Fan Productions roundup

Saturday, 9 July 2011 - Reported by Harry Ward

This roundup features three fanzines, two of which are first issues, a new album from a Time Lord Rock band and the first completed work by the Doctor Who Fan Orchestra.

Doctor Who Fan Orchestra - I Am The Doctor

DWFO: "I Am The Doctor", "socksofbalhoon", via YouTube

Whotopia - Issue 21

In this issue:

Nicholas Courtney & Elisabeth Sladen Tributes - Michael S Collins, Gary Phillips, Bob Furnell, Thomas Willam Spychalski and Claire Chaplin pay tribute to two fo the series' most acclaimed actors.
Jean-Marc L'Officier Interview - Jez Strickley talks to the author and translator about the original Doctor Who program guide, French comics and a certain Docteur Omega...
Music for Ming Mongs - David MacGowan takes us on an innovative tour of Doctor Who by way of the indie rock band, the Gossip.
Wholife: Dressing Up - Grant Bull joins Whotopia's team of columnists with an ireverent look at dress sense in Doctor Who.
Dalek's Advocate: In Defence of Michael Grade - Jon Arnold don's the mantle of Skarosian lawyer to defend former BBC Controller Michael Grade.
The Fanzine Corner - With the world of fanzines at his fingertips, Bob Furnell spotlights one of fandoms enduring features in the all-new column.
They Think It's All Over - Michael S. Collins mind turns to a tournament of galactic proportions.
Audio Tomb - Matthew Kresal explores the audio version of The Tomb of The Cybermen with an eye on its TV counterpart.
Who's Catchphrase Craze - Emily Jones considers how certain catchphrases have come to define the new series.
Sarah Jane Adventures: Series Four Reviews - Jon Arnold, Grant Bull, Brendan Kennedy, Dan Rushton, Thomas Willam Spychalski and Ian Wheeler tell us about the latest offerings from the successful spin-off series.
K-9 Series One Review - How did the much-anticipated K-9 series fare? Gary Phillips tells all.
Target Trawl - Wirrn and Axons are on the menu in another lively instalment from our resident Target books reader, Nick Mellish.
Screwdrivers, Scaries and Scarves: The TARDIS - A look at the Doctor's longest-standing 'companion' by Jez Strickley.
Sacreligious Thoughts - Bob Furnell offers explanations why he's not in love with Doctor Who like he use to be.
A Christmas Carol Review - Just how special was Matt Smith's first Christmas outing? Gary Phillips gives us his view.
Fiction: The Thoughts of a Time Machine - New original fiction from British writer Martin Hearn.

All this and more in Whotopia issue 21. Available to download for free in PDF format.

Fanwnak - Issue 1

In this issue:

Interview - Toby Hadoke on moths, the BBC and running through corridors...
Doctor Who's Big Fat Gypsy Massacre!
Jeff's Internet History Lessons
Shada Reconstruction News
Philip Hinchcliffe's Production Notes
Fan Fiction - The Silent Space
William Shakespeare
My Heretical Error
Gumblejack
Mo' Hanky-Panky In The TARDIS
The Unloved
Six Years Of New Doctor Who
Doctor Ooh!
Comic Strip - At Home With The Who's
Trying Not To Get Lost
Doctor Who And The Victorians
Letterbox

And more...

Submissions needed for Issue 2:

In order to survive, every printed publication needs high quality contributors. (Hopefully, that's you!) In an age where online publication is the now the norm, it is instantly gratifying to get your work/thoughts out to the world for virtually free and getting a printed fanzine off the ground is hard. FANWNAK Issue 1 eventually launched with much acclaim after months of development. Now it's your chance to contribute to the upcoming Issue 2. Just email me at snhbuk@gmail.com if you'd like to help out. I am accepting comic strips (in full glorious colour) and articles for either the new or classic series of Doctor Who whether they be funny or serious, I'd appreciate your support. Thank you!

Theta Morbius Times - Issue 1

In this issue:

We pay tribute to the incredible lives of Elisabeth Sladen and Nicholas Courtney in Who's News
TMT exclusively interviews Baelcolour and Aquatics64, two highly regarded fan film creators about their life, their craft and their future
Memorial is a tragic and moving strip about grief and loss. Find out what makes it so succesful in the Archive
And in another comic strip feature, TMT investigates the incredible world of the Doctor's comic strip companions in the Fundamentals
We review the first two episodes of Series Six and find out what makes these episodes work in Who's Views
In an incredible exclusive we interview Rich Morris, the creator of the incredible comic strip The Ten Doctors in the first part of our Serialised Comic
Plus regular features such as Novelisational, the Escapists column and reviews of both new and old episodes and merchandise.

All this and more in the latest issue of Theta Morbius Times!

Chameleon Circuit - Still Got Legs

Release Date: July 12, 2011

You can listen to the whole album for free in the player below courtesy of Alex Day.

More products from Chameleon Circuit can be found here.

FILTER: - Fan Productions

Beth Willis leaves Doctor Who

Thursday, 7 July 2011 - Reported by Marcus

Doctor Who executive producer Beth Willis, is to leave the series to return to her former employers Kudos Film and Television.

Willis will leave the BBC at the end of this month, a couple of months before fellow executive producer Piers Wenger leaves the BBC to join Film 4.

The news means a new executive team will join showrunner Steven Moffat as the programme gears up for production on the 2012/2013 series of the show leading into the 50th anniversary year.

Willis has been an Executive Producer on the series for the past two years. She joined the series with Wenger at the same time as showrunner Steven Moffat, taking over for the arrival of Eleventh Doctor at the conclusion of The End of Time. Both have been responsible for 27 episodes of the Show.

Wills will leave the series at the end of this month with Wenger departing the BBC at the end of September. The BBC hopes to find a replacement for Willis in time for the filming of the Doctor Who Christmas special. It will then recruit a second executive producer before filming for the 33rd series begins.

Beth commented:

Working with Steven Moffat, Piers Wenger and Matt Smith on the last two series of Doctor Who has been the most fantastic experience and I will miss them hugely... The plans taking shape for the next series of Doctor Who and for the 50th Anniversary are beyond exciting - and with Steven Moffat at the helm, this incredibly special time for the show is in very safe hands.

The BBC's Drama controller Ben Stephenson praised Willis for her work on Doctor Who.

Much of its current success is down to her vision and ambition for the show. She has been an inspiring and instrumental force and I know will be much missed by all of us, and especially Matt Smith and Steven Moffat.

Steven Moffat added:

We couldn’t keep her forever, though God knows I tried. She is off to be brave and brilliant in brand new ways, and the sad news for Doctor Who is that it will be somewhere else.

Willis returns to Kudos where she produced the first two series of Ashes To Ashes. Chief executive of Kudos, Jane Featherstone, said

I’m chuffed to bits to be welcoming her back to Kudos, where her creative instincts and no-nonsense work ethic will make her a force to be reckoned with in the drama world.

FILTER: - Doctor Who - Production - BBC

Panic Moon - July Issue

Monday, 4 July 2011 - Reported by Marcus

July’s issue of the fanzine Panic Moon is now available.

This issue includes

Reviews of each episode from the first half of series six;
New perspectives on the stories Spearhead from Space, The Gunfighters, Planet of the Spiders, Frontios and Day of the Daleks, to tie in with these recent or impending DVD releases (or re-release in one case);
A look at Terror of the Autons and Doctor Who in Parliament;
A tribute to Elisabeth Sladen;
Thoughts on the murky origins of the Sea Devils, on the Brigadier in season seven, and the connections between Robot and The Eleventh Hour;
Plus the usual Big Finish reviews and the letters page.

The fanzine is fully illustrated by a number of talented artists, including Adrian Salmon who has supplied two brand new illustrations.

The issue can be ordered from the Panic Moon Website.

FILTER: - Fan Productions

John Fay to write for Doctor Who

Tuesday, 7 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

With no official confirmation on the 2012 series of Doctor Who as yet, indications are that the next range of adventures for the Doctor on television are indeed in preparation, with the writer John Fay listed as writing an episode according to his representatives, Culverhouse & James Ltd.

Fay is no stranger to the worlds of Doctor Who, having written Day Two and Day Four of Torchwood: Childen of Earth, and The Gathering for Torchwood: Miracle Day. Other television credits include Primeval and Robin Hood, and many episodes of Coronation Street - one of which won the BAFTA Award for Continuing Drama.

FILTER: - Production - Miracle Day (Series 4) - Series 7/33

Piers Wenger to leave the BBC

Thursday, 26 May 2011 - Reported by Harry Ward

The BBC Doctor Who website has confirmed that Piers Wenger, currently one of three executive producers on Doctor Who, is leaving the BBC.

Wenger commented:

It is with great sadness that I say goodbye to Doctor Who and BBC Wales, and all of the extraordinary people who work on its shows. But Film4's output, with its ethos of encouraging film-makers to produce their most authored and original work, could not be closer to my heart.

He replaced Julie Gardner as Head of Drama for BBC Wales in January 2009 and in July of that year became executive producer of Doctor Who and took a central role in the casting of Matt Smith as the eleventh Doctor. His other executive producer credits on Doctor Who include The Adventure Games and Doctor Who Confidential. Away from Doctor Who, he worked on Ashes to Ashes, Christopher and His Kind and Upstairs Downstairs.

In March 2011 Wenger stepped down as Head of Drama but remained at BBC Wales to continue as a creative developer. His position will be filled by Faith Penhale from Kudos in June.

Wenger is leaving the BBC to join Film4 in September, where he will become the senior commissioning executive under Tessa Ross, Channel 4 controller of film and drama, who commented:

(he is) a hugely talented executive who will bring to Film4 real vision at a time when we are embarking on an exciting new phase in our development.

His successor as executive producer of Doctor Who will be filled in the coming months by head writer Steven Moffat and the BBC's controller of Drama Commissioning, Ben Stephenson, who said:

I will be very sad to see him go. He's been a fantastic colleague and friend - but I know that film is a huge passion of his and this is a great new role for him."

FILTER: - People - Series 6/32 - Production

Fish Fingers and Custard - Issue 5

Tuesday, 24 May 2011 - Reported by Marcus

Issue 5 of the Doctor Who Fanzine Fish Fingers and Custard is now available.

The issue contains the following:

Our Sarah Jane - Tributes from fans of Elisabeth Sladen
The Brig: A Great Chap
Why I Watch Who
Poetry
A Look At The Scarifyers, plus an interview with creator Simon Barnard
Doctor Who Actor, Harry Sedgewick, offers some more of his wisdom in his latest column
Review of the opening 2 episodes of Series 6!

Downloading details on the website.

FILTER: - Fan Productions

British Steel takes on Doctor Who

Wednesday, 11 May 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Artistic view of the Media Village front, BBC

Aviva Investors, the current owners of the Porth Teigr project to regenerate Cardiff Docks - and the new Roath Lock BBC Studios - have agreed to sell the 38 acre development to the British Steel Pension Scheme.

The full terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed, but the pension company has agreed to acquire both the BBC studios and to fund the development of the Centre for Creative Industries which is also to be built at the site.

Hoong Wey Woon, Fund Manager for Aviva Investors, said:

This is a landmark transaction for the igloo fund (the developers) and Cardiff. Working closely with the Welsh Assembly Government and the BBC we have been able to deliver an innovative development that will form the first phase of our wider ambitions for the Porth Teigr site.

The financing and sale of this project reduces risk for igloo by securing a fixed exit price and the innovative structure will generate strong returns for our investors.

Aviva also confirmed that the BBC would remain long-term tenants at the site - phase one of the Roath Lock development was completed in January, and Doctor Who is expected to re-locate there from the existing Upper Boat studios during 2012.

News coverage from: Financial News, Professional Pensions

FILTER: - Production - Miscellaneous - BBC

Oliver Elmes

Thursday, 5 May 2011 - Reported by Marcus

Oliver Elmes, the man who designed the Seventh Doctor's title sequence, has died.

In 1987 producer John Nathan Turner commissioned BBC designer Oliver Elmes to design a new opening for the show. Elmes worked with CAL Video to produce the first Doctor Who logo to be designed entirely on computer.

The basic concept was the 'Big Bang', with stars exploding to form a multi-coloured galaxy, and features a spinning TARDIS and Sylvester McCoy's face painted silver. The sequence, which cost £20,000 and took three months to create, ran for the duration of McCoy's era, from Time and the Rani to Survival, appearing on 12 stories, some 42 episodes.

A short documentary explaining the history of the sequence, Helter Skelter, is included on the DVD release of Time and the Rani.

After the series was put on hold in 1989, the new logo continued to be used for the Virgin New Adventures novels until Bad Therapy in 1996.

In addition to his work on Doctor Who, Elmes designed title sequences for Elizabeth R, The Goodies, and The Good Life. He also worked on Multi Coloured Swapshop and Top of the Pops, and designed the BBC2 idents with the two lines and one of the early spinning globe idents

FILTER: - Obituary - Production - Classic Series

John de Lancie signs for Torchwood

Monday, 18 April 2011 - Reported by Marcus

Actor John de Lancie has been confirmed as a member of the cast of Torchwood: Miracle Day.

The actor is best known for his portrayal of Q, a recurring character in the Star Trek franchise. He created the role for the first episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation and was so successful that he had regular appearances in the series throughout its run as well as episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager.

He has also appeared in numerous television shows including: The Six Million Dollar Man, Hill Street Blues, The Thorn Birds, Nero Wolfe, The West Wing, Sports Night, Judging Amy, The New Twilight Zone, The Closer, Legend, L.A. Law, MacGyver, Picket Fences, Civil Wars, The Practice, Charmed, Murder, She Wrote, Stargate SG-1, Battlestar Galactica (1978), Emergency!, and Touched by an Angel.

de Lancie's casting in Torchwood was revealed in a tweet by one of the series' authors, Jane Espenson.

The series is currently in production for transmission worldwide this summer.

FILTER: - Torchwood - Production - Miracle Day (Series 4)

Torchwood: Week Twelve Production

Monday, 4 April 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Promotion for the series has begun in the United States, with Starz broadcasting a teaser trailer on their channel over this weekend; this coincides with the launch of their official Torchwood site. The teaser is also available on their website - however, this may only be viewed by those within the United States (though may be watched globally via io9).

Additionally, some clips from the series formed part of a promotional showreel for Starz shows.

The clips include Rex firing a machine gun from the back of a jeep on the beach in Wales, an explosion behind Gwen, Jack brandishing a gun, and Gwen holding a rocket launcher over her shoulder.

Since Starz announced the launch date in the United States for Friday 8th July, UKTV have now confirmed that they will bring the series to Australia immediately afterwards - this suggests the weekend 9th/10th July. The United Kingdom premier is also widely expected for that weekend, too, though BBC schedules are unlikely to be confirmed until around a fortnight before broadcast.

However, those subscribing to the streaming service Netflix are unlikely to be able to see the show immediately, as a change of policy by Starz that comes into operation today means that their output will be delayed for some ninety days before being made available (see the LA Times for more details).

Production-wise, filming this week included scenes for episode seven, with a return to the Willow Studios and surrounding areas, as well as on the Warner Bros lot. The series is being recorded in a way to enable it to be "printed" in an optimised form for transmission in any country it is sold to. Director of Photography Nathaniel Goodman explained: "We're shooting on the Arri Alexa, recording 4444 that will be broadcast Rec709 1080 HD.".

The BBC Production Office also reported on Thursday that the music for this series would be undertaken by Doctor Who's stalwart composer, Murray Gold - he wrote the original theme for the series, and contributed to a number of earlier episodes of the series.

Times cited within reports below are in Los Angeles local time, except where indicated

Monday - Tuesday

Filming for the first couple of days wasn't clear, but indications were that preparations for episode seven were well under way to commence with a night shoot on Tuesday evening. This was also Cris D'Annunzio's first evening, who seemed quite taken with John Barrowman!

28 10:07 ST  Monday morning beautiful sunny day.
             All is peaceful as we shoot and continue to prep biggest ep yet!!!
28 10:24 ST  That could mean so many things...explosives? Very emotional? Special effects?
             All of the above? 
             Yes yes yes
28 13:28 CDA Costume fitting for Torchwood.
29 09:32 JE  Watching Torchwood dailies.  Oh my.  Oh my my my. 
29 16:45 CDA Night shoot on set of Torchwood where I will have it out with the
             talented and handsome, John Barrowman.
30 08:20 CDA Great first night on set of Torchwood. What a terrific group of people!
             And yes, John Barrowman is dreamy. 
30 11:02 CDA Seems I'm not alone in my warm feelings for Mr. Barrowman.
             Not Surprising. I'm upgrading him from dreamy to luscious. Uh-oh!!

Wednesday

Documentation for today indicated that a three-day shoot was planned at 1335 Willow Street, the address being home to the Willow Studios, which provide a number of pre-designed sets for the filming profession (bars, restaurants, apartments, etc.) - the studios had also played hot to a photo-shoot a few weeks before.

BBC Production Office (via img.mu)

The BBC Production Office praised costume designer Shawna Trpcic for her episode seven costumes by the BBC:

13:34 Costume Designer Shawna Trpcic, has yet again kicked ass
      as seen in her designs from EP7. You Go Girl!
13:36 You can't help but love her, trust us, the feeling
      doesn't go away.

Meanwhile, the weather in Los Angeles was keeping other members of the team happy!

16:02 KO  Oh my lord it's lovely in LA.
          The weather is outstanding.
          I'm having an iced tea! Could get used to this life.
16:12 BBC Kai Bring some tea to the office would ya?!
          Enjoy the day. 
21:23 KO  Tonights snack is good old fashioned Beef Jerky.
          I bought it from the farmers Market today, it immense,
          addictive as hell.
21:28 DE  First warm evening here in ages leads to gaudy sunset. 
          http://twitpic.com/4f6st9
22:01 KO  How's the family? did you bring the little one to the set?
          We're all great thank you, he's not been on set yet!! Maybe one day.

Another night shoot beckons ...

17:03 BBC We're going deep into the night this week... deep into the night.

Thursday

Thursday's shoot included filming somewhere close to the Dodger's Stadium, according to Cris D'Annunzio, whilst Allyson Floyd indicated somewhere dim, dank and cold underground - with multiple shoots in progress these could be completely different locations, of course!

The Wales Screen Commission also commented on filming: "Just heard from one of the Torchwood crew that's seen the first episode, and they say it looks AMAZING, like a tourist video for Wales!!!"

On the Torchwood set, by Cris D'Annunzio (via yfrog)

04:19 AF  OMG, calltime at 6:30 AM!  For some reason,
          I thought it was PM!  O_O  No sleep!  Gaaaaaaah! 
07:51 CDA I may be able to hear the game as our Torchwood set
          is on location today next to Dodger's Stadium.
          Or at least hear the crowd.
09:28 CDA It's always exciting working with John Barrowman,
          so I probably won't be thinking about the game at all! 
11:06 AF  Dim, dank and cold underground while
          the sun shines outside. Must... stay... awake.  >_<
12:54 CDA I will be seen in Torchwood: Miracle Day, episode 7.
          Will post more details later.  Thanks!
16:14 CDA Dodgers open in 45 min. and already signs of bonehead
          mngmt decisions.  Russell Martin?  Hello?
01:01 CDA Sure, Katie, I will pass along your love to John
01:17 CDA @Katie Just wrapped filming for tonight.
          Home to sleep! 
01:19 CDA @Katie - And JB appreciates your love & support.
          Me too! G'night!

Friday

Filming for Friday was documented as 590 South Santa Fe Avenue, which turned out to be a lot and warehouses just around the corner to the Willow Studios!

However, it was a production office 'tour' from Shawna Trpcic for today's TW-Spy!

What can you see in my photo?
Thats how we work so many hours :-)
(via Twitpic)

View from my desk beautiful California summer weather
(via Twitpic)

Weekend

Photo: Kai Owen
(via yfrog)

It would seem that Tom Price has arrived in L.A.!

01 20:20 KO  A cracking week! Now for a few beers and some Thai food.
             Big game for United this weekend, HAVE to win -
             no messing at all. 
03 09:50 TP  Reading TW scripts. AWESOME. Sadly no mention of what
             an immortal populace would do to the charity shop industry.
03 15:30 KO  Look who's in my house playing with my childs toy!!! 
03 18:37 TP  Jane, I am distracted from learning your writing
             by your tweets. How META am I?!

Key to initials: AF - Allyson Floyd (stand-in); BBC - BBC Torchwood (production office); CDA - Cris D'Annunzio; DE - Doris Egan; JE - Jane Espenson (writer); KO - Kai Owen (Rhys); ST - Shawna Trpcic (costume designer); TP - Tom Price (Andy)

Week Thirteen sees the publicity campaign begin in earnest, with BBC Worldwide promoting the series at the Cannes MIPTV 2011 event; the presentation will also include both John Barrowman and Bill Pullman there to promote the new series (see the press release for full details). It is expected that the publicity photos taken over the last few weeks will be released shortly after the event!

FILTER: - Torchwood - Production - Filming Reports - Miracle Day (Series 4)

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