K.B.O.

Hello, Acting Fans, it's time for another bit of H&H Midweek musing on a week that started with quite a bit of a blow following the sad departure of Comedy Legend, Rik Mayall. The sympathies of all at H&H Productions go out to Rik's family and friends, we are now down a National Treasure, dammit.
The world turns on though, and H&H remain on mission to (hopefully) bring a little happiness with their daftness. To that end Vern and I have had a our regular meet-up today for some more chinwagging and planning. First order of business was a change of location. Yes, with no more shifts for me until the weekend, I lured my partner-in-crimes-against-the-internet to a nearby pub for a change. Quite a familiar place it was too, The Old Cock, a major location in our H&H Summer Special. Over a pint of Smith's and a purple Bulmer's we got down to H&H business.

Weapons of Choice

 

We took a look over our ideas for the live performance and decided that rather than alternating on the scripting, as we have gotten into the habit of lately when it comes to writing, we should sort out a full writing session where we compose the thing together and perhaps even do some blocking out of the actions we want to do 'on stage' as it were (I write 'on stage' as, well, wherever it actually manifests H&H Live might not always be on an actual stage).
On to the next Actor's Log, I had taken a pass at the script and also figured out a proper title for it to replace the placeholder, which I ran past m'learned colleague, who then gave it his seal of approval. Next is to source the bits and bats we need as well as sort out a location. Vern had tried earlier in the week but had missed the management personnel he needed to talk to at our first choice. He'll be taking another pass at it this week but, if it doesn't work out, we have a couple of contingencies.
So that's about where we are this week, fairly low key so far with nothing major to announce but the wheels of the H&H Productions machine are in motion and with that I bid you...

TTFN

Christopher Haigh

The Times (Well, The Location) Is A-Changin'

Welcome, Acting Fans, bloggers and people of the internet, time for the next installment of H&H bloggery. As Chris said on Wednesday there sure are some major changes in store for H&H HQ. One really big change, in fact, as it is moving, and quite soon too!

H&H HQ..NO MORE?!

Yes, my flatmates and I are moving but luckily not too far! Of course that means there could very well be a brief Hiatus until everything gets sorted out. Even as all that is going on though, we are still going to try getting on with what bits of episode 6 that we can do in the mean time. Indeed, we hope to start doing some filming soon. We have also talked about some future projects for H&H and about extending the world of H&H so stay tuned for that folks, H&H Productions will persevere.

Don't worry, we shall keep you up to date on what is happening, well, don't we always?

Sorry it's a short one as we still have a lot of work to do. Preparation is key!

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

 

Interiors

Welcome to this weekend update post, Acting Fans, I'm here today to let you know the two of us at H&H Productions have been at it again. Yes, this morning Vern & I met up once more to take a look at the location for the interior shots of the upcoming Halloween Special, above (and beyond!) the new shop location of our old chum/sometimes guest star/occasional location manager, Simon Shaw, Proprietor X of Legacy Comics.
After getting Simon's kind permission, we ducked past the Counter and up the two flights of stairs to the room at the top. With a bit of tidying up (man-style tidying up, so really just shoving stuff out of the way) and some amateur Feng Shui we got the room set up and, well, it turned out even better than we thought. Then it was time to break out the old Lumix and plan out the shots.

The Cardboard represents [SPOILERS]

Swarthy!

Thinking Time

Are we done yet?

Staring at Nothing

So with Vern having sorted out the 180° we took a few pics, including the ones you see above, as a quick storyboard, experimenting with varying angles and working out how best to capture some of the action. To post them all would potentially be [SPOILERS] so that's your lot for this week!
The site is prepped, now we have our fingers crossed that the weather holds so we can get the exteriors done sharpish, wish us Luck!
Before we go though, one last massive shout out to Simon - a big 'Thank You!' Without his generosity we'd be lucky to even have a trailer filmed. We don't know anyone else who'd put up with our filmic messings-about on their patch (apart from vern's flatmates, cheers to you guys too! Yes, you too, Muta)! As for the rest of you lot, see you on the other side of the Weekend! Keep watching!

TTFN

Christopher Haigh

Who IS That Masked Man?

Welcome back yep it's Friday, yep Friday, Friday got to get down on Friday, Friday. Get the blog written down that is. So then, fellow people of the internet, what have we been up to since that time me a Chris meet to do the Mysterious Guest Star filming...

Well as me and Chris have't had a chance for another meet up with Chris doing his day job and me putting down some of the wrong times in the diary for Chris working this week (Whoops)! So it has been a matter of checking things over and sorting out the little things as we end the week.

We now have two more bits of costume for the next part of the film these are Balaclavas (which my co-star is modeling above) and masks, yep. Chris has hunted high & low on the internet and the odd shop to purchase them for us to use, and to become part of the ever growing prop box for the show. But why do we need them? What are H&H going to be stealing? Well, you'll just have to wait and see. Meanwhile I have been going over the script looking at all of the (hopefully) final changes to script but then again, knowing us, maybe not.

Creeepy...

I have also been asking/looking around for some possible locations to be used in this Special and might have one hopefully. Fingers crossed.

Well that's all for now see on Wednesday when there should/will be more to report.

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

To The Victor, The Spoils!

Welcome to the weekend, Acting Fans, it's time for another H&H end-of week- sign off post. Now let me tell you, we haven't been resting on our laurels basking in the glory that is our brand spanking new Youtube Channel Trailer, no, sir! Though the weather was against us for filming on Thursday, Vern & I braved the wet and not particularly wild to go on a bit of location scouting for the Halloween Special. Our first port of call an abandoned factory mill on the other side of the Dean Clough complex and, as those of you who may recall other scouting missions led by myself, yes, I took us what was actually the longest way round. Again. Sorry, Vern. On the way another potential exterior caught our eye:

Mmm, rocky...

We then continued on to the mill and, thanks to a handy bit of prior fence vandalism (not by us I hasten to add), we were able to make our way onto the factory grounds.

With Vern for scale

Unfortunately, though it would make an ideal setting for a 'Last Of Us' fan film as Vern said with a scheming look in his eyes, it was a little too far out and, frankly, a bit unsafe for the admittedly-minor-but-still-a-stunt stunt we have in mind for the sequence we were planning here. That IS the point of Scouting a Location though, figuring out suitability and viability. Having decided that we headed back to H&H HQ. The short way this time, where we happened across another potential spot for the close-up shots in the sequence, which Vern modeled in this test photograph.

Laaadies.

The spot documented, we continued on our merry way ducking into the Dean Clough complex itself for a nosey as we wandered back. Where we passed a familiar location. A dilapidated but still in use building that featured in one of our Series 1 'Previously' segments. No pictures here I'm afraid, as they might be [SPOILERS]. Let's just say we found a way to do our admittedly-minor-but-still-a-stunt stunt with an exponentially smaller risk to m'colleagues life and limb than a t'other mill. 
We also got into an odd and rather fascinating conversation with two of the Dean Clough maintenance men who work out of that building. Tall tales of the plethora of wild life and the numerous (& rather bold) criminal activities that have taken place at Dean Clough. Who knew? Well, those guys, obviously. After politely parting ways we found another couple of potential exteriors as we headed back into town.

Mmm, dynamic angle...

Everything location-wise pretty much sorted, it was time to hit H&H HQ again for a refreshing cuppa. Making sure to take copious notes too, so we don't forget what we need to do next. First of which was a bit of Prop hunting so, cuppaly refreshed, I set off on a pound shop trawl.
Now I got lucky with the first couple of items I wanted, thanks to a quick trip to Huddersfield. But thar be [SPOILERS]. Sadly, despite it being 'Talk Like A Pirate' Day I returned home lacking a particular bit of Booty. Good job I don't give up so easily. Today I did a discount shop hunt a little closer to home and found exactly what we needed, thanks to The Range:

TREASURE, ME HEARTIES!!!

Now all we need is, well, everything else we have to get together for the shoot. No rest for the Wicked. Wicked Cool, that is.

TTFN

Christopher Haigh

Taking Steps

Welcome to the Weekend, Acting Fans, and to the second of your semiweekly shots of H&H goodness! It's been 'Go!' at H&H productions this week, even after our weekend experimental shoot and the readthrough. the momentum seems to be continuing when it comes to the production of our Summer Special. Yes, this Wednesday Vern and I met up at his flat, along with our sometime collaborators in Crimes Against Acting - Jake & Hardy, to get on with filming the final shots of our upcoming escapade. Once gathered, our merry band headed not-too-far from H&H Productions HQ (yes, still Vern's shared abode) just over the road and along a bit to the Halifax Elim Pentecostal Church:

Bleh! (Architecturally speaking, sure the people inside are lovely)

As I'm sure you'll agree, as terrible a monstrosity of 60s/70s architecture as you are likely to find and therefore ideal for the needs of Myself and my Colossally Talented Acting Chum when it comes to the Summer Special setting for this particular sequence. Once set up it wasn't long (once we'd swotted up on a line or two) until we got through some nice takes of the sequence and with them in the can were once again on our way back to H&H HQ. Job well done. It just remains for us to get the main body of the special filmed, get the whole shebang edited and Bob's your Uncle* - job done! Fings crossed, Internet Chums, we're on our way!

That's pretty much it this week but, if I may, I'd like to end with a polite request for assistance. Unfortunately one of our Co-Stars is Missing!

MISSING: Muta

This young fellow, Verns flatmates' house cat (and our occasional hindrance/co-star), is missing. He answers to the name 'Muta' is 1 year old, microchipped, neutered and is an indoor cat. He went missing in Halifax town centre this Thursday morning (08/08/2013). If any Halifax-based Acting Fans could keep their eyes peeled and, if you spot him, get in touch we would all greatly appreciate it.

On that rather solemn note I'm afraid I must take my leave but stay tuned next week for more doings and please keep your fingers crossed for the cat in question, thank you and...

TTFN

Christopher Haigh

The Night Tripper

It's the midweek once again, Acting Fans, Time marches on yomping right into, well, March already! Time for a bit of an update on what's what at H&H HQ. As I type it's another misty morning in the Calder Valley, though fortunately no signs so far of the revenant, malevolent spirits of the long dead returning for revenge. Though much like the tension building scenes of a Horror film we (Vern & I) are experiencing an eerie silence, yes we're still yet to receive even an acknowledging 'Thanks but no thanks' from any of the dramatic organisations we've dropped a line to. Ah, well - It's looking more likely that our TOP SECRET EMERGENCY PLAN may have to be dusted off.
In the meantime we have got a little more establishing footage established. After our night shoot last week I had my thinking cap on with regards to figuring out where we might be able to get a more elevated shot of a train or two on the tracks. Over the weekend it came to me - BRADFORD (Oddly enough it was a trip to Leeds that triggered it)! I remembered that the layout of the Bradford Interchange is such that a viaduct road crosses above the tracks and that might be a possible point to set up the shot. After a quick Google Map check I ran the idea by Vern and we decided it was on.
Question was: how to get there? Answer: Pass! More specifically my Metro Pass. Neither Vern or I drive but since I worked in Bradford I've maintained my Rail Zone 2-to-5 Bus & train pass, so I can pop down the line pretty much any time it takes my fancy. I thought I'd let Vern off the hook and be a one-man second unit team this time but rather than lug our Lumix FZ150 I thought I'd experiment with borrowing the Family camera, a Lumix TZ18 (it's a fair do Mum & Dad borrowed my digital camera for ages before they got it). We'd actually already had the camera along on a shoot for a test with the idea of using it as a second camera angle but the only setting we could find that shot roughly 16:9 was the HD setting which, on the 8GB memory card we had, only gave us about 8 minutes. Not great for shooting scenes but no problem when it came down to the shots we wanted now.

Mmm, compact.

Monday after work I picked up the tripod from Vern and was good to go, which I did that very evening. I had however made a schoolboy error:

 Yep, I forgot to check the battery AND to bring a spare! But:

It was a fraught moment as, set up on the overpass, I pushed the record button and crossed all my fingers as the train slowly pulled in below and the power indicator insistently flashed at me. I got it. Then I saw another trains approaching and set to recording again and...it died. It was a fraught trip home as I worried whether the first shot had recorded properly or not but, when I plugged the camera in, there it was:

Phew, indeed. Pretty much exactly what we wanted. That's it so far this week, Acting Fans, but the week isn't over yet. We have some shenanigans planned for tomorrow but, shhh, that's a bit secret! More on Friday, stay tuned!

TTFN

Christopher Haigh

All The Old Familiar Places

Yep - It's Location, location, location time (once again)!

Welcome back, fellow bloggers and Acting Fans, to Wednesdays regular blog post. Here's what's been happening over and down here at H&H productions. Well, well. Once again we're planning (yep, again) but, of course, it IS essential to process of filming.

Tree!

After the planning and storyboarding of last week, we went out today to scout out, and try to get permission to use where necessary, some of the locations that we need for episode 5. This time we even did some proper visual storyboarding on, wait for it, the actual camera we shoot with, our trusty pal Lumix, instead of with Chris's phone camera - which, by the way, can't do the right aspect ratio (Yep, we finally remembered the camera that we use for filming can also, you know, take photos BECAUSE IT IS A CAMERA)!

Cookies!

We checked out the area of pedestrian precinct we need for one exterior scene, had a look at setting up the shots for a scene at trusty old Piece Hall, got a 'yes' from the pub we need to use for one interior scene (Chris's beloved Cookies Bar), got the exterior angles sorted for near a local Greasy Spoon and from the Elsie Whitely Innovation Centre we got contact details of who to get in touch with regarding filming there - wish us luck there, Acting Fans, as we could really do with using this location in the episode!
So, well, that’s about it, not really all that much to report on this week. Filming will commence real soon on this next episode and, of course, you’ll be the first to know when it does.

Somewhere so familiar...

That’s it for today keep them home fires burning and...

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

 

The Kindness Of Strangers

Welcome back, Acting Fans, once again it's the Wednesday blog post, so let’s get down to it. Since last Friday we have finalised the shooting script for the next episode and yesterday (Tuesday 28th Aug 2012) Chris dragged me out on another location scouting (Yep, I didn't learn from last time).
This time to find a pub that, it turns out, actually does, you know, exist! Travelling to place where I’ve never been before. Where was it I hear you ask? (I do hear you, I'm not crazy - I’ve been tested.) Well, it is the 'Cat I' th Well' pub, 15 minutes out of Halifax by bus, up in the sticks of Wainstalls. Oh, and what an adventure we had!

Sometimes you might wonder why you stay in Halifax, then you remember THIS is a quarter of an hour away

First, it turned out we'd gotten off of bit too far by stopping at the end of the line, and so we had to walk back down the road to the Crossroads Inn, which we found out after politely asking the bus driver where it was (yes, yes, we'd both totally forgotten to Google Map it). As we went on our merry way back down the looong road, the bus set off on it's return leg to town when, instead of just passing by, it pulled up next to us. The bus driver who had taken us up there offered us a free ride back to the Crossroads Inn and gave us directions from the bus stop there (What a lovely bloke, never underestimate the power of politeness, kids)! Then from the Crossroads we started the looong walk down the road to the pub and it was indeed a loooong way down.

Master of All He Surveys - apart from all the stuff he isn't the Master of

On the way down saw why indeed Yorkshire is often called God's Own County - just absolute stunning scenery. But, about half-way down the hill, a mild panic set in. Were we going the right way? Are we lost? What will happens to us out in the middle of nowhere, so far from civilisation (and booze)? Well, Acting Fans, in true actor’s fashion we marched merrily on (as The Show must) and, lo and behold, around the next corner, nestled behind a small wood of trees, was the pub we had been looking for the 'Cat I' th Well'. Hurrah!!!

So, after nipping in for a quick drink, we set about planning shots and taking photos for a visual storyboard, even though we did forget to bring our actual camera along, you know - the one that can take actually good photos, that one that we film with and shoots the correct aspect ratio and everything (Gah!). Instead we had to use Chris's phone camera. With all that done, we then started the perilous long walk back up the hill. Oh boy, that really did put us out of breath but we marched on ever more - onwards and upwards.

Though leaving wasn't easy - Good job the pub is closed between 3 & 5 on a weekday

When we arrived at the top of the hill we had just missed the bus back down (Damn it) and the next one would be almost a half hour! So we took up seats on a picnic tables benches by the Crossroads Inn car park. As it happened a bloke, who we later find out was called Charles and from South London, was moving some stuff into the pub for his mom after a family bereavement.
We offered to help him as the good honest chaps we are but Charles initially politely refused our offer. When he lost a couple of big books from the huge pile of things he was carrying, whilst struggling with the front door, he needed some extra hands, which we provided. As we were waiting for the bus to turn up Charles offered us lift back down into town as he was heading to the funeral directors at King Cross. What a(nother) lovely bloke (I mean, we could have been anyone)!
So, if anything, we did indeed prove that there IS such a thing as a Free Ride, in fact we got TWO!

And I saved pound too - a whole POOOUND, all in all it was a successful day and a grand one too.

Well, that’s it for now and, as always keep, the home fires burning until next time,

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

Locating, Locating

A fine Wednesday welcome to you, Acting Fans, time for the latest from H&H Headquarters. We're still made up with our new camera but, unfortunately, a confluence of events has led us to not be able to get filming recently. Our prospective filming schedule ended up clashing with some well-deserved time off for Vern's flatmates. Not wanting to inconvenience the folk who have so generously permitted us to film where they are co-habitating with Vern, we've been up to some more planning and sketching out of the filming of further episodes.
To that end last week I took my fellow co-creator on a fair trek to the outskirts of Halifax town centre for a spot of location scouting. A bout of location scouting that turned into a wild goose chase or, in this case, a wild pub chase.
A gag in one of the later episodes calls for a Public House that appears somewhat isolated and I was sure that there was a possibly-suitable pub on the way to Southowram (or as sure of the possibility as one can be from a half-remembered fairly eventful works Christmas do from the mid-90s, yes, alcohol was involved). We began with a leisurely stroll to the bottom of town and, by the time we reached the bottom of Southowram Bank, we had already decided on one location (for a different scene), thanks to the suitably industrial-looking rear of a local retail building.
Then came the more arduous part of our trail - the slog up the steep cobbled path through the woods up to Godley Branch Road. We got there up there and, after a brief pause (just until we could feel our calves again), made our way along Beacon Hill Road to Bank Top.
Still no sign of my half-remembered mystery pub but we did get a rather lovely vista of Halifax that may feature at some point in the series (and that I briefly lost Vern to for a while, he was totally immersed, bless him). From Bank Top we took Southowram Bank back down to the bottom of town and still nary a trace of our elusive Public House, so our best theories are it's either closed down in the mean time, maybe turned into housing, maybe demolished or it's some kind of Brigadoon Pub that only appears when the moon is in the right phase. Still, not a total waste of time and effort as we did sort a couple of other things and we got a bit of exercise to boot (we need it, we don't get out much).
Stay tuned for this Friday, folks, as the Pilot Episode is still about to drop - so keep your peepers peeled!

TTFN

Christopher Haigh