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

Stocktake

Hello out there in the interweb, fellow bloggers and readers. You know what time it is - yep, it's BLOG!

Time, that is, Blog Time! So well what have we been doing this week over here at the H&H HQ productions? Well, let me see hmmm, errmmm, hmmm. Oh, I know! Chris has been busy finishing off the final touch to the first episode to get it ready to go live (Soon, in fact, but more on that later) and me, what have I been doing?

I've been doing some filming on my own. Yep, you read that right on my own. Now, what could I possibly be doing on my own and why wasn’t Chris there?
Calm down, folks, and I will tell you - when not tweaking Chris has been at his day job and I've been filming some footage for the next episode, part of a sequence which neither me or Chris are in.

I’ve been filming 'Dave' (or rather the 'HAiL2001' intercom box through which Harcourt & Haigh's mysterious landlord communicates). We've only got the one prop y'see (the perils of the Lo-to-No budget production) so I've been placing it around the flat for use not only in the next episode to be filmed but possible future episodes too. You could say I've been shooting Stock Footage.
As well as various place around the flat I've been taking multi-angled shots of 'him' too, so if we do use this for stock footage we will have some different shots we can use. We just have two shots left to do for the opening which will involve the help of Chris, and a bit of dressing up for me (did I say I wasn't in this sequence? Well, that is sort of true).
I've also still been learning them lines and planning out a date to go and film up at our pre-scouted Wainstalls location. Our eyes are on the 5-day forecast, so please have a kind word to whichever weather gods you worship. We're not asking for sunshine in September but we could really do with some nice cloud without rain for the next exterior shoot.

'Dave'

is

all

around

Oh, One more thing - I did say something about the first episode of Series 1 going live, didn't I?
Well, my dear followers, I bet you’re wondering WHEN it’s going live?
Well, well, well, I can say this…………….SOOOOOON!
Tune in on Friday to find out more.
Teehee.

Well, that’s it for now, keep them home fires burning, Acting Fans, and...

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

 

Computer Apocalypse Now

Well, hello again, Acting Fans - it's blog Friday and we start today with a bit of Bad News. During the sorting of Wednesdays footage, something went awry with Vern's PC. Whilst sorting through shots strange bitmapping and mouse arrow trails occurred before a sudden total shutdown. Fortunately no footage was lost but, after getting a bit of expert help, it turns out that his 8-year-old 80GB hard disk had given up the ghost (in the Machine), it spins up no more, it is an Ex-Drive, it spins with the choirs celestial.

Vern's a good soldier though and wasn't about to let total disaster stop us, so he decided to stick to this week's shooting schedule. After a bit of a think I realised my old laptop might come in handy and it did. Although we couldn't review the footage on it due to the outdated OS, the computer allowed us to transfer it to my flash drive to get it home to the Editing Suite (AKA me bedroom). It has put us a little behind on the reviewing of the rushes but we have still managed to get most of the first episode filmed with todays shoot. Praise Shatner!
Today's shoot was once again back at H&H HQ AKA Vern's Flat and was, for the most part, Vern-centric. Though there was some call for my appearance, full costume wasn't required. Yep, I didn't even need my pants on for my segments. Er, I mean I didn't need my ACTING pants on, of course. I was wearing trousers, honest.
After wrapping the interior shots we broke for lunch. Having refueled we returned to the flat for the final exterior shots for Episode 1. Before shooting outside we remembered there was a single pick-up shot we needed of the interior first. Then that was that job done. Next week we'll be getting down to editing the episode and it'll be 2 down, 4 to go! Woo!
Fings crossed Acting Fans the series could be here sooner than you think, stay tuned and...

TTFN

Christopher Haigh

Steaming Along

Hello, Acting Fans and Bloggers, welcome back once again - let’s get to it!
So, I am very pleased to be able to say now that the second episode (of the series run) is now completed, minus the sound effects. I if I do say so myself (which I will) it is very good and funny. I really do think we have done a very good job with this one.

Our new digital camera has made worlds of difference to the production. Mainly being able to watch the rushes, there and then after shooting. So we can pinpoint any mistakes right away and get some re-shoots within the same session without the pain of re-setting the set for continuity on another day.

As a small note though I must say, out of all of the things I have edited, this has been one of the hardest one to do (definite thoughts of getting a second camera spring to mind) but in true Harcourt & Haigh style we have pulled it off (just). And it all works and flows the way I envisioned it to.

So what’s next? What are we up to and when can we see episode? Those are the questions you're all asking. Well, let me tell ya……………….. hahaha - not just yet, Acting Fans, tune in next time same H time, same H place to find the answers and maybe a little more!
Until next we meet, keep the home fires burning.

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

 

Selection Box

Hello, this IS the blog you're looking for, Welcome back fellow bloggers and Acting Fans.

So what have we been doing at H&H HQ? Well, we haven’t been filming this week, nope, and I bet you're are little confused to why. Well calm down and let me tell you, sshh, such an impatient lot aren’t you? We (me, myself and co-creator Chris) have been going thought all of the rushes to see which are the best to use for the first cut of the episode. We did this as we weren't sure of the availability of the flat on Tuesday and our (day job) working hours leave us pretty much unable to film later this week. 

We've been sorting the clips, noting the timeframe from which clip is relevant and writing it down, re-naming their file names so we know what to use when it comes to the edit. Now I know what you’re thinking (no, really, I am - and it won’t work) I did say in another blog that I had already done this. And yes but that was just me on my own reviewing on a first pass, looking over the footage, seeing if it all worked and if we had all the coverage we needed.

So we now have all of the footage chosen and we are almost ready to go in and edit the second episode. Well, we've just  got a few small picks-up to film and this episode is in the can, so to speak. And then it’s on the next one. Like they say, 'There’s no rest for the wicked.'

Until the next time that we meet, so long and keep them home fires a-burning!

TTFN

Vernon Sutcliffe

In The Can (Well, Almost)

Hello, Acting Fans, it’s Friday, it’s blog time, let’s do this!

As you well know we have been filming what is currently pecilled in as the second webisode of the series proper (episode order may change at our whims) and I can now report all the main parts of it are done. That’s the main talkie bit, a more physical comedy sequence and few other things that were needed. All that is left to do now are just two shots and this one is in the can!

So what’s next? I'll be going over and reviewing the rushes to see which shots are the best to use (Trust me, there’s quiet a bit to go through with the Lumix (my precioussss!) boosting our shooting capabilities) and then it’s on to planning, sequencing and filming the next webisode which will hopefully be the first one. (Yep, we are doing them out of sequence. We like to mix it up. Also Chris needs to get his skates on and build a prop for episode one!)

Well then, Acting Fans, I’d best back to it so, until the next time we meet and chat, as always keep the home fires burning!

TTFN

Vernon Sutcliffe

From Rushes, With Love

Hello, Acting Fans, it’s Friday and we're back, so let’s do this!
Soooo what have we been up to since we last wrote and talked and filmed?

Well, let me tell you and you will find out. I have been sitting through the dailys, or rushes if you like, looking to see which of the takes so far are the best to use (Note to self: I really need to re-name them after I put them on my P.C. - I'm going number blind) and I can safely say that it is looking very good indeed. And funny, yes, even the outtake of me whacking myself in the face with the gun.
I've been doing something else too, I have been practising with the camera using some techniques that I found online to simulate tracking and dolly shots as some of these shot styles might be useful in future episodes. So I need to get up to speed on these and get them right, hmm, then teach someone else too. Oh boy, I don’t think I have thought this through. Damn it! Oh well, back to it I guess.

As always stay classy and keep the home fires burning and we'll see you 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

Oh The Humanity!

The humanity!

Hello, Acting Fans, and welcome back, boy, do we have some news to report this week. And not just our usual stuff lately of hang-on-we've-got-stuff-in-the-works-going-on.
What is it I hear you cry? Well, me and my Acting-Buddy-&-Co-Star Chris had an all planned out shoot for today. We were going to film a major part of the third episode (why the third? And why aren’t we filming the second next? More on these question much later on, i.e. not on this blog entry, mate. No, I'm not calling you a moron!) But, yep, as you may have guessed by the world “were” it didn't go quite according to plan - so what we went wrong? Well, todays attempt at a shoot went something like this:

Not exactly like that, obviously, as no zeppelins or hydrogen were involved (being a Lo-to-No Budget series we can't afford them) it was however like the above in that we had a major technological breakdown!
The camera, after being used many times in the previous shoots and working fine, stopped working. In the later stage of the Pilot shoot we had had a few glitches in the footage but it seemed there was a chance that judicious use of a head-cleaning tape would stop the problem. Unfortunately now the heads appear to not be working right at all, the video camera doesn’t want to play back anything we film, although testing the tapes in our back-up camcorder revealed it was actually recording but just heavily corrupted footage. (Man, we just have all the luck, don’t we?)
But, hurrah, some good news not all was lost from the shoot we did go out (with our trusty backup Emergency Camera, AKA Chris's Dad's Camcorder) and hung around the Calder Royal Hospital to get some stock footage of an ambulance for the Episode [SPOILERS] later on in the series. As we chased ambulances by not moving we ran through the lines for the episode that we were originally going to film today. Only to then almost miss our cue while doing so, when mid-flow a sirens-and-all ambulance showed up but luckily, thanks to my quick reactions (and the camcorder booting up just-in-time to catch it before it passed us), we got it the can. Groovy. We returned with our prize, and a little additional improvised outdoor stock footage, back to Chez Vern for a cool drink and a final line run - the dialogue's shaping up pretty well. Now we take stock and, yes, plan some more (always with the planning) what to do.

Until next time, which is Friday in case you don’t know,

TTFN

Vernon Harcourt

Special Delivery

Well, Folks, It's that special time of year when nights have drawn in, the stars align and where we contemplate the sacrifice, the wonders and the miracles that have been, as well as those that have yet to come. The celebration of an entrance into the world, an unusual birth. What?! Christmas? Nooooo!

Aww, Isn't it cute? 8 Gigs of Acting Prowess!

We've got our footage together!

And we're ready to get editing a rough cut of the first episode! Now bear in mind there'll be a lot of re-shooting yet and this rough cut will be for-our-eyes-only as we figure out which shots to change, where we need new composition and what we've missed. Over the festive season we'll be beavering away behind the scenes (and between the festivities) and hopefully (fings crossed) we may have something to show you over the yuletide season/early new year.

Until then we've got someone in to take care of our Precious Cargo:

 

 

Thanks, Goku!

TTFN,

Vernon Harcourt
&

Christopher Haigh

L'Auteur

Can't Blog, directing...

Always consult your script.

Frame the scene...

Always consult your script...again (Who wrote this dross?!)

ACTION!

Excellent...

Stay tuned,

Vernon Harcourt