Austin Ward: A December Drama

Title card

***Austin Ward: A December Drama*** was a 60-minute comedy-drama special from the TV series Austin Ward's Mid-Week Sandwich, which aired on Toffa on 18 December 2020 at 6:30pm. The special was loosely based on Charles Dickens' novella, A Christmas Carol.

## Production

Pre-production on the rest of the series of Austin Ward's Mid-Week Sandwich began in September 2020, after production was immediately halted in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside the series, Toffa also gave the show a so-called "December Special" that would air in December. Whilst production continued thoroughly on the main series, elements of the special were being developed. Given that 2020 was seen to be an unforgivable year, script editor Henry Jensen, a close friend with Austin Ward, worked with him together to come up with ideas for the special that would serve as both an anecdote to 2020 in a drama manner, but also with a touch of humour. This was very unusual for Ward; given that the show was mainly comedy-based but felt it was worth trying something a little different. In the end, it was decided to do something based on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The premise would take on a twisted version of the novella, which would see Austin as himself with the three ghosts being the most important elements of Toffa, either helping or hindering Austin in a situation. Due to the nature of the story, it also limited social distancing between Ward and the production team while filming.

Earlier on, Ward and Jensen wanted to include Microsoft Sam in the special and this was formally agreed by Toffa, who gave the segments to Toffa Animations who had taken control of production of the sow for a few months prior. As a result, the special would be a co-production by Toffa and Toffa Animations, which the latter would only be involved in producing the Microsoft Sam segments in post-production during the editing process. As the special was seen as more of a drama with a limited budget, Toffa decided to change the camera equipment during pre-production to being recorded entirely on film. Filming took place during October and November 2020, running for nearly three weeks; giving roughly a month of post-production work.

## Crew

Title Music Composer - Toby Fox

Title Music Arrangement - Shigurizu Chan

Additional Music - Matt Brand

Assistant Director - Samuel Pare

Production Manager - Dennis Markham

Production Accountant - Colin Broth

Production Co-ordinator - Ronald Travis

Production Associate - Adele Walmsley

Production Assistant - Roland Mckray

Assistant Floor Manager - Isabelle Knot

Location Manager - Frank Clyde

Set Decorator - Rick Noston

Camera Operators - Edward Sheldon, Josh Fenton

Camera Assistant - Carl Dylan

Focus Puller - Thomas Darrell

Gaffer - Jason Webster

Grip - Jay Minesmall

Electricians - Terry Handley, Adam Hosk

Sound Recordist - Nobby Farn

Boom Operator - Ellie-May Moon

Dubbing Editor - Don Ferris

Dubbing Mixers - Andy Tupp, Coby Downing

Properties Buyer - Vivienne Parkes

Properties Master - Scott Reap

Art Director - Gabe Rehan

Storyboard Artist - Joe Clayton

Make-up Artist - Elena Rush

Costume Supervisor - Jane Woody

Visual Effects Designers - Joel Cub, Frank Smythe

Visual Effects Co-ordinator - Jessie Mitten

Visual Effects - Supervisor - Ross Grant

#### Animation Unit

Unit Manager - Connor Bracing

Animation Timer - Kieran Collings

Animators - Francis Tuotae, James Motor, Scott Bathing

Dialogue Editor - Anton Cheek

Supervising Editor - Jake Peel

Post-Production Co-ordinator - Ben Jonathan

Animation Executive - Phil Pate

Creative Consultant - Morris Rickley

Telecine - Angus Brock

Film Editor - Tim Costa

Costume Designer - Kaitlyn Adams

Make-up Designer - Tracey Hope

Stand-by Medic - Paul Stannard

Director of Photography - Peter Bolap

Post-Production Supervisor - Dave Marvel

Production Designer - Ray Ball

Line Producer - Jack Carter

Script Editor - Marlon Kay

Producer - Joe Fergus

Director - Mike Helm

Executive Producer for Hare and Tortoise - Laurence Bowen

Executive Producer for Toffa - Patrick Chose

Executive Producers - Will Lyons, Stephen Coffey, Austin Ward

## Reception

#### Official BARB ratings

* Overnight: 2.16m
* 7-day: 2.59m
* 28-day: 2.73m