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Home , Abby (Doctor Who), An Earthly Child, Carole Ann Ford, Janet Fielding, Jubilee (audio drama), Katy Manning

ISSUE #19 september 2010 FREE! NOT FOR RESALE

ALSO... janet LISA DEAD AND BURIED Animated action! fielding BOWERMAN after the break-up on returning to Tegan on Benny Season 11 Carrie Sutton’s new book editorial Here I am, back from my theatricals in Nottingham. So I do keep having those ‘must pinch myself’ A huge thank you to anyone who came along to moments. ( Magazine the Theatre Royal to see me as Inspector Pratt in editor, as if you didn’t know!) recently put on Murdered to Death. We had great reviews his Facebook page that he doesn’t think he’ll and truly wonderful huuuge audiences. Back to ever get used to receiving emails from Tom reality now, but what a brilliant reality it is. Doctor Baker. And I feel exactly the same! Emails Whooo. from , texts from Lis Sladen, tea with Just recently, David Richardson and I went over to Katy Manning… it’s all so strangely low key Katy Manning’s place in to talk to her about a considering that these were supposed to be new project. It’s beautifully bonkers and it’s thoroughly characters from my childhood. I suddenly feel a Katy. And she is really quite an amazing human bit like (steady, lads), in that fictional being. It made me think how lucky I am to be in the people from my past have come to life in the position of chatting to the likes of Katy Manning. present and are talking to me as if they’re real. Well, it’s my job. But like many of you reading this, And as for those Tom Baker scripts that I’m a proper old Doctor Who fan. I bought the everybody, including Tom Baker, keeps asking Special in 1973. I trawled through the me about… they’re nearly, nearly, nearly done. pages of the first edition of The Making of Doctor Fingers crossed, the should be Who, piecing together my Doctor Who memories. landing on a Big Finish audio one day in the And I literally felt sick with excitement when I saw that not-too-distant future. Target had published Doctor Who (In An Exciting Adventure With The )…

sneak previews and whispers

Doctor Who – Doctor Who – The Chronicles: The Adventures: returns as Susan in only her second doesn’t really have a home... but he Companion Chronicle, for a dazzling tale does have a family, and this direct set before the TV show even sequel to finds him started! The Doctor and Susan reunited with his grand-daughter are travelling alone in the newly Susan (Carole Ann Ford) and acquired TARDIS when they great-grandson Alex Campbell land on the planet Quinnis, (Jake McGann). takes lose the TARDIS and meet the up the writing reins again, but mysterious Meedla (played by this is a very different tale from its Tara-Louise Kaye – who’s actually predecessor – not only because it’s Carole’s real-life daughter!). got a real festive spirit. But there’s a Written by Marc Platt, it¹s an deadly, unstoppable enemy loose intricate and evocative script. And within the TARDIS... And if you continuity fans may spot the link also get this month’s Companion to , which Chronicle Quinnis, you’ll Jake McGann & name-checked the planet Quinnis. Carole Ann Ford discover its origins too... Out December 2010 Out December 2010

Managing Editor Assistant Editor BFP Administration Publisher Jason Haigh-Ellery Paul Spragg Frances welsh Big Finish Editors Design and Layout Catrin Hubbarde Productions Ltd. Nicholas Briggs Alex Mallinson Marcin Rogoszewski David Richardson Web Editor Alison Taylor Paul Wilson Adam Williams 3 IN THE STUDIO

Does Tegan still have plenty to do? for women once you get beyond about 30, etc, Well, funnily enough, story I did [The etc – but there was also another thing that was Gathering] – which was very well written, happening, which was I couldn’t get to use my FIELDING the story was good – I found her a bit cruel. own persona. One’s personality is bound up And she’s not cruel; she’s feisty and she’s with how one sounds. And somehow it just felt argumentative but her heart’s in the right place. right. I stopped wanting to sound English. I’m quite pleased that she’s back to being herself again. What did you take away from being an agent? QUESTIONS The TARDIS is awfully crowded! But Tegan I learnt quite a lot. Especially about being always does quite well. I always did do quite needy. It’s interesting. There’s a certain kind of Janet Fielding talks well out of those scenes. I think Sarah’s [Sutton, confidence. It’s interesting to look at actors and reunions, the heart of Tegan ] character has done well out of these go, ‘Ooh, you’re going to have a major battle and life as an agent with as well. I think they struggled a bit with her with your personality’. Not your talent but your Paul Spragg character when we were doing the series, personality, in order to ride the kinds of currents and didn’t quite know how to do a goody two that were out there. How’s the reunion been so far? shoes. It’s hard to make a goody two shoes Hell, lovey, hell. Absolute hell. interesting. But you Was it something you’d No, it’s been wonderful. I’ve had could have made her “She’s feisty and she’s always wanted to turn a great time, we’ve had a lot of a slight pain, and at your hand to? laughs. We take the mickey out of times she is in this argumentative but her No, but it was just each other all the time, and we and I think that works this fabulous offer that always did. I’m only ever nice heart’s in the right place. I’m quite nicely. came to me, and I to Peter [Davison] behind his thought, ‘I can’t pass back! It’s an interesting way of quite pleased that she’s back How did you find it this up’. I didn’t do it approaching things. We torment returning to acting? to being herself again.“ for that long, actually, I each other. We give each other It’s hard work! At the did it for six years and grief. It’s just like a family, like end of the first day I was absolutely exhausted! then I sold out to the women who worked with siblings. Sort of. And I know we were just doing my scenes, but me. I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t for me long-term. even so… You’ve got an awful lot to convey with I’m glad I did it, I’m hugely glad I did it. It was Mark Strickson just your voice, and you’re trying to make the (Turlough) who suggested we voice sound lighter because, of course, it’s set a It’s interesting that of the four of you, only reunite you all. long time ago now, and you think, ‘Hmm, I was Peter has stuck with acting as a career. In my Did he? Bless his furry little a lot younger then!’ experience, most actors seem unwilling to give feet. I was told early on that it up. he was coming in from New Did you watch any episodes for a reminder? Maybe they just did better out of acting and Zealand and therefore that’s No. I have seen episodes because I’ve had didn’t want to move on! It’s a very agreeable why we ended up getting commentaries to do, and I saw some in life to some people. For me, I found it a little bit together, and it turned out to November because I was doing interviews. But lacking in control. be great. no, I didn’t for this. What can you do? You can only lighten your voice. Because my own voice Would you You’ve not done an audio for is quite deep, especially now. return to the a while. Did you intend to do profession more of them? You don’t need to practice the accent any more now? No, I didn’t. But then there though. I don’t look was this reunion thing and Well, funny you should say that. I use my at a cast list I thought, ‘Okay,’ and Australian accent now more than I ever did. I and see lots somehow… You know you started really using my Australian accent a lot of things that have a no column for doing when I was an agent, because it was user- I could play. I things and a yes column for friendly with a wide selection of people. There’s just don’t see it. doing things? Suddenly the yes an interview with me in the Eighties and I’m so column seemed to be longer anxious to be cast as an English person. There Doctor Who - The than the no column. And then are a whole raft of reasons why I gave up Cradle of the Snake I thought, ‘Well, okay, then I acting – primarily because there are no roles is out this month may as well do it!’ Feisty and argumentative: Janet Fielding is back as Tegan Jovanka 4 5 FEATURE

Philip Olivier discusses the current state You’re not alone. India Fisher’s very much one for of his Hex life with Paul Spragg acting everything out. It helps you in your head, though. I can So, Mr Olivier, it’s been a while since Hex got shot. understand where she’s coming from. Were you worried you weren’t ever coming back? I was looking by the phone quite a lot thinking, Sylvester and Sophie were always a close-knit ‘Hang on a sec, what’s happened here? Have I team on TV; have they made you welcome? gone and they’ve not told me?’ They went, ‘You’re They have! I remember about five years ago, really good at dying,’ and I thought, ‘Right. That’s Sophie actually gave me a call and she said she it. I’m gonna have to tone down my dying scenes was down in Liverpool. Sadly I wasn’t there but or they’re actually going to write a real one in!’ that was the first time I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve been let in’! I was a bit starstruck when I came because Because of the Klein trilogy, it has been quite a when they were on TV, that was my era when I wait to find out what happens. was watching Doctor Who. And I don’t think I think it was about a year, in fact! Or over! And they’ve changed. But it’s so hard to get to know waiting to find out about the history of Hex has someone when you’re here because you come in, been hanging in the balance for so long. [Project: you go into your separate booths and you’ve only Destiny’s] great because we got to answer a really got lunchtime to speak. But after eight years few of the questions of Hex’s past and it’s nice all those lunchtimes add up; it’s not only that that he’s more established than he was. Hex is that’s got us close now, it’s also the activities that coming into his own now. He’s starting to know Doctor Who provides us. We went to LA once; a few bits. Whereas before he was asking lots Sylvester’s just been to Alaska on a Doctor Who of questions, he was like the bumbling idiot. He’s cruise. All of the extra-curricular activities, they’re kind of grown up, just the like a bonding way I have! exercise as well, and “I never expected what when I went to that It must be slightly odd happened in Project: Destiny. one in LA, it’s just to see you as you look ridiculous to see the now on covers alongside I’m vampire blood, which is fanbase around the pictures of the Doctor and world – and long from the Eighties. kind of cool.” may it continue! I know! They’re going to have to stop showing my face soon, I’m 30 now! Will you be doing more conventions? There’s another one in LA at the beginning of What did you think of Project: Destiny’s the year; I’ll be going to that, but that’ll be all revelations? up on the website, who’s going and everything. I felt it was slowly building about two, three years Anyone who’s a real big hardcore fan will ago. There were a couple of scripts where some know. But I’m hoping to go to [], I think questions needed answering from Hex about it’s early February. I’m over in LA at the same his mother and it was implied that the Doctor time so I’ll definitely go. What [Big Finish] do is knew all about this. And then they said ‘the next split it up and give different actors the chance story we’re going to find out all these answers’ to go over, and I think I’ve not had my quota for and I never expected what happened in Project: the last four years! [laughs] Destiny. I’m vampire blood, which is kind of cool. Do you have a favourite type of story to work on? Are you looking forward to getting the It’s nice doing the action stuff. I really do revel superpowers later on? in that because you can let your imagination go Yeah, definitely! I feel like I’ve got them in that and this is one of the only jobs you can do it booth already; they keep telling me off constantly. in, to be honest. Doctor Who’s like the head I’m so energetic in there that if I’m strangling of English sci-fi. When you’re doing audio, someone you’ll see me doing that [mimes a everyone’s got their own picture in their head strangle] and I’m whacking windows, all sorts! and it’s such a nice job to work on.

6 7 FEATURE

Have you seen any of the new TV series? I’ve seen a couple, not much. I know what side my bread’s buttered on, and that’s here in the audios!

We do allow you to like both… I don’t mind liking both, but I do prefer the audiobooks, I really do. I just think anyone’s imagination… like when you read a book, how many times has the film beaten the book? And I think that’s the same with these as well. , Sylvester McCoy and Philip Olivier And now to the most important part of your career. Last year you won Escape from Takeaway Prison, making your way to safety after being captured by the stars of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway. That was amazing. Honestly. That was probably the pinnacle of my life. I’ve peaked now. Winning on a trike. I won’t forget that day as long as I live! The amount of stick I got: ‘You look like you’re so enjoying it!’ I’d enjoy winning tiddlywinks! It does my head in! I hate being competitive. I think we stayed there three days overall. But they didn’t lock us up, it was in a lavish room in a hotel! I’ll tell you what, Rowland Rivron, who came in the final with me, he was competitive. He went on the travelator thing and he slipped, smashed his nose – did they show that? It was dripping with blood everywhere, and he’s going, ‘No, I’ll carry on!’ just like Rocky or something!

The latest trilogy begins this month with Project: Destiny

8 carrieCarrie Sutton gives Vortex some dated some horribly inappropriateon men and baggagepart great girly advice insights into how her book, After the bought a whole heap of new underwear. The rest guide. The reader feels Break-Up, came to be you’ll have to read the book for, though I will say like they are talking it all through with a appealing for all there was many an embarrassing episode, plus a best friend who’s been through it herself. I want those who have After the Break-Up: A Girl’s Guide is a bit fair number of hair-raising escapades. people to read my story and see that they are not watched and of a new departure for Big Finish books. There are a tragic disaster case who is in it all alone – that related to the no alien planets, no ghosts, no mysteries and no It sounds a bit personal. What made you decide to there are millions of us out there all going through scene in Bridget strange happenings – other than those between men write it all down? it together and that they will survive! Jones where she’s and women on the singles scene! It’s all about the My friend, actually. We were having a coffee drinking vodka year following a tricky divorce and shows how one in Chancery Lane and we got to talking about You were influenced by the fact that lots of other and listening to All 28-year-old girl got through it and ended up stronger this guy I’d been dating – who also happened people were breaking up at the same time as you. By Myself! and wiser. It’s been described by Alistair McGowan to be her landlord and flatmate! She was telling Yeah, that’s right, it seemed like every other person as ‘a must-read for those who’ve just come out of a me a really funny story about him and, as we was splitting up from a long-term partner or things Do you think this relationship – a blueprint for for women and both fell about, through her tears of laughter were going wrong. Not many people got together book would be a lesson for men’. So maybe it’s time to meet the she managed to squeak, ‘This should be written with someone that year! useful for men as author, Carrie Sutton, to find out more… down, it’s hilarious.’ And that was it. I bought a well as women? notebook and the rest, as they say, is history… Do you think you dealt with the break-up well? Absolutely. Men Hi Carrie. Tell us a bit about yourself. I think I came out of it okay in the end. I think some go through I’m divorced! I’m an actor, singer and dancer There’s a lot of painfully honest stuff in there. parts I coped with really well and others not at horrid break- from Scunthorpe. I’ve danced and performed ever You’re not embarrassed? all. For the best part – late-night drinkathons and ups too and since I can remember. My poor grandmother was Not at all. There’s nothing in there that other dodgy blokes aside – I always tried to see and use I think men subjected to many an impromptu showcase while people haven’t been through. We’ve all my situation positively. I chose to cope well, if that are often far she ironed! I did anything and everything related experienced horrible things, embarrassing things, makes sense. I had to think that we were putting less likely to to theatre as a kid. Classes, school plays, amateur had difficult break-ups, drunk too much, slept with something behind us that had become unhappy. I discuss intimate things with their mates dramatics, songwriting contests, ballets and pantos men we really shouldn’t have… that’s just life, let myself go with the little journey of self-discovery then women, so it’s definitely a good read for until, after a season or two with the National it’s what shapes us as people. I don’t think you I found myself on, to a place where I am finally them. And maybe it’s useful for them to see how Youth Theatre (and getting through 13 GCSEs), I should hide away from the things you’ve done – happy with who I am inside my own skin. women cope with it all and, maybe even more so, left sunny Scunny to train professionally. I’ve had whether you’re proud of them or not. Honesty is to see how we don’t! It’s great for them to see the some really nice jobs covering everything from definitely cathartic and sharing your experiences There are a lot of fun parts in the book – it’s the other side of things, to help fathom us out a bit. Shakespeare to dancing naked in Rufus Norris’s can give other people hope. And I think that opposite of doom and gloom! Even a recipe for If nothing else they can see why we operate the production of Cabaret! And I’ve worked with making people laugh at it all can help give them chocolate lovers… way we do and learn how women see them. And some terrific people, a particular favourite of mine a bit more strength to do what they need to do. I wanted lots of lovely light moments to weigh perhaps learn the things not to do on a first date! being Alvin Stardust who I did Chitty Chitty against the heavier ones. After all, it is about how Bang Bang with – and secretly rather fancied! But you wouldn’t find this book in the self-help you take something that is quite awful and turn it If the book was made into a film, who would play section of the bookshop. around, make it a new beginning, learn from it and you? And now you’ve turned your hand to writing. My book is definitely not a self-help book. I’d move on. Of course there are sad parts, but it’s all Well, the actress in me would love to do it myself. I actually wrote my first book at the age of eight, say my book is a non self-help book or an anti about coming out the other side, so there are lots of But sometimes it’s harder to play yourself than in a hardback edition, which I made myself. It self-help book. Perhaps it’s the antidote to self-help helpful hints on how to do this thrown in! anything else so I guess we’d have to wait and was about a little girl called Rosie who loved books! It’s packed with funny stories that we all see! Maybe Renee Zellweger? I keep getting told I ballet, ingeniously titled Ballet for Rosie. can relate to in some way. When I left my ex, I Who would you say this book is for? look like her! searched desperately for a book like this. I didn’t This book is for anyone and everyone – although Fair enough! After the Break-Up is the story want therapy, I wanted a book where I could find perhaps not for my mother… Just kidding, she’s They say everyone has a book inside them. Was of a year in your life – a pretty eventful one. What people that had really been through it all, just like already had a preview! It’s a funny and interesting this it or are there more? happened? me. For example, I am a big fan of Sex and the read even if you’re not going through a break-up I have loads of ideas in the pipeline rattling noisily Everything! My marriage fell apart, so I had City. People love how frank the writing is. If only right now. There’s dating tips and loads of stuff if around and keeping my brain up at night, so to move out, sell up, send the dog to my mum the characters were real. So I decided to write you’re just plain old soul-searching. But I think if, watch this space… and dad and go it alone. It was terrifying and my real-life Sex and the City story. I bared all, like me, you’re a Sex and the City type of gal or liberating all at once. I went out drinking a lot, and that’s what makes it unique. It’s part memoire, guy then this would be right up your street. It’s very After the Break-Up is out this month 10 11 INTERVIEW

Do you think has a bright future? I do, as long as we have interest and the audience has interest! What’s been so encouraging is that the last series was received really well and that’s very exciting. There are still plenty of ideas to Bernice Summerfield has the jokes a bit’. But more recently, as the series be played with. ENNYENNYalready sailed past her ISIShas gone on, BACKIBACK think we’ve lost sight of the fact milestone first decade. This that she’s actually an archaeologist. I think within You’ve also been appearing as Ellie Higson in year sees the release of the the stories it was important to get her back to her Jago & Litefoot. eagerly awaited Season roots and what she did. Archaeology is actually a Good old Ellie! I’ve loved it. As you know, I B good springboard for a lot of very good stories. originally did it as a favour, because Andy B Eleven – a collection of four stories that will propel I think that’s why the archaeologist within fiction Lane had written an extra role into The the adventuring space has been a popular pastime; there is scope for Mahogany Murderers and there was no budget archaeologist into new discovering lots of exciting things. for an actress! And from there she has gained territory. It’s the start of a The first two stories in the series, Resurrecting a life of her own… she’s actually become a whole new era – and Benny the Past and Escaping , bring a long- part of the Jago & Litefoot world. I think herself, Lisa Bowerman, tells running story arc to an end. What can you tell both Chris [Benjamin, Jago] and Trevor [Baxter, us all about it… us about that? Litefoot] fear it’s going to be ‘The Ellie Show’ It is the end of an era when it comes to this soon! So what keeps bringing you back to particular storyline. What’s been quite cleverly the role of Bernice? done is that it is ended, And what are your Let’s be honest… when it comes to but it gives an opportunity “Although she is an thoughts on the Bernice actresses of a certain age being in to reboot for the next two Summerfield animation, employment the chances of finding stories. As with any series, adventuress she is also Dead and Buried? a character like Bernice are almost at any point there need to I was told some time ago 100 to one. Generally speaking, the be jumping-on points and very fallible. She is that Alex had pitched an kind of roles most actresses get these I think there is a bit of a three-dimensional.” idea to do some sort of days are either council house mums reboot in episodes three short animation for Benny, or women in suits, managers. and four. which would lead into the The attraction, not only to me but new series. The idea was very exciting. We also to people who discover Bernice, It must have been fun to have the whole recorded the script for it during the recording is that although she is an adventuress ensemble back. sessions for the new series, and over the past she is also very fallible. I think that Oh yes. And at conventions you get a lot of fans few months I’ve been treated to ever-growing fallibility makes her interesting, and saying, ‘When are we going to get Braxiatel snippets of it from Alex every time we’re in it makes it more interesting for the back?’ and so on. They’re all very well written the studio. The more I saw, the more my jaw writers to be able to explore that. characters – they are not ciphers in order just to hit the deck – it’s amazing. I couldn’t believe She is three-dimensional. make Bernice look good. They challenge things, how complicated the process is, and I’m lost She has also progressed as a so it was great to have them back. in admiration for character and from my point of Alex’s work. view that’s also another reason why So what can you reveal about the new direction It really is I keep coming back. Had it been that the series takes in the last two stories? a thing of the same old stuff trotted out all the It’s very difficult not to do spoilers… It plays beauty, and I time it might have been time to say with the idea of history and time. Let’s just can’t wait to goodbye to her. leave it at that. see everyone’s response to it! Do you tend to make suggestions to The season finale is co-written by John Dorney the writers? (who wrote the hugely popular ) and Bernice Yes and no. There have been times in Richard Dinnick. Summerfield - the past when I might have thought That was Dead Man’s Switch – I enjoyed that. Season 11 begins she was overwritten in a script and It centred on a very big dilemma. That one is this month with I’ve said, ‘I think we can tone back very good. Resurrecting the Past

12 13 BENNY-MATION Alex Mallinson, director of Dead and Buried, They ensured that the animation would bolt onto John planned takes us through the process of animating the beginning of what would become #11.1, to record the Bernice Summerfield. Resurrecting the Past. John contributed the animation opening monologue in order to introduce the alongside 11.1 The Bernice Summerfield range has often characters to new viewers. Meanwhile, I started and 11.2, and been a testing ground for new writers, actors to draw up ideas for the action sequences. After generously cast and ideas. It was also, of course, the range having played with some lighting effects, I was me in a small part with which Big Finish launched in 1999. It only keen to have a sequence in which a glowing in Resurrecting seems fair, then, that Benny should be the star enemy chased Benny around a darkened space, the Past, where I of Big Finish’s first animated adventure. The the glow being the only light source in a spooky was chased by the Benny animation stems from my long-held game of cat and mouse. Although originally, same I’d built desire to do something animated with Big Finish. the robot would become hot through being for the animation. Everything else is there – the writers, actors, pinned to the front of Benny’s spaceship as she It was easy to be directors and sound designers – so it seemed left the atmosphere. John wisely scaled this and terrified with that to me that adding a visual element was an other excesses back until the animation was more stocky, relentless obvious step, although it turned out to be rather manageable. automaton in a large one. As I write this, I’ve still got 15% my head. The of the animation left to complete, so it’s hard As the script came together, I started to build approved design to be objective. It’s been more labour-intensive the characters and props. Benny herself was threw up a few than either I, or the sound designer Matthew quite a challenge. John suggested an amalgam problems though, Cochrane, realised but it’s coming together fast, of Lee Sullivan’s original Benny illustration (see the foremost and I’m really proud of what we’ve all done. Bernice Summerfield: The Inside Story) being… it with Adrian Salmon’s current representation. In couldn’t walk! The It all started with a chat with Benny producer all honesty, I didn’t feel confident of producing exaggeration of the The final robot design John Ainsworth. We’ve talked about doing an a convincing caricature of Lisa herself, and robot’s extremities animation before, but somehow the will and the wasn’t sure how stylised the characters would meant that it simply opportunity came together and in November be. In fact, there’s a Pixar-like vibe about the couldn’t function as a biped. I had to make With the main characters built I turned my 2009 we resolved to create a five-minute, stand- finished character, with a dash of Anime about apparently solid metal warp and flex in order attention to the storyboard and animatic, and alone intro to Benny’s eleventh season. One in the proportions – unsurprisingly as I’m steeped to get round it. The shoulders, too, refused to the frames began to pour out of me, having which we’d see long-standing threads tied up in the films of Miyazaki. function and had to be reverse-engineered in been carrying them vividly in my head for and a whole entirely the wrong way. These would be just months. I was determined to give the animation new story begin. the first of a great many bodges and short-cuts a sense of verisimilitude, despite the cartoony The anbimation in order to finish the animation. style, so deliberately used camera moves that though, John were practical, going so far as to generate a felt, should be The process of CG animation can be simplified hand-held look for the final showdown between as visual as to three stages. The first is modelling, during Benny and her pursuer. Every now and then possible, leaving which the characters are built, textured and I’d get stuck on practicalities. How to get the the explanations rigged for movement and the sets constructed. robot out of the crypt and up to the ruins? for the audios. The second is animation, in which the John’s solution was simple: ‘Don’t show it!’ movement of the characters, cameras and other From Benny’s point of view the robot vanishes The story objects is plotted. Finally, once the various and finds a different route to the surface. Phew! emerged through elements have been rendered comes the However, despite these simplifications, the discussions compositing stage in which the layers of the animation had now grown from a manageable with John and final image are built up and effects like motion five minutes to a mammoth ten. It was time to . Some early Benny character designs, dubbed (from left) Kirsty Wark, Penelope Cruz & Catherine Keener blur, depth of field and flares are added. enter production! 14 15 animation, to give the sets a satisfying, miniature feel.

With time running short, I wouldn’t have the luxury of computer-generating the dry ice which pours from the split cryo-tank. Instead, the redoubtable Tom Guerrier (brother of Simon and an occasional actor in Benny’s adventures) kindly agreed to Benny and the robot meet shoot smoke elements I resolved to complete a scene a week, for me. I hired the smoke machine, excepting scene two, which I calculated only to discover that smoke rises, would take three weeks from the opening of instead of spreading heavily across the tomb to the destruction of the heat ray (in the floor as I needed. I’d been a the end it took four weeks). The time pressure fool, and not realised that there’s a was mounting and I was painfully aware that massive difference between smoke although my modelling and compositing skills and dry ice machines (about £200 were adequate, my biped animation skills were for a start!). Then I realised that if largely untested. I decided to start with scene the smoke wouldn’t spread across five, in which Benny is confined to the cargo the floor, it would spread across container. As I set to work, I began to enjoy the the ceiling, so I stretched a black company of digital Benny, her vulnerability and curtain overhead and shot the fallibility make her an appealing character, and whole thing upside-down. I felt odd pangs of sympathy for the hell I was putting her through. That said, as she turns the And that brings us up to tables on her pursuer my sympathies expanded date! As I write this, the to include the hapless robot. As I animated his robot is hauling Benny stumbling walk from the cryo-tank I felt a rush into the air, the render of sympathy for the massive goon. I started to is taking two minutes wonder if I’d been shut in a room with these two per frame and the for too long! shot will be done in 50 minutes. With the frames coming in thick and fast, I began A short period of calm to composite the elements. It quickly became clear before I take a deep that the finished frames needed something extra. breath and dive back in! I wanted the animation to have the reassuring solidity of miniatures which we Doctor Who See you in September for fans love. One of the giveaways of small-scale the premiere! I hope you effects, besides fire and water, is depth of field. enjoy it. Shooting at high speed generally necessitates a wide aperture, resulting in a very shallow Bernice Summerfield: depth of field. For this reason, the foreground of Dead and Buried is available miniature sets will often become too blurred to to view for free at www. be realistic. I decided to emulate this effect in the bernicesummerfield.co.uk

16 FORTHCOMING RELEASES YOUR LETTERS write to: [email protected]

SEPTEMBER JANUARY 2011 I just finished Empire. I loved it. Lots of questions! Hello. Is there a list anywhere online Doctor Who – The Cradle of the Snake Doctor Who – TBA (143, /TBA) Big shocks by me at the end of episodes 1. Have you ever asked Eric Roberts to come showing the chronology of the BF Doctor (138, /Tegan/Turlough/Nyssa) Doctor Who: The New Eighth Doctor Adventures – two and four, but what a solid ending. To back as the ? Who stories? Doctor Who – Project: Destiny (139, Seventh Doctor/Ace) Prisoner of (4.08, Eighth Doctor and Tamsin) coin a phrase my friend uses, ‘the landing 2. Any chance of Strontium Dog Crime Mat Coward Doctor Who: The New Eighth Doctor Adventures –­ Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – stuck’. I would classify it as a Very Good Chronicles? Nick: I’m not aware of such a list. But The Book of Kells (4.04, Eighth Doctor and Tamsin) Peri and the Piscon Paradox (5.07, Fifth Doctor, 2 discs) Sci-Fi Story and would easily recommend 3. Why no Textbook Stuff on CD? a search on the internet should yield Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – Find and Replace Jago and Litefoot – Series 2 Box Set (Four full cast adventures) it to my friends who don’t know Doctor 4. Any chance of the 2000AD audio CDs results. In fact, there is this: http:// (5.03, ) Highlander - Series 2 Box Set (Four enhanced readings) Who. And I loved hearing Nicholas Briggs going back in print? www.doctorwhoreviews.co.uk/Index.html Bernice Summerfield – Resurrecting the Past (11.1) say ‘I obey’ as Tanlee, which is so opposite 5. Would you ever use the Shalka Doctor? But maybe it’s something we should do Bernice Summerfield – Present Danger (Short Story Book) FEBRUARY 2011 how he probably says it any other time. Thanks for letting me nitpick! in Vortex. Dark Shadows: Kingdom of the Dead 3 (2.3 Full cast audio) Doctor Who – TBA (144, Sixth Doctor/TBA) I almost wish it didn’t have Daleks Henry Rempel After the Break-Up by Carrie Sutton (Paperback) Doctor Who: The New Eighth Doctor Adventures –TBA because they’re really not necessary to the Nick: We’ve never asked Eric, no. Hmmm. Basically, I have an idea for a Doctor (4.09, Eighth Doctor and Tamsin) story. Is Dalek Empire II only available Strontium Dog… I’m afraid the 2000AD Who audio script, but have no idea what to OCTOBER Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – on CD? Can I just make the purchase and range continues to under-perform so it’s not do with it. So I was wondering whether or Doctor Who – A Death in the Family (140, Seventh Doctor/Ace) (5.08, ) you can provide the downloads? likely. We love them. You love them. People not you accept script treatments. Or do you Doctor Who: The New Eighth Doctor Adventures – Deimos Doctor Who: Short Trips – Volume 2 (2 CDs, various readers) Rob Konigsberg just steal them and don’t pay for them, so just find writers through agents? (4.05, Eighth Doctor and Tamsin) Nick: Hi Rob, so glad you loved it. I know we’re stuck. As for Textbook Stuff, try asking Anyhow, the overall question is: could I Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – The Invasion of E-Space MARCH 2011 what you mean; it’s a paradox. Although the Barnaby on the forums. He’s been asked that submit this idea? (5.04, Fourth Doctor) Doctor Who – TBA (145, Sixth Doctor/TBA) Daleks are kind of integral to it, you can see question loads of times. It’s all a question of George Lamb Bernice Summerfield – Escaping the Future (11.2) Doctor Who: The New Eighth Doctor Adventures – how it would work as a non-Doctor Who cost. I’m afraid there’s not much chance of Nick: Unfortunately, we have a policy Dark Shadows: Kingdom of the Dead 4 (2.4 Full cast audio) To the Death (4.10, Eighth Doctor and Tamsin) universe story. It’s about the characters and the 2000AD audios being repressed as the of not accepting uncommissioned Mervyn Stone 1: Geek Tragedy by Nev Fountain (Hardback) Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – Boundary Conditions emotions and all that stuff, not . sales were just too low. I’m not certain, but submissions. This is because in the past Mervyn Stone 2: DVD Extras Include: Murder by Nev Fountain (Hardback) (5.08, ) But the Daleks kind of stimulate the action I don’t think the Shalka Doctor is counted as we have experienced some difficulties with Mervyn Stone 3: Cursed Among Sequels by Nev Fountain (Hardback) and raise the stakes. Dalek Empire II is ‘canon’, so it’s unlikely that we’d use him in unsolicited material which we haven’t had Mervyn Stone 1: Geek Tragedy by Nev Fountain (Leatherbound) APRIL 2011 available for CD and download. the regular series. No problem, Henry. Nipick the time to read, then the writer contacts Mervyn Stone 2: DVD Extras Include: Murder by Nev Fountain (Leatherbound) Doctor Who – TBA (146, Fifth Doctor/Tegan/Turlough/Nyssa) away, that’s what we’re here for! us and threatens to sue us because we’ve Mervyn Stone 3: Cursed Among Sequels by Nev Fountain (Leatherbound) Doctor Who: The Lost Stories – I have just listened to and allegedly copied their idea (which we (2.3, Seventh Doctor and Ace) thought it was superb. Great script and Just wanted to write to let you know how hadn’t read in the first place!). So it is to NOVEMBER Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – the regulars sounded as through they had much I am enjoying Dark Shadows: protect us from that kind of worry and you Doctor Who – Lurkers at Sunlight’s Edge (141, Seventh Doctor/Ace) The Sentinels of the New Dawn (5.10, Third Doctor) travelled forward in time to 2010. More Kingdom of the Dead. I’ve listened to parts from disappointment that we don’t accept Doctor Who: The New Eighth Doctor Adventures – of the same please. one through four once already and will soon unsolicited material. We do, however, The Resurrection of Mars (4.06, Eighth Doctor and Tamsin) MAY 2011 Stephen Broome be listening again. The storyline is terrific and from time to time, have submissions Doctor Who: The Lost Stories – The First Doctor Box Set Doctor Who – TBA (147, Fifth Doctor/Tegan/Turlough/Nyssa) Nick: Cheers, Stephen. This has worked very true to the original series. The acting opportunities. We did that for the (2.1 – Farewell, Great Macedon & The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance) Doctor Who: The Lost Stories – Crime of the Century out brilliantly, we immodestly feel! And I is great. The original cast hasn’t missed a upcoming series of Short Trips audios Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – A Town Called Fortune (2.4, Seventh Doctor and Raine) wouldn’t be surprised if there was more of beat. I am already looking forward to the and for the December 2010 (5.05, Sixth Doctor) Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – Ferril’s Folly the same next year. What a winning team. Petofi storyline that was teased in the last release of Red Lodge. Bernice Summerfield – Year Zero (11.3) (5.11, Fourth Doctor) It’s like they’d worked together before… few minutes. Graceless – Box Set (Abby & Zara, 3 episodes) Doctor Who: Short Trips – Volume 3 (2 CDs, various readers) oh, hang on… Paul Kopp Can someone please contact me to Doctor Who: Short Trips – Volume 1 (2 CDs, various readers) Nick: Cheers, Paul. Our Dark Shadows confirm how I can get the Companion The Big Finish Companion by Richard Dinnick – Volume 1 (hardback) JUNE 2011 This is old news but I just learned that the guru, Stuart Manning, adores the series, and Chronicles, specifically for The Three Doctor Who – TBA (148, Fifth Doctor/Tegan/Turlough/Nyssa) Big Finish Doctor Who audio adventure our audios are crafted with his loving care. Companions, and how much the cost is? DECEMBER Doctor Who: The Lost Stories – and the Doctor Who TV episode Thank you in advance. Doctor Who – The Demons of Red Lodge and Other Stories (2.5, Seventh Doctor and Raine) Dalek start off almost the same. Since both I have recently read the news that your Fran Porta (142, Fifth Doctor/Nyssa) Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – The Cold Equations stories were written by Rob Shearman, company is stopping production of the Eighth Hi Fran. The Companion Chronicles are Doctor Who: The New Eighth Doctor Adventures – (5.12, Fourth Doctor) maybe Big Finish can get him to talk about Doctor adventures. Why? all available for download or on CD from Relative Dimensions (4.07, Eighth Doctor, Susan and Alex) them on one of your future podcasts. Phil Whitehouse our website. The Three Companions is in 12 Doctor Who: The Lost Stories – The Second Doctor Box Set Steve Small Nick: I don’t know where you read this news, episodes, and these are included in the 12 (2.2 – Prison in Space & The Daleks: The Destroyers) Nick: Old news indeed. Rob has talked about but it is slightly inaccurate. We are stopping CDs from The Magic Mousetrap onwards. Bernice Summerfield – Dead Man’s Switch (11.4) the similarities and differences between the separate Eighth Doctor adventures, We do have tentative plans to release a Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles – Quinnis Jubilee and Dalek ad infinitum almost since but we are continuing with Paul McGann’s Companion Chronicles: The Specials (5.06, First Doctor) the moment Dalek was broadcast. I’m sure Doctor in the main range. There will be other box set, comprising The Three Companions, Doctor Who – we’ve got an archive interview with him Doctor Who story strands in the single-CD and The Mists of Time, but no (Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Doctors; Main Range subscribers only) somewhere that we can run. adventure slot. release date is currently set.

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