0:00:04 > 0:00:06Everyone craves greatness.
0:00:07 > 0:00:13Everybody likes a winner, but success isn't a one-man show.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15Order, order!
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Behind every star is a team -
0:00:18 > 0:00:21immensely talented, powerful in their own worlds,
0:00:21 > 0:00:24invisible to us until now.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30These are the stories of the stars
0:00:30 > 0:00:34and the teams who strive to make them shine.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37This is the world of the VIP People.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45Have you ever wondered what it takes to make a TV comedy?
0:00:45 > 0:00:47Well, you're about to find out!
0:00:47 > 0:00:50We're about to take you behind the scenes with actress Dani Harmer
0:00:50 > 0:00:55and the producers who brought you Tracy Beaker and Dani's House.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58Dani will be working with her VIP People over the next eight weeks
0:00:58 > 0:01:02to make a big hit of her new series, Dani's Castle.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05She will work with the director who calls the shots,
0:01:05 > 0:01:08she'll be made up for the cameras by the make-up designer,
0:01:08 > 0:01:11throw some punches with the fight arranger
0:01:11 > 0:01:13while the gaffer and the art department
0:01:13 > 0:01:16get the set ready for filming.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19Dani's agent will be on the case searching for her next role
0:01:19 > 0:01:23and if it all comes together, Dani will spread her wings and fly
0:01:23 > 0:01:26to the next challenge in her busy acting career.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32With only a few days to go before filming starts,
0:01:32 > 0:01:35Dani arrives in Northern Ireland to shoot her brand new series,
0:01:35 > 0:01:37Dani's Castle.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39I've just landed in Belfast City Airport.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42Had a lovely flight but I did have to get up at five o'clock
0:01:42 > 0:01:44so as soon as I sat down in my seat, I fell asleep
0:01:44 > 0:01:46and didn't wake up until we landed,
0:01:46 > 0:01:48and I was definitely meant to be reading scripts
0:01:48 > 0:01:51so that's probably not good, but I had a nice sleep.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Dani will have to hit the ground running!
0:01:53 > 0:01:55Not only has she not read the script
0:01:55 > 0:01:58but she has yet to meet her fellow cast members!
0:01:58 > 0:02:01I'm feeling really excited but I'm actually a little bit nervous
0:02:01 > 0:02:04because I don't know the cast yet.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08Luckily, I will see some familiar faces today
0:02:08 > 0:02:11so hopefully I'll be a bit more relaxed later on.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14In her new comedy series, Dani leaves her house
0:02:14 > 0:02:18and heads to Northern Ireland when she inherits her very own castle.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20Problem is she's got to share the place with her cousin
0:02:20 > 0:02:24and a couple of other spooky inhabitants.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27Dani arrives at the beautiful castle near Belfast
0:02:27 > 0:02:29in the picturesque town of Killyleagh.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33Dani and the entire crew will spend almost every waking minute
0:02:33 > 0:02:37of their lives in this castle for the next eight weeks.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41I am flicking through the scripts because I fell asleep on the plane.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44We are all gathered because we are waiting to do the read through.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46We're just waiting for Declan.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49This is my castle. It's great. Have you seen it yet?
0:02:49 > 0:02:51It's pretty cool.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Today, director Dez McCarthy
0:02:54 > 0:02:58is giving the cast a tour of the castle and sets.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02What we're doing is showing everyone the areas we're going to film in.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04Dez's first job as director is to be sure
0:03:04 > 0:03:08that everyone in the cast and crew knows exactly what's going on.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12At the moment, Dez is taking us through
0:03:12 > 0:03:14all the different sets we've got going on.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16As you can see, it's absolutely fantastic.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Dez is the man in charge of the shoot,
0:03:19 > 0:03:22and he's the first of our VIP People.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26As the director of the series, he's the man with the vision.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31He's got loads of TV experience and his skills are vital
0:03:31 > 0:03:33as he works with the rest of the cast and the crew,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36including the gaffer, make-up and the art department
0:03:36 > 0:03:39to bring Dani's Castle to life.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42He and Dani have worked together many times over the years
0:03:42 > 0:03:47and without him, there would be no show.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50The first series of Dani's House is when we first met.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Here we are now in Ireland and we've got a castle,
0:03:52 > 0:03:54so we're going up in the world.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56I've finally brought them back to my country.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59Just move this chair around, then we can have a go at this.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03My job as director is to imagine how the whole thing's going to look.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07If you're reading a book, I'm sure you can imagine what you're reading.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10No matter what the book is, you can visualise the scene.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13If the book says, "He walks down the stairs and lifts something up,"
0:04:13 > 0:04:15You can see that in your head.
0:04:15 > 0:04:16We all visualise that.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20Therefore that is what I do. Get a script and I'm going to shoot it.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23I'm responsible for getting a performance out of the actors.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25The actors need to practise what they're doing
0:04:25 > 0:04:28before Dez even allows a camera in the room.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34This is a major part of Dez's job,
0:04:34 > 0:04:39but what are the most important qualities a good director needs to succeed?
0:04:39 > 0:04:42You have to be a very good man manager.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45You have to be very firm.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47You have to be very dedicated.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51You have to be a bit stubborn. It does help to be stubborn
0:04:51 > 0:04:53because you're pushing people all the time.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57You have to be full of enthusiasm and energy
0:04:57 > 0:04:59and no self-doubt. You just have the confidence.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Confidence is everything if you're a director.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Ping, ping. Laugh and laugh and laugh.
0:05:08 > 0:05:09See that's called proper acting.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12The natural ability of the laughter was perfect.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18While I've got a little break, I thought I'd be really nosy
0:05:18 > 0:05:22and come into the make-up room. Sarah is doing Jordan's hair,
0:05:22 > 0:05:24who plays Esme who's a ghost.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26SHE SCREAMS
0:05:26 > 0:05:29Just curious to see how she's going to do it.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Along with her starring role, there's no downtime for Dani.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36She is busy with added responsibilities behind the scenes.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40Being in my associate producer role, I just like saying it,
0:05:40 > 0:05:45it's been cool. I always had an input, especially in Dani's House,
0:05:45 > 0:05:51but it's just nice to be able to express my opinions
0:05:51 > 0:05:54and people actually listen, which is quite nice.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57The opportunity to have more input about what goes on in the show
0:05:57 > 0:06:01as associate producer is giving Dani the training
0:06:01 > 0:06:05to maybe someday becoming a fully-fledged producer.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08I've learnt loads already and it's only about the second day,
0:06:08 > 0:06:09so well chuffed.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11Let's go and rehearse.
0:06:11 > 0:06:16- Are you not cold?- No.- Are you going to be in shorts the whole time?
0:06:16 > 0:06:20You're Irish, you're used to it!
0:06:20 > 0:06:23It's time for the cast to assemble inside for rehearsal
0:06:23 > 0:06:25with director Dez.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29Rest of the day is basically one-to-ones with the cast,
0:06:29 > 0:06:33running through their character. Running through the opening scenes,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35how we're going to be shooting them, playing them.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39Trying to make them feel relaxed so on the day, they walk on set
0:06:39 > 0:06:41and everything goes very smoothly.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43Guys, just do a wee line reading of the scene,
0:06:43 > 0:06:45then we'll do a wee blocking.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48The simplest scene in the world to start off with.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52Dez and the cast set about blocking scenes on each set.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55Blocking is where you stage it so Dez will tell us
0:06:55 > 0:06:58where he wants us to stand and what props he wants to use.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02It's much better to rehearse the scene and move the actors around.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05You get a lot more into it and it becomes fun.
0:07:05 > 0:07:06It should always be fun.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09- In your face. - In your face, actually.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12I think it definitely helps seeing all the sets.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16How you're going to work in them because the first time we came in
0:07:16 > 0:07:19there was nothing so it's hard to picture where things are going to be.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23Now that we've got all these things it's great
0:07:23 > 0:07:26so we know where we can move about, we know what we can pick up.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30It definitely makes our job easier, less stressful.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33You vanish into thin air. Does that make sense?
0:07:33 > 0:07:35Dez has a lot to worry about on set,
0:07:35 > 0:07:38and he has his very own supporting cast
0:07:38 > 0:07:41in the form of all three of his assistant directors,
0:07:41 > 0:07:44or ADs as they're known in the biz.
0:07:44 > 0:07:45Darren, the first AD,
0:07:45 > 0:07:49is the lucky one who gets to shout everyone's favourite word!
0:07:49 > 0:07:50Action!
0:07:50 > 0:07:52But what exactly does a first AD do?
0:07:52 > 0:07:56I'm responsible for scheduling the programme and ensuring that
0:07:56 > 0:07:59whatever we schedule gets shot on time, hopefully,
0:07:59 > 0:08:02so we stay within schedule and within budget
0:08:02 > 0:08:05and also ensuring the flow runs as efficiently as possible
0:08:05 > 0:08:10and the correct information's passed to the right people at the right time to ensure
0:08:10 > 0:08:12a smooth workflow. If all that happens,
0:08:12 > 0:08:16hopefully we wrap our days on time, and if it doesn't, we don't.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Helping the first AD is third AD Graham
0:08:19 > 0:08:20who's constantly on his feet.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24We are used as the technical management team of the set
0:08:24 > 0:08:26so the first will control everything that happens
0:08:26 > 0:08:29between the camera team, sound team. Getting the actors in place,
0:08:29 > 0:08:32calling action, calling cut.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34It's my job to back him up so anything he needs done,
0:08:34 > 0:08:38I'm there to do. Also coffee runs and tea runs and stuff.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40Make-up, you still happy?
0:08:42 > 0:08:45Graham has put in lots of time finding the right job
0:08:45 > 0:08:47to fit his skills and his interests.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50For me, I started as an extra. I signed up with an extras agency
0:08:50 > 0:08:54and just got little bits of random work on different TV shows.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57Met the right people, started talking, asking questions.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00Got to know what they did, found out which departments I actually liked,
0:09:00 > 0:09:03and it went between camera, special effects, sound, editing,
0:09:03 > 0:09:07all those things and I finally ended on AD work on Game Of Thrones
0:09:07 > 0:09:11which has a big production in Northern Ireland. Through that,
0:09:11 > 0:09:14just by pure chance I found some work, and I've loved it ever since.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Stephen, the final member of Dez's crew,
0:09:17 > 0:09:19is the second assistant director.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21This is top secret information.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24This is everything you possibly need to know
0:09:24 > 0:09:26about Dani's Castle in this one file.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28My job entails organising the schedule
0:09:28 > 0:09:29for cast members.
0:09:29 > 0:09:34That's the actors. Taking them to and from make-up and costume
0:09:34 > 0:09:35throughout the shooting dates
0:09:35 > 0:09:38and basically looking after their welfare,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41making sure all the actors are very happy and satisfied.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43We're taking our two ghost characters
0:09:43 > 0:09:45up to meet our costume designer.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47They're going to try on their costumes
0:09:47 > 0:09:50and see if it all fits and it all looks good on camera.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53OK, guys, we're going to go in this door, please.
0:09:56 > 0:09:57Jordan, who plays Esme,
0:09:57 > 0:10:00one of the ghosts who lives in Dani's Castle,
0:10:00 > 0:10:03is trying her costume for the first time.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06Look what they made for me.
0:10:06 > 0:10:11Is that the coolest costume you've ever worn?
0:10:13 > 0:10:17Maryanne, the costume designer, has made the dress by hand
0:10:17 > 0:10:21with loads of gorgeous detail to make it look ghostly!
0:10:21 > 0:10:26He got me a costume and I want to try absolutely everything.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29These outfits are all the rage in ghost fashion this season.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32Does my bum look big in this?
0:10:32 > 0:10:36Niall, who's playing Esme's older brother Gabe,
0:10:36 > 0:10:39finds donning the costume helps put the finishing touches
0:10:39 > 0:10:41to becoming his ghostly character.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45When you get the costume on, that's when you finally realise.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47You come alive, your character. Your character comes alive.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50Definitely, the costume makes it.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54I can't wait to get going in this costume.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57The characters' looks aren't finished yet.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00It's time to get into make-up.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03Today, we're doing all the test make-up on all the main characters,
0:11:03 > 0:11:06and establishing their looks for the series.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08As make-up designer,
0:11:08 > 0:11:11Sarah is one of Dani's key VIP People.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16Using make-up wizardry, it's her job to transform every actor,
0:11:16 > 0:11:20including Dani, into the characters you see on the TV screen.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24Dani's make-up is very interesting because for this,
0:11:24 > 0:11:29they definitely wanted to have a step up style-wise.
0:11:29 > 0:11:34She's to look more grown-up, capable-looking,
0:11:34 > 0:11:36and just a bit more mature.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38Getting made up takes time,
0:11:38 > 0:11:41so the make-up room serves as a good place for the production team
0:11:41 > 0:11:44to get together and make important decisions.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46Hello.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48Sarah's requested a meeting
0:11:48 > 0:11:50to discuss a few of the characters' looks
0:11:50 > 0:11:54with series executive producer Elaine and director Dez.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56What I was really concerned about
0:11:56 > 0:12:00was all speaking about the Gabe character.
0:12:00 > 0:12:01Oh, right, OK.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04Just make him look really attractive.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08- Intangible where you can get a hand through.- Justin Bieber.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11As executive producer, Elaine has a lot of input
0:12:11 > 0:12:14into how the show looks and runs.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17I don't think a modern girl would particularly fancy him,
0:12:17 > 0:12:22whereas if he had longer, softer Johnny Depp-ish hair,
0:12:22 > 0:12:24she might fancy him much more.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28Elaine has known and worked with Dani for a long time!
0:12:28 > 0:12:30I met Dani when she came in to audition for Tracy Beaker.
0:12:30 > 0:12:35She was one of five or six finalists.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38The minute she walked in, we knew she was the part.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42we couldn't do better.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45I've had my face done, which can only mean one thing.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47I have to go to costume now, put my clothes on
0:12:47 > 0:12:51and be Danified. I'm very excited. Here I go.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54A visit to wardrobe can be a bit of an adventure.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Morning!
0:12:57 > 0:13:02I am just having a costume fitting for a ballroom scene.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05I don't know whether this dress might give that away slightly.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09It's really, really heavy and uncomfortable.
0:13:09 > 0:13:14We're just trying to figure out logistics of moving.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18I've got a lot of running around to do after a pig in this dress.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20Only on Dani's Castle can this happen.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24Looking good, Dani, but time is marching on,
0:13:24 > 0:13:26and the cast are rolling with the punches.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30One of the VIP People showing the cast punches without the pain
0:13:30 > 0:13:33is Carter, the fight arranger.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36Carter has fought his way on to lots of productions,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39including ones starring Dani.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42It's his job to teach all the cast members stage combat techniques
0:13:42 > 0:13:45and to help Dez the director and his camera crew
0:13:45 > 0:13:48film scenes safely in which characters have to fight or fall.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51The fight arranger will come into a television programme
0:13:51 > 0:13:57or a film or a theatre show and look at staging violence safely.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00You're going to aim short, you're going to aim past here
0:14:00 > 0:14:03and just like that. A little bit higher for me.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08He'll make sure we all know what we're doing and we feel comfortable
0:14:08 > 0:14:09and that we don't hurt ourselves,
0:14:09 > 0:14:11because that's the last thing we want.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13One of the things I was doing there
0:14:13 > 0:14:16was teaching them how to punch for camera as well.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Camera on the hook can be all the way around here.
0:14:19 > 0:14:20Look at it anywhere here.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23With an uppercut, the camera's really got to be here
0:14:23 > 0:14:26because the further you go off, the more air you can see.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28You ready?
0:14:28 > 0:14:30And that can sell.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32We showed them to make a nap sound.
0:14:32 > 0:14:37- Try a nap on your leg.- On my leg? - Try it.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41A nap being when you fake a hit sound with your hand or your body.
0:14:41 > 0:14:42Sorry, just hit your mic.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46Don't punch each other in the face. See how that works.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52It's only in showbiz that there could be any practical use
0:14:52 > 0:14:54of such unusual skills!
0:14:54 > 0:14:58I'm just off a horror film where I was mostly killing zombies.
0:14:58 > 0:14:59I killed 63, in fact.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03Can you kill a zombie? I'm not sure but you know what I mean.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06That's a whole different show, Carter!
0:15:06 > 0:15:09So that's the show rehearsed with director Dez,
0:15:09 > 0:15:11the cast have learned to safely hit each other
0:15:11 > 0:15:16under Carter's supervision, Sarah's make-up and the characters' costumes
0:15:16 > 0:15:22have been perfected, but the crew isn't ready to roll camera just yet.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25Still to come, it's a battle to get the sets finished on time.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29- And Dani's agent's got some good news.- # Come dancing! #
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Before cameras can roll, Dez and the cast have to vacate the castle
0:15:32 > 0:15:35so the sets can be readied and completed
0:15:35 > 0:15:37for filming day number one.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40We've got three days until we start shooting.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42I kind of think we're almost there, actually.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46Looking around some of the rooms of the castle is a little bit scary
0:15:46 > 0:15:49because they're not quite finished yet.
0:15:49 > 0:15:54The next VIP People are the Dani's Castle art department.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56Jason, Nigel and Mike are the art department
0:15:56 > 0:15:58who work closely with Dez the director.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01They hire, borrow or make every thing on set.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05Jason is the man in charge of the overall look of the castle.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09Production design is basically realising the space
0:16:09 > 0:16:11that the story exists in,
0:16:11 > 0:16:16so with Dani's Castle it would be creating the environment
0:16:16 > 0:16:20that Dani and the characters live in.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22Today I started work at six.
0:16:22 > 0:16:28It's now 7.20 in the evening.
0:16:28 > 0:16:34I most likely won't finish until 8.30, nine tonight.
0:16:34 > 0:16:39Right at this moment, it's a bit tense but were getting through it.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43Time is ticking away, and the art department will spend the weekend
0:16:43 > 0:16:45making the finishing touches.
0:16:45 > 0:16:46There's a lot of finishing off.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49There's a lot of things that are partway through tasks
0:16:49 > 0:16:52that need finishing. The dressing,
0:16:52 > 0:16:57there's putting lumps of stuff into spaces. Lots of that.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00The man responsible for making some of those "lumps of stuff"
0:17:00 > 0:17:05is prop-maker Mike who is working on a rather unusual prop.
0:17:05 > 0:17:10I need to make a laptop for a ghost. That's what I've been asked to do.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13Cos it's for a ghost, it needs to look old.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15I believe 250 years old.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17We've had to hide it in a box to cover the outside of it.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20We're going to cover the outside in clockwork just to give it
0:17:20 > 0:17:24an old treasury kind of feel, I guess.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27On the inside, we'll open up, we're going to cover the keyboard
0:17:27 > 0:17:29and make it look like old scrolls, old parchments.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33It will still function as a fully working laptop
0:17:33 > 0:17:36but it'll look like it's from the past.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42To be a prop-maker, you need to be able to think on your feet,
0:17:42 > 0:17:46problem solve and find out where they hide the biscuits at teatime.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49That's the key one there.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51With the beginning of the shoot looming,
0:17:51 > 0:17:53what's the worst that could happen?
0:17:53 > 0:17:56The first week, on the very first day of Dani's House,
0:17:56 > 0:17:59one of the leading actors came down with appendicitis.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03That's pretty hard to beat that for a worst day, worst first week,
0:18:03 > 0:18:07so I really hope that nothing even remotely that bad happens.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10We're working with a fantastic bunch of people
0:18:10 > 0:18:13so nothing will go wrong and it will be perfect,
0:18:13 > 0:18:15and if something does go wrong, we deal with it.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18What we're trying to do now is deal with everything we know about,
0:18:18 > 0:18:20so we'll be ready for the things we don't know about.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24Dampening everyone's expectations is the changeable weather.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26I can't open it!
0:18:26 > 0:18:29Electricity and water are never a good combination
0:18:29 > 0:18:32and on this production there's a lot of both.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35These go really well when the weather's brilliant.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38As soon as it starts raining, not only have you got the problem
0:18:38 > 0:18:42of trying to do what you're doing, you've then got the problem
0:18:42 > 0:18:45of trying to keep the rain out of everything electrical.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47Amongst our VIP People is Hayden the Gaffer,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50or head of lighting.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54Hayden works closely with the cameraman and Dez
0:18:54 > 0:18:57to arrange and position the lights throughout the castle,
0:18:57 > 0:18:59so he's a busy boy.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02Our busy period is literally between the filming.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05Take this up to the library set.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08Our days are sprinkled with these high bursts of energy
0:19:08 > 0:19:10and then other periods when the cameras are rolling,
0:19:10 > 0:19:12we're just sitting around doing nothing.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15We're thinking about what's coming up ahead.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18If you look up here, we can't fire this up
0:19:18 > 0:19:20because of the pouring rain at the moment.
0:19:20 > 0:19:21You're always beholden to the weather
0:19:21 > 0:19:24and we have to wait an hour until it clears before we can start
0:19:24 > 0:19:27so it has a knock-on effect that we'll be working over the weekend,
0:19:27 > 0:19:31probably until late Sunday night and then we shoot first thing Monday morning.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34Beneath this calm exterior, someone's having kittens
0:19:34 > 0:19:37but were not saving lives here, just having a bit of fun
0:19:37 > 0:19:40and we love doing what we do, so I love it.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42I love being out in the rain, secretly.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Doing what I do is a skill and it's a trade.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47In my instance, I trained as an electrician
0:19:47 > 0:19:49but I also went to college as well.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53I got a bit more information about what it is the other departments do,
0:19:53 > 0:19:55the creative side.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59Not all of our VIP People are on set being creative.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03Dani's in Kent to meet with her agent.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05Hello, darling!
0:20:05 > 0:20:07- I'm good, how are you? - Very well, thank you.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10- How are rehearsals going?- Really, really good, thank you.
0:20:10 > 0:20:16Stuart Piper is Dani's agent and one of Dani's vital VIP People.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19Stuart needs to be looking ahead for Dani,
0:20:19 > 0:20:21reading scripts and finding opportunities
0:20:21 > 0:20:23she hasn't got the time to look for,
0:20:23 > 0:20:26while she focuses on her current acting jobs.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30Dani needs Stuart to advise her
0:20:30 > 0:20:32and make sure she's always got a job to go to.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34Morning.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38Our work involves suggesting clients for projects
0:20:38 > 0:20:41and then dealing with problems that may arise
0:20:41 > 0:20:44when they're working on those projects.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48Generally, we're just here for whatever the actor needs.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52Stuart has experienced first-hand how challenging it is to be a working actor.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55I came as a performer and I acted as a child,
0:20:55 > 0:20:59first of all as a child on CBBC and then film and TV,
0:20:59 > 0:21:01and then when I became an adult,
0:21:01 > 0:21:05I decided to change course and I became an agent.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09Dani is someone who's been a star of children's television
0:21:09 > 0:21:14for a very long time and she grew up on screen
0:21:14 > 0:21:18which is amazing and it's probably why her audience love her so much.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21They grew up with her. The only thing is
0:21:21 > 0:21:23a lot of those people who grew up with her still think of her
0:21:23 > 0:21:27as that child. What we're doing at the moment is establishing her
0:21:27 > 0:21:29as an adult actress.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32It's so different to anything you've done before.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36It's just it'd be really good for me just to play other characters
0:21:36 > 0:21:38and something a bit more grown-up.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41You know what I mean, just spread my wings and fly.
0:21:41 > 0:21:42- Lovely to see you.- And you.
0:21:42 > 0:21:48Dani's diary seems well looked after but back to the job in hand!
0:21:49 > 0:21:53It's Monday, the first day of filming,
0:21:53 > 0:21:56and the weather is not very Irish. The sun is out
0:21:56 > 0:21:58and all is calm at the castle...for now!
0:21:58 > 0:22:02This is where Hayden is going to be living during the shoot.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05He seems to have built himself a little tent there.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07That campervan, I've had her 13 years now,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09and she's still going strong
0:22:09 > 0:22:11so she's my little companion, if you like.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15She makes me feel safe and at home. Not only have I not filmed
0:22:15 > 0:22:18in a place like this before but I'm staying in it.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22I get to watch the sunsets, I get to look at the beauty of the castle.
0:22:22 > 0:22:27It reminds you why you're doing the job
0:22:27 > 0:22:29other than just physically doing it.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33You get a chance to actually enjoy the environment you're in.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Such a lovely, sunny day to start filming,
0:22:36 > 0:22:39surely it must be a good omen for the production.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42Everyone is on hand. Dez is with his camera crew,
0:22:42 > 0:22:44Sarah has make-up ready,
0:22:44 > 0:22:50ADs, producers, Dani and cast are all waiting to go back to work.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53But apparently the weather's a little too good.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55The sunshine here's killing us.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57We're not going to be able to shoot for continuity reasons.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59Work will be picked up on another day.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Let's go as quick as we can, please.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04Because scenes are filmed out of sequence,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07you can't have one shot in a scene in direct sunlight
0:23:07 > 0:23:11and the next shot in cloud cover because it would just look weird!
0:23:11 > 0:23:14So, its First AD Darren's job to get the crew moving inside
0:23:14 > 0:23:19to set up for the next scene in today's schedule, and fast!
0:23:19 > 0:23:23The opening scenes of the show will have to be filmed another day.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27Instead, they'll move on to scenes that they can shoot indoors,
0:23:27 > 0:23:28away from the sun.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31When we change scenes because we have to unexpectedly,
0:23:31 > 0:23:35it takes quite a while to get all the equipment from outside
0:23:35 > 0:23:37back inside, but these guys move really fast
0:23:37 > 0:23:39so it shouldn't be too much longer.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43And action.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47The cameras are rolling and our first scenes are in the can,
0:23:47 > 0:23:48s they say in showbiz.
0:23:48 > 0:23:53Prop-maker Mike is on set with his finished product!
0:23:53 > 0:23:58His Ghost Book is about to make its first appearance on set.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00Mike will find out if this delicate work of art
0:24:00 > 0:24:03will stand up a gruelling day in front of the camera.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05Jordan seems to like it!
0:24:05 > 0:24:08It's well cool.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10I'm on the Ghostly-Book.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14In the world of Dani's Castle, Ghostly-Book
0:24:14 > 0:24:16is the ghost world's equivalent of Facebook.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18These are your friends, are they?
0:24:18 > 0:24:22Evil, Knievel, extra evil.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29Oh, a friend request!
0:24:30 > 0:24:32Cut there, thank you.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34It's survived its first day!
0:24:34 > 0:24:38Still in one piece, it's all good. And it's working.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41With the kinks worked out and everyone settled in,
0:24:41 > 0:24:45it's full steam ahead for eight jam-packed weeks of filming.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47Action!
0:24:51 > 0:24:52Cut!
0:24:54 > 0:24:57Absolutely fantastic day, I'm very tired.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07Bye!
0:25:13 > 0:25:16A good day of filming.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18With the project nearing completion,
0:25:18 > 0:25:23Stuart is on the case to see where Dani will be reporting to work next.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Dani, it's Stu calling.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28We've had some really exciting news.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Dani found out yesterday.
0:25:30 > 0:25:36She's been offered a place in this year's Strictly Come Dancing.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40I have just found out that I'm going to be doing Strictly Come Dancing!
0:25:40 > 0:25:44Which I'm very excited about because I've wanted to do it for years,
0:25:44 > 0:25:47mainly to wear the pretty dresses and to do the wicked dance routines
0:25:47 > 0:25:49and I'm so excited, I cannot wait.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53It'll give the parts of the Strictly audience who don't know Dani as well
0:25:53 > 0:25:55a chance to get to know her better.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59I think that will improve her chances of getting bigger and better
0:25:59 > 0:26:01screen work as an adult actress.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05I do think it's a life and career-changing opportunity for her.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09It's the final day of filming on Dani's Castle.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17There's only one thing left to do!
0:26:17 > 0:26:18Cut!
0:26:18 > 0:26:20Well done, everybody, that's a wrap!
0:26:24 > 0:26:28We've just finished the last scene of Dani's Castle.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32It's been great, it's been hard, hard work,
0:26:32 > 0:26:34but we've had a great time.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36Lots of tears, lots of comedy, lots of humour,
0:26:36 > 0:26:38lots of very wet weather in Ireland.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40We've got a brilliant show.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42The VIP People have done it.
0:26:42 > 0:26:47They're packing up and going home for a well-deserved rest.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51And Dani is away to the next chapter in her career.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Let's get out of the way so we're not in everyone's derigging way.
0:26:54 > 0:27:00Helped by two months of hard work and the expertise of director Dez,
0:27:00 > 0:27:02make-up artist Sarah, the art department,
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Carter the fight arranger, gaffer Hayden,
0:27:05 > 0:27:09and the entire cast, Dani has not only starred in the show
0:27:09 > 0:27:12but has also succeeded in her additional role
0:27:12 > 0:27:15as associate producer.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17- Goodbye!- Bye!
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Run, quick, run!
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd