FILMING THE OPENING CREDITS (Patreon)

19 DAYS TO GO BEFORE WE'RE LIVE!

For today's post we have a special blog for you from our producer of all things filmy and streamy, Erin Rea. She’s been working overtime to create awesome video and images for our streams. But, rather than whitter on about this myself, let me pass you over to her…

Hi, I’m Erin!

I’ve known Andy for a long time. We first met back when I used to work in Blockbuster and he was one of my customers. By chance, we ended up talking about art and gaming. And, yes, this ages us both more than I’d like.

It was because of Andy that I now work as an artist on Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (WFRP). When he was the producer for the game, he contacted me and asked if I could do a sample illustration of the now-notorious Rudi Klumpenkrug.

Needless to say, I said yes.

Rudi Klumpenkrug by Scott Purdy and Erin Rea from the WFRP Starter Set
© Games Workshop, 2018

After appearing on Inside the Rookery back in November, 2022, I got together with Andy and Lindsay to discuss another stream they had in development. They were planning an ‘actual play’, a live-streamed playthrough, of The Enemy Within, one of the most famous roleplaying game campaigns ever written, and one I had contributed art towards! And they needed some behind-the-scenes help. After one of the most engaging and entertaining discussions I’ve ever had, I agreed to come aboard as a director and producer for the project. My primary responsibility was to manage the livestreams.

But, me being me, I wasn’t going to stop there. I think big, bigger than maybe I should sometimes, but I’ve been told my enthusiasm has a tendency to infuse into others.

I wanted to produce some snazzy opening credits. So, after discussing this with Andy and Lindsay, I got to work calling contacts who could help me. Now, as I sit here typing this blog and that filming’s been completed, it’s no exaggeration to say that the people who helped me on this have been amazing, and it simply wouldn’t have been the same without them.

LOCATION
The first item on the agenda was to secure a location to do the filming. What I was looking for was an environment that would be able to emulate a Reikland tavern. In a city like Edinburgh, you’d think this would be easy, but it turns out it was quite hard! Not only did it have to look right, but it would need to be a large enough space to accommodate filming equipment.

And, given the actual play included a rat catcher, I considered it a big bonus if they would allow live rats on the premises…

Did I mention that I think big?

So, I went location scouting.

I looked and I looked and I looked. But, nowhere seemed to fit. Or, perhaps unsurprisingly, they weren’t too keen on live rats.

Then, just as it seemed that all hope was lost, an angel came a calling. My dear friend James Armandary asked if I felt that the location he manages, The Lost Close would be suitable for our needs.

Excited, I organised a visit to the location. It was just off of the Royal Mile in central Edinburgh, so was easy to reach. The Lost Close is an ‘events and experiences’  venue that features regular whisky tastings. It was perfect. Apparently, there were even flickering lights that would aid in emulating the fireplace effect I wanted to achieve!

When I got there, I was delighted to find it had a ‘Beer Tasting Room’ with ancient, white-washed walls and old wooden furniture.

I had found my location!

PROPS
Now that I knew we had a place to actually film the project, it was time to start fabricating and sourcing props. As Andy’s roleplaying group had been playing their WFRP characters for several months, he already had a very clear idea about how each should be expressed. He helped me draft a list of items specific to each character and the overall story for set dressing.

I then spread out my feelers for what I needed.

I asked Jason Pirie, AKA ‘Kitbasher Chronicles’, if he was interested in helping me. I share a podcast with him where we build model kits and Gunpla, talk about anime, life, the universe, and other tangential gibberish, so I know him very well.

He immediately agreed to help, and offered to take on scratch fabrication for the many items I’d need, and also agreed to help to source some antique weapons that would suit the scene!

However, not every prop we needed was to be ‘Old World’. In particular, one of the characters was Nipponese, which is Warhammer-speak for saying she comes from a fantasy version of Japan. So, I really wanted something that properly reflected that character’s unique background and story, but still looked aged and worn, fitting the WFRP aesthetic.

For that, I called upon my friend Jess Unikorn, an extraordinarily skilled fabricator of things, to produce a kitsune-style mask that also featured the traditional Warhammer Fantasy dirtiness.

From what she told me of her process there were many phases of experimentation, but the final product was a combination of vacuum-sealed plastic, fabric, and air-dry ceramic. You can see here some of the triumphs and failures.

First Steps by Jess Unikorn

Foxy Moulds by Jess Unikorn

The Fox Mask by Jess Unikorn

But, the part you’ve likely all been looking forward to: the live rats!

As I mentioned, one of the characters in the upcoming stream is a rat catcher, so I wanted some real, live rats in the video I was planning.

So, I needed actors; the fuzzy kind.

Enter Herc and Apollo.

On the day of filming, we only used Herc (who prefers to be called Teddy; such a diva!) as his rex coat makes him look a bit wilder. His brother remained on set as emotional support.

For his first time on film, he was amazing and caused us no trouble other than a little pee.

CREW
While I had everything being made I needed to find a crew to actually do the filming.

Step in Phil Sanderson; Photographer, horse whisperer, and all-around good dude.

Phil also put me in contact with a colleague of his with extensive experience in the field of commercial filming, Stacey Cody.

We also had James Armandary as a production assistant and photographer. He took all the amazing behind-the-scenes images, and I’m sure you’ll see the rest of the work throughout the Lawhammer production!

But no photos of him as he was taking all the shots!

So, on the day we would have me producing/directing, Stacey filming and co-directing, and James on photography.

But, that’s not all!

Did I mention I like to do things big?

We also had Jason Pirie as a production assistant!

And the perfectly named Stuart Little as the animal handler.

And of course Herc and Apollo!

FILMING
On the morning of the filming, I rocked up to Edinburgh’s Royal Mile at 8.30am (which, for me, is very early!).

For the rest of the day, we would spend most of the next ten hours underground in the 18th-century vault. As with anything like this there were many a spanner thrown into the works but overall the day went very well and we blasted through our shot list.

The setup and dressing took around 2 hours to finish. The intention was to give the impression that the large table we were using was being used by our group of adventurers while in a tavern, their significant trinkets and belongings thrown upon it while they indulge in some bread as they pore over a map.

In particular, I was exceptionally happy with how the illusion of a fireplace went which at times required three people to create!

On the table were small sections dedicated to each character interspersed with general items such as coins, bowls, and candles. The first priority was to get tracking shots of each of these sections. These would make up the bulk of the opening credits. Then we filmed static shots of objects of interest that would serve a more flexible purpose during the course of the stream.

Our second last shot we did was by far the most complicated and could only be described as a haphazard ballet of violet wonder.

The shot will be used in the opening credits. Stacey did a tracking shot over the middle of the table, which was completely reset with the map in clear focus. Jason and James both held a large purple gel below a softbox with me in the corner of the room with another purple gel. James also had a handheld RGB LED light box at the ready. Together we would lift our gels and the lightbox to cast a purple light over the shot.

It’s almost as if purple may be important!

But I’ll not spoil the stream - so you can see that shot later!

THANKS
I’d like to end by giving a huge thanks to all those who have made this possible.

Andy Law, for giving me the opportunity.

Lindsay Law, for not only providing so many of the amazing props, but being supportive and instrumental in getting it off the ground.

The cast of LAWhammer, for all their marvellous suggestions (we'll be discussing more about this motley crew in a later post!).

Jason Pirie, my partner for not only tolerating my craziness with this but also for making some amazing props and stepping in to help assist on the day when we were a man down.

Phil Sanderson, for not only advising me but also putting me in contact with the amazing Stacey Cody. You can check him out on Instagram @philyboy.

Stacey Cody, whose skills and experience were integral to this process. She really went above and beyond. She was amazing!

James Armandary, the Swiss army knife of people. Offering the location to us was enough, but he stepped in as a production assistant, did amazing BTS photography, and helped Stacey capture some amazing shots that one person alone couldn’t really do alone.

Stuart Little, who trusted us with his beloved rats Herc and Apollo for a few hours. They were good boys.

The Lost Close, for allowing us to use their space for such an extensive part of the day. It’s a wonderful and interesting location. If you need an event hosted in Edinburgh, go check it out.

Jess Unikorn, who made the amazing Kitsune mask.

Richard Fogarty, for providing the 3D printed coins.

Rob Shaw, for lending us antique props including a beautiful bow.

And thanks to all of you for reading this blog! I hope you’re all looking forward to watching the upcoming LAWhammer streams (19 days to go!) as I am looking forward to producing them. I directed the test episode from last Friday and I had to stifle a lot of laughter from my 'production corner'. It was so much fun!

Until the next blog from me,

Erin

PS: More of the photos and a preview of the opening credits coming very soon in another blog post!