Friday, 29 May 2009
TW Extended Children of Earth Trailer- International version
In one epic story told over five nights the new series, to be broadcast for the first time on BBC1 later this year, promises to be Torchwoods greatest adrenalin-fuelled, high octane adventure yet.
Torchwood Children of Earth re-joins Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) and Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd) who are still coming to terms with the death of two of their closest friends. Despite their pain, they have a job to do.
This time they are faced with their fiercest threat to date - one which throws the future of Torchwood and the entire human race spiralling into danger. They battle against the odds but do they stand a chance of saving mankind?
This trailer is currently being broadcast on American TV, Torchwood Children of Earth is expected to start on June 15th!
Karen Gillian IS the 11th Doctor's New Companion Plus her history and the News
The waiting is over! The BBC today revealed that the companion for the next series of Doctor Who will be Karen Gillan. 21 year old Gillan will star alongside new Doctor Matt Smith when the TARDIS returns to BBC One in spring 2010.
Head writer and Executive Producer Steven Moffat declared, 'We saw some amazing actresses for this part, but when Karen came through the door the game was up. Funny, and clever, and gorgeous, and sexy. Or Scottish, which is the quick way of saying it. A generation of little girls will want to be her. And a generation of little boys will want them to be her too.'
Executive Producer and Head of Drama BBC Wales Piers Wenger said, 'We knew Karen was perfect for the role the moment we saw her. She brought an energy and excitement to the part that was just fantastic. And when she auditioned alongside Matt we knew we had something special.'
Karen Gillan follows in the footsteps of former companions including Billie Piper, Freema Agyeman and Catherine Tate who all won millions of fans and showed that the role remains one of the biggest in television. But Piers Wenger is raring to go with Matt Smith and the Doctor's fantastic new companion, declaring, 'It is a partnership that is ready to take on the Universe!'
The new companion, starring opposite Matt Smith when Doctor Who returns for a full series in Spring, 2010, has been revealed! She has appeared previously in Doctor Who, playing the Soothsayer in the Tenth Doctor adventure, The Fires of Pompeii. In that episode the Doctor admits, 'I sometimes need someone' and from 2010 that someone will be Karen Gillan!
After winning the coveted role, Karen, 21, announced, 'I am absolutely over the moon at being chosen to play the Doctor's new companion. The show is such a massive phenomenon that I can't quite believe I am going to be a part of it.'
Karen grew up in Inverness, Scotland and developed a love for acting very early on, attending several youth theatre groups and taking part in a wide range of productions at her school, Charleston Academy.
Aged 16, Karen decided she wanted to pursue her acting career further and further and left school to study acting at Edinburgh's Telford College. A year later secured a place at the prestigious Italia Conti academy in London. During her first year she landed a role in Rebus and soon appeared in a variety of programmes including Channel 4's Stacked and The Kevin Bishop Show. Karen also stars in the forthcoming film Outcast starring James Nesbitt.
When she's not acting Karen likes to play the piano and loves rummaging through vintage clothes shops. But it looks unlikely she'll be able to do much rummaging in the near future as she gears up for a life in the TARDIS, and in the limelight!
But she's ready for the challenges and adventures that will follow, declaring, 'Matt Smith is an incredible actor and it is going to be so much fun to act alongside him - I just can't wait to get started!'
Lizo Mzimba view:
Lizo Mzimba, Entertainment correspondent
The 2010 series is a crucial one for the programme. David Tennant has been such a big part of the show's success, that expectations for his successor are huge.
So the choice of a relative unknown to accompany the new Doctor in The Tardis is an unsurprising one.
If a well-known actress had been chosen, there would always be the danger that they would overshadow Matt Smith in his first series.
And The Doctor needs to be the main focus of the show, even though the companion role is much more significant now than it was in the classic series between 1963 and 1989.
21-year-old Karen Gillan has been named as the new companion for series five of Doctor Who. The Scottish actress will star alongside Matt Smith, who takes over next year.
Gillan previously appeared in Doctor Who in The Fires of Pompeii as a soothsayer. Her other credits include The Kevin Bishop Show, Stacked, and Rebus.
Filming on the new series will begin in July for transmission around Easter 2010! There is rumour to be a Doctor Who Confidential announcing Gillian, to be transmitted just before the Robin Hood finale, as I said, its just a rumour!
The BBC has announced that Scottish actress Karen Gillan is to play the new companion, alongside Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith, in the next series of Doctor Who, due to be broadcast in the spring of next year.
Twenty-one year-old Gillan previously appeared in last year's episode "The Fires of Pompeii", as the Soothsayer. BBC News reports that she studied acting at Telford College in Edinburgh, and has also appeared in The Kevin Bishop Show and the forthcoming film Outcast, starring James Nesbitt.
In the press release, executive producer and chief writer Steven Moffat is quoted as saying: "We saw some amazing actresses for this part, but when Karen came through the door the game was up. Funny, and clever, and gorgeous, and sexy. Or Scottish, which is the quick way of saying it. A generation of little girls will want to be her. And a generation of little boys will want them to be her too."
Gillan herself says: "I am absolutely over the moon at being chosen to play the Doctor's new companion. The show is such a massive phenomenon that I can't quite believe I am going to be a part of it. Matt Smith is an incredible actor and it is going to be so much fun to act alongside him – I just can't wait to get started!"
The news is also being reported by, among many others: Children's BBC, InTheNews.co.uk, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, Broadcast Now and The Guardian.
Head writer and Executive Producer Steven Moffat declared, 'We saw some amazing actresses for this part, but when Karen came through the door the game was up. Funny, and clever, and gorgeous, and sexy. Or Scottish, which is the quick way of saying it. A generation of little girls will want to be her. And a generation of little boys will want them to be her too.'
Executive Producer and Head of Drama BBC Wales Piers Wenger said, 'We knew Karen was perfect for the role the moment we saw her. She brought an energy and excitement to the part that was just fantastic. And when she auditioned alongside Matt we knew we had something special.'
Karen Gillan follows in the footsteps of former companions including Billie Piper, Freema Agyeman and Catherine Tate who all won millions of fans and showed that the role remains one of the biggest in television. But Piers Wenger is raring to go with Matt Smith and the Doctor's fantastic new companion, declaring, 'It is a partnership that is ready to take on the Universe!'
The new companion, starring opposite Matt Smith when Doctor Who returns for a full series in Spring, 2010, has been revealed! She has appeared previously in Doctor Who, playing the Soothsayer in the Tenth Doctor adventure, The Fires of Pompeii. In that episode the Doctor admits, 'I sometimes need someone' and from 2010 that someone will be Karen Gillan!
After winning the coveted role, Karen, 21, announced, 'I am absolutely over the moon at being chosen to play the Doctor's new companion. The show is such a massive phenomenon that I can't quite believe I am going to be a part of it.'
Karen grew up in Inverness, Scotland and developed a love for acting very early on, attending several youth theatre groups and taking part in a wide range of productions at her school, Charleston Academy.
Aged 16, Karen decided she wanted to pursue her acting career further and further and left school to study acting at Edinburgh's Telford College. A year later secured a place at the prestigious Italia Conti academy in London. During her first year she landed a role in Rebus and soon appeared in a variety of programmes including Channel 4's Stacked and The Kevin Bishop Show. Karen also stars in the forthcoming film Outcast starring James Nesbitt.
When she's not acting Karen likes to play the piano and loves rummaging through vintage clothes shops. But it looks unlikely she'll be able to do much rummaging in the near future as she gears up for a life in the TARDIS, and in the limelight!
But she's ready for the challenges and adventures that will follow, declaring, 'Matt Smith is an incredible actor and it is going to be so much fun to act alongside him - I just can't wait to get started!'
Lizo Mzimba view:
Lizo Mzimba, Entertainment correspondent
The 2010 series is a crucial one for the programme. David Tennant has been such a big part of the show's success, that expectations for his successor are huge.
So the choice of a relative unknown to accompany the new Doctor in The Tardis is an unsurprising one.
If a well-known actress had been chosen, there would always be the danger that they would overshadow Matt Smith in his first series.
And The Doctor needs to be the main focus of the show, even though the companion role is much more significant now than it was in the classic series between 1963 and 1989.
21-year-old Karen Gillan has been named as the new companion for series five of Doctor Who. The Scottish actress will star alongside Matt Smith, who takes over next year.
Gillan previously appeared in Doctor Who in The Fires of Pompeii as a soothsayer. Her other credits include The Kevin Bishop Show, Stacked, and Rebus.
Filming on the new series will begin in July for transmission around Easter 2010! There is rumour to be a Doctor Who Confidential announcing Gillian, to be transmitted just before the Robin Hood finale, as I said, its just a rumour!
The BBC has announced that Scottish actress Karen Gillan is to play the new companion, alongside Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith, in the next series of Doctor Who, due to be broadcast in the spring of next year.
Twenty-one year-old Gillan previously appeared in last year's episode "The Fires of Pompeii", as the Soothsayer. BBC News reports that she studied acting at Telford College in Edinburgh, and has also appeared in The Kevin Bishop Show and the forthcoming film Outcast, starring James Nesbitt.
In the press release, executive producer and chief writer Steven Moffat is quoted as saying: "We saw some amazing actresses for this part, but when Karen came through the door the game was up. Funny, and clever, and gorgeous, and sexy. Or Scottish, which is the quick way of saying it. A generation of little girls will want to be her. And a generation of little boys will want them to be her too."
Gillan herself says: "I am absolutely over the moon at being chosen to play the Doctor's new companion. The show is such a massive phenomenon that I can't quite believe I am going to be a part of it. Matt Smith is an incredible actor and it is going to be so much fun to act alongside him – I just can't wait to get started!"
The news is also being reported by, among many others: Children's BBC, InTheNews.co.uk, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, Broadcast Now and The Guardian.
Tennant to reprise the role of Hamelt for the BBC
Actor David Tennant has signed up to reprise his role as Hamlet for BBC Two.
The Doctor Who star recently completed a stint playing the prince on stage as part of a Royal Shakespeare Company production.
He will be joined by all of the key members of its original cast, including Star Trek actor Patrick Stewart, who plays Claudius.
Last week Tennant finished filming his farewell Doctor Who episodes, which will be shown later this year.
He announced he was leaving the popular BBC show last year at the National Television Awards.
BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow said the 180-minute screen production of Hamlet was "a wonderful opportunity... to bring one of the great stage successes of last year to a wider audience".
Tickets for the stage performances, which opened in Stratford-Upon-Avon and later moved to London, sold out in hours.
After his debut appearance, the Guardian called Tennant the "best Hamlet in years".
Although the 38-year-old was lauded by critics, he hurt his back and was unable to perform for a while as he recovered from surgery.
In February his return to the stage as Hamlet was named the event of the year in the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards, which also saw Kenneth Branagh win best actor for Ivanov.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8072814.stm
The Doctor Who star recently completed a stint playing the prince on stage as part of a Royal Shakespeare Company production.
He will be joined by all of the key members of its original cast, including Star Trek actor Patrick Stewart, who plays Claudius.
Last week Tennant finished filming his farewell Doctor Who episodes, which will be shown later this year.
He announced he was leaving the popular BBC show last year at the National Television Awards.
BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow said the 180-minute screen production of Hamlet was "a wonderful opportunity... to bring one of the great stage successes of last year to a wider audience".
Tickets for the stage performances, which opened in Stratford-Upon-Avon and later moved to London, sold out in hours.
After his debut appearance, the Guardian called Tennant the "best Hamlet in years".
Although the 38-year-old was lauded by critics, he hurt his back and was unable to perform for a while as he recovered from surgery.
In February his return to the stage as Hamlet was named the event of the year in the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards, which also saw Kenneth Branagh win best actor for Ivanov.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8072814.stm
Thursday, 28 May 2009
tennant to play the Role of the 10th Doctor in A Movie Version of DW
David Tennant will be back as the Tenth Doctor for the Doctor Who movie, according to a report in My Park Magazine.
According to the website, the actor will be reprising the role of the Time Lord for the big screen adventure even though he’s leaving the show at the end of the year.
“The script is still in the early stages but he wants to be in the film,” a BBC Films source has been quoted as saying. “There have already been discussions and David needs to feel the story is right, but right now things are looking very positive.
“Potentially it’s a perfect scenario for him. He understandably wants to do different roles but still loves Doctor Who.”
Earlier this week, the BBC confirmed a Doctor Who film was in its very early stages of development, and since then, the rumours have been rife about who will be playing the Doctor if it gets the green light.
The source added: “It’s certainly feasible that David could be the Doctor on film while Matt does the series. As all fans know David’s story can easily be set in a different time to Matt’s. That’s one of the great things about the show - anything can happen.
According to the website, the actor will be reprising the role of the Time Lord for the big screen adventure even though he’s leaving the show at the end of the year.
“The script is still in the early stages but he wants to be in the film,” a BBC Films source has been quoted as saying. “There have already been discussions and David needs to feel the story is right, but right now things are looking very positive.
“Potentially it’s a perfect scenario for him. He understandably wants to do different roles but still loves Doctor Who.”
Earlier this week, the BBC confirmed a Doctor Who film was in its very early stages of development, and since then, the rumours have been rife about who will be playing the Doctor if it gets the green light.
The source added: “It’s certainly feasible that David could be the Doctor on film while Matt does the series. As all fans know David’s story can easily be set in a different time to Matt’s. That’s one of the great things about the show - anything can happen.
The Title of 4.18
According to Russell T Davies in DWM409, 4:18s title is 4 words long, let the speculating begin.
In routing for something containing the letter E :)
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
In routing for something containing the letter E :)
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
US Broacasting Deatils for the Gap Yr Specials (2009 Specials)
In a turnabout from a previous arrangement, BBC America now has first US broadcast rights for the soon-to-be-aired hour-long specials of Doctor Who, Variety reported today.
The Next Doctor, the show's 2008 Christmas episode, will make its US debut at 9:00 p.m. on June 27, followed by Planet of the Dead in July (date TBA). Specific US air dates will be determined for the subsequent specials after they've aired in the UK.
BBC America - which has to bid for British shows just like any other American broadcaster - will continue its first run deal on Torchwood, airing that show's third season in July.
Other science fiction shows debuting on the network this summer include Being Human (starting July 25) and Survivors, starring Doctor Who's Freema Agyeman (date TBA). The third season of ITV's dinosaur time romp Primeval is currently airing on the network.
Current BBC America president Garth Ancier says that's the network should always have had Doctor Who. "If I'd been here [when the original deal was made]," Ancier said, "we wouldn't have sold it, to be quite honest." For the last four years, the Sci Fi Channel has held first rights, with BBC America holding second rights.
The Next Doctor, the show's 2008 Christmas episode, will make its US debut at 9:00 p.m. on June 27, followed by Planet of the Dead in July (date TBA). Specific US air dates will be determined for the subsequent specials after they've aired in the UK.
BBC America - which has to bid for British shows just like any other American broadcaster - will continue its first run deal on Torchwood, airing that show's third season in July.
Other science fiction shows debuting on the network this summer include Being Human (starting July 25) and Survivors, starring Doctor Who's Freema Agyeman (date TBA). The third season of ITV's dinosaur time romp Primeval is currently airing on the network.
Current BBC America president Garth Ancier says that's the network should always have had Doctor Who. "If I'd been here [when the original deal was made]," Ancier said, "we wouldn't have sold it, to be quite honest." For the last four years, the Sci Fi Channel has held first rights, with BBC America holding second rights.
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
DW What is the 3rd Project
Russell T Davies has hinted that a third special project might be on the way (David Tennants appearance in The Sarah Jane Adventures being the first, and the Dreamland animation the 2nd) - But what could Project #3 be?
The most popular answer seems to be a Doctor Who movie, but seeing as the script doesn't exist yet, releasing it for summer 2010 would be a rush-job :), so don't hold your breath!
So what are the possibilities for Project #3? It has to be something that is completed this year, while Tennant is still the Doctor remember.
IMHO it has to be something small, it can't be another Sarah Jane Adventures, so Torchwood maybe? Children of Earth is already finished and a June 15th transmission looks likely, and it appears they are making no more Torchwood until some time next year at the earliest, so scratch that.
An audio drama for Radio perhaps? Its certainly a possibility!
But how about Children in Need 2009? He has done a 2005 and 2007 special for them, so 2009 is a possibility!
The most popular answer seems to be a Doctor Who movie, but seeing as the script doesn't exist yet, releasing it for summer 2010 would be a rush-job :), so don't hold your breath!
So what are the possibilities for Project #3? It has to be something that is completed this year, while Tennant is still the Doctor remember.
IMHO it has to be something small, it can't be another Sarah Jane Adventures, so Torchwood maybe? Children of Earth is already finished and a June 15th transmission looks likely, and it appears they are making no more Torchwood until some time next year at the earliest, so scratch that.
An audio drama for Radio perhaps? Its certainly a possibility!
But how about Children in Need 2009? He has done a 2005 and 2007 special for them, so 2009 is a possibility!
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
Delata and the bannerman DVD Details
The Restoration Team has released details of the upcoming Delta and the Bannermen DVD starring Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor and Bonnie Langford as Mel. Included in the set are:
• Commentary with actors Sylvester McCoy and Sara Griffiths, director Chris Clough and script editor Andrew Cartmel.
• But First This (dur. 6' 07") - Andy Crane presents a behind-the-scenes report from the location shoot, including interviews with Sylvester McCoy, Bonnie Langford and Ken Dodd.
• Wales Today (dur. 2' 15") - a location report from the BBC Wales news programme, featuring behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Sylvester McCoy and producer John Nathan-Turner.
• Episode One - First Edit (dur. 30' 28") - the first edit of episode one, without music and sound effects, runs six minutes longer than the transmitted version and many scenes were significantly re-ordered between the two.
• Interview Rushes (dur. 16' 31") - raw location interviews with Sylvester McCoy, Bonnie Langford and Ken Dodd, conducted for the 'But First This' item.
• Hugh and Us (dur. 7' 13") - actor Hugh Lloyd interviewed about his career and his part in the story.
• Clown Court (dur. 5' 40") - The Seventh Doctor is called to the dock by judge Noel Edmonds to view out-takes and answer charges of "impersonating a Time Lord", in this extract from The Noel Edmonds Saturday Roadshow. Also includes out-takes from the recording of the sketch.
• Stripped for Action (dur. 21' 32") - the ongoing look at the Doctor Who comic strips focuses on the Seventh Doctor's appearances. With writer and editor Scott Gray, writers Simon Furman, Paul Cornell and Andrew Cartmel, artist Lee Sullivan, former Doctor Who Magazine editors John Freeman, Gary Russell and Alan Barnes.
• Trails and Continuity (dur. 3' 17") - BBC1 trails and continuity announcements from the story's original transmission.
• Plus of course the usual Radio Times Listing PDF, Coming Soon trailer, Programme Subtitles, Subtitle Production Notes and Photo Gallery.
• Commentary with actors Sylvester McCoy and Sara Griffiths, director Chris Clough and script editor Andrew Cartmel.
• But First This (dur. 6' 07") - Andy Crane presents a behind-the-scenes report from the location shoot, including interviews with Sylvester McCoy, Bonnie Langford and Ken Dodd.
• Wales Today (dur. 2' 15") - a location report from the BBC Wales news programme, featuring behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Sylvester McCoy and producer John Nathan-Turner.
• Episode One - First Edit (dur. 30' 28") - the first edit of episode one, without music and sound effects, runs six minutes longer than the transmitted version and many scenes were significantly re-ordered between the two.
• Interview Rushes (dur. 16' 31") - raw location interviews with Sylvester McCoy, Bonnie Langford and Ken Dodd, conducted for the 'But First This' item.
• Hugh and Us (dur. 7' 13") - actor Hugh Lloyd interviewed about his career and his part in the story.
• Clown Court (dur. 5' 40") - The Seventh Doctor is called to the dock by judge Noel Edmonds to view out-takes and answer charges of "impersonating a Time Lord", in this extract from The Noel Edmonds Saturday Roadshow. Also includes out-takes from the recording of the sketch.
• Stripped for Action (dur. 21' 32") - the ongoing look at the Doctor Who comic strips focuses on the Seventh Doctor's appearances. With writer and editor Scott Gray, writers Simon Furman, Paul Cornell and Andrew Cartmel, artist Lee Sullivan, former Doctor Who Magazine editors John Freeman, Gary Russell and Alan Barnes.
• Trails and Continuity (dur. 3' 17") - BBC1 trails and continuity announcements from the story's original transmission.
• Plus of course the usual Radio Times Listing PDF, Coming Soon trailer, Programme Subtitles, Subtitle Production Notes and Photo Gallery.
War games DVD Details
The Restoration Team has posted details of the upcoming DVD box set release of the final Patrick Troughton adventure The War Games on its website. The extras include:
• Commentary, with contributions from actors Frazer Hines, Wendy Padbury, Philip Madoc, Jane Sherwin and Graham Weston, co-writer Terrance Dicks and script editor Derrick Sherwin.
• War Zone (dur. 36' 23") - cast and crew recall the making of Patrick Troughton's epic swansong. With actors Frazer Hines, Wendy Padbury, Bernard Horsfall, Jane Sherwin and Graham Weston, director David Maloney, producer Derrick Sherwin, co-writer Terrance Dicks, designer Roger Cheveley, Doctor Who Magazine editor Tom Spilsbury , new series writers Paul Cornell, James Moran and Joseph Lidster. Narrated by Gerard Murphy.
• Shades of Grey (dur. 21' 45") - just how did the technical and artistic constraints of monochrome television conspire to effect the unique look and feel of early productions? With actors Frazer Hines, Wendy Padbury and Jane Sherwin, script editors Terrance Dicks and Derrick Sherwin, director Timothy Combe, production designer Roger Cheveley, graphic designer Bernard Lodge and sound designer Brian Hodgson. Narrated by Gerard Murphy.
• Now and Then (dur. 9' 35") - the ongoing series visits the locations of 'The War Games' forty years on…
• The Doctor's Composer (dur. 17'32") - prolific composer Dudley Simpson looks back at his first five years of work on Doctor Who.
• Sylvia James - In Conversation (dur. 8' 27") - make-up designer Sylvia James talks about her work on Patrick Troughton's Doctor Who stories.
• Talking About Regeneration (dur. 24' 12") - the concept of regenerating a show's main character into an entirely new physical form proved to be both a lifesaver for the show and an increasingly important part of its mythos. This feature explores the ideas involved and takes a closer look at each of the Doctor's regenerations. With actors Peter Davison and Kate O'Mara, writers Rob Shearman, Joseph Lidster and Gareth Roberts.
• Time Zones (dur. 15' 21") - historians discuss the reality behind the various time zones featured in 'The War Games'. With political historian Dr. Martin Farr, military historian Crispin Swayne, Newcastle University's Lindsay Allison-Jones and author Prof. Susan-Mary Grant.
• Stripped for Action - The Second Doctor (dur. 13' 46") - the continuing series of features focussing on the Doctor's comic strip adventures looks at the Second Doctor. With former Doctor Who Magazine editors Alan Barnes and Gary Russell, comics historians Jeremy Bentham and John Ainsworth.
• On Target - Malcolm Hulke (dur. 20' 00") - the first in a series of features on the Target range of TV story novelizations looks at the work of writer Malcolm Hulke. With authors Terrance Dicks, Gary Russell and David J Howe, artist Chris Achilleos.
• Devious (dur. 12' 15") - for over a decade, a group of friends on England's south coast met on weekends to shoot an amateur Doctor Who film - 'Devious' - which takes place between the events of Patrick Troughton's swansong 'The War Games' and Jon Pertwee's introduction in 'Spearhead from Space', and features their own previously unknown incarnation of the Doctor. To segue back into 'Spearhead', the team decided to put up the money to employ Jon Pertwee for a day… in what was to become his last ever appearance as the Third Doctor. This feature also has a commentary from the production team.
Plus of course the usual Photo Gallery, Subtitle Production Notes, PDF material and Coming Soon trailer. If you look carefully on all three discs, you might find some interesting Easter Eggs hiding away, including a somewhat different take on 'The Trial of Doctor Who'. And so might I! And so might he!
• Commentary, with contributions from actors Frazer Hines, Wendy Padbury, Philip Madoc, Jane Sherwin and Graham Weston, co-writer Terrance Dicks and script editor Derrick Sherwin.
• War Zone (dur. 36' 23") - cast and crew recall the making of Patrick Troughton's epic swansong. With actors Frazer Hines, Wendy Padbury, Bernard Horsfall, Jane Sherwin and Graham Weston, director David Maloney, producer Derrick Sherwin, co-writer Terrance Dicks, designer Roger Cheveley, Doctor Who Magazine editor Tom Spilsbury , new series writers Paul Cornell, James Moran and Joseph Lidster. Narrated by Gerard Murphy.
• Shades of Grey (dur. 21' 45") - just how did the technical and artistic constraints of monochrome television conspire to effect the unique look and feel of early productions? With actors Frazer Hines, Wendy Padbury and Jane Sherwin, script editors Terrance Dicks and Derrick Sherwin, director Timothy Combe, production designer Roger Cheveley, graphic designer Bernard Lodge and sound designer Brian Hodgson. Narrated by Gerard Murphy.
• Now and Then (dur. 9' 35") - the ongoing series visits the locations of 'The War Games' forty years on…
• The Doctor's Composer (dur. 17'32") - prolific composer Dudley Simpson looks back at his first five years of work on Doctor Who.
• Sylvia James - In Conversation (dur. 8' 27") - make-up designer Sylvia James talks about her work on Patrick Troughton's Doctor Who stories.
• Talking About Regeneration (dur. 24' 12") - the concept of regenerating a show's main character into an entirely new physical form proved to be both a lifesaver for the show and an increasingly important part of its mythos. This feature explores the ideas involved and takes a closer look at each of the Doctor's regenerations. With actors Peter Davison and Kate O'Mara, writers Rob Shearman, Joseph Lidster and Gareth Roberts.
• Time Zones (dur. 15' 21") - historians discuss the reality behind the various time zones featured in 'The War Games'. With political historian Dr. Martin Farr, military historian Crispin Swayne, Newcastle University's Lindsay Allison-Jones and author Prof. Susan-Mary Grant.
• Stripped for Action - The Second Doctor (dur. 13' 46") - the continuing series of features focussing on the Doctor's comic strip adventures looks at the Second Doctor. With former Doctor Who Magazine editors Alan Barnes and Gary Russell, comics historians Jeremy Bentham and John Ainsworth.
• On Target - Malcolm Hulke (dur. 20' 00") - the first in a series of features on the Target range of TV story novelizations looks at the work of writer Malcolm Hulke. With authors Terrance Dicks, Gary Russell and David J Howe, artist Chris Achilleos.
• Devious (dur. 12' 15") - for over a decade, a group of friends on England's south coast met on weekends to shoot an amateur Doctor Who film - 'Devious' - which takes place between the events of Patrick Troughton's swansong 'The War Games' and Jon Pertwee's introduction in 'Spearhead from Space', and features their own previously unknown incarnation of the Doctor. To segue back into 'Spearhead', the team decided to put up the money to employ Jon Pertwee for a day… in what was to become his last ever appearance as the Third Doctor. This feature also has a commentary from the production team.
Plus of course the usual Photo Gallery, Subtitle Production Notes, PDF material and Coming Soon trailer. If you look carefully on all three discs, you might find some interesting Easter Eggs hiding away, including a somewhat different take on 'The Trial of Doctor Who'. And so might I! And so might he!
DW Film in Development
Lizo Mzimba has confirmed via his Twitter page that BBC Films are currently working on a script for a feature-length Doctor Who film!
Even though this is fantastic news, it doesn’t guarantee a movie will definitely happen, but at least it means that after the years of rumours and speculation, they’re discussing possible storylines, cast, budgets, etc… for a big screen adventure at last!
Obviously, the planning stage for any film takes some time, so it could be months until we hear any official word, and of course there’s always the possibility it won’t be commissioned at all. But for now, we can be assured that they are at least talking about a Doctor Who movie, but whether or not it will get the green light remains to be seen…
But the fact there’s a possible movie in the pipeline also begs the question: who will play the Doctor in it? As we all know, David will be stepping down as the Tenth incarnation of the Time Lord at the end of the year, being replaced by Matt Smith who will take over the TARDIS in Series 5 in 2010. So will the movie - if it goes ahead - feature Matt Smith in the lead role? Or will it be a Tenth Doctor ‘unseen adventure’ instead, centered around his travelling days with Rose or Martha or Donna? Or maybe even the, as of yet, untold story of his relationship with River Song?
After browsing various other websites and forums, we’ve discovered that not everybody is for the idea of a Doctor Who movie. We personally think it’s the right way for the programme to go (and we’ve already been shown, in episodes like Voyage of the Damned and Journey’s End, that the current production team would have no difficulty in creating an epic story for the big screen!), however we agree with the vast majority of fans who have said they wouldn’t want the TV series to be sacrificed while the film was being made. Doctor Who is, at the end of a day, a TV programme, so it would feel odd to have it taken off the air for a film of it to be produced.
But what if there were TWO production teams - one working on the feature film, starring David Tennant, and another working on Series 5 with Matt Smith? BBC Films would’ve put money aside for a separate filming production crew anyway, and we’ve already got some evidence that the film is to be written by Russell T Davies after the information was added (and soon removed) from his agency website last week. Two production teams would allow a feature film and the full series to be shot simultaneously without disrupting the show. Besides, the film would take many months to film - much longer than your average series - so, like Lizo’s said, it won’t be released until late 2010/early 2011 at the earliest. And for those of you concerned that a movie starring Tennant would steal the spotlight off Matt, he might have been and gone by the time the movie is ready to be unleashed to the world, making way for an unseen Tenth Doctor adventure to bridge the gap between Matt’s Series 5 and 2011’s Series 6 with the new Twelth Doctor.
Maybe we’re jumping way ahead of ourselves, but feel free to let us know your thoughts about this news below!
Even though this is fantastic news, it doesn’t guarantee a movie will definitely happen, but at least it means that after the years of rumours and speculation, they’re discussing possible storylines, cast, budgets, etc… for a big screen adventure at last!
Obviously, the planning stage for any film takes some time, so it could be months until we hear any official word, and of course there’s always the possibility it won’t be commissioned at all. But for now, we can be assured that they are at least talking about a Doctor Who movie, but whether or not it will get the green light remains to be seen…
But the fact there’s a possible movie in the pipeline also begs the question: who will play the Doctor in it? As we all know, David will be stepping down as the Tenth incarnation of the Time Lord at the end of the year, being replaced by Matt Smith who will take over the TARDIS in Series 5 in 2010. So will the movie - if it goes ahead - feature Matt Smith in the lead role? Or will it be a Tenth Doctor ‘unseen adventure’ instead, centered around his travelling days with Rose or Martha or Donna? Or maybe even the, as of yet, untold story of his relationship with River Song?
After browsing various other websites and forums, we’ve discovered that not everybody is for the idea of a Doctor Who movie. We personally think it’s the right way for the programme to go (and we’ve already been shown, in episodes like Voyage of the Damned and Journey’s End, that the current production team would have no difficulty in creating an epic story for the big screen!), however we agree with the vast majority of fans who have said they wouldn’t want the TV series to be sacrificed while the film was being made. Doctor Who is, at the end of a day, a TV programme, so it would feel odd to have it taken off the air for a film of it to be produced.
But what if there were TWO production teams - one working on the feature film, starring David Tennant, and another working on Series 5 with Matt Smith? BBC Films would’ve put money aside for a separate filming production crew anyway, and we’ve already got some evidence that the film is to be written by Russell T Davies after the information was added (and soon removed) from his agency website last week. Two production teams would allow a feature film and the full series to be shot simultaneously without disrupting the show. Besides, the film would take many months to film - much longer than your average series - so, like Lizo’s said, it won’t be released until late 2010/early 2011 at the earliest. And for those of you concerned that a movie starring Tennant would steal the spotlight off Matt, he might have been and gone by the time the movie is ready to be unleashed to the world, making way for an unseen Tenth Doctor adventure to bridge the gap between Matt’s Series 5 and 2011’s Series 6 with the new Twelth Doctor.
Maybe we’re jumping way ahead of ourselves, but feel free to let us know your thoughts about this news below!
SJA Wedding Analysis
There are a lot of rumours about based on the Sarah Jane Adventures press release and the Den Of Geek/DWM209 reports.
First the Den Of Geek report -
Russell T Davies says The wedding of Sarah Jane will be a day for everyone to remember!
And David Tennant will be starring in a two-part story, this is not a cameo appearance, he has a proper part in the story.
The press release adds to the puzzle -
...a chance for Sarah Jane to find personal happiness with someone who could be the perfect person to complete her family.
First up, the appearance of David Tennant may not be in the same episode as the personal happiness episode, although it is possible. Personally I'd have him in the season finale episodes.
Now lets remember Russell T Davies is a terrible liar, remember in series 4 he told us a companion was going to die, and Donna Noble just lost her memory instead?
Sarah Janes Wedding can mean many things, Sarah Jane Smith getting married, someone called Sarah Jane getting married, Sarah Jane Adventures itself marrying another show, such as Doctor Who for a story!
ATM its all very loose and under Russell T Davies control, could mean almost anything! After all the line beginning a chance for Sarah Jane to find... could mean Sarah Jane is buying a dog!
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
First the Den Of Geek report -
Russell T Davies says The wedding of Sarah Jane will be a day for everyone to remember!
And David Tennant will be starring in a two-part story, this is not a cameo appearance, he has a proper part in the story.
The press release adds to the puzzle -
...a chance for Sarah Jane to find personal happiness with someone who could be the perfect person to complete her family.
First up, the appearance of David Tennant may not be in the same episode as the personal happiness episode, although it is possible. Personally I'd have him in the season finale episodes.
Now lets remember Russell T Davies is a terrible liar, remember in series 4 he told us a companion was going to die, and Donna Noble just lost her memory instead?
Sarah Janes Wedding can mean many things, Sarah Jane Smith getting married, someone called Sarah Jane getting married, Sarah Jane Adventures itself marrying another show, such as Doctor Who for a story!
ATM its all very loose and under Russell T Davies control, could mean almost anything! After all the line beginning a chance for Sarah Jane to find... could mean Sarah Jane is buying a dog!
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
SJA S3 News
Some more details about what’s in store for Sarah Jane, Luke, Clyde, Rani and K-9 in the third series of The Sarah Jane Adventures have been revealed.
A brief overview of the 12-part series, which will air on BBC One from September 2009, was included in a press release announcing David Tennant’s appearance in the show:
The series includes 12 weeks of brand new adventures featuring a new alien race, the reptilian Veil and their enemies the Judoon, alongside an extraterrestrial girl that can make people play games against their will.
There will also be a living painting, the inhabitants of a supposedly haunted house, monsters who want to infect Earth with a strangely aggressive weed and a chance for Sarah Jane to find personal happiness with someone who could be the perfect person to complete her family.
The series is currently being filmed in Cardiff.
A brief overview of the 12-part series, which will air on BBC One from September 2009, was included in a press release announcing David Tennant’s appearance in the show:
The series includes 12 weeks of brand new adventures featuring a new alien race, the reptilian Veil and their enemies the Judoon, alongside an extraterrestrial girl that can make people play games against their will.
There will also be a living painting, the inhabitants of a supposedly haunted house, monsters who want to infect Earth with a strangely aggressive weed and a chance for Sarah Jane to find personal happiness with someone who could be the perfect person to complete her family.
The series is currently being filmed in Cardiff.
Planet of the Dead to Air/Broadcast in Australia
Australian Whovians will finally get to see this year’s Doctor Who Easter special when the episode makes its official debut Down Under this weekend.
The seasonal adventure sees the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) joining forces with Lady Christina (Michelle Ryan) when the bus they are travelling on takes a dangerous detour into a world of terror.
Planet of the Dead will transmit on ABC1 on Saturday 31st May at 7:30pm. Enjoy the show!
The seasonal adventure sees the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) joining forces with Lady Christina (Michelle Ryan) when the bus they are travelling on takes a dangerous detour into a world of terror.
Planet of the Dead will transmit on ABC1 on Saturday 31st May at 7:30pm. Enjoy the show!
More News on Animated DW
A second animated story starring David Tennant as the Doctor will be broadcast later this year.
"Dreamland", written by Phil Ford, will comprise seven episodes of roughly six minutes each. This will air as part of the BBC's red button service and Children's BBC.
Also appearing in the story are Georgia Moffett ("The Doctor's Daughter") playing a character called Cassie Rice, Lisa Bowerman ("Survival" and the Big Finish Bernice Summerfield series), and David Warner (Tron, Time Bandits). Warner is also no stranger to Doctor Who, having played the Time Lord himself in a 2003 audio play (reprising the role in 2008).
"Dreamland" follows 2007's animated adventure "The Infinite Quest", currently available on DVD.
Ford has written for Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, and his other 2009 Doctor Who story, The Waters of Mars (co-written with Russell T Davies) is slated to broadcast in November. Directing "Dreamland" is Gary Russell.
More details will be forthcoming
"Dreamland", written by Phil Ford, will comprise seven episodes of roughly six minutes each. This will air as part of the BBC's red button service and Children's BBC.
Also appearing in the story are Georgia Moffett ("The Doctor's Daughter") playing a character called Cassie Rice, Lisa Bowerman ("Survival" and the Big Finish Bernice Summerfield series), and David Warner (Tron, Time Bandits). Warner is also no stranger to Doctor Who, having played the Time Lord himself in a 2003 audio play (reprising the role in 2008).
"Dreamland" follows 2007's animated adventure "The Infinite Quest", currently available on DVD.
Ford has written for Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, and his other 2009 Doctor Who story, The Waters of Mars (co-written with Russell T Davies) is slated to broadcast in November. Directing "Dreamland" is Gary Russell.
More details will be forthcoming
More news on tennant to appear on SJA
The BBC Press Office has confirmed that David Tennant is to appear as the Tenth Doctor in the forthcoming third series of spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures, due to be shown on CBBC and BBC One this autumn. This will once again reunite the Doctor with former companion Sarah Jane Smith, played by Elisabeth Sladen.
The release also confirms that the series will again be twelve episodes long, and that it will feature an appearance from Doctor Who race the Judoon. Executive producer Russell T Davies is quoted of saying of Tennant's appearance in the programme: "Viewers thought they may have to wait until November for the next full episode of Doctor Who, but this is an extra special treat. And it's not just a cameo from David – this is a full-on appearance for The Doctor as he and Sarah Jane face their biggest threat ever."
Sladen is also quoted in the release, saying: "When I heard the news that David was going to be joining us I was absolutely over the moon. Not only has it made my day but it will also make the viewers' day."
For UK internet users, the Children's BBC website has made available a video interview with Davies where he discusses the Doctor's appearance in the series, which he says will take place across episodes five and six. The series is due to start broadcasting in September. BBC News also carries the video interview with Davies.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_8060000/newsid_8068400/8068488.stm
The release also confirms that the series will again be twelve episodes long, and that it will feature an appearance from Doctor Who race the Judoon. Executive producer Russell T Davies is quoted of saying of Tennant's appearance in the programme: "Viewers thought they may have to wait until November for the next full episode of Doctor Who, but this is an extra special treat. And it's not just a cameo from David – this is a full-on appearance for The Doctor as he and Sarah Jane face their biggest threat ever."
Sladen is also quoted in the release, saying: "When I heard the news that David was going to be joining us I was absolutely over the moon. Not only has it made my day but it will also make the viewers' day."
For UK internet users, the Children's BBC website has made available a video interview with Davies where he discusses the Doctor's appearance in the series, which he says will take place across episodes five and six. The series is due to start broadcasting in September. BBC News also carries the video interview with Davies.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_8060000/newsid_8068400/8068488.stm
BBC Confirmation: The Doctor to appear in SJA
Doctor Who fans are in for a treat this Autumn as David Tennant makes a special appearance as The Doctor in CBBC's hit drama series The Sarah Jane Adventures with a starring role across two episodes.
Investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith, one-time companion to that strange wanderer in time and space known as The Doctor, is reunited with her old friend as The Sarah Jane Adventures is back for a third series of alien-busting adventures on CBBC this September.
Elisabeth Sladen, who plays Sarah Jane, says: "When I heard the news that David was going to be joining us I was absolutely over the moon. Not only has it made my day but it will also make the viewers' day.
"It's fantastic news that Sarah Jane is going to spend some time working with The Doctor again and is testament to just how successful this CBBC series is."
Russell T Davies, Executive Producer of The Sarah Jane Adventures, adds: "Viewers thought they may have to wait until November for the next full episode of Doctor Who, but this is an extra special treat.
"And it's not just a cameo from David – this is a full-on appearance for The Doctor as he and Sarah Jane face their biggest threat ever."
The series includes 12 weeks of brand new adventures featuring a new alien race, the reptilian Veil and their enemies the Judoon, alongside an extraterrestrial girl that can make people play games against their will.
There will also be a living painting, the inhabitants of a supposedly haunted house, monsters who want to infect Earth with a strangely aggressive weed and a chance for Sarah Jane to find personal happiness with someone who could be the perfect person to complete her family.
Alongside adopted son Luke, Sarah Jane's team is made up of Luke's streetwise pal Clyde Langer, their schoolmate Rani, who lives opposite and has aspirations to become a journalist like Sarah Jane, and Mr Smith, their Xylok supercomputer up in the attic, plus Sarah Jane's robot dog, K-9.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2009/05_may/26/sarah_jane.shtml
Investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith, one-time companion to that strange wanderer in time and space known as The Doctor, is reunited with her old friend as The Sarah Jane Adventures is back for a third series of alien-busting adventures on CBBC this September.
Elisabeth Sladen, who plays Sarah Jane, says: "When I heard the news that David was going to be joining us I was absolutely over the moon. Not only has it made my day but it will also make the viewers' day.
"It's fantastic news that Sarah Jane is going to spend some time working with The Doctor again and is testament to just how successful this CBBC series is."
Russell T Davies, Executive Producer of The Sarah Jane Adventures, adds: "Viewers thought they may have to wait until November for the next full episode of Doctor Who, but this is an extra special treat.
"And it's not just a cameo from David – this is a full-on appearance for The Doctor as he and Sarah Jane face their biggest threat ever."
The series includes 12 weeks of brand new adventures featuring a new alien race, the reptilian Veil and their enemies the Judoon, alongside an extraterrestrial girl that can make people play games against their will.
There will also be a living painting, the inhabitants of a supposedly haunted house, monsters who want to infect Earth with a strangely aggressive weed and a chance for Sarah Jane to find personal happiness with someone who could be the perfect person to complete her family.
Alongside adopted son Luke, Sarah Jane's team is made up of Luke's streetwise pal Clyde Langer, their schoolmate Rani, who lives opposite and has aspirations to become a journalist like Sarah Jane, and Mr Smith, their Xylok supercomputer up in the attic, plus Sarah Jane's robot dog, K-9.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2009/05_may/26/sarah_jane.shtml
Tardis spotted on top of The Wales Millennium Centre 24/05/09
Thanx to Alun.Vega for these great Photographs
Monday, 25 May 2009
New DVD Dates
DVD sales sites have begun listing release dates for several stories for DVD release in the UK.
The second Doctor swan song, The War Games, is due for release on July 6th. The ten part story, staring Patrick Troughton is released on 3 discs. First shown in 1969, it also features Frazer Hines and Wendy Padbury.
Extras cleared for release at the BBFC website include a feature on the truth behind the War Games, Timezones; a feature on Malcolme Hulke; a 'Now and Then' on the Locations used in the story; a feature on Dudley Simpson; and a look at the Second Doctor in Comic strips.
August 10th sees the release of a box set entitled The Black Guardian Trilogy which contains three stories from the fifth Doctor. Mawdryn Undead, Terminus and Enlightenment were originally broadcast in the winter of 1983. They cover the arrival of Mark Strickson as Turlough and the departure of Sarah Sutton as Nyssa as well as featuring Janet Fielding as Tegan Jovanka.
Listed for release in September are two stories. The first Colin Baker story, The Twin Dilemma is listed for release on September 7th. This is the first conformation that the story will be released this year. It completes the DVD releases for the sixth Doctor. Just two weeks later sees the release of the first Doctor story, The Keys of Marinus.
In addition, a special edition of the 1988 Sylvester McCoy story Remembrance of the Daleks is being issued on July 20th.
The current expected UK DVD release schedule is therefore as follows:
• 22 June 2009 - Delta And The Bannermen
• 6 July 2009 - The War Games
• 20 July 2009 - Remembrance Of The Daleks - Special Edition
• 10 August 2009 - The Black Guardian Trilogy
• 7 September 2009 - The Twin Dilemma
• 21 September 2009 - The Keys of Marinus
The Dalek War box set (Frontier in Space / Planet of the Daleks) is still expected later this year.
All dates are subject to change.
The second Doctor swan song, The War Games, is due for release on July 6th. The ten part story, staring Patrick Troughton is released on 3 discs. First shown in 1969, it also features Frazer Hines and Wendy Padbury.
Extras cleared for release at the BBFC website include a feature on the truth behind the War Games, Timezones; a feature on Malcolme Hulke; a 'Now and Then' on the Locations used in the story; a feature on Dudley Simpson; and a look at the Second Doctor in Comic strips.
August 10th sees the release of a box set entitled The Black Guardian Trilogy which contains three stories from the fifth Doctor. Mawdryn Undead, Terminus and Enlightenment were originally broadcast in the winter of 1983. They cover the arrival of Mark Strickson as Turlough and the departure of Sarah Sutton as Nyssa as well as featuring Janet Fielding as Tegan Jovanka.
Listed for release in September are two stories. The first Colin Baker story, The Twin Dilemma is listed for release on September 7th. This is the first conformation that the story will be released this year. It completes the DVD releases for the sixth Doctor. Just two weeks later sees the release of the first Doctor story, The Keys of Marinus.
In addition, a special edition of the 1988 Sylvester McCoy story Remembrance of the Daleks is being issued on July 20th.
The current expected UK DVD release schedule is therefore as follows:
• 22 June 2009 - Delta And The Bannermen
• 6 July 2009 - The War Games
• 20 July 2009 - Remembrance Of The Daleks - Special Edition
• 10 August 2009 - The Black Guardian Trilogy
• 7 September 2009 - The Twin Dilemma
• 21 September 2009 - The Keys of Marinus
The Dalek War box set (Frontier in Space / Planet of the Daleks) is still expected later this year.
All dates are subject to change.
The Doctor to appear in SJA
David Tennant joins the gang on Bannerman Road in an all new adventure and he's joined by K9. But who is getting married...?
This month's Doctor Who Magazine has revealed some details about the upcoming third series of The Sarah Jane Adventures. Executive producer Russell T Davies tells the publication that David Tennant will be starring in a two-part story due to be screened in the Autumn.
Also joining the Tenth Doctor is the robotic mutt, K9 but RTD is keen to stress that this is no fleeting appearance by David Tennant. The writer says, "... it's more than just a cameo from the Tenth Doctor! He's a proper part of the story." He also adds that the two-parter is "extraordinary, wild and powerfully moving," cryptically adding, "let's just say that the wedding of Sarah Jane will be a day for everyone to remember!"
The as yet unnamed tale is written by Gareth Roberts (The Unicorn and the Wasp) who has penned a number of stories for the award-winning show. Other writers for the Series 3 of SJA include Phil Ford (Eye of the Gorgon), Joseph Lidster (The Mark of the Berserker), Brian Dooley (creator of The Smoking Room) and Rupert Laight.
Den of Geek have some information about David Tenant in The Sarah Jane Adventures taken from DWM209.
David Tennant will be starring in a two-part story due to be screened in the Autumn, and this is not a cameo appearance, he has a proper part in the story.
Also Joining the Doctor is K9! The currently unnamed tale is written by Gareth Roberts.
Russell T Davies says The wedding of Sarah Jane will be a day for everyone to remember!
Series 3 of The Sarah Jane Adventures will see Sarah Jane and her friends joining forces with the Tenth Doctor when the TARDIS arrives on Bannerman Road.
It has been confirmed that David Tennant will be making a guest appearance in the CBBC series, meaning the Time Lord will be reunited with his old friend, Sarah Jane, as well as everybody’s favourite metal dog - K-9!
And it won’t be just a quick cameo either; the Doctor will be sticking around for two whole episodes (making up one story), to help Sarah Jane, Luke, Clyde, Rani and K-9 do battle with their greatest enemy yet!
As we’ve come to expect by now, the episodes and their content are being kept tightly under wraps, but we have been told that the story is written by Gareth Roberts, and as always show creator Russell T Davies has managed to sneak in a cryptic tease: “The wedding of Sarah Jane will be a day for everyone to remember!”
Series 3 of The Sarah Jane Adventures, starring Elisabeth Sladen, is currently being filmed in Cardiff, for transmission on BBC One this Autumn
http://www.denofgeek.com/television/256691/the_doctor_joins_the_sarah_jane_adventures.html
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
This month's Doctor Who Magazine has revealed some details about the upcoming third series of The Sarah Jane Adventures. Executive producer Russell T Davies tells the publication that David Tennant will be starring in a two-part story due to be screened in the Autumn.
Also joining the Tenth Doctor is the robotic mutt, K9 but RTD is keen to stress that this is no fleeting appearance by David Tennant. The writer says, "... it's more than just a cameo from the Tenth Doctor! He's a proper part of the story." He also adds that the two-parter is "extraordinary, wild and powerfully moving," cryptically adding, "let's just say that the wedding of Sarah Jane will be a day for everyone to remember!"
The as yet unnamed tale is written by Gareth Roberts (The Unicorn and the Wasp) who has penned a number of stories for the award-winning show. Other writers for the Series 3 of SJA include Phil Ford (Eye of the Gorgon), Joseph Lidster (The Mark of the Berserker), Brian Dooley (creator of The Smoking Room) and Rupert Laight.
Den of Geek have some information about David Tenant in The Sarah Jane Adventures taken from DWM209.
David Tennant will be starring in a two-part story due to be screened in the Autumn, and this is not a cameo appearance, he has a proper part in the story.
Also Joining the Doctor is K9! The currently unnamed tale is written by Gareth Roberts.
Russell T Davies says The wedding of Sarah Jane will be a day for everyone to remember!
Series 3 of The Sarah Jane Adventures will see Sarah Jane and her friends joining forces with the Tenth Doctor when the TARDIS arrives on Bannerman Road.
It has been confirmed that David Tennant will be making a guest appearance in the CBBC series, meaning the Time Lord will be reunited with his old friend, Sarah Jane, as well as everybody’s favourite metal dog - K-9!
And it won’t be just a quick cameo either; the Doctor will be sticking around for two whole episodes (making up one story), to help Sarah Jane, Luke, Clyde, Rani and K-9 do battle with their greatest enemy yet!
As we’ve come to expect by now, the episodes and their content are being kept tightly under wraps, but we have been told that the story is written by Gareth Roberts, and as always show creator Russell T Davies has managed to sneak in a cryptic tease: “The wedding of Sarah Jane will be a day for everyone to remember!”
Series 3 of The Sarah Jane Adventures, starring Elisabeth Sladen, is currently being filmed in Cardiff, for transmission on BBC One this Autumn
http://www.denofgeek.com/television/256691/the_doctor_joins_the_sarah_jane_adventures.html
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
DW Dreamland Animation News
The Doctor gets a second animated outing starring Georgia Moffett and David Warner and there's some news of another 'special project'...
Debuting in "Autumn," a new animated Doctor Who story, entitled Dreamland, will be hitting the small screen through the BBC's red button service and Children's BBC. There will be seven episodes comprising of approximately six minutes. Viewers may remember The Infinite Quest from 2007 which ran on the show Totally Doctor Who and was subsequently released on DVD.
Starring as The Doctor is David Tennant and he will be joined by: Georgia Moffett (The Doctor's Daughter) though she is not playing Jenny, her character is called Cassie Rice; the voice of Bernice Summerfield, Lisa Bowerman (Survival); and the legendary David Warner (Tron, Time Bandits). Warner is also no stranger to Doctor Who having played the Time Lord himself in a 2003 audio play (reprising the role in 2008).
The writer for Dreamland is Phil Ford who is one of the few to pen stories for the triumvirate of Doctor Who, The Sarah Jane Adventures and Torchwood. His Who story, The Waters of Mars (due to be broadcast in November), was co-written with Russell T Davies. Directing the project is Who stalwart Gary Russell.
In this month's Doctor Who Magazine, RTD hints that a third special project might be on the way (David Tennant's appearance in The Sarah Jane Adventures being the first), he says: "... it would be nice to round things off with a Special Project 3... I can promise, it's worth waiting for!"
Den of Geek have some news taken from DWM209, about the forthcoming Doctor Who animated series.
Doctor Who Dreamland debuts this Autumn, and will be seven episodes each approximately 6 minutes long. It will be available through the BBCs red button service and the CBBC channel.
David Tennant plays the Doctor, Georgia Moffett plays Cassie Rice (she is NOT playing Jenny :) ), it will also feature Lisa Bowerman and David Warner. It is written by Phil Ford and Gary Russ is Directing!
Russell T Davies hints that a third special project might be on the way (David Tennants appearance in The Sarah Jane Adventures being the first, and the above the 2nd), he says ... it would be nice to round things off with a Special Project #3, I can promise its worth waiting for.
I am very pleased to finally read conformation that the 30 episode anime style animation is rubbish! A friend of mine has a friend involved in the production of Dreamland, he told me weeks ago it is in a similar style to The Infinite Quest!
Fans will be treated to a brand new Tenth Doctor animated adventure this Autumn, it has been confirmed.
Dreamland, written by Phil Ford and directed by Gary Russell, will be an exciting series made up of seven 6-minute episodes (when put together, the short segments will make up the length of a full story).
The series will transmit on BBC One as part of the channel’s afternoon CBBC segment and will also be made available to watch again via the red button service, as well as on the programme’s official website.
The Doctor will, naturally, be played by David Tennant, and Georgia Moffett (seen in Series 4’s The Doctor’s Daughter as Jenny) will be starring as Cassie Rice. Lisa Bowerman will voice a character called Bernice Summerfield, and David Warner is also set to appear.
Dreamland will be the second animated adventure for the Time Lord, after 2007’s The Infinite Quest which was broadcast weekly as part of CBBC’s Totally Doctor Who programme.
We’ll bring you more Dreamland news as and when - stick with us
http://www.denofgeek.com/television/256664/doctor_who_animated_series_on_the_way.html
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
Debuting in "Autumn," a new animated Doctor Who story, entitled Dreamland, will be hitting the small screen through the BBC's red button service and Children's BBC. There will be seven episodes comprising of approximately six minutes. Viewers may remember The Infinite Quest from 2007 which ran on the show Totally Doctor Who and was subsequently released on DVD.
Starring as The Doctor is David Tennant and he will be joined by: Georgia Moffett (The Doctor's Daughter) though she is not playing Jenny, her character is called Cassie Rice; the voice of Bernice Summerfield, Lisa Bowerman (Survival); and the legendary David Warner (Tron, Time Bandits). Warner is also no stranger to Doctor Who having played the Time Lord himself in a 2003 audio play (reprising the role in 2008).
The writer for Dreamland is Phil Ford who is one of the few to pen stories for the triumvirate of Doctor Who, The Sarah Jane Adventures and Torchwood. His Who story, The Waters of Mars (due to be broadcast in November), was co-written with Russell T Davies. Directing the project is Who stalwart Gary Russell.
In this month's Doctor Who Magazine, RTD hints that a third special project might be on the way (David Tennant's appearance in The Sarah Jane Adventures being the first), he says: "... it would be nice to round things off with a Special Project 3... I can promise, it's worth waiting for!"
Den of Geek have some news taken from DWM209, about the forthcoming Doctor Who animated series.
Doctor Who Dreamland debuts this Autumn, and will be seven episodes each approximately 6 minutes long. It will be available through the BBCs red button service and the CBBC channel.
David Tennant plays the Doctor, Georgia Moffett plays Cassie Rice (she is NOT playing Jenny :) ), it will also feature Lisa Bowerman and David Warner. It is written by Phil Ford and Gary Russ is Directing!
Russell T Davies hints that a third special project might be on the way (David Tennants appearance in The Sarah Jane Adventures being the first, and the above the 2nd), he says ... it would be nice to round things off with a Special Project #3, I can promise its worth waiting for.
I am very pleased to finally read conformation that the 30 episode anime style animation is rubbish! A friend of mine has a friend involved in the production of Dreamland, he told me weeks ago it is in a similar style to The Infinite Quest!
Fans will be treated to a brand new Tenth Doctor animated adventure this Autumn, it has been confirmed.
Dreamland, written by Phil Ford and directed by Gary Russell, will be an exciting series made up of seven 6-minute episodes (when put together, the short segments will make up the length of a full story).
The series will transmit on BBC One as part of the channel’s afternoon CBBC segment and will also be made available to watch again via the red button service, as well as on the programme’s official website.
The Doctor will, naturally, be played by David Tennant, and Georgia Moffett (seen in Series 4’s The Doctor’s Daughter as Jenny) will be starring as Cassie Rice. Lisa Bowerman will voice a character called Bernice Summerfield, and David Warner is also set to appear.
Dreamland will be the second animated adventure for the Time Lord, after 2007’s The Infinite Quest which was broadcast weekly as part of CBBC’s Totally Doctor Who programme.
We’ll bring you more Dreamland news as and when - stick with us
http://www.denofgeek.com/television/256664/doctor_who_animated_series_on_the_way.html
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
Sunday, 24 May 2009
John Barrowman Concert, Cardiff, 23 May, with David Tennant as an audience member
John Barrowman at the moment is involved in a concert tour, and it just so happened that someone managed to get footage of when David Tennant went to go watch him.
In this video Barrowman points out David Tennant sitting in the balcony wearing a 'Team Barrowman 09' t-shirt, as well as some other antics.
DWM 409 and DWM 200 Golden moments Details
he cover for DWM’s 409th issue has been released! Inside, the team try their best to answer one of the greatest mysteries that’s always surrounded the Doctor… yep, you guessed it - just how many regenerates does a Time Lord have?!
Also inside, there’s a look back at a classic series adventure (the 1973 fan favourite The Three Doctors!), and director Euros Lyn talks exclusively about what we can expect to see in the Tenth Doctor’s final curtain call…
There’s also a chance for you to win a copy of this year’s Easter special, Planet of the Dead, on DVD, and all the latest news, reviews and interviews.
As always, a more detailed press release will be made available closer to the magazine’s release.
DWM 409 will be released on Thursday 28th May, priced £3.99.
In other DWM news… Its latest special issue, called 200 Golden Moments, is out to buy in the UK now. It showcases some of the best scenes from all 200 adventures that have graced our screens since the show first appeared on air back in 1963.
From the very first glimpse of the inside of the TARDIS, to the arrival of an ordinary double-decker bus on an extraordinary alien world, the series has included countless golden moments that have entertained, shocked, surprised and thrilled audiences of all ages across the world.
And with contributions from the show’s head writer, Steven Moffat (as well as script writers Paul Cornell, James Moran, Gareth Roberts, Robert Shearman and Joseph Lidster, and novelists Peter Anghelides, Stephen Cole, Kate Orman, Jonathan Morris and Gary Russell!), DWM’s 200 Golden Moments is an affectionate tribute to the greatest television series of all time!
Doctor Who Magazine proudly presents 200 Golden Moments - out now priced £6.99!
Also inside, there’s a look back at a classic series adventure (the 1973 fan favourite The Three Doctors!), and director Euros Lyn talks exclusively about what we can expect to see in the Tenth Doctor’s final curtain call…
There’s also a chance for you to win a copy of this year’s Easter special, Planet of the Dead, on DVD, and all the latest news, reviews and interviews.
As always, a more detailed press release will be made available closer to the magazine’s release.
DWM 409 will be released on Thursday 28th May, priced £3.99.
In other DWM news… Its latest special issue, called 200 Golden Moments, is out to buy in the UK now. It showcases some of the best scenes from all 200 adventures that have graced our screens since the show first appeared on air back in 1963.
From the very first glimpse of the inside of the TARDIS, to the arrival of an ordinary double-decker bus on an extraordinary alien world, the series has included countless golden moments that have entertained, shocked, surprised and thrilled audiences of all ages across the world.
And with contributions from the show’s head writer, Steven Moffat (as well as script writers Paul Cornell, James Moran, Gareth Roberts, Robert Shearman and Joseph Lidster, and novelists Peter Anghelides, Stephen Cole, Kate Orman, Jonathan Morris and Gary Russell!), DWM’s 200 Golden Moments is an affectionate tribute to the greatest television series of all time!
Doctor Who Magazine proudly presents 200 Golden Moments - out now priced £6.99!
Saturday, 23 May 2009
DW Wrap Party 22/05/09
well last night was jam packed with the cast and crew all there to greet farewell to RTD and tennant so here's what happened:
Arrived there around 6:50pm although the party didn't start till 7pm:
There were a lot of people there to name a few, the usuals were there Tennant RTD. Jullie Garnder as well the the production team.
I Managed to see Paul Cornell who was instresting to talk to, Ben Cook and Tom pillsbury from DWM were so thats nice. The night was mostly people gathering around David and Russell to greet farewell and say thanks on behalf of the crew.
The party went on the early hrs, there were waitresses going around with champaign and the ordurves. there was a Bar there serving up drinks as well as food which wasn't bad.
I couldn't take any photos as they were prohibited i think they want to relax without all the publicity that follows it. it was calm and relaxed mood throughout the night.
The people who i did manage to have a talk to such as ben cook and tom Spilsbury didn't want to spill the beans on anything thats coming so i just chatted to them for a while although most of them did have a lot to drink
At the end both Russell and David did a farewell speech in front of all the guests congratulating on all the hard work they did and praising the effort on the show. Finally he said can't wait for the new production to start in July so its all exciting to come
i left around 11:30pm by that time the party atmosphere was dying down and most of the guests were drunk or round about that
Nothing new or anything revealing came out of this party as i suspect that people want to relax after all the hard work and the last thing they need is people snooping about.
However i did manage towards the end get a greeting from tennant himself who is very nice and asked if any new projects coming up he said "just have to wait and see".
Asked to paul cornell if he's writing series 5 he had this say "maybe or maybe not just wait"
overall Not bad i would say this is the best party i been to in a long time
Friday, 22 May 2009
DW Filming is a Wrap
After 5 long months of night-shoots and day-shoots and desert-shoots and rain-shoots, filming for the 2009 Specials comes to an end this week, and David Tennant filmed his last ever scene in role as the Tenth Doctor yesterday afternoon.
It’s a sad time for Tennant fanboys and girls across the land - never again will the man who’s brought us so much joy over the past 4 years be seen out on location in Cardiff shooting through the night.
But of course, he’s still very much the Time Lord until he hands over the TARDIS to Matt Smith later this year, so even though Tennant’s time on Doctor Who has reached its end, we’ve still got 3 more hours with the Tenth Doctor to enjoy over the coming months - and we can’t wait!
We’d just like to say a big THANK YOU to David, and let’s not forget Russell T Davies and everybody else (be it cast, crew or Dalek!) for all of their tremendous efforts over the past few years. And as a new era of the show gets set to commence in a few weeks time, we’ll look back and think… well, where did all the time go?! But, and this comes from the bottom of our hearts, we really, really, truly ‘wouldn’t have missed it for the world’!
It’s a sad time for Tennant fanboys and girls across the land - never again will the man who’s brought us so much joy over the past 4 years be seen out on location in Cardiff shooting through the night.
But of course, he’s still very much the Time Lord until he hands over the TARDIS to Matt Smith later this year, so even though Tennant’s time on Doctor Who has reached its end, we’ve still got 3 more hours with the Tenth Doctor to enjoy over the coming months - and we can’t wait!
We’d just like to say a big THANK YOU to David, and let’s not forget Russell T Davies and everybody else (be it cast, crew or Dalek!) for all of their tremendous efforts over the past few years. And as a new era of the show gets set to commence in a few weeks time, we’ll look back and think… well, where did all the time go?! But, and this comes from the bottom of our hearts, we really, really, truly ‘wouldn’t have missed it for the world’!
Tonights the Night DW Mini-episode- scene
This was in my local paper today, he lives not far from Lincoln, my home town!
Tim Ingham, an IT Technician from Langworth, fought off competition from thousands of other entrants to the BBC Tonights The Night Doctor Who contest, and will star in the scene transmitted tomorrow night!
Tim is a member of Lincoln Academy of Dramatic Arts, he constructed a costume from tights, the gel pads from his fiancees bra and a wine cooler. Sounds like its back to the 1970s BBC Classic Doctor Who to me :)
I am hoping to capture the scene tomorrow night,
An IT technician from Lincolnshire has fulfilled a childhood dream to star as an alien in a scene from Doctor Who.
Tim Ingham (28), from Langworth, fought off competition from thousands of other entrants to the BBC contest and will star in the scene tomorrow night.
The competition was run by BBC One's Tonight's The Night and entrants had to send in pictures of themselves in home-made alien outfits.
Mr Ingham, who works at the University of Lincoln and is a member of Lincoln Academy of Dramatic Arts, constructed a costume from tights, the gel pads from his fiancee's bra and a wine cooler.
"I discovered the competition on the Internet by chance and realised there was only a couple of days until the closing date," he said.
"I hadn't got any ideas so I slept on it and then started to get some inspiration.
"The wine cooler looked like a good weapon and I put some tights on my head and looked like a garish bank robber."
Mr Ingham's alien creation, Sao Til, is a sinister body snatcher that harvests human body parts.
The thousands of applications received by BBC researchers were whittled down to just 50 and then 10 were carried through to the final elimination round.
Mr Ingham was then faced with a panel made up of Denise Van Outen, John Barrowman and Doctor Who casting Director Andy Pryor.
After being announced as the winner he was whisked away to the set of the TARDIS at the BBC's studios in Cardiff to film the scene.
The show will air tomorrow night on BBC One at 7.20pm.
For more on Mr Ingham's alien creation for Doctor Who, see Friday's Echo
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/news/County-man-stars-Doctor-alien/article-1014704-detail/article.html
Tim Ingham, an IT Technician from Langworth, fought off competition from thousands of other entrants to the BBC Tonights The Night Doctor Who contest, and will star in the scene transmitted tomorrow night!
Tim is a member of Lincoln Academy of Dramatic Arts, he constructed a costume from tights, the gel pads from his fiancees bra and a wine cooler. Sounds like its back to the 1970s BBC Classic Doctor Who to me :)
I am hoping to capture the scene tomorrow night,
An IT technician from Lincolnshire has fulfilled a childhood dream to star as an alien in a scene from Doctor Who.
Tim Ingham (28), from Langworth, fought off competition from thousands of other entrants to the BBC contest and will star in the scene tomorrow night.
The competition was run by BBC One's Tonight's The Night and entrants had to send in pictures of themselves in home-made alien outfits.
Mr Ingham, who works at the University of Lincoln and is a member of Lincoln Academy of Dramatic Arts, constructed a costume from tights, the gel pads from his fiancee's bra and a wine cooler.
"I discovered the competition on the Internet by chance and realised there was only a couple of days until the closing date," he said.
"I hadn't got any ideas so I slept on it and then started to get some inspiration.
"The wine cooler looked like a good weapon and I put some tights on my head and looked like a garish bank robber."
Mr Ingham's alien creation, Sao Til, is a sinister body snatcher that harvests human body parts.
The thousands of applications received by BBC researchers were whittled down to just 50 and then 10 were carried through to the final elimination round.
Mr Ingham was then faced with a panel made up of Denise Van Outen, John Barrowman and Doctor Who casting Director Andy Pryor.
After being announced as the winner he was whisked away to the set of the TARDIS at the BBC's studios in Cardiff to film the scene.
The show will air tomorrow night on BBC One at 7.20pm.
For more on Mr Ingham's alien creation for Doctor Who, see Friday's Echo
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/news/County-man-stars-Doctor-alien/article-1014704-detail/article.html
More Master Realted news on DW
This has just been posted on DWF, it supports the claims that John Simm is returning as the Master for the Doctor Who Finale.
My father is involved in the special constabulary here in South Wales. He regularly attends meetings and during one recently, one of the volunteer coppers chatted to him about myself being a DW fan. This lady works for one of the catering agencies used by the production team. She informed Dad that she had been at Tredegar House recently, at the same time as those wonderful set reporters on this site had snapped away. Part of her role that day was to cook and check the temperature of a lot of hamburgers which John Simm had to eat as part of his scenes.
All the above is true as far as its been told to me second hand. My Father, although approaching 70 and likely senility, knows not to fib to me in any aspect of the Whoniverse!
Thanx to MikeW for the info!
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
My father is involved in the special constabulary here in South Wales. He regularly attends meetings and during one recently, one of the volunteer coppers chatted to him about myself being a DW fan. This lady works for one of the catering agencies used by the production team. She informed Dad that she had been at Tredegar House recently, at the same time as those wonderful set reporters on this site had snapped away. Part of her role that day was to cook and check the temperature of a lot of hamburgers which John Simm had to eat as part of his scenes.
All the above is true as far as its been told to me second hand. My Father, although approaching 70 and likely senility, knows not to fib to me in any aspect of the Whoniverse!
Thanx to MikeW for the info!
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
RTD Interview
Doctor Who's outgoing chief writer and executive producer Russell T Davies was interviewed by the BBC's Wales Today news programme yesterday evening. Speaking on the TARDIS set at Upper Boat, he reflected on the end of his time in charge of the series. The video of the interview is available on the BBC news website
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/8062584.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/8062584.stm
Thursday, 21 May 2009
A DW film (A possiblity)
DOCTOR Who boss Russell T Davies is heading to Hollywood, fuelling fresh rumours of a movie spin-off.
Russell, who is behind the show’s hit rebirth, is refusing to reveal why he is heading Stateside.
But insiders claim he is hoping to crack the film market — with a Doctor Who movie his first project.
His agent listed the movie as part of Russ’s credits on his web profile, but took it down after net geeks rumbled it.
A source said: “He is secretive about Doctor Who. Let's hope the rumours are right.”
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article2440254.ece
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
TORCHWOOD’s John Barrowman, 42, is to play drag queen Albin in West End show La Cage Aux Folles.
The Sun are claiming Russell T Davies is heading to Hollywood, fuelling fresh rumours of a Doctor Who movie spin-off, although he could be heading there for many reasons, including a non-Doctor Who movie and an unrelated US TV series!
Russell T Davies is refusing to reveal why he is heading Stateside, but lets treat rumours as rumours!
Russell, who is behind the show’s hit rebirth, is refusing to reveal why he is heading Stateside.
But insiders claim he is hoping to crack the film market — with a Doctor Who movie his first project.
His agent listed the movie as part of Russ’s credits on his web profile, but took it down after net geeks rumbled it.
A source said: “He is secretive about Doctor Who. Let's hope the rumours are right.”
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article2440254.ece
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
TORCHWOOD’s John Barrowman, 42, is to play drag queen Albin in West End show La Cage Aux Folles.
The Sun are claiming Russell T Davies is heading to Hollywood, fuelling fresh rumours of a Doctor Who movie spin-off, although he could be heading there for many reasons, including a non-Doctor Who movie and an unrelated US TV series!
Russell T Davies is refusing to reveal why he is heading Stateside, but lets treat rumours as rumours!
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Alternative endings for the Tennant
Producers are so desperate to keep the Tenth Doctor’s regeneration episode a secret that they’ve filmed several alternative endings to keep fans guessing right up until the very end, the Daily Star claims.
According to the tabloid, only one of David Tennant and Billie Piper’s recent scenes will make it to the final cut; the others were red herrings to ensure the plot doesn’t leak too early.
“How the Doctor goes out is a secret - even to him,” an ‘insider’ told the newspaper. “There are a few possibilities being filmed and the final one will be chosen later.”
The Tenth Doctor’s final adventure, a two-parter, will transmit on BBC One and BBC HD at the end of the year.
According to the tabloid, only one of David Tennant and Billie Piper’s recent scenes will make it to the final cut; the others were red herrings to ensure the plot doesn’t leak too early.
“How the Doctor goes out is a secret - even to him,” an ‘insider’ told the newspaper. “There are a few possibilities being filmed and the final one will be chosen later.”
The Tenth Doctor’s final adventure, a two-parter, will transmit on BBC One and BBC HD at the end of the year.
Monday, 18 May 2009
Plans for a TW Exhibition
Plans for a brand new Cardiff-based Torchwood Exhibtion have been unveiled.
Experience Design, the same team behind the ever-growing chain of Doctor Who Up Close Exhibitions, are currently reviewing possible venues to showcase the exciting museum.
“A Torchwood Exhibition would be a great addition to the Bay area,” said Martin Wilkie of Experience Design. “We have looked at several sites for a Torchwood Exhibition but we are hoping that this one might be available soon.”
He added: “ The appeal of Torchwood brings many visitors to Cardiff Bay, especially to see the Torchwood Water Tower. The building we are hoping to use for the Torchwood Exhibition is near this famous TV landmark and would offer visitors a unique chance to see many of the key props, costumes and even recent creatures from the up-coming 2009 series, how great would that be!”
If all goes to plan, it’s hoped that the exhibition will be open in July, in time for the transmission of the show’s third series, Children of Earth.
Experience Design, the same team behind the ever-growing chain of Doctor Who Up Close Exhibitions, are currently reviewing possible venues to showcase the exciting museum.
“A Torchwood Exhibition would be a great addition to the Bay area,” said Martin Wilkie of Experience Design. “We have looked at several sites for a Torchwood Exhibition but we are hoping that this one might be available soon.”
He added: “ The appeal of Torchwood brings many visitors to Cardiff Bay, especially to see the Torchwood Water Tower. The building we are hoping to use for the Torchwood Exhibition is near this famous TV landmark and would offer visitors a unique chance to see many of the key props, costumes and even recent creatures from the up-coming 2009 series, how great would that be!”
If all goes to plan, it’s hoped that the exhibition will be open in July, in time for the transmission of the show’s third series, Children of Earth.
Bafta Craft And Bafta Cymru Awards
Last night was packed with awards wins for Doctor Who as it won two awards at the Bafta Craft Awards and four awards at the Bafta Cymru awards ceremonies.
The Mill won the award for visual effects for its work on The Fires of Pompeii, and Phillip Kloss scooped the award for best editing in fiction or entertainment for his work on the fourth series. Russell T Davies had also been nominated for the writing award for Midnight, but lost out to Peter Moffat, the writer of Criminal Justice.
The Bafta Cymru wins saw three out of the four awards going for work on Midnight. These were for Best Sound, Philip Kloss won the Best Editor Award, and Russell T Davies was successful this time in winning Best Writer. Euros Lyn received the award for Best Director for Silence in the Library.
Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures had also received Bafta Cymru nominations but were not successful in their categories.
The Mill won the award for visual effects for its work on The Fires of Pompeii, and Phillip Kloss scooped the award for best editing in fiction or entertainment for his work on the fourth series. Russell T Davies had also been nominated for the writing award for Midnight, but lost out to Peter Moffat, the writer of Criminal Justice.
The Bafta Cymru wins saw three out of the four awards going for work on Midnight. These were for Best Sound, Philip Kloss won the Best Editor Award, and Russell T Davies was successful this time in winning Best Writer. Euros Lyn received the award for Best Director for Silence in the Library.
Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures had also received Bafta Cymru nominations but were not successful in their categories.
Ood sigma doesn't have red Eye
Fridays filming of Doctor Who included Ood Sigma with red eyes, we have all questioned the red eyes, earlier a message on DWF may explain it.
72lf: Re Ood red eyes
Sorry, that was a simple mistake costuming made before the shot ...Euros requested it to be changed to normal eyes and the shot redone...
Sorry, no ulterior motive there. Simple mistake by fx costuming.
Make of it what you will, but it clears a few questions up,
Unless they wanted the red eyes, and did the reshoot with normal eyes to put us off?
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
72lf: Re Ood red eyes
Sorry, that was a simple mistake costuming made before the shot ...Euros requested it to be changed to normal eyes and the shot redone...
Sorry, no ulterior motive there. Simple mistake by fx costuming.
Make of it what you will, but it clears a few questions up,
Unless they wanted the red eyes, and did the reshoot with normal eyes to put us off?
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
The First Writer Confirmed for Series 5
Although there have been tabloid rumours, the first writer for Doctor Who season 5 has been confirmed. Gareth Roberts is to write one episode of series 5.
Mark Gatiss and Neil Gamian are rumoured by the Sun to write for season 5, but nothing is official yet. Matt Smith has said in an interview that Steven Moffatt has penned one or two episodes also!
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
Mark Gatiss and Neil Gamian are rumoured by the Sun to write for season 5, but nothing is official yet. Matt Smith has said in an interview that Steven Moffatt has penned one or two episodes also!
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
Sunday, 17 May 2009
More News on Billie piper Filming at Brandon estate 15/05/09
Doctor Who fans up and down the land rejoiced last night (we personally screamed for hours and played Because We Want To at the highest volume possible!) when Billie Piper was spotted on set filming scenes for David Tennant’s last episode.
The actress was pictured filming in South London as Rose Tyler, with Camille Coduri, who plays her mother, Jackie. They were shooting scenes at the location used for their council estate, the Powell Estate, in Series 1 and 2.
David Tennant was also spotted on set, and while crew members asked fans who were lucky enough to watch the filming first hand to refrain from taking pictures and posting what they saw online, we’ve managed to put together a short description of what we think was going on. Highlight below to reveal, but please be aware that it contains HUGE spoilers for the Tenth Doctor’s regeneration story.
Based on what has been posted online, we can safely assume that the scenes being shot with Billie aren’t set in the present day, and dialogue that was heard suggests that it’s instead set in 2005 (January 1st 2005, perhaps?) - before Rose had even met the Doctor
One of the scenes filmed featured the Doctor and Rose, and saw the Doctor ‘clutching onto the wall in apparant distress’ (has he regeneration started?), and Rose walking over and asking ‘You alright, mate?’, which just about confirms that in this particular scene, Rose has no idea who the man is!
Whatever’s going on, it’s certainly very exciting, and it’s clear that Russell is pulling out all the stops to make both his and David’s last episode the biggest and most intriguing to date…
Is it December yet?
The actress was pictured filming in South London as Rose Tyler, with Camille Coduri, who plays her mother, Jackie. They were shooting scenes at the location used for their council estate, the Powell Estate, in Series 1 and 2.
David Tennant was also spotted on set, and while crew members asked fans who were lucky enough to watch the filming first hand to refrain from taking pictures and posting what they saw online, we’ve managed to put together a short description of what we think was going on. Highlight below to reveal, but please be aware that it contains HUGE spoilers for the Tenth Doctor’s regeneration story.
Based on what has been posted online, we can safely assume that the scenes being shot with Billie aren’t set in the present day, and dialogue that was heard suggests that it’s instead set in 2005 (January 1st 2005, perhaps?) - before Rose had even met the Doctor
One of the scenes filmed featured the Doctor and Rose, and saw the Doctor ‘clutching onto the wall in apparant distress’ (has he regeneration started?), and Rose walking over and asking ‘You alright, mate?’, which just about confirms that in this particular scene, Rose has no idea who the man is!
Whatever’s going on, it’s certainly very exciting, and it’s clear that Russell is pulling out all the stops to make both his and David’s last episode the biggest and most intriguing to date…
Is it December yet?
is Ood Sigma the Doctor's Watcher
With conformation Ood Sigma is in 4:18, and rumours about appearances in 4:17 and The Waters Of Mars, I have to ask why?
When the Doctor left The Ood, he had just helped free them from slavery, so I don't think Ood Sigma is out to get him, so perhaps he is there to help the Doctor in a difficult Regeneration, after all he has already used up some regeneration energy creating 10.5 (the Meta-Crisis Doctor). This is in the same way Doctor 4 had help from the Watcher. The Ood has red eyes though, does that mean someones controlling him?
You kept seeing the Watcher throughout the story, he was just watching the Doctor, then when needed for the Regeneration, he did this...
When the Doctor left The Ood, he had just helped free them from slavery, so I don't think Ood Sigma is out to get him, so perhaps he is there to help the Doctor in a difficult Regeneration, after all he has already used up some regeneration energy creating 10.5 (the Meta-Crisis Doctor). This is in the same way Doctor 4 had help from the Watcher. The Ood has red eyes though, does that mean someones controlling him?
You kept seeing the Watcher throughout the story, he was just watching the Doctor, then when needed for the Regeneration, he did this...
DW 4.17 and 4.18 scenes
These are the only confirmed scene numbers we are aware of, for the two-part Doctor Who finale (4.17 & 4.18):
Episode 4.17
Scene 5A: A busy Christmas street: Santa, a band, shoppers, and Wilf! (Wharton St)
Scene 47: Wilf is taking a Sparrow Lane bus.
Episode 4.18
Scene 007: the 10th Doctor visits Rose and Jackie (Brandon Estate).
Scene 130: Black-clad guards patrol in front of a mansion house (Tredegar House).
Scene 139: Sylvia and people look up in fear in the street outside Donna's house (Nant Fawr Rd).
Scene 147: Sylvia and people rejoice in the street (Nant Fawr Rd).
Scene 153: The Doctor saves Luke and bids Sarah Jane goodbye (Clinton Street).
Scene 155: The Doctor meets Verity (Blackwells bookshop).
All work done by Alun.Vega, who we thank for this!
Episode 4.17
Scene 5A: A busy Christmas street: Santa, a band, shoppers, and Wilf! (Wharton St)
Scene 47: Wilf is taking a Sparrow Lane bus.
Episode 4.18
Scene 007: the 10th Doctor visits Rose and Jackie (Brandon Estate).
Scene 130: Black-clad guards patrol in front of a mansion house (Tredegar House).
Scene 139: Sylvia and people look up in fear in the street outside Donna's house (Nant Fawr Rd).
Scene 147: Sylvia and people rejoice in the street (Nant Fawr Rd).
Scene 153: The Doctor saves Luke and bids Sarah Jane goodbye (Clinton Street).
Scene 155: The Doctor meets Verity (Blackwells bookshop).
All work done by Alun.Vega, who we thank for this!
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
More Photos from Billie and David Filming at the Brandon Estate 15/05/09
DAVID Tennant and Billie Piper are reunited on the set of Doctor Who after some time - and their rapport continuums.
They laughed and joked as they filmed the Christmas Special - after a year enjoying their own space.
Billie, 26, took a break from playing side-kick Rose to become a mum to Winston, now seven months old. And she filmed the third series of Secret Diary Of A Call Girl.
An onlooker at the south London set said: "Billie and David were joking about and seemed delighted to be working with one another again.
Click here for more great Dr Who photos
"They've got a natural chemistry. They get on so well."
The Christmas special, featuring The Doctor's old adversaries The Ood, will be 38-year-old David's last but one appearance as the 10th Time Lord.
He announced last year that he will leave the BBC show at the end of 2009 after completing three full series.
David took over from the previous Doctor Christopher Eccleston in 2005. David's final episode will be aired on New Year's Day, when he hands over to Matt Smith, 26.
All pictures copyright MATRIXPHOTOS.COM
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/showbiz/310009/David-Tennant-amp-Billie-Piper-reunited-on-set-of-Doctor-Who-for-Xmas-Special.html
Photos of david and Billie and the Brandon Estate 15/05/09
Thanx to Starship Trooper for these photographs
Saturday, 16 May 2009
This Week In Doctor Who Supplement - Open Letter On Internet Download benjamin Elliots reply
An Open Letter To TV Broadcasters Around The World:
How To Neutralize The Effects Of Internet Downloading
For 11 years, I have put out a weekly guide to Doctor Who programming (and
various spinoffs thereof) called This Week In Doctor Who. I have tried my
hardest to let people know when Doctor Who is being televised or on the radio
*anywhere*. To the best of my ability, I have hyped it all. The PBS stations.
BBC One. BBC Prime. UKTV Australia. UK Gold. SPACE (1997 to 2000). SPACE
(2009-onwards). If I could get the information, I have put it out, as accurately
as possible, week by week. I like Doctor Who (classic and modern). I think it
deserves to be seen and grow as large an audience as possible in as much of the
world as possible. Any broadcaster airing Doctor Who that has ever heard of me
ought to think of me as a net positive, because I have tried my hardest to help
this show grow, and hence help you.
For every show that has a devoted audience, there are people who make efforts
not completely unlike my own. Due South had a page helping people find the
syndicated season. Babylon 5, Star Trek spinoffs, Earth: Final Conflict,
Hercules, Xena, Cleopatra 2525 - you name it, individuals and groups worked hard
trying to keep track of where the shows were airing.
And it seems we are all obsolete. And so are you networks. Because the public is
online now, and so are the shows. When a new episode of Doctor Who, or
Dollhouse, or House, or American Idol, or Survivor, or Robot Chicken - name the
show. People want to talk about the shows they are interested in. They want to
see the shows before their friends tell them the outcome. If everyone else has
figured out how to communicate with each other, why haven't TV show makers? Why
are shows delayed so much in various parts of the world? Never shown? Shown with
bits chopped out? We know what you did to that TV show. So the fans take it into
their own hands and find their own way to watch the programs they want. And
often, that way does not involve you.
Now, if people are watching their TV without you, then you lose revenue and you
stop buying the shows. Very bad for you over the loss of revenue. In the long
run, bad for the fans when the shows do not get made because the sales dropped
off. Minor inconvenience for me because I would not have anything to write about
any more - I will survive just fine. Still, I have not seen anyone come up with
a workable solution to this situation yet, so here I am.
Networks of the world - you can get most of your audiences back. You can get the
eyeballs watching your shows. You can get many of them watching your commercials
(at least the better made commercials). It is all a matter of working smarter,
not harder. Get people to want to watch the TV shows on your stations.
You do not have to prosecute a single programming pirate, talk to an internet
service provider, or do any legal proceeding at all. Indeed - legal proceedings
will drive the viewers away faster. Take away someone's ability to watch shows
how they want, and that will guarantee that they never watch you. You've given
them something much more compelling than a TV drama - the story of what a
(expletitve deleted) you are.
So, if you are ready - here are some options that will help you regain your TV
audiences. Given my experience with Doctor Who, most of my examples will be
related to that show. But they apply perfectly well from N.C.I.S. to The
Chaser's War On Everything.
1) Air your shows in a timely manner.
The latest Doctor Who episode - Planet Of The Dead - aired in the UK on Saturday
11 April 2009. *One* international broadcaster so far - SPACE in Canada - has
announced that they are airing the episode. They have given it an airdate -
Saturday 20 June 2009 at 9:30PM Eastern. 11 week delay, and they have a shot of
being the first non-UK based network to air the episode.
If a Doctor Who fan is trying to decide whether to download a show or wait for
the broadcast, and have an 11 week delay, the fan is going to download if he/she
can. If the fan has to wait one month for broadcast and has the choice, the fan
is going to download. One week - the fan is probably going to download if he/she
wants to take part in any online discussion/commentary, but there is at least a
chance the fan will wait. Most of the audience that Planet Of The Dead will lose
from downloading - it has already lost. And a fair percentage of the people who
will watch on SPACE, SciFi, ABC Australia, Prime, KBS2, etc will be watching
what to them is a repeat. They may watch out of loyalty (I'm watching - it'd be
a bit silly to put out my column if I didn't). But the excitement of a fresh
episode has been over time. If you hope they will get their friends to tune in
to this hot new show - they probably got their friends to catch the download
some time earlier.
However, If Doctor Who (or another show) is available on your network faster
than it can be downloaded from its home network, then all those fans are going
to watch your local version first, because they want to see the show as soon as
it is available. Some will be satisfied by seeing it now and will not download.
Some of them will download the show anyway because they believe the version in
the home country is superior to your broadcast for various reasons, but those
people are not going to wait for the download when the show is ready from YOU on
the TV or a DVR recording now.
Air an episode of a show on the same day as the original broadcaster's airing,
or at least within 24 hours, and it is going to be much easier to watch your
local version first. If the show is downloaded after it was already watched on
your network, then who cares? You already got the ratings. Your advertisers
already got their exposure. Downloading now becomes irrelevant if your version
of the show is half-way decent.
The technology to transmit information across the globe instantly has been
around for some time. Remember the first Gulf War in 1991, when we all got video
back from Baghdad instantly as the war progressed. 1994 - CBS has their
mini-series Scarlett (sequel to Gone With The Wind), proudly annoucning that it
is airing in dozens of countries at the same time. 15 years ago, a drama program
was available all over the world simultaneously. American Idol airs
internationally within 24 hours in various countries now, including the UK. The
BBC is trying to get the new Torchwood series aired simultaneously in multiple
countries, and claims that BBC America will air the episodes the same night as
the UK broadcasts. And of course - many movies manage to premiere around the
world on the same day with no complications. We have the technology to air stuff
around the world at once. Networks just have to do it.
Their are only 4 reasons not to get the episodes of an established show as soon
as they become available - 1) the original broadcaster delays when you can air
them, 2) there is a price structure involved where delaying a broadcast reduces
the cost, 3) another broadcaster in your country gets the show ahead of you, and
4) you dub the show for the local language. As to 1) - home broadcasters need to
get a bit less precious on their programming. You don't need to let
international networks air your stuff first, but your audience will not care if
the rest of the world gets to see their shows at the same time or almost
immediately afterwards. Probably be a relief for people who want to talk about
shows - everybody is on the same page. You want to sell your shows. And you can
work together on the shows you sell to each other to get more same day
programming. Point 2) - well, obviously you should pay less if you wait longer.
The show is not worth as much now. The die hards have watched it and the casual
viewers won't get drawn in by the die hards. You have at least partially
poisoned the show's chance in your country. The show will not reach the level of
success it could have in your country. Brilliant. If points 3) or 4) apply to
you, you can't really air the show as early as other broadcasters. Fair point.
You can do some of the other things on the list.
2) Air the shows UNCUT!
2a) We Do Not Care If Shows Begin On The Hour Or Half-Hour. Start and End
Whenever You Want ...
2b) ... As Long As We Know The Correct Start And End Times For The Show In
Advance
When you read a book, one of the minimal requirements is that all the pages are
in the book. If 20 pages in a 400 page book have been ripped out, you are not
going to be pleased. You might be surprised - but it is the same with a
television show. We notice the music jumps, the scene jumps, the missing
explanations. We hear that an episode was 49 minutes in the UK and 43 1/2
minutes on the SciFi Channel. If nothing else, we discover the difference on the
DVDs. Word gets out.
The second most common feedback I get with my column is people who have sworn
off watching this network or that network because of the edits to fit the show
and the desired number of commercials into a specific time slot. Or, worse,
edits because a network wants all the episodes to be the length to make
programming easier. Result - one group of these disgruntled people downloads
every thing they cared about from the channel (not just the show that got
edited), another group waits to watch any shows on the channel (not just the
show that got edited) until other networks repeat them or DVDs are available.
Now, most people dislike commercials (sorry), but large numbers of commercials
are not going to keep most of us from watching shows on your channels. Your
problem is the editing.
The SPACE channel in Canada has figured this out. When they aired Series 2 of
Torchwood (a show which averaged 50 minutes per episode), they gave it a 65
minute slot so that they could fit in all the ads and the show. They were up
front about it - the listings clearly had a 65 minute time slot. They also ran
Sea Of Souls, a British drama where the regular episodes were 60 minutes before
commercials. 75 minute time slot. They use shorter programs and other methods to
get back on the perceived schedule - eventually. No adverse effects for them in
the ratings. Fans praise them for airing shows uncut and making sure that
unusual time slots are known about.
I do not care if a show airs at 9PM, 9:05PM, or 9:47PM. If I know when it starts
and stops (the actual times, not rounded), I am set. If I know I am seeing the
whole show - I am happy. If I know I will miss stuff, I am disappointed, and
another show that catches my interest that will be uncut can lure me away. Many
Doctor Who episodes have sat on the DVR waiting for me to get to them, annoyed
that I knew SciFi or BBC America cut stuff out.
And SciFi US - you are among the worst offenders on the start/end time. 4 extra
minutes for Battlestar Galactica - fine. But let me know that the next show
starts at 11:04PM instead of 11PM and ends at 12:04AM instead of 12AM. Your own
website insists on labelling shows on the hour and half hour when frequently it
will not be the case. How does the public prove to you that they will watch
shows at odd times (and some of your start times are odd) if we do not know when
the start times are?
Bonus point - cropping the sides off a 16:9 image is NOT airing the show uncut.
Cropping the top and bottom of a 4:3 image to make a 16:9 image is NOT airing
the show uncut. The 14:9 compromise crops is just silly, by the way - no thanks.
We will accept black bars to fit a 16:9 show in a 4:3 window or a 4:3 show in a
16:9 window. We want you to air the full show so that we will want to see it on
your station.
3) Reduce/Remove Graffiti On The Screen
The audience knows what station they are watching. If they did not know, you
would need to run on screen crawls and station identification through all the
commercial breaks to make sure we do not get lost. You don't. Somehow you think
that a Sham Wow commercial that airs on 50 different networks will not confuse
me on what channel I am watching.
I have never seen an on-program ad for another show on your network when you did
not also air a commercial or mention of the same show during one of the
commercial breaks. You only advertise some of your shows, and those shows get
advertised - a lot. Even if some breaks get fast forwarded through - we have
seen an ad for your show outside the episode time of what we are watching. And
if we are having a pleasant experience, we get lulled and are less likely to
think to fast forward through a break.
If your network has news responsibilities and has to interrupt programming or
run an on-screen scroll for actual breaking news - you will not get many
complaints, though it helps if you make sure you air the full show somehow. No
news responsibilities - you don't have the excuse.
After editing, the reason people want better copies of shows from sources other
than you is that we are trying to watch the show. We do not want animation for
other shows taking up ever more of the screen. We definitely do not want sound
interrupted for the animation. We do not even want our favorite shows advertised
that way during other progamming - those other shows have their fans too who
deserve to have a pleasant viewing experience. I cringe when I see the Doctor
and Donna covering an important bit of another TV show - someone is watching
that graffiti and will now stay away from Doctor Who because of it. Many people
will grudgingly tolerate a fairly small logo for your station in a corner, when
the logo is translucent so we can see the stuff behind it. Translucent, not
solid or multi-colored! That is the limit, and not everyone will meet you that
far down the way. Make the show ugly, and those who can download, will. If you
followed point one they will have already watched your copy at least, but have a
bit of pride in your content. If you have waited to air the show, why would the
audience want to see a graffiti covered mess when they already saw the show
looking good?
4) Air The Episodes In The Intended Order
This should be easy, but some networks still have problems. If the first episode
in a batch of shows is the Christmas episode, you air it - FIRST. Because it is
the FIRST episode. An episode that is between two seasons should premiere
*between those two seasons*. If you want to premiere it around Christmas, then
you follow point 1 and air the show at the same time as the original
broadcaster. Repeat at Christmas, sure, but shows are filmed in an intended
order. Swap things out because of a guest star or a seasonal reference or
because you did not block out enough weeks for the show in the first place - no.
In Canada, the 2007 Doctor Who Christmas special "Voyage Of The Damned" has not
aired in English to this day. The CBC did not think of it as a necessary part of
the show's run. The 2006 Doctor Who Christmas special "The Runaway Bride" was
buried at Midnight after the first of the 2007 episodes ran. I was surprised at
how few people were upset that CBC will not have the Canadian rights to Who and
that SPACE has taken over, but I should not have been. When SPACE gets around to
airing Doctor Who, Canadians at least know that the episodes will be in order
and uncut.
5) Secondary Networks - Make It Worth Watching Again
Maybe you are BBC America in the US, FOX in South Korea, UKTV in Australia, etc.
and you have to let another network air Doctor Who, wait a bit, and finally get
to the show yourself. You cannot control the delay from the original broadcast.
You cannot control that much of the audience only wants to watch a show once,
and they are lost. But you can make your version more attractive. BBC America
has a very good feature - Doctor Who episodes air 2 minutes longer on their
station than SciFi, so most weeks you are seeing footage you did not see on the
first network. Uncut would be better, but between the two networks BBC America
is *usually* better - just don't ask me what they do with Christmas specials. If
there are bonus features that can air which were not on the first network - see
if you can get them.
Now, this is important - do NOT air shorter versions of the episodes than the
original broadcaster. That is suicide. Once the public knows that the repeat of
a show is missing stuff that was in the first broadcast, it eliminates the
reason for anyone to tune in who saw the first broadcast. Always check with the
network making the show to ensure that you have the most complete prints
possible. Note - if you are buying something from the BBC, they are notorious
for selling shortened versions of shows and not pointing it out to you.
Show more, not less. Hype that you have more. It will help.
---------------
Television networks have a big advantage over the internet in watching TV shows
- watching the shows on TV is easier. Follow these steps. Make your content on a
par with the quality that can be downloaded (or better quality), and the easy
factor will bring back viewers. Do what you do now, make the quality worse and
worse, and the audiences can shrink further and further, till neither you nor I
are needed anymore.
Benjamin Elliott
This Week In Doctor Who
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/thisweekindoctorwho/message/860
How To Neutralize The Effects Of Internet Downloading
For 11 years, I have put out a weekly guide to Doctor Who programming (and
various spinoffs thereof) called This Week In Doctor Who. I have tried my
hardest to let people know when Doctor Who is being televised or on the radio
*anywhere*. To the best of my ability, I have hyped it all. The PBS stations.
BBC One. BBC Prime. UKTV Australia. UK Gold. SPACE (1997 to 2000). SPACE
(2009-onwards). If I could get the information, I have put it out, as accurately
as possible, week by week. I like Doctor Who (classic and modern). I think it
deserves to be seen and grow as large an audience as possible in as much of the
world as possible. Any broadcaster airing Doctor Who that has ever heard of me
ought to think of me as a net positive, because I have tried my hardest to help
this show grow, and hence help you.
For every show that has a devoted audience, there are people who make efforts
not completely unlike my own. Due South had a page helping people find the
syndicated season. Babylon 5, Star Trek spinoffs, Earth: Final Conflict,
Hercules, Xena, Cleopatra 2525 - you name it, individuals and groups worked hard
trying to keep track of where the shows were airing.
And it seems we are all obsolete. And so are you networks. Because the public is
online now, and so are the shows. When a new episode of Doctor Who, or
Dollhouse, or House, or American Idol, or Survivor, or Robot Chicken - name the
show. People want to talk about the shows they are interested in. They want to
see the shows before their friends tell them the outcome. If everyone else has
figured out how to communicate with each other, why haven't TV show makers? Why
are shows delayed so much in various parts of the world? Never shown? Shown with
bits chopped out? We know what you did to that TV show. So the fans take it into
their own hands and find their own way to watch the programs they want. And
often, that way does not involve you.
Now, if people are watching their TV without you, then you lose revenue and you
stop buying the shows. Very bad for you over the loss of revenue. In the long
run, bad for the fans when the shows do not get made because the sales dropped
off. Minor inconvenience for me because I would not have anything to write about
any more - I will survive just fine. Still, I have not seen anyone come up with
a workable solution to this situation yet, so here I am.
Networks of the world - you can get most of your audiences back. You can get the
eyeballs watching your shows. You can get many of them watching your commercials
(at least the better made commercials). It is all a matter of working smarter,
not harder. Get people to want to watch the TV shows on your stations.
You do not have to prosecute a single programming pirate, talk to an internet
service provider, or do any legal proceeding at all. Indeed - legal proceedings
will drive the viewers away faster. Take away someone's ability to watch shows
how they want, and that will guarantee that they never watch you. You've given
them something much more compelling than a TV drama - the story of what a
(expletitve deleted) you are.
So, if you are ready - here are some options that will help you regain your TV
audiences. Given my experience with Doctor Who, most of my examples will be
related to that show. But they apply perfectly well from N.C.I.S. to The
Chaser's War On Everything.
1) Air your shows in a timely manner.
The latest Doctor Who episode - Planet Of The Dead - aired in the UK on Saturday
11 April 2009. *One* international broadcaster so far - SPACE in Canada - has
announced that they are airing the episode. They have given it an airdate -
Saturday 20 June 2009 at 9:30PM Eastern. 11 week delay, and they have a shot of
being the first non-UK based network to air the episode.
If a Doctor Who fan is trying to decide whether to download a show or wait for
the broadcast, and have an 11 week delay, the fan is going to download if he/she
can. If the fan has to wait one month for broadcast and has the choice, the fan
is going to download. One week - the fan is probably going to download if he/she
wants to take part in any online discussion/commentary, but there is at least a
chance the fan will wait. Most of the audience that Planet Of The Dead will lose
from downloading - it has already lost. And a fair percentage of the people who
will watch on SPACE, SciFi, ABC Australia, Prime, KBS2, etc will be watching
what to them is a repeat. They may watch out of loyalty (I'm watching - it'd be
a bit silly to put out my column if I didn't). But the excitement of a fresh
episode has been over time. If you hope they will get their friends to tune in
to this hot new show - they probably got their friends to catch the download
some time earlier.
However, If Doctor Who (or another show) is available on your network faster
than it can be downloaded from its home network, then all those fans are going
to watch your local version first, because they want to see the show as soon as
it is available. Some will be satisfied by seeing it now and will not download.
Some of them will download the show anyway because they believe the version in
the home country is superior to your broadcast for various reasons, but those
people are not going to wait for the download when the show is ready from YOU on
the TV or a DVR recording now.
Air an episode of a show on the same day as the original broadcaster's airing,
or at least within 24 hours, and it is going to be much easier to watch your
local version first. If the show is downloaded after it was already watched on
your network, then who cares? You already got the ratings. Your advertisers
already got their exposure. Downloading now becomes irrelevant if your version
of the show is half-way decent.
The technology to transmit information across the globe instantly has been
around for some time. Remember the first Gulf War in 1991, when we all got video
back from Baghdad instantly as the war progressed. 1994 - CBS has their
mini-series Scarlett (sequel to Gone With The Wind), proudly annoucning that it
is airing in dozens of countries at the same time. 15 years ago, a drama program
was available all over the world simultaneously. American Idol airs
internationally within 24 hours in various countries now, including the UK. The
BBC is trying to get the new Torchwood series aired simultaneously in multiple
countries, and claims that BBC America will air the episodes the same night as
the UK broadcasts. And of course - many movies manage to premiere around the
world on the same day with no complications. We have the technology to air stuff
around the world at once. Networks just have to do it.
Their are only 4 reasons not to get the episodes of an established show as soon
as they become available - 1) the original broadcaster delays when you can air
them, 2) there is a price structure involved where delaying a broadcast reduces
the cost, 3) another broadcaster in your country gets the show ahead of you, and
4) you dub the show for the local language. As to 1) - home broadcasters need to
get a bit less precious on their programming. You don't need to let
international networks air your stuff first, but your audience will not care if
the rest of the world gets to see their shows at the same time or almost
immediately afterwards. Probably be a relief for people who want to talk about
shows - everybody is on the same page. You want to sell your shows. And you can
work together on the shows you sell to each other to get more same day
programming. Point 2) - well, obviously you should pay less if you wait longer.
The show is not worth as much now. The die hards have watched it and the casual
viewers won't get drawn in by the die hards. You have at least partially
poisoned the show's chance in your country. The show will not reach the level of
success it could have in your country. Brilliant. If points 3) or 4) apply to
you, you can't really air the show as early as other broadcasters. Fair point.
You can do some of the other things on the list.
2) Air the shows UNCUT!
2a) We Do Not Care If Shows Begin On The Hour Or Half-Hour. Start and End
Whenever You Want ...
2b) ... As Long As We Know The Correct Start And End Times For The Show In
Advance
When you read a book, one of the minimal requirements is that all the pages are
in the book. If 20 pages in a 400 page book have been ripped out, you are not
going to be pleased. You might be surprised - but it is the same with a
television show. We notice the music jumps, the scene jumps, the missing
explanations. We hear that an episode was 49 minutes in the UK and 43 1/2
minutes on the SciFi Channel. If nothing else, we discover the difference on the
DVDs. Word gets out.
The second most common feedback I get with my column is people who have sworn
off watching this network or that network because of the edits to fit the show
and the desired number of commercials into a specific time slot. Or, worse,
edits because a network wants all the episodes to be the length to make
programming easier. Result - one group of these disgruntled people downloads
every thing they cared about from the channel (not just the show that got
edited), another group waits to watch any shows on the channel (not just the
show that got edited) until other networks repeat them or DVDs are available.
Now, most people dislike commercials (sorry), but large numbers of commercials
are not going to keep most of us from watching shows on your channels. Your
problem is the editing.
The SPACE channel in Canada has figured this out. When they aired Series 2 of
Torchwood (a show which averaged 50 minutes per episode), they gave it a 65
minute slot so that they could fit in all the ads and the show. They were up
front about it - the listings clearly had a 65 minute time slot. They also ran
Sea Of Souls, a British drama where the regular episodes were 60 minutes before
commercials. 75 minute time slot. They use shorter programs and other methods to
get back on the perceived schedule - eventually. No adverse effects for them in
the ratings. Fans praise them for airing shows uncut and making sure that
unusual time slots are known about.
I do not care if a show airs at 9PM, 9:05PM, or 9:47PM. If I know when it starts
and stops (the actual times, not rounded), I am set. If I know I am seeing the
whole show - I am happy. If I know I will miss stuff, I am disappointed, and
another show that catches my interest that will be uncut can lure me away. Many
Doctor Who episodes have sat on the DVR waiting for me to get to them, annoyed
that I knew SciFi or BBC America cut stuff out.
And SciFi US - you are among the worst offenders on the start/end time. 4 extra
minutes for Battlestar Galactica - fine. But let me know that the next show
starts at 11:04PM instead of 11PM and ends at 12:04AM instead of 12AM. Your own
website insists on labelling shows on the hour and half hour when frequently it
will not be the case. How does the public prove to you that they will watch
shows at odd times (and some of your start times are odd) if we do not know when
the start times are?
Bonus point - cropping the sides off a 16:9 image is NOT airing the show uncut.
Cropping the top and bottom of a 4:3 image to make a 16:9 image is NOT airing
the show uncut. The 14:9 compromise crops is just silly, by the way - no thanks.
We will accept black bars to fit a 16:9 show in a 4:3 window or a 4:3 show in a
16:9 window. We want you to air the full show so that we will want to see it on
your station.
3) Reduce/Remove Graffiti On The Screen
The audience knows what station they are watching. If they did not know, you
would need to run on screen crawls and station identification through all the
commercial breaks to make sure we do not get lost. You don't. Somehow you think
that a Sham Wow commercial that airs on 50 different networks will not confuse
me on what channel I am watching.
I have never seen an on-program ad for another show on your network when you did
not also air a commercial or mention of the same show during one of the
commercial breaks. You only advertise some of your shows, and those shows get
advertised - a lot. Even if some breaks get fast forwarded through - we have
seen an ad for your show outside the episode time of what we are watching. And
if we are having a pleasant experience, we get lulled and are less likely to
think to fast forward through a break.
If your network has news responsibilities and has to interrupt programming or
run an on-screen scroll for actual breaking news - you will not get many
complaints, though it helps if you make sure you air the full show somehow. No
news responsibilities - you don't have the excuse.
After editing, the reason people want better copies of shows from sources other
than you is that we are trying to watch the show. We do not want animation for
other shows taking up ever more of the screen. We definitely do not want sound
interrupted for the animation. We do not even want our favorite shows advertised
that way during other progamming - those other shows have their fans too who
deserve to have a pleasant viewing experience. I cringe when I see the Doctor
and Donna covering an important bit of another TV show - someone is watching
that graffiti and will now stay away from Doctor Who because of it. Many people
will grudgingly tolerate a fairly small logo for your station in a corner, when
the logo is translucent so we can see the stuff behind it. Translucent, not
solid or multi-colored! That is the limit, and not everyone will meet you that
far down the way. Make the show ugly, and those who can download, will. If you
followed point one they will have already watched your copy at least, but have a
bit of pride in your content. If you have waited to air the show, why would the
audience want to see a graffiti covered mess when they already saw the show
looking good?
4) Air The Episodes In The Intended Order
This should be easy, but some networks still have problems. If the first episode
in a batch of shows is the Christmas episode, you air it - FIRST. Because it is
the FIRST episode. An episode that is between two seasons should premiere
*between those two seasons*. If you want to premiere it around Christmas, then
you follow point 1 and air the show at the same time as the original
broadcaster. Repeat at Christmas, sure, but shows are filmed in an intended
order. Swap things out because of a guest star or a seasonal reference or
because you did not block out enough weeks for the show in the first place - no.
In Canada, the 2007 Doctor Who Christmas special "Voyage Of The Damned" has not
aired in English to this day. The CBC did not think of it as a necessary part of
the show's run. The 2006 Doctor Who Christmas special "The Runaway Bride" was
buried at Midnight after the first of the 2007 episodes ran. I was surprised at
how few people were upset that CBC will not have the Canadian rights to Who and
that SPACE has taken over, but I should not have been. When SPACE gets around to
airing Doctor Who, Canadians at least know that the episodes will be in order
and uncut.
5) Secondary Networks - Make It Worth Watching Again
Maybe you are BBC America in the US, FOX in South Korea, UKTV in Australia, etc.
and you have to let another network air Doctor Who, wait a bit, and finally get
to the show yourself. You cannot control the delay from the original broadcast.
You cannot control that much of the audience only wants to watch a show once,
and they are lost. But you can make your version more attractive. BBC America
has a very good feature - Doctor Who episodes air 2 minutes longer on their
station than SciFi, so most weeks you are seeing footage you did not see on the
first network. Uncut would be better, but between the two networks BBC America
is *usually* better - just don't ask me what they do with Christmas specials. If
there are bonus features that can air which were not on the first network - see
if you can get them.
Now, this is important - do NOT air shorter versions of the episodes than the
original broadcaster. That is suicide. Once the public knows that the repeat of
a show is missing stuff that was in the first broadcast, it eliminates the
reason for anyone to tune in who saw the first broadcast. Always check with the
network making the show to ensure that you have the most complete prints
possible. Note - if you are buying something from the BBC, they are notorious
for selling shortened versions of shows and not pointing it out to you.
Show more, not less. Hype that you have more. It will help.
---------------
Television networks have a big advantage over the internet in watching TV shows
- watching the shows on TV is easier. Follow these steps. Make your content on a
par with the quality that can be downloaded (or better quality), and the easy
factor will bring back viewers. Do what you do now, make the quality worse and
worse, and the audiences can shrink further and further, till neither you nor I
are needed anymore.
Benjamin Elliott
This Week In Doctor Who
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/thisweekindoctorwho/message/860
Report from Filming Last night at Brandon Estat London SE17 15/05/09
Three more from last night, David Tennant and Billie Piper came over to those watching and asked them not to post anything that is a spoiler, so we don't know how much more we will get, however the press where there too, and they are known to have no scruples
This report from Starship Trooper;
Well I arrived around 9.30'ish
The crew/cameras were all set up with a tent by the side for the actors/crew etc and monitors.
Snow, amazing graffiti and lots of Christmas lights from balconies/ buildings.
It was unbelievably quiet - which was the best thing about it, no loud annoying crowds or trouble at all (accept for the in-ebriated lady who was over excited and the in-ebriated angry lady who insisted upon walking her dog through the middle of the roped off scene area on the parade! Of course David & Bill took this in their stride!
The parade was sealed off at both ends - the Tardis was there parked by the side all lit up nicely.
Billy & Camille were filming their stuff for a couple of hours, then David arrived!
There was some funny horseplay between filming and obvious affection between David and Billy they seemed really happy to be filming together again.
They bounced over to us from nowhere and chatted, signed autographs, had photos done (Billy couldn't give us her toothy grin as she had a mouth full of bournbon biccies!) - well there were so few of us and it was a nice atmosphere in which to meet them no mobbing, screeching or demanding fans - just us and them! (Oh and the wonderfully dedicated Vicster & her friend!)
How brilliant is that!
So that's when David & Billy asked us to please not reveal or post about anything we see or hear being filmed - darn it! Like I said earlier tho - can't refuse the Doctor!
It was amazing being on the 'Powell Estate' seeing it for real, with snow! (At brief moments a mini blizzard was being whipped up!) where it all begun...full circle...
Due to the closeness we were able to really observe the filming process and Euros/ Julie G/ Danny H/ Camille/ Billy/ David etc at work which was very insightful.
The locals must all have been 'darn' the boozer init!'
There were some kids hanging out on the balconies opposite but not many and really well behaved whenever hush was called for by the crew they got it.
Sadly can't say anymore - the paps were there and if they print pics/ spoilers then I guess it'll be alright for me to post the pics etc that I've got.
Although annoyingly my camera isnt working right now so It's off to ASDA to copy the pics etc to disc then at least I can post the photo of me an Bill!
Certainly a night to remember!
The Daily Mail have a report with pictures on last nights filming at Brandon Estate, London SE17. There is nothing in the report of use really, but the photographs are great!
The scene filmed seems to be this; its new year 2005, Rose and Jackie are walking through the snow, the Doctor passes them, wounded, he asks the year, (Rose hasn't seen David Tennant yet remember) Rose replies 2005 mate, the Doctor then predicts a good year for Rose! This was for the last Tennant episode
Their on-screen pairing as Rose and The Doctor made both Billie Piper and David Tennant household names.
So it was only fitting that new mother Billie should return to Doctor Who for Tennant 's final two episodes as the Timelord.
The 26-year-old actress joins an all-star cast for the emotional send-off of the popular star.
Yesterday Tennant, dressed in the Doctor's signature suited style, was seen filming some of his last scenes from the sci-fi family drama.
He clutched the wall in apparent distress as he walked through air swirling with snow in a Cardiff Street.
Billie had earlier filmed scenes nearby, wrapped in scraf and gloves, and the two were seen chatting together in a break from filming.
The final two episodes will be broadcast over the Christmas period and will see Tennant regenerate as Matt Smith, who replaces him as the 11th Doctor.
It will also be the last of Russell T Davies’ four 2009 specials and signals the end of his five years as head writer.
He has breathed new life into the show and is bound to be planning a dramatic ending to his successful run on the show
Scottish writer Steven Moffat will take over as executive producer for a new series in 2010.
This week it was revealed that veteran actress Claire Bloom will appear in a cameo role as The Doctor's mother.
She joins comedienne Catherine Tate, who plays the Doctor's occasional companion Donna Noble and actor Bernard Cribbins, who plays Noble's grandfather Wilfred
Veteran actress June Whitfield - best known in recent times for playing Edina’s mother in Absolutely Fabulous - has also been spotted in the city.
She and Cribbins are long-time friends and appeared together on screen in Carry On Columbus in 1992.
Other new faces joining the filming are Hi-de-Hi! actor Barry Howard and Karl Collins, who plays Danny Glaze in The Bill.
Thanx to 39 Austin for these photographs
Thanx go to Stephen Ackroyd for the first two and Schehera for the Tardis photograph!
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
dailymail.co.uk
This report from Starship Trooper;
Well I arrived around 9.30'ish
The crew/cameras were all set up with a tent by the side for the actors/crew etc and monitors.
Snow, amazing graffiti and lots of Christmas lights from balconies/ buildings.
It was unbelievably quiet - which was the best thing about it, no loud annoying crowds or trouble at all (accept for the in-ebriated lady who was over excited and the in-ebriated angry lady who insisted upon walking her dog through the middle of the roped off scene area on the parade! Of course David & Bill took this in their stride!
The parade was sealed off at both ends - the Tardis was there parked by the side all lit up nicely.
Billy & Camille were filming their stuff for a couple of hours, then David arrived!
There was some funny horseplay between filming and obvious affection between David and Billy they seemed really happy to be filming together again.
They bounced over to us from nowhere and chatted, signed autographs, had photos done (Billy couldn't give us her toothy grin as she had a mouth full of bournbon biccies!) - well there were so few of us and it was a nice atmosphere in which to meet them no mobbing, screeching or demanding fans - just us and them! (Oh and the wonderfully dedicated Vicster & her friend!)
How brilliant is that!
So that's when David & Billy asked us to please not reveal or post about anything we see or hear being filmed - darn it! Like I said earlier tho - can't refuse the Doctor!
It was amazing being on the 'Powell Estate' seeing it for real, with snow! (At brief moments a mini blizzard was being whipped up!) where it all begun...full circle...
Due to the closeness we were able to really observe the filming process and Euros/ Julie G/ Danny H/ Camille/ Billy/ David etc at work which was very insightful.
The locals must all have been 'darn' the boozer init!'
There were some kids hanging out on the balconies opposite but not many and really well behaved whenever hush was called for by the crew they got it.
Sadly can't say anymore - the paps were there and if they print pics/ spoilers then I guess it'll be alright for me to post the pics etc that I've got.
Although annoyingly my camera isnt working right now so It's off to ASDA to copy the pics etc to disc then at least I can post the photo of me an Bill!
Certainly a night to remember!
The Daily Mail have a report with pictures on last nights filming at Brandon Estate, London SE17. There is nothing in the report of use really, but the photographs are great!
The scene filmed seems to be this; its new year 2005, Rose and Jackie are walking through the snow, the Doctor passes them, wounded, he asks the year, (Rose hasn't seen David Tennant yet remember) Rose replies 2005 mate, the Doctor then predicts a good year for Rose! This was for the last Tennant episode
Their on-screen pairing as Rose and The Doctor made both Billie Piper and David Tennant household names.
So it was only fitting that new mother Billie should return to Doctor Who for Tennant 's final two episodes as the Timelord.
The 26-year-old actress joins an all-star cast for the emotional send-off of the popular star.
Yesterday Tennant, dressed in the Doctor's signature suited style, was seen filming some of his last scenes from the sci-fi family drama.
He clutched the wall in apparent distress as he walked through air swirling with snow in a Cardiff Street.
Billie had earlier filmed scenes nearby, wrapped in scraf and gloves, and the two were seen chatting together in a break from filming.
The final two episodes will be broadcast over the Christmas period and will see Tennant regenerate as Matt Smith, who replaces him as the 11th Doctor.
It will also be the last of Russell T Davies’ four 2009 specials and signals the end of his five years as head writer.
He has breathed new life into the show and is bound to be planning a dramatic ending to his successful run on the show
Scottish writer Steven Moffat will take over as executive producer for a new series in 2010.
This week it was revealed that veteran actress Claire Bloom will appear in a cameo role as The Doctor's mother.
She joins comedienne Catherine Tate, who plays the Doctor's occasional companion Donna Noble and actor Bernard Cribbins, who plays Noble's grandfather Wilfred
Veteran actress June Whitfield - best known in recent times for playing Edina’s mother in Absolutely Fabulous - has also been spotted in the city.
She and Cribbins are long-time friends and appeared together on screen in Carry On Columbus in 1992.
Other new faces joining the filming are Hi-de-Hi! actor Barry Howard and Karl Collins, who plays Danny Glaze in The Bill.
Thanx to 39 Austin for these photographs
Thanx go to Stephen Ackroyd for the first two and Schehera for the Tardis photograph!
http://lifetheuniverseandcombom.blogspot.com/
dailymail.co.uk
3 More Photos From Lasts Nights Filming at Brandon Estate London SE17 15/0509
Heres 3 photographs from tonights filming. The Doctor in his brown suit, Rose Tyler and Jackie Tyler celebrating new year!Thanx go to Stephen Ackroyd for the first two and Schehera for the Tardis photograph!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
