This post first appeared on Ren’s Patreon page.

Since the pick-ups shoots in early September we have mostly been working on the edits. Aside from cutting in the new material from those pick-ups, we continued to address the notes from the test screening in August. For a while we seriously considered shooting new scenes, even going so far as to write them, but it’s amazing how much you can change a show by making a few surgical adjustments to the edit here and there. Cat’s worked very hard and the result was that when I held another little test screening in late September the issues identified before had almost all gone away, and a few more tiny tweaks will fix the rest.

All this might sound like there’s something wrong with the series, but that’s far from the case. I don’t know if anyone does test screenings in TV – there probably isn’t time – but it’s standard in film. There comes a point when the filmmakers have watched it so much that they can’t see the wood for the trees. And when they see it with an audience there are always things that land differently to what was expected. It’s all part of the process. Feedback from the last test screening was very positive, so we know we’re on the right track.

Cat has swapped over with her counterpart Arthur, who edited the director’s cut of 204 while she did 201-203. I sat down for an evening with Arthur to discuss final tweaks to 201-203. It was very useful to get his fresh eyes on them, and he was also very positive about how they’re looking, with only tiny improvements to suggest. Consequently 201 was picture-locked on Sunday.

Picture lock means that the selection, order and timing of the shots will no longer change. The focus then moves onto sound editing (only a very crude version of which is done along with the picture), scoring, visual effects and colour grading. We’ve already got ahead with sound and VFX, but now we know that takes and timings aren’t going to change we can really power on.

All being well, 202 should be picture-locked today. We have one last pick-up shot to film this coming week, then 203 and 204 should be locked next weekend.

Meanwhile I found time for a quick redraft of Season Three’s script, and our first writers’ room for that season will hopefully take place later this month.

In Patreon news, some Marked Ones should be receiving their first item of merch around now. Anyone who’s been a member at the Marketgoer level or above for at least three months has qualified for an exclusive Season Two mug, and as long as you’ve provided your shipping address it should be on its way to you. We’d love to see photos of you with your mug on social media! We’ll be sure to share them if you tag us.