on starting filming on the Halloween special later in the week on Thursday as that really need to get done. Then well it will be on to film at last the last episode of series 1.Fings crossed we can get the spare warm bodies!

That's it for now see you in the Future!

Vernon Harcourt

 

It's Curtains For Us

Welcome back, bloggers and Acting Fans, yep, it's Wednesday update time so let's get down to this! We have actually had another busy week here at H&H HQ. Yep, we met up Tuesday (20th August) where we went over some new, well, new-ish ideas and we are still slowly planning out how exactly to get the last episode of series 1 filmed.

In the course of the meeting we also tried to figure out where to film the last two cutaways we needed for the Summer Special and, after a bit of rolling it around in thought and conversation (with the need to get a Summer Special out actually IN the Summer concerning us) we had a great idea. We could get it done right there in H&H HQ! We did some test shots for some of the Summer Special cutaways and we found out that, yes, the curtains in my game room looked rather good, well, great even with them drawn (and the big light on with an improvised spotlight from a de-lava-ed lava lamp shone up at an angle).

Curtains!

With that in mind we decided to go ahead and film the last two shots to go the very next day - TODAY! (Wednesday 21st). And, well, we did and I am pleased to be able to say the Summer Special is now in the can - finito, fin, done, finished...well, I'm sure you get the point. Now all that's left is the looong edit to get this into a funny special that you lot can feast your eyes upon! Well, hopefully not too long away we have pencilled in a date next week to lock ourselves in the editing suit with a fair few cups of tea and we won't come out until it is completed or one of us breakdown which ever comes first (or probably both).

Well that's all for now, Internet Chums, wish us Good Luck!

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

 

Staying Out For The Summer

Welcome back, Acting Fans, Vernon Harcourt here with Wednesday's late-breaking blog post. I am pleased to say the reason for delay is that we have been back filming AGAIN!

Yep, that's right, folks! Once again we have gotten behind, and in front of, the camera and been out filming the Summer Special. In fact we have been doing it today! We managed to get together with our Special Guest co-star in the form of Logan Darkholme, esq. (yes, yes, it's his real name - we've been over this already).

Esteemed (cheap) Special Guest Co-star, Logan Darkholme

We went down to very white-ish room to film the main bulk of the Summer Special, secured with the help of our friend, sometime cameraman, location manager, Keymaster, comic book shop proprietor, erotonaut and upstanding pillar of the community (who by now should probably be getting a producer credit), Mr. Simon Shaw. And, well, it did go very well. After a few small, minor hiccups that is. Such as us finding some furniture and a few chairs (well something, anything, for me and Chris to sit on) we even had to ask our good buddy if we could borrow a few things from his shop, well, off his counter top, to fill out the Mystery Supporting Person's desk.

It's the MSP!

 And we may have forgotten a couple of Props but 'Ssh!' - no one need ever know which ones they were! Of course, I'm not going to tell either, tee hee!

Now, with the main bulk of the whole thing in the can, we are just two cutaways away from finishing shooting. I now have the task of going over the rushes to see which are the best takes to use. Now, if you'll excuse me there are a few to go over, 57 shots in fact are the total we took today (Hey! Now that's quite a lot for a Low-to-No Budget production). Apart from a few which we can't use either because they are outtakes or the line delivery is better on another take, most of them are looking pretty good. So I guess I'd best get on with it!

So that's it for now, see you all on Friday!

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

 

On Location, Old Cock

Welcome back, Acting Fans, yep, it's that time again - Wednesday blog post, so lets get down to this. As you know (Well, you should if you read Fridays blog) we went out and did some filming on Friday night.

Yeah, I know - shock! We went out to our super secret location, that I can now reveal as The Old Cock pub in Halifax, to film an opening for the summer special. (Coming your way soon.) And it was a roaring success, yes folks, we braved the hot humid weather, got into our costume and got down to it (the Filming, that is). We got in early to avoid a very busy pub (and the sort of folks who would make it busy on a Friday night). I must say a big to the landlady Dee for allowing the three of us to film and to DJ Nick whose assistance was invaluable.

Location, location, location

And, yes, I did say three of us - it wouldn't have been possible without our DP Simon Shaw who was on hand to set off camera one and man the second hand-held camera. Yep, we used two cameras on this shoot our regular Lumix set up on a tripod, and Chris' Dad's camera because we wanted to get two different shot options and have the choice to either go with an hand-held shaky shot that looked like it's been filmed by a bystander, a static higher quality shot as we usually use or possibly both to intercut between. It's all about choice.

We got the shoot out and I've viewed the footage at home, er, I mean H&H HQ and it does indeed look very good in fact, dare I say it, awesome and in true H&H-style it was done in a single take and then we were out of there! Mainly because we didn't want our equipment around a busy Pub, especially on a Friday night. Chris tried to tempt me and Simon into a full night out but I had work in the morning as did Simon with his demanding day job as proprietor of Legacy Comics! So not much actors' drunken debauchery happened, after all we do still have a Summer Special and Episode 6 to get done!

Well that's your lot for today more on Friday!

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt