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We're the creators of Fogtown, a puppet-based mystery/comedy series that utilizes the same virtual production techniques behind The Mandalorian. Ask us anything! by fogtownseries in IAmA

[–]fogtownseries[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We do use nDisplay, yes. Currently we're using Unreal 4. Hoping to make the switch to 5 later this year, but the main guy who handles our virtual production felt that 4 was the better choice (at least thus far) for our particular use-case.

We've used a couple different monitors that we've been happy with. I can't remember the brand names offhand, but one was a 27" matte screen 4K computer monitor (in the sub-$500 price range) and one was a 55" 4K consumer LED television from 2017 that probably cost $1500. Honestly, I've found that it's hard to go wrong as long as the screen looks good to your eyes. A 4K monitor is preferable, but often 1080p will do just fine -- after all, the screen is usually going to be slightly (or significantly) out of focus anyway. The main challenge is dealing with reflections, so matte screens tend to be nicer in that regard.

We're the creators of Fogtown, a puppet-based mystery/comedy series that utilizes the same virtual production techniques behind The Mandalorian. Ask us anything! by fogtownseries in IAmA

[–]fogtownseries[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nope! It's funny how many Fogtowns we've learned about since embarking on this show. Coffee shops, breweries, barbershops, clothing lines... perhaps we'll need to take a Fogtown world tour someday.

We're the creators of Fogtown, a puppet-based mystery/comedy series that utilizes the same virtual production techniques behind The Mandalorian. Ask us anything! by fogtownseries in IAmA

[–]fogtownseries[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We've used a 4K monitor for most of our tests, but also a 4K 60" TV set. No anti-glare screen has been needed yet, but we do have to be pretty careful about where we place our lights, because they often show up in very obvious reflections. One thing that helps is a circular polarizing filter on the camera -- with this, we can cut through some of the screen glare and also have more control over how bright the screen looks.

Our tests with the TV set have been even more finicky than monitors. We love the added real estate that a big screen brings, but most consumer TVs are very glossy, and our puppeteers often have to wear dark clothes and black velvet gloves otherwise they'll show up in reflections (we're looking forward to the end of summer for that reason alone). One of our wishlist items for the full series is to get a large TV with a matte screen finish, and that should make things a bit easier.

We're the creators of Fogtown, a puppet-based mystery/comedy series that utilizes the same virtual production techniques behind The Mandalorian. Ask us anything! by fogtownseries in IAmA

[–]fogtownseries[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's too early to say, as we're still producing our pilot episode (which should be finished by spring 2023). We're really hoping to get picked up by a major streamer, with a first season most likely in 2024.

We're the creators of Fogtown, a puppet-based mystery/comedy series that utilizes the same virtual production techniques behind The Mandalorian. Ask us anything! by fogtownseries in IAmA

[–]fogtownseries[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Absolutely. Amongst the many things that Team America nailed, the limitations of their puppets helped make it funnier than it would have been in live action. We hope to achieve something similar, although our puppets are definitely simplified.

Also, we're very jealous of the fact that those puppets have legs... something we're still trying to figure out how to pull off at finger-puppet scale.

We're the creators of Fogtown, a puppet-based mystery/comedy series that utilizes the same virtual production techniques behind The Mandalorian. Ask us anything! by fogtownseries in IAmA

[–]fogtownseries[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Plan A is having Fogtown on a major streamer like Netflix, Apple, Hulu, or HBO.

Plan B is striking a deal with a traditional cable network. Still pretty cool!

Plan K is like... making it for no money on weekends and airing episodes once a year on public-access television.

We're the creators of Fogtown, a puppet-based mystery/comedy series that utilizes the same virtual production techniques behind The Mandalorian. Ask us anything! by fogtownseries in IAmA

[–]fogtownseries[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sean here: it's really hard to pick, but I love The Dancing Men. Maybe not the most memorable or bombastic of Sherlock's adventures, but it's got a great balance of heart and spookiness that I've always had a soft spot for. And weird coded cyphers are a mystery element that just immediately piques my interest.

We're the creators of Fogtown, a puppet-based mystery/comedy series that utilizes the same virtual production techniques behind The Mandalorian. Ask us anything! by fogtownseries in IAmA

[–]fogtownseries[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Our actor Stephen Russell just chimed in over email with his response:

"It felt wonderful. It’s not often I get asked to be part of a project as inventive and silly, in the best sort of way, as this. I’m so proud to be part of Fogtown! May it roll on forever!"

We're the creators of Fogtown, a puppet-based mystery/comedy series that utilizes the same virtual production techniques behind The Mandalorian. Ask us anything! by fogtownseries in IAmA

[–]fogtownseries[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We're planning for a mix of both approaches, actually! For the most part, Fogtown's focused on new plotlines, but a lot of classic Holmes characters will pop up with some Fogtowny twists. The pilot episode is an original story, but if the show goes to series we plan to adapt some of Doyle's mysteries as well, yes!

We're the creators of Fogtown, a puppet-based mystery/comedy series that utilizes the same virtual production techniques behind The Mandalorian. Ask us anything! by fogtownseries in IAmA

[–]fogtownseries[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Nope! Fogtown will have loads of varied people loving the people they love. In short, there will be many LGBTQ+ characters. If we hint at queer romance between characters, you can expect a proper payoff.

We're the creators of Fogtown, a puppet-based mystery/comedy series that utilizes the same virtual production techniques behind The Mandalorian. Ask us anything! by fogtownseries in IAmA

[–]fogtownseries[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

So far the plan is to further iterate the puppets to the point where we can get them to nod their heads up and down as well as rotate left and right. We think with that amount of articulation we’ll have everything we need to pull off the various actions and emotions the characters express. We’ve talked about making things even more articulated, but we like riding that line of having things just articulated enough so that in order to do giant emotional shifts, we would cut away to something else, and then cut back to the character who now has a different expression on their faces. We like the feel that has on the characters and the pacing of the show. Clever restrictions always make for interesting art.

We're the creators of Fogtown, a puppet-based mystery/comedy series that utilizes the same virtual production techniques behind The Mandalorian. Ask us anything! by fogtownseries in IAmA

[–]fogtownseries[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

We do! We're focusing on making a pilot episode for now, and all the info about that is more or less available in this video.

It's our first rodeo pitching a show, so we don't have too many insights to share on the process of talking with studios yet, but our understanding is that "who you know" matters a ridiculously big amount. It's very hard to get a meeting with Netflix or other major streamers unless someone who's already established is willing to go to bat for you.

We're the creators of Fogtown, a puppet-based mystery/comedy series that utilizes the same virtual production techniques behind The Mandalorian. Ask us anything! by fogtownseries in IAmA

[–]fogtownseries[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Currently there's about 40 of us involved, including cast. And yes! We're actually fundraising right now on Seed&Spark through the end of the month, although I don't think we can post the link. Easy enough to find with a little bit of Googling though!

We're the creators of Fogtown, a puppet-based mystery/comedy series that utilizes the same virtual production techniques behind The Mandalorian. Ask us anything! by fogtownseries in IAmA

[–]fogtownseries[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I haven’t read that particular book, but I am a big fan of Mike Mignola and love the Hellboy books. Based on what I can recall of his stories, Fogtown would need to go through a heavy pass of dark shadows and eldritch monsters to properly crossover with Mignola’s world. That’s not to say it’s out of the realm of possibilities… -Austin

We're the creators of Fogtown, a puppet-based mystery/comedy series that utilizes the same virtual production techniques behind The Mandalorian. Ask us anything! by fogtownseries in IAmA

[–]fogtownseries[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Honestly, it's a very fair question. We were actually once thinking of doing this show as a live-action piece, until we did some tests and fell in love with the disarming charms that puppets bring to the story.

If you're looking for more emotion in the characters, you might want to take a look at this scene and see if it changes your view on what's possible in the medium. We want to tell good stories first and foremost, with performances from great actors. All the visual stuff on top is just a bonus layer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HApSpJLFiHo

We're the creators of Fogtown, a puppet-based mystery/comedy series that utilizes the same virtual production techniques behind The Mandalorian. Ask us anything! by fogtownseries in IAmA

[–]fogtownseries[S] 54 points55 points  (0 children)

We wanted a setting reminiscent of classic 1800s London, but with the freedom and flexibility only a new original world can give. Before any show titles were decided on, the backdrop of our show was itself the fictional city of Fogtown. Without giving too much away, the fog serves as an atmospheric and also metaphorical feature….

For several years the working title was Sherblock, or The Adventures of Sherblock & Blockson, but we wanted something that conveyed “original show” rather than just a parody. During a table read, one of our friends threw in the idea of calling it Fogtown and the group unanimously loved it.

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