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BEHIND THE SCENES ON DIGITISER THE SHOW: EPISODE 2

19/11/2018

29 Comments

 
See? SEE? Aren't you glad now that you stuck with the show beyond the teething troubles of ep 1? And we're just hitting our stride with Ep 2. Which, admittedly, was a nightmare to edit - but we got there (in part thanks to some assistance at the 11th hour from the brilliant Chris Bullock). It was such a scramble to get this done that I hadn't even seen the full, finished, episode in one go before I had to upload it.

To be honest, after the technical issues with ep 1 (which I'll re-render, mix and re-upload at some point), I didn't care what anybody thought of the content of this week's ep; I just wanted it to look and sound okay. That bothered me with ep 1, because it's something that you can't attribute to personal taste. 

This week I've had quite a few people telling me not to take YouTube comments to heart, but I do need to stress that I really don't. They just wash over me, and this isn't just a "He doth protest too much" thing.

I don't get even slightly affected by the negativity (unless it's aimed at somebody I care about); either the person making shitty comments doesn't like what I've done (which is fair enough), or they're acting out (which sort of signifies something a bit sadder and deeper). Either way... whatever. I don't lose sleep over it. 

And, of course, the overwhelming majority of comments have been positive anyway.

I'm proud of what we've made here, I know it's good, it's true to what I wanted to make, and I'm also acutely aware that it won't be for everyone. Somebody said to me last week that we're living in a world of niches, and Digitiser is a niche. It always has been, for 25 years now. 

If you see me talking about shitty comments, it's just what Digitiser has always done. We often printed letters on Teletext saying how much people hated us, so this is comfortable territory for me.

Also, lest we forget, I wrote Pudsey The Dog The Movie. If even that hate-storm didn't get to me... this is nothing! So please... I appreciate the concern, but you really, really, really don't have to tell me to not read the comments. I know I'm old/fat/scruffy, I know my sense of humour is weird, I know some people will think Digitiser is shit. They can't tell me anything I'm not already aware of!

I wouldn't be doing this if I thought I couldn't handle it. And my wife wouldn't let me either. 

​And with that... on with my breakdown of this week's ep...
FAT SOW
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Get this: our Fat Sow puppet was created by Leviathan Workshop, who have also created stuff for Katy Perry's live shows. They sculpted her (Fat Sow - not Katy Perry) from a sketch I did - please, note the teats; a sow is a female pig - and I did a bit of additional painting on top of the already excellent job they'd done, just to make her look really unpleasant.

Some of you may have guessed that Fat Sow is voiced by Paul Gannon's CheapShow co-host Eli Silverman. You know: because I couldn't think of anyone with a more feminine voice. 

Fat Sow will be back later in the series. I mean, you wouldn't believe how much she cost, so like her or not we're going to get our money's worth.
TIN MAN
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Oddly, the Tinman only really appeared in the final few weeks of Digitiser's life on Teletext, but because of that he's endured in the memory. Here he's being portrayed by Ryan Livermore, who some of you may know as Cousin Dan from Barshens. 

He also played the dog in last week's Duck Hunt For Real, and crops up again next week in TWO mystery roles...
BARCODE BATTLER
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This was genuinely the first time I've ever used - or seen running - a Barcode Battler, and my boredom is real.

​I love the Head to Head segments. After the big finale game at the end of each ep, they were my favourite part of the show to film. They're just sort of nice and relaxed, and feel like a proper TV show segment to me. 

And, once again - as he does throughout the series - Mr Hairs crops up with his hairy arms, sort of becoming the sixth Beatle/Yoko.
STREET FARTER
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"A fundamentally broken idea"...
DJ TRENDY PEANUT
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He's back! Fresh from Mr Biffo's Found Footage! The Peanut love is strong. This is one of two Found Footage references in this episode. I'm sure there'll be more...
BIG BOY BARRY
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An absolute 90s gaming legend, Big Boy Barry - as fully expected - completely took over, running rings around Gannon. Why do you think I'd asked Gannon to interview him? I'm not stupid. I kind of wish we'd asked Barry to be in more stuff, as he gives 110% every time.
STREET FIGHTER II vs MORTAL KOMBAT
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The Head to Head segments are meant to echo the stupid playground arguments we had with our mates. The ones this series are - mostly - the more traditional ones (we've ZX Spectrum vs Commodore 64) coming up, but I've a few ideas where to take the segment if/when we do series 2.

It's about finding a balance between topics people will recognise and ones which will alienate the less-nerdy among us. For now, until we've built an audience, this section is more a case of us playing the greatest hits.
MOCKETY-MOC!
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Mockety-Moc was a lot of fun to film. Less fun to edit. We bring it back for another go-around, this time with my co-hosts on the "celebrity" panel, for episode six. It's quite something. 

Hats off to Sam and Gaz, our contestants, for being good sports. And behold: more evidence of the infinite versatility of barrels...

Next week's episode is my favourite one so far. Steve McNeil from Go 8-Bit is our special guest, but it's the finale you're really going to want to tune in for.

​Subscribe, and spread the word!
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29 Comments
Gtembot
19/11/2018 11:04:15 am

For series 2 you need to sort out the headroom in the shots, it’ll make it look more professional especially if the headroom is consistent across shots/edits. I know it’s all budget based (presumably not enough cameras to get everything and working in a small space) but keep it in mind. Other than that great stuff.

Reply
M
19/11/2018 11:09:09 am

My only complaint is the gap between episodes. A week is too long, I know they still being edited etc but having watched one episode, I want another straight after. It's as addictive as sex.

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aikon82
19/11/2018 05:53:20 pm

Although I'd love to watch a new episode right after, I think having one episode per week, late on a Sunday is perfect. It gives me something to look forward to before another shit week at work.

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RG
19/11/2018 12:29:44 pm

You've probaqbly seen, but RockPaperShotgun have broken the media silence: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/16/digitiser-the-show-turns-the-teletext-icon-telly-ish/

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Mr Biffo
19/11/2018 12:35:10 pm

I did indeed! We also got into Gizmodo, and The Guardian Guide tweeted it this morning too...!

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Rawce
19/11/2018 12:44:29 pm

What was the NHS bit? Is it an in-joke or am I delinquent in missing an obvious reference to Digitiser lore?

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colincidence link
19/11/2018 03:26:33 pm

Between the filming and broadcast of the episode, Top Hat Gaming Man Tweeted disparaging remarks about the NHS.

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Rawce
19/11/2018 11:24:56 pm

Ah thanks. That explains the overlay. What was blanked out?

Mark Gardner
19/11/2018 01:29:08 pm


Absolutely love the way this is made, personally. The anarchic, ruff'n'ready style and the humour is insane but fits the digi style perfectly. The barcode battler part was great as Paul's disappointment was literally me when a friend got it on release and the dullness was apparent. Yes it had/has potential but it was wasted on a thing that just gave you stats instead of fun. It gave me a nostalgic chuckle seeing your face

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bombjack
19/11/2018 02:44:33 pm

I love that you fed Gammon to the Barry, who promptly did eat him for breakfast, dinner, tea, 2nd tea, supper and midnight snack. Also, were the lengthy shots of BBB's massive wedgie deliberate? I'd like to think they were.

Good to hear you don't take YT comments seriously, you'd go mad if you did. Most of it is just from sarcy old gits like me anyway, take it as flattery.

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Pete Davison link
19/11/2018 02:53:09 pm

You all really feel like you found your groove in this episode; it was very strong overall. I showed it to my wife; I wasn't sure she'd enjoy it as she can be hit or miss with more chaotic comedy, but she was laughing heartily at lots of it, particularly the non-sequitur "ads" between segments. "I don't know why it's funny, but it is," she said after the French bit. Street Farter also had us both in stitches.

Definitely looking forward to more, and I will keep bombarding my friends (several of whom used to read Digitiser on Teletext) with exhortations to watch the show until they stop being such boring old farts and actually watch it!

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Damon link
19/11/2018 02:57:09 pm

Head to head is the one segment that can drag for me. This time it's about two games I simply never cared about because I am equally bad at both. Overall still an A+ show that I get to watch basically for free.

I do like the fat sow and require more of it. Are sows compatible with pig glue?

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Floop
19/11/2018 04:19:39 pm

any chance of some chester fisho action?

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DEAN
19/11/2018 04:56:39 pm

Great stuff; very funny and charming and most importantly perhaps, very you.

The hosts are all great and throughly likeable but for me Paul Gannon really sticks out - I predict a bright future for that young man!

My highlights so far are A Beautiful Boy and DJ Trendy Peanut and my low points were the interviews - absolutely nothing against the people involved it's just.... of no real interest to me.

I'd like it to be crazier and more irreverent and really appeal to the short span of attention that we no doubt both share but, again, great stuff and well done to all involved in making it happen - can't wait until next week!

And, Mr Biffo, if you're reading this - why didn't I have a message thanking me for my support on my Found Footage reward card? I see from pics on your Twitter that other people had the message... but I didn't and have concluded that you either forgot or hate me - if you wouldn't mind clarifying, please.

If it was an honest mistake then I'd be happy to write it myself and have you approve it (via email confirmation) - your blessing will suffice.

If the no message WAS the message then that's a dirty shame.

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Mr Biffo
19/11/2018 05:18:38 pm

Oh man. You'd have to ask my wife - she's been writing out the cards...! I mean, I know she doesn't like you, so it's probably that.

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DEAN
19/11/2018 06:04:28 pm

Is this where I say, "I'm sorry." And you say, "I don't like you very much either."?

Mr Biffo
19/11/2018 09:22:53 pm

I love you, Dean.

DEAN
20/11/2018 02:04:13 pm

I hate it when we fight

Matthew Long
19/11/2018 10:40:41 pm

You're not alone, Dean. I didn't get a message on my card either. :'-(

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DEAN
20/11/2018 02:06:35 pm

Glad I'm not alone! Sorry, though, man - it sucks but time will make it better.

Matthew Long
20/11/2018 05:59:21 pm

I hope so Dean, I hope so. Thanks for the support.

Spiney O'Sullivan
20/11/2018 01:14:42 pm

If you want more of Paul Gannon, I'd recommend the podcast The Spooktator, which he co-hosts. It's a fairly amusing bi-monthly-ish wrap-up of all the latest news in the exciting world of shams and charlatans that is the paranormal sphere.

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DEAN
20/11/2018 02:09:02 pm

Cheers for that, Spiney - he's really great; they ALL are - I mean we're only 2 episodes in and I think that AND the show hasn't even got into it's stride yet.

B3tan_Tyronne
19/11/2018 05:33:22 pm

I am absolutely loving the show - it ticks all the right buttons for me and I am kicking myself for not backing it in the first place (since rectified with Backing Mr Biffo on Patreon).
PLEASE do another series, I will gladly give some of my cash towards it as there is simply nothing else like it.
Oh and a show in front of an audience - I am sure there are loads like me who would love something like that :)

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Chris Dyson
19/11/2018 06:02:34 pm

You should take You Tube comments totally to heart. If anyone knows what digitiser is all about and where you are going wrong it's the wise patrons of the You Tube comments section. Also: no concept.

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Bobmonkeypimp
20/11/2018 12:00:52 pm

Biffo, your replies to the YT comments (the picture links) are almost as funny as the show.

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Dan Farrimond link
20/11/2018 04:36:06 pm

I haven't actually seen any REALLY nasty comments on YouTube or Twitter yet. The ones who've really hated it so far (out on the wild Internet) are the anti-YouTubers brigade, but they brought pre-existing biases with them.

I might have a pre-existing bias with the presenters in that I know and watch almost all of them, so that renders all my criticisms invalid. :D

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Matt
20/11/2018 07:44:45 pm

You should get Zombie Dave to reply to some cherry picked comments.

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Spiney O’Sullivan
20/11/2018 10:04:17 pm

I enjoyed Episode 1, but Episode 2 is definitely a step up. Fat Sow had me in stitches. Such an angry pig...

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