Fandom, Fan Projects & Productions
Thursday, 5 April 2001 - Reported by Marcus
Missing Pieces: As noted in Doctor Who Magazine, "Missing Pieces" is a large-format Doctor Who fiction anthology, sold as a charity fundraiser equally divided for the Downs' Syndrome Association and the Foundation for the Study of Infant Death. Edited by Mark Phippen (creator & co-editor of "Perfect Timing") and Shaun Lyon (editor of Outpost Gallifrey), the book features an introduction by Peter Davison, an afterword by Sylvester McCoy and original fiction by Colin Bakerand Wendy Padbury. Over 30 professionally-published Dr. Who authors have participated in the collection, including Peter Anghelides, Trevor Baxendale, Arnold T. Blumberg, Colin Brake, Simon Bucher Jones, Jonathan Blum, Daniel Blythe, Stephen Cole, Martin Day, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Steve Emmerson, Craig Hinton, David J. Howe, Paul Leonard, Steve Lyons, Paul Magrs, David A. McIntee, Jon deBurgh Miller, Jonathan Morris, Jim Mortimore, Lance Parkin, Lars Pearson, John Peel, Gary Russell, Rob Shearman, Cavan Scott & Mark Wright, Dave Stone, Keith Topping, Mike Tucker and Nick Walters, as well as many prominent fan authors and illustrators. 380 pages, full color cover art by artist Nathan Skreslet, perfect bound. Ordering information is now available, visit http://www.gallifreyone.com/pieces.htm. The book was launched at the Gallifrey 2001 convention; the first group of 250 orders has been fulfilled, and the second batch is due in late April/early May. A third batch is planned for the summer.
"Tales from the Solar System" Distribution Problems Solved : After repeated struggle behind the scenes, the Unregenerate, a fan group in England whose account was originally used to receive checks for the project, has stepped in to solve the problems surrounding "Tales of the Solar System," a charity fiction fanzine originally solicited in 1999. The editor was unable to fill numerous orders which resulted in repeated controversies online but recently offered to help with the mailing of the books. The Unregenerate group has stressed that while they had no involvement in the production, funding or PR for this fanzine, they have acquired the mailing list and are currently fulfilling orders. Those who placed orders and have not received books are requested to contact Ian Carter with their order details, and they will be contacted with posting information. No new or further orders of this book, however, are being solicited. (Our thanks to Dominique Boies for his tireless work in getting this situation brought to attention, and to Ian Carter for his diligence.)
Lifedeath: Another anthology collection is being gathered to raise money for Amnesty International. Doctor Who: Lifedeath will feature contributions from fans as well as Doctor Who and comics authors. For more information, visitwww.geocities.com/lifedeathcharity.
The Cat Who Walked Through Time: Alryssa Kelly edits a cat-themed Who charity collection called 'The Cat Who Walked Through Time' which has been released. Featuring stories from Lance Parkin, Diane Duane, Paul Cornell, Simon Bucher-Jones, Stephen Cole, Peter Anghelides and a foreword by Kate Orman, the collection is set to raise money for the O'Bryonville Animal Rescue Shelter. Mary Tamm provides a brief introduction. For more information visithttp://www.crosswinds.net/~alryssa/fundraising.html#fanzine
Myth Makers 10: An anthology of Who fan fiction distributed by the Doctor Who Information Network (DWIN) and edited by Matt Grady, "Myth Makers 10" features stories of the third, fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth Doctors, with companions Liz, the Brigadier, Peri, Ace and Sam. Includes illustrations by Fan Q award winner Mary-Ellen Sandahl and nominee Pat Degan. Visit http://www.csc.uvic.ca/~mgrady/drwho.html.
Nine Lives:: Another cat-themed anthology, this time non-Who related, is being edited by Helen Fayle (co-editor of Perfect Timing). Features stories by (so far) SF author Charles de Lint, Ian Watson and (commitments permitting) hopefully Dr. Who authors Stephen Marley and David A. McIntee, and diverse others. Visit http://www.innotts.co.uk/~raven/ninelives.htm
Walking In Eternity: Author Jay Eales (co-editor of Perfect Timing 2) is putting together a new anthology. Says Eales: "It's a collection of Doctor Who stories with a difference. Fans of deeply traditional (and oh, so familiar) corridor runarounds are probably going to be disappointed with the mix of stories here. It will focus very much on the experimental side, taking the motto "Originality over continuity." One of the new authors is Steve Gallagher ("Warriors' Gate," quot;Terminus"), in his first Doctor Who piece in a long while. More information soon.
Friends of Doctor Who Shuts Down, 800-TREKKER Sold: The US national fan organization Friends of Doctor Who (sanctioned by the BBC) has closed with the mailing of their final issue this month, as 800-TREKKER, the merchandise group that owns FDW, is being sold. All subscribers have received a note in the mail concerning the status of the group.
Who3D: A new fan project designed to digitally recreate lost episodes of the show utilising CGI programming and surviving audio and photos. More information is available at the new web location at www.who3d.com. The group made screening debuts of its preliminary footage at the Whovention convention in Australia and the Gallifrey convention in Los Angeles during February.
Regeneration Campaign: A new web-based campaign has been started to bring Doctor Who back to television. For more information visit www.regeneration-campaign.com.
Fan Produced Documentaries:
- "The Making of Fury From the Deep" by Richard Bignell is currently available with the reconstruction of this classic story. The documentary contains all available color footage from the story (shot on small camera) as well as commentary by cast and crew Hugh David, Michael E. Briant, Margot Hayhoe, John Abineri and Roy Spencer, along with Peter Day (who worked on Visual Effects) and excerpts from "The Slide," author Victor Pemberton's 1966 radio play which was originally submitted to the DW production office in 1964 and which was eventually reworked into "Fury". The final duration of the documentary is 51 minutes and is circulated on telesnap reconstruction tapes with the story.
- Already in production is "The Making of Marco Polo" also by Bignell, which will be on tapes of a new version of the reconstruction and will include more 'moving footage' than the "Fury" documentary. In addition, the documentary will feature interviews with series regular Carole Ann Ford and guest stars Mark Eden (Marco Polo), Zienia Merton (Ping-Cho) and Philip Voss (Acomat). It will be available later in 2001 along with a new reconstruction of the story. (Thanks to Richard Bignell and Robert Franks)
- The Loose Cannon Reconstructions team has re-united actors Edward DeSouza, Barry Jackson and Jeremy Young after 35 years to reminisce about the making of "Mission to the Unknown," the one-off story that acted as a prologue to the 12-part "The Daleks' Master Plan". The interview will be included on Loose Cannon's upcoming 'Mission To The Unknown' reconstruction. The reconstruction of Mission includes many previously unpublished photos including the rocket ship interior (some of which you can see in the photos provided by Derek Handley to the Outpost's First Doctor Guide, used for the reconstruction.) (Thanks to Rick Brindell)
Doctor Who 1960's Films on DVD and Video: Australia video buyers have received word that Universal Australia is releasing a special DVD package in May 2001 -- the two Dalek movies of the 1960's, "Dr. Who and the Daleks" and "Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150 AD,"along with a special bonus feature, the "Dalekmania" documentary. The retailer's suggested price is $AUS 39.95. Part of the advertising being distributed suggests that it is being released in Australia before the rest of the world. The package is also being released as a double VHS package on the same day as DVD release. (Thanks to Grant Watson, and to Doctor Who Shop for the image!)
McGann, who played the Eighth Doctor in the 1996 Doctor Who TV movie (and whose only subsequent return to the Who fold was to read stories for an audio release, "Earth and Beyond"), taped four audio plays in 1999 for Big Finish's first four months of 2000, reprising his role as the Doctor. McGann taped those four stories on 15-19 May 1999 in sequence after extensive negotiations with Big Finish and did so in secrecy until the story was sent to Doctor Who Magazine for their exclusive release in the June issue. Joining McGann for his return visit was actress India Fisher (who previously had a guest shot in the Peter Davison story "Winter for the Adept"), playing the role of new companion Charlotte "Charley" Pollard, a 1930's teenager teenager from 1930 who stows away aboard the R101 airship on its maiden voyage, seeking a life of adventure away from the humdrum society world of her rich stockbroker father. Says Gary Russell: "Her only soapbox is that she's a Mrs. Pankhurst fan, but she isn't obsessive about it. And although she thinks the Doctor is a wonderful, funny, dear man, she has no romantic feelings for him!" Also making a return visit is Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. (Photo courtesy Big Finish Productions. Thanks to SFX for some information.)
Do You Have a Licence to Save this Planet? - A new half-hour film from BBV written by Paul Ebbs & Gareth Preston. "Starring in the film is Sylvester McCoy in a role that has absolutely no relationship to anything else he may have played in the past. Yes, he's the intrepid traveller in time and space, The Foot Doctor, and this time he'll be battling the massed forces of Autons, Krynoids, Sontarans and Cyberons. With sparkling dialogue and physical comedy from a master at work "Do you have a Licence..." is not to be missed... or we'll set the Licensed Reality Corporation on you! "Do you have a Licence..." is already deep in post-production." The finished portion video debuted in America at the Gallifrey convention. The video is due to be finished by April and will make its final full debut at the DWAS@25 Convention. An extended video release (including extra scenes and out-takes) will follow in the UK.

