 |
WinMX Room Status |
 |
|
Current Status of
British Sci-fi Exchange
VIP Lounge
UP
Current Host -- ']['error]>U]>001
All are welcome to join the IRC server via this site or you are welcome to read on how to connect using an irc client
']['error]>U]> a.k.a TerrorPUP |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Smith, K9 Beguile Who Helmer |
|
|
 |
ONDON—James Hawes—director of the upcoming second-seaon Doctor Who episode "School Reunion," airing this weekend in Great Britain—told SCI FI Wire that it's one of his favorite pieces of work on the series to date. "I think it's going to surprise a lot of people," Hawes said in an interview. He also directed the Who episodes "The Christmas Invasion" and "New Earth," as well as the two-part first-season episodes "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances," which air in the United States on SCI FI Channel at 9 p.m. ET/PT on May 5 and 12.
In "School Reunion," the Doctor (David Tennant), Rose (Billie Piper) and Mickey (Noel Clarke) investigate a London school beset by mysterious batlike creatures and an evil headmaster (Anthony Stewart Head). But unknown to the Doctor, those incidents are already being looked into by undercover journalist Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeteh Sladen), not to mention the newly rebuilt K9 (John Leeson).
"There's so much going on," Hawes said. "From the relationship between the old assistant [Sladen] and the now-assistant [Piper] to the menacing sparring between Anthony Head's character and the Doctor. So you've already got two separate character journeys going on. And then you've got the 'spare part' Mickey, a metal dog, and I haven't even got to the aliens yet. I think the guys at the Mill have done some of their best [computer graphics] work ever, and I'm absolutely delighted with them."
Hawes said that one of the most unforgettable aspects of the episode is the performance by fan favorite Sladen, who reprises her role as Smith from the original series. "The first scene she did with David was a tiny little scene, with an explosion and the Doctor shouting 'Run!'" he said. "We had them running hand in hand, so she went right into a piece of iconic, familiar performance as the Doctor's assistant."
Hawes added: "What Lis was concerned about was that the style of performance on television drama has changed dramatically and is now so much more understated and naturalized. She was concerned that it was something she wouldn't instinctively feel and wanted to watch what the other artists around her [were doing] and asked for guidance whenever she could."
While directing the episode, Hawes admitted that he didn't pay all that much attention to the admonition never to work with children and animals, even if the latter in this case was a robotic dog. "There was a moment when K9 first came out," he recalled, "and I knelt down to give him notes! I fell so completely under his spell that I literally forgot there was an operator I needed to be talking to. The decision was made to build a new K9 for the episode, but he couldn't move around on the parquet floors, because he couldn't get enough grip. And the tiled floor in the kitchen was too rough, so frankly it's amazing that he ever turns up [at] all, let alone saves the Doctor. But it's an extraordinary character, and of course I grew up with K9, so to find him on your set and be so beguiled by the thing that you're suddenly on your knees talking to the dog instead of the operator was an interesting experience.”
"School Reunion" makes its U.K. debut on BBC1 March 29 at 7:20 GMT.
The first season of Doctor Whoy airs in the United States on SCI FI Channel Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/PT. —Joe Nazzaro
|
Posted on Thursday, April 27 @ 12:00:03 EDT by terrorpup
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
