I Do It To Myself

Though sometimes I get a little help.

Greetings, Acting Fans, another late missive on the H&H production blog from a tired co-creator and, frankly, spent editor. You see, despite me spending all of my only full day off this week editing the next part of our extra special seasonal vlog, m'learned colleague was kind enough to remind me it was MY turn to blog today. So nice of him to volunteer. Volunteer the information, that is. Thank you so very much, Vernon.
Yet I can't hold too much of a grudge against my fellow actor at large as ultimately it's my own fault. Yes, it was me who, whilst showering, suddenly had the phrase 'A cartridge and a late fee' pop into my head whilst musing on the upcoming season of good cheer. Bah, humbug. After staring at an all-too-blank blog screen wondering exactly what to write, I have fallen back on that old adage write what you know and this is it.

I know the first part came together all too easily. This part, not so much. To be honest, I'm thankful for some of the tricks I've learned in the progress of H&H otherwise Thursdays travails would have taken so much longer. After a day of wrestling with both shots and doubts I got a first cut done in time to run it past my colleague with some time for me to do more editing if necessary. Happen a good job too as on our mutual viewing it soon became apparent that, despite my rather ruthless approach to cutting, the first cut still needed more ruths removing from it. Back to the editing suite went I and, if I say so myself, did a great job of cutting it down to the quick. Showing no mercy, I got Part 2 down from an unwieldy 8.17 minutes to a sleek, sexy 6.29 minutes and done in one day - all it took me was a skipped lunch and innumerable cups of tea.
That's right, Acting Fans, the task was completed - so keep your beady little eyes peeled this Monday for Vlog#4 Part 2! That's all from H&H Productions and me this week - I'm off to write a letter to Father Christmas to ask him for a decent computer and editing software. No , not for me. For Vern, that'd be a great gift for me.

TTFN

Christopher Haigh

Back In The Game

Welcome back fellow bloggers and ActingFfans yep its Friday so it’s blog time. So what has been happening since mine and Chris’s meet up, well actually nothing really. I bet your wondering why there is even a blog? Well, just sit right there and I’ll tell you...hold on to your hats folks! I've managed to re-join the Rat Race!

It’s more of a personal blog this week, I have been seeking, looking, searching and applying for work for a looong past four years without any luck. I have been applying job after job after job and no one seemed to get back to me. I've taken the odd temporary post and or seasonal work, even doing some volunteer work lately but still a steady job has remained out of reach!

Well, that is until this week. Yes, internet chums, I am now once again going to be an employed man within a company in Halifax (No, not the HALIFAX, after all we still bear a grudge! Flippin' location shenanigans) And I'm sooo pleased about this WOO HOO! Oh, yeah at last, but of course H&H will not stop - we are still steaming ahead with the next episode and it will be done, oh yes, it will be done. So swears Vernon Harcourt - productive member of society AND Actor At Large!

Well that’s it for today folks and we will speak to you soon



TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

 

Chewing The Fat

Welcome back, Acting Fans and fellow bloggers, so what have we been doing since the last Fridays video post? (If you've not seen it, go and check it out, please!)

Not entirely an accurate a depiction but Chris has been doing a bit of sewing of late

 After last weeks skip week, when we didn’t get to meet up, we made darn sure that we got a catch up this Tuesday and, yep ,you’ve guess it yet more planning. No, please don’t reach for that 'X' tab button just yet, it is all important planning. We took another look at the shot selection from our first shoot for episode 6's footage (that involved us in character and wasn't just test footage) so Chris could transport it to the editing suite (yes, that's right - also know has his bedroom).

We also discussed the upcoming shooting schedule that will involving more victims, Erm…. I mean actors. We’ve decided it will be better to film in the smaller required groups first, leading up to us doing the largest scene last. So the next job is going to involve me and Chris taking a long hard look at our calendars and getting some definite shooting days, so we can get our willing victims, er, I mean actors availability. Well, that’s all for today folks see you soon (well, Friday in fact)

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

 

The Body In Question

Salutations, Acting Fans, Wednesday's come around again and, as the Spring snow flurries past the window and we contemplate that maybe somehow we've ended up in Westeros by accident, let me tell you what we've been up to so far this week.
First, I'm going to take a brief detour to the end of last week. As it happened after posting last weeks blog and heading into town for some lunch before my evening shift who should I run into by chance but my colleague-in-arms at H&H Productions himself! We took the providential opportunity to have a brief tête-à-tête about our plans and I mentioned an aspect of Episode 6's script that wasn't working for me. Vern agreed and we hammered out an alternative version of the scene there and then which he typed up and integrated into the script after we went our separate ways. The following Sunday, whilst doing a bit of a spit-&-polish on the script, my recent viewing of the film which the episode homages kicked in and I realised we could have a bit more climactic finish to the episode. I wrote the climactic confrontation in and sent it to my partner-in-crime, who weighed and measured the idea and did not find it wanting. That means our shooting script is pretty much there but we still want to do the semi-cast readthrough.
Back in the Here & Now, Vern has been trying to organise the readthrough but the curse of the low-to-no budget production rears it's head again and we are still trying to get in touch with our principal cast members.
Meanwhile at just H HQ AKA the Editing Suite despite working Monday & Tuesday I've managed to get on with one of the side projects needed for the Final episode of Series 1 - The Puppet!

Legs 11!

Right, said Fred

Getting Ahead

I've opted for a (hopefully) simple construction, making a core body & head from waste upholstery foam, old tights (not mine, well not ALL mine but they're all mine now) and elastic bands which I'll go on to 'skin' with some towelling fabric (I'm going to sacrifice one of my redundant Dressing Gowns). Wish me Luck! (With my sewing skills I'll need it!)

That's it for Midweek, Internet Chums, tune in Friday to see what we manage to get up to the rest of this week!

TTFN

Christopher Haigh

Warm Bodies II

Welcome back fellow bloggers and Acting Fans. Since last we spoke, well, blogged we have indeed been doing something, yes! Incredible, I know!

We, me and my fellow co-creator, have met up once again to go over the script with a fine tooth comb. Yes, we looked over the script to nail down exactly what we can start to film with just me and Chris as we are still need of those extra warm bodies to help out, our inbox remains empty. We decided to look at getting some people from other acting organisations in Halifax (the local amateur dramatic groups to be exact), so stay tuned in for the outcome on that. The email is winging it's way down the internet tubes as you read on.

We also read through the script, mostly just our lines, and did some minor tweaking to script, changing a few lines around and adding some things. What things were added, you may ask? Well I'm sorry H&H fan, that’s classified for now. We also discussed something else, a little something that could be coming your way soon, very soon indeed but this is even more top secret than what tweaks done and I can’t say anymore on this subject, I really shouldn’t been even saying any this of which you are reading - so forget that I’ve even said anything on this. Just let it drift from your mind.

Well, that’s it for now acting fans. Oh, apart from me and Jo watched 'Warm Bodies' too and it was pretty fun, so yeah that's something you could do to fill the time while you wait for more H&H goodness. Do be sure to come back here after though!

Anyway, it’s goodnight from him and it’s goodnight from me.

TTFN

(Ssh! Remember - I didn’t say anything about top secret plans SSHHHH!!!)

Vernon Harcourt

 

V is for VICTORIOUS!!!

The 5th is down, repeat the 5th is down!

Welcome back, Acting Fans and fellow bloggers, It’s Friday and, yep, it’s our blog post - we survived! So let’s get down to it and DO this!

As I said on Wednesday, me and Chris were locked in the editing suite to get the 5th episode done and, well, it was a long day and a long edit but, by Jove, we got it done. We got 47 minutes of footage down to a nice round 12, I’ll just let the sink in a bit…
Yep, we ARE getting that good at this editing lark so it’s not as long as I thought it was going to be when I first read through the script but compared to the rest of the series it is a long episode, I told you it was going to be a BIG one. And I do think it has some of the funniest sequences in this episode some of which I am so glad actually worked out. It is sort of fitting that we end 2012 with a bit of a bang with this last episode of the year.
Oh, and on a side note we edited a 12min episode on the 12th day of the 12th month 2012! Oooooh Spooky!!!!!!!!! Never mind that though, we DID it - two men entered and One Finished Episode leaves to head out into the wilds of the internet.

And here it is! Now witness the comedy power of this fully ARMED and OPERATIONAL Final Episode of 2012! Oh, and please pass it, tell everyone - like maybe that bloke at the bus stop or the bus driver. Please just tell anyone and share it, pretty please.

Keep the home fire’s burning & I really mean it now, it might start to snow soon!

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

HAPPY ANNIVERNSARY!!!

Yes, Acting Fans, it's that special time of year again! What?!
NO! Not Goth Christmas, you've well missed that! And, NO, not Bonfire Night neither!
It's the time of year where we reflect on when a certain man incarnated on our tiny planet, a man who came to save us all, or at least to watch a heck of a lot of Manga cartoons and Honk Kong films! Yes, Acting Fans, rejoice for today of all days he came unto us - The Vern!

Behold THE VERN!

Rumour has it that the gentle giant of mirth was rocketed to the relative safety of our little blue dot by his loving parents as their doomed world exploded!

WARNING: Not ACTUAL Footage of the Vern's arrival

The other rumour is that that isn't true at all but that Vern started spreading the first rumour himself because, well, who wants to think about their parents, y'know, doing the deed. Eew!
Nevertheless from that fateful November the 9th onwards the world would forever cower in the shadow of the Colossal Acting Talent that now bestrode it like a, well, like a Colossus!

Always ready for the call to, 'ACTION!'

So, Acting Fans, please join me in wishing my Partner-In-ACTING!-crime and drunken hijinks all the very best and a Happy Birthday -

Many Happy Returns to The Vern!

Christopher Haigh