Kopic's Doctor Who & Torchwood News |
| Posted: 30 Apr 2008 11:43 AM CDT I bet you're thinking I was going to write something about John Barrowman's singing career here... Nope! Seriously though, James Marsters will be appearing and performing at the "Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors" aptly located in New Jersey on the weekend of June 20th, 2008.  One of the highlights will be Captain John preforming a concert for fans on Saturday, June 21st at 8:30 pm. The convention itself costs $20 Friday, $25 Saturday, and $25 on Sunday, with advance ticket discounts available on the website. If you would like to attend the James Marsters autograph session, there is one on Saturday and Sunday for an additional $35. You can even have your photo taken with James for $60. Reserved concert tickets are $55 each or general admission at $25 each. Planning a trip to the Garden State? Click here to get the low-down on tickets and appearance times.  | ||
| News: Doctor Who Adventures 62 Posted: 30 Apr 2008 10:47 AM CDT The Sontarans are here! This week's issue of Doctor Who Adventures prepares you for a battle with the Sontarans. Check out our favourite bits from last week's adventure and get the lowdown on what scares to expect in part two of the Sontaran story, The Poison Sky. Are you a Friend of the Ood? Yes? Then make sure you enter the first part of our three-part win a life-size Ood head competition! The issue comes with a FREE Doctor Who Adventures keyring plus a set of monster bouncy balls...  | ||
| Word of Mouth: Doctor Who, Curious Incident and More - Inside Bay Area Posted: 30 Apr 2008 09:29 AM CDT
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| Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama - EducationGuardian.co.uk Posted: 30 Apr 2008 09:15 AM CDT
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| Posted: 30 Apr 2008 08:50 AM CDT US residents can now buy and download Torchwood from the iTunes Store. The Doctor Who spin-off is among the BBC America programming available as part of the strategy of BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, to secure the broadest possible distribution for its TV shows. People can buy single episodes and complete seasons. Also among the programmes available is the comedy series Little Britain, for which Tom Baker provides the narration....  | ||
| Planet of the Ood - Final Ratings Posted: 30 Apr 2008 08:50 AM CDT Final figures released by BARB give episode three of Series Four, Planet of the Ood, an official rating of 7.50 million viewers. The programme was the 12th most watched for the week on British Television. On BBC1 it was the 4th most watched for the week, behind three editions of EastEnders. On multi-channel television, the Sunday BBC3 repeat was watched by 1.30 million viewers and was the 3rd most watched programme on multichannel for the week. The...  | ||
| Posted: 30 Apr 2008 08:50 AM CDT The new edition of Doctor Who Adventures - out in the UK tomorrow - has the first part of a three-part competition to win a lifesize Ood head. Issue 62 also promises to prepare readers for a battle with the Sontarans, with a look back at The Sontaran Stratagem and a look ahead to The Poison Sky - this coming Saturday's conclusion to the two-parter. Also in the magazine: Three posters: The Doctor and Donna, The Sontaran Stratagem and the Sisters...  | ||
| Word of Mouth: Doctor Who, Curious Incident and More - Contra Costa Times Posted: 30 Apr 2008 07:26 AM CDT
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| DWA Issue #62 - cover & details Posted: 30 Apr 2008 06:56 AM CDT DWA Issue #62 - cover & details DWO have been sent the cover & details for Doctor Who Adventures Magazine - Issue #62: Doctor Who Adventures Magazine - Issue #62 The Sontarans are here! DWA Issue #62 goes on sale from Thursday 1st May 2008, priced &ound;2.10. ORDER this Magazine in the DWO WHOSTORE: [Thanks to: DWA Editor; Moray Laing & DWA Press Assistant; Amanda Browne] Discuss this story in the DWO Forums: [Source: DWA]  | ||
| Posted: 30 Apr 2008 06:07 AM CDT
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| Posted: 30 Apr 2008 05:22 AM CDT The wonderful 'Marcus' over on the Doctor Who Forum has posted a full break down of the ratings for Torchwood's second series over here in the UK. They include overnight ratings, official BARB readings, AI (Appreciaion Index) and repeat viewings, too. You have to be registered to read the forum post the data forms part of. Meanwhile, the special Radio 4 audio only Torchwood episode is scheduled to air immediately after the current series of Doctor Who ends - in either June or July. Eve Myles will now be appearing at a Milton Keynes Collectormania convention this weekend (specifically, the Sunday) - so get down there if you can, and meet Miss Gwen Cooper herself!! Raving reporter Lauren Williams fills us in on who will/won't be there! "Just want to randomly remind everyone about Collectormania in Milton Keynes next weekend (Friday 2nd-Monday4th). James is there Saturday, Sunday, Monday. And John Barrowman himself is there Sunday :DAnd this weekend at The Rift, Kai Owen's going to be there too. Wish I was going.... :(" But wait, there's more! "There's going to be another convention in October (17th-19th). It's in Northampton. Tickets are £78 (includes autographs and parties and stuff). So far, only Naoko has been announced." With news a little thin on the ground, now would be a good time to remind you that tonight is the closing date for entry into the 2008 Torchwood.tv Reader's Awards - so if you haven't already done so, get voting now!  | ||
| Posted: 30 Apr 2008 05:03 AM CDT Doctor Who Online have received information (courtesy of 2Entertain) regarding the next round of classic series Doctor Who DVD releases - and there's a couple of adventures that tie-in nicely to Miss Elisabeth Sladen's time on the show! On June 16th a twin-pack containing "The Invisible Enemy" (K9's first ever story, from way back in 1977) and the first spin-off, 1981's "K9 and Company - A Girl's Best Friend" produced by John Nathan Turner, and starring Sarah Jane Smith alongside K9 - on modern day Earth! It's a forebearer to 2006's "School Reunion", and the subsequent "The Sarah Jane Adventures" series! Special features include: "The Invisible Enemy" - A commentary Louise Jameson, John Leeson, Mat Irvine and Bob Baker; 'Dreams and Fantasy' - a documentary looking back at the making of the story; Studio Sweepings - behind-the-scenes studio footage; Visual Effect - a look at the visual effects work on this and other stories; Blue Peter - an extract showing K9's first appearance on the famous children's magazine show; Optional CGI effects; Trailers / continuity announcements. "K9 and Company" - A commentary with Elisabeth Sladen, John Leeson, Linda Polan and Eric Saward; 'The K9 Files' - a documentary looking at the making of this production; 'K9 - A Dog's Tale' - an interview with K9 about his life so far; Pebble Mill at One - K9 appears on the BBC1 lunchtime chat show; BBC trailers and continuity announements; PDF files of 'K9 Stories' - four books starring the dog originally published in the 1970s. Both DVDs feature on-screen production notes, a photo galleries, a coming soon trailer, and PDF files of Radio Times billings. "K9 Tales" is out on 16th June, with an RRP of around £19.99 Coming up on July 21st is "The Brain of Morbius" - an adventure from 1976, featuring Elisabeth Sladen opposite Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor. More news on the release when we get it. This year's forthcoming releases: 5th May - "The Invasion of Time" (with K9) 16th June - "K9 Tales" ("The Invisible Enemy"/"K9 and Company") 21st July - "The Brain of Morbius" (with Sarah Jane Smith) 18th August - "The Trial of a Time Lord" 15th September - "Four to Doomsday" Thanks to Doctor Who Online for the update. You can now talk to writer head writer of the SJA, Phil Ford ("Eye of the Gorgon", "The Lost Boy", Torchwood's "Something Borrowed") on the site's forum.  | ||
| Posted: 30 Apr 2008 04:43 AM CDT DVD site Zeta Minor has given UK release dates for various classic-era stories later this year. According to its newly updated releases page, they are as follows: K-9 Tales - box set comprising The Invisible Enemy and K-9 plus Sarah Jane Smith spin-off story K-9 And Company: June 16 The Brain of Morbius: July 21 The Trial of a Time Lord box set: August 18 Four To Doomsday: September 15 The War Machines: October 13 Battlefield: November 17...  | ||
| Posted: 30 Apr 2008 04:11 AM CDT Oooh, look at them all. Contained within these many, many boxes are some copies of issue 170. And this issue is devilishly hot, if we do say so ourselves...! It's been a busy few days for us here at SFX Towers. The impending return of Blake's Seven has...  | ||
| Three is a magic number for Mackenzie - Tottenham, Wood Green and Edmonton Journal Posted: 30 Apr 2008 03:25 AM CDT
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| Collectormania 13 this weekend Posted: 30 Apr 2008 02:57 AM CDT Want to meet the SFX magazine team, see some TV stars and maybe pick up a sci-fi t-shirt or some cheap additions to your figure collection? Fancy getting a subscription to SFX, and would like to do it in person and blag a top goody bag? Then get yourself down...  | ||
| Epic Austin - Austin 360 (subscription) Posted: 30 Apr 2008 01:22 AM CDT
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| THE HAUNTING OF THOMAS BREWSTER - DIRECTOR'S NOTES Posted: 30 Apr 2008 01:01 AM CDT By Barnaby Edwards Audio directors are often asked what exactly we do: surely it's just a question of assembling the cast in a studio, giving them the script and pressing record? Well, by way of illustration, I thought I'd show you what my duties were on The Haunting of Thomas Brewster: STORYLINE AND FIRST DRAFT: AUGUST-OCTOBER 2007 Jonathan Morris is asked by Alan Barnes and Nicholas Briggs to suggest a storyline for a Fifth Doctor and Nyssa adventure. He sends in a brief synopsis for a story set in Victorian London. It's at this point that I become involved. Along with Alan and Nick, I read the synopsis and give notes. It's returned to Jonny, who refines the synopsis accordingly. Alan sends the revised storyline to the Doctor Who production office in Cardiff for approval. The first draft of episode one comes in at the end of September and it's clear we're going to need a good young actor to play the title role. On 26th September I suggest two actors for the role: John Pickard and Sid Mitchell. When the finished script is delivered on 16th October, it becomes apparent that the fresher-voiced John would be perfect for Brewster and the slightly more knowing Sid would be better suited to Pickens. But we also need someone to play the Doctor's new assistant. I ponder this. Alan, Nick and I give our notes on Draft One and Jonny goes off to write a second draft. CD COVER: OCTOBER 2007 While Jonny is busy rewriting, I start discussing the cover with our designer Alex Mallinson. We both want something suitably gothic. I send him some picture ideas, including artwork from the films An American Haunting, The Haunted House, The Wolf-Man and The Haunting. Alex reads through Draft One of the script and starts formulating ideas. Alan and I write the blurb for the back cover. Alex sends me a sketch of the pose he wants the actor playing Thomas Brewster to adopt. I file it away for when I'm at the studio. SECOND DRAFT: NOVEMBER 2007 Jonny's second draft is superb. We have a number of tiny amendments, mainly to do with making some characters more sympathetic and others less so. My main contribution is rather nerdish: the story features Tower Bridge, which I point out wasn't built until 1894. Jonny happily moves it to another London bridge. The retweaked script goes off to Cardiff for approval. BUDGETING AND SCHEDULING: NOVEMBER 2007 As ever, I won't be able to afford all the actors on both recording days, so I need to work out whom I'll need when. I break the script down into individual scenes and part scenes, so I can arrange which bits I'll be recording on which days. In an ideal world, you'd start with Scene One at the beginning of the first day of recording and work through to the final scene at the close of the second day. Sadly, that's rarely possible on a tight budget, so you have to be more inventive in your scheduling. The Haunting of Thomas Brewster is without doubt the most technically complex script I've yet directed. Any single scene may need to be recorded up to six times (not counting retakes):
Working all this out and fitting it into a two-day recording schedule takes me nearly two weeks. CASTING: NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2007 Having worked out which characters I need on which day(s), I prepare a shortlist of actors I'd like to play each part (perhaps ten actors per role). Peter, Sarah and the studio have been booked for 13th and 14th December, so the rest of the cast will have to be available for one or other or both of those days. Then begins the lengthy process of phoning agents, making offers, sending out scripts, negotiating fees and so on. I start casting on 26th November, sending Jonny, Alan, Nick and David Richardson regular updates on my progress. The first actor to confirm is Christian Coulson (Tom Riddle from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) as the Doctor's new assistant, Robert McIntosh. I've stayed in touch with Christian since I cast him in The Bride of Peladon. He's such a talented actor and I knew I wanted to work with him again, so this is a great start. Next to confirm is John Pickard (from 2point4children and Hollyoaks) as Thomas Brewster - and the rest fall into place after that until finally the whole thing is cast. RECORDING: 13-14 DECEMBER 2007 We record in our usual studios from 10am until 6pm, with a break for lunch during which I have to take all the publicity photographs of the actors (these pictures will be used on the cover and in the booklet of the CD, as well as being sent to Doctor Who Magazine and other periodicals). The cast are uniformly excellent and a good time is had by all. Jonathan Morris comes in to hear what we're doing with the script and is able to offer some useful pointers to the actors as to the meaning of words like "kinchin" and "libbege". CD BOOKLET: JANUARY 2008 Alex Mallinson's superb cover comes in, although we have to replace his moody shot of Tower Bridge with another, more period bridge. My fault entirely: I forgot to mention my historical nicety to him! I write my director's notes for the interior of the booklet and send David Richardson a selection of photographs, together with a cast list. I'm amazed at how many roles Trevor Cooper plays - we must get him again. POST PRODUCTION: JANUARY-APRIL 2008 Sound designer Simon Robinson and I discuss the feel of the music. I suggest Saint-Saens's Carnival of the Animals, Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition, Stravinsky's Isle of the Dead, the soundtrack to The Name of the Rose, Philip Glass's music for Dracula and some of John Harle's pieces for A History of Britain. I don't want Simon to copy any of these works, but they're useful as a sort of musical shorthand for the atmosphere I'd like to establish for the story. This is the third story I've done with Simon and I absolutely adore his music, so I'm already excited thinking about what he'll come up with. On 14th January, Simon sends me the dialogue edit for my approval. This is an assemblage of all the correct takes in the correct order and will be the first time I can listen for real to what I had hitherto only heard in my head. Usually this sounds a bit disappointing because there aren't any effects or music and the voices all sound like they're in a studio booth rather than in a railway tunnel or on a riverbank or wherever. However, this time I'm pleasantly surprised: the story comes across well and the performances are wonderful (Barry McCarthy's Creek is a particular joy). I type up some sound design notes, decide to use a handful of alternative takes on certain lines, make some trims and send it back to Simon to have the effects put on. We talk a lot about pitch bending some of the characters: Leslie Ash's two aunts, Lilian and Meg, are tweaked up and down respectively to make them sound more distinct from each other; Creek is pitched up a teensy bit as well. On 10th February, Simon starts sending me a version with the sound effects on it. He's done the most spectacular job. Over the next three weeks we tweak and adjust and refine the effects edit. We're in relatively good shape before I have to go away for the whole of March to work on something or other. While I'm away, Simon sets about composing the musical score and e-mails me each episode as it comes out. Simon's music gives the story a wonderful sense of drama and emotional depth and my only note to him is: more! SIGN OFF: 28 MARCH 2008 Happy with the finished result, I sign off on the project. Nick Briggs wants us to tweak a couple of the TARDIS effects, which takes Simon a few more days. Once that's completed, Simon does the CD mastering and sends the discs off to our duplication facility. That's that. The Haunting of Thomas Brewster has kept me - and many other people - busy for eight months. I hope you enjoy it.  | ||
| Posted: 29 Apr 2008 11:00 PM CDT
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| 'Robin Hood' Episode Review: Sister Hood - Starpulse.com Posted: 29 Apr 2008 09:59 PM CDT
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| Posted: 29 Apr 2008 09:34 PM CDT
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| All Hail Terry Nation, Yesterday's SciFi Creator Of The Future - io9 Posted: 29 Apr 2008 09:33 PM CDT
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| Slideshow - Host of winners at Half Marathon Prize-giving - Bexhill Observer Posted: 29 Apr 2008 09:14 PM CDT
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| Brigadier would "love" 'Who' comeback Posted: 29 Apr 2008 09:10 PM CDT Nicholas Courtney would "love" to resurrect iconic Doctor Who character The Brigadier.  | ||
| Posted: 29 Apr 2008 08:34 PM CDT Whedon X-Men Preview pic Comic Book Resources has been given exclusive John Cassaday artwork from the upcoming Joss Whedon scripted Giant Sized Astonishing X-Men #1, due out late May. The issue, which will also contain a Joss Whedon interview, is the...  | ||
| Surprising Twists On BSG, Smallville And Doctor Who - io9 Posted: 29 Apr 2008 08:14 PM CDT
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| Posted: 29 Apr 2008 07:54 PM CDT Launch in external player  | ||
| Phillip Schofield rushes to father's bedside - MyParkMag Posted: 29 Apr 2008 06:06 PM CDT
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| Schofield with dying dad - TeleText Posted: 29 Apr 2008 05:39 PM CDT
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| Interview: Stephen Greif on Blake's 7 - Den Of Geek Posted: 29 Apr 2008 04:58 PM CDT
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| LA hosts British Comedy Awards - Chortle Posted: 29 Apr 2008 04:36 PM CDT
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| Slideshow - Host of winners at Half Marathon Prize-giving - Hastings Observer Posted: 29 Apr 2008 03:52 PM CDT
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| Doctor Who: K9 Tales in June - DVDTimes.co.uk Posted: 29 Apr 2008 03:02 PM CDT
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| Word of Mouth: What LIP teen board members are talking about - Alameda Times-Star Posted: 29 Apr 2008 02:25 PM CDT
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| Word of Mouth: What LIP teen board members are talking about - San Mateo County Times Posted: 29 Apr 2008 02:22 PM CDT
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| Price is right for BAFTA - ic Wales Posted: 29 Apr 2008 02:18 PM CDT
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| Word of Mouth: What LIP teen board members are talking about - Inside Bay Area Posted: 29 Apr 2008 02:16 PM CDT
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| Word of Mouth: What LIP teen board members are talking about - Contra Costa Times Posted: 29 Apr 2008 02:09 PM CDT
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| Posted: 29 Apr 2008 01:00 PM CDT David Tennant reveals his love of Sontarans.  | ||
| Growing (older) pains of middle age - ic Wales Posted: 29 Apr 2008 12:23 PM CDT
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| Perfect Time For A Visit - Glasgow Daily Record Posted: 29 Apr 2008 11:31 AM CDT
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| Steve set for Dr Who stardom - Metro Posted: 29 Apr 2008 02:14 AM CDT
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| Dr Who takes on zombies of Nor' Loch - Scotsman Posted: 27 Apr 2008 10:02 PM CDT
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