Christian Cawley's Blog, page 381

Interview With Stuart Crouch, Designer Of Regeneration DVD Boxset

James Whittington is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

The recent release of the lavish Regeneration boxset heralds the BBCs first serious DVD release of the 50th anniversary celebrations. Here we chat to the very talented designer of this work, Stuart Crouch…

How did you get your first big break into design work?

I’d worked for other design agencies before Peacock but this was my dream job – working on album and DVD covers was something I’d always wanted to do. BBC Worldwide was already a client of Peacock so when Doctor Who came back I pestered the poor product manager until she gave in and let us pitch some ideas.

How do you approach a project like Regeneration?

This was a great opportunity to do something a bit different and my first chance to work with the classic Doctors. The marketing people usually want something quick visually to add to their sales page – this doesn’t have to be the final cover but if you can get it right and it’s liked it’s likely to stick so worth putting in the hours early on. Having all 11 Doctors somehow on the front was pretty much the brief but that was just a suggestion and they were open to ideas.

What was the remit given to you?

Make it something the fans can love and treasure – and I think the word ‘classy’ was used.

Was it a straight forward project or did you encounter lots of problems?

The cover was quite straight forward – it’s a great photo of Matt and beautifully lit (original above) – so that’s most of the work done already. The rest of the package was more tricky – finding the right shot for each Doctor was the main issue. Since the series has come back we have all this great high-end digital photography but the older stuff tended to be shot on grainy 35mm film and the best shots have been seen hundreds of times. We trawled the photo libraries and came up with some rarities for Tom Baker and William Hartnell and also DWM put me onto Steven Cook who had some great rare pics he’d taken of Sylvester McCoy.

Did you have any ideas that were rejected for the book?

Nothing that got as far as the client but ideally I would have liked each spread to be an image from the relevant story – but there just weren’t strong enough pics – I don’t think there’s a single shot of Hartnell from The Tenth Planet. Justin Richards, who wrote the text, also included a brief profile of each Doctor so I felt that gave us free reign to use any image of that incarnation and it not look out of place.

How long did it take to get from original plan to finished product?

What tips do you have for budding designers?

Grow a very thick skin and be prepared to put the hours in.

(Checks back through emails) 15th January of this year was the initial meeting with the BBC and the last part (the cover sticker) was sent off to print on 31st May. So about 5 months in total, but that’s not continual – there’ll be an intense few days and then nothing may happen for weeks. There’s an approval process and various parties have to give the nod so that can delay things. The book and slipcase went to print at the end of April.

Do you have a favourite regeneration story?

Logopolis - I’ve always loved that story, bonkers though it is. I was 10 when Tom Baker changed, I hadn’t seen any other Doctor on TV as this was before the videos and DVDs. I was gutted – and he underplays it beautifully.

As design has become more and more essential in standing out in an ever increasing media market, what stresses does that bring?

In the current climate more often than not you’ll be invited to pitch ideas for a project along with other designers and design agencies – so it’s a bit of a bun fight. On the plus side it’s an opportunity to get your foot in the door on a job you may not have been considered for as a straight commission and the best man wins. On the down side it’s basically free work so too many projects like that a month can be crippling financially.

How do you view past work? Do you look back with eyes closed or do you feel older work carries personal merit?

It varies – sometimes you remember your artwork being better than it actually was – and it’s a bit of a shock when you come across it again – and visa versa. You discover new ways of doing things all the time so hopefully your technique is improving with experience.

What tips do you have for budding designers?

Grow a very thick skin and be prepared to put the hours in.

Do you feel there are any aspects of design lost in the schooling of new designers?

I don’t think so, no. The process has changed but that’s a good thing. I used to work for a company designing video sleeves and this was pre photoshop – we would blow-up 35mm transparencies onto a colour photocopier with a little projecter, cut out the images with a scalpel and airbrush around it, masking off areas with acetate. It took hours to do the most basic composition – now we have photoshop. I don’t think new designers would get any benefit from going through that, except high blood pressure.

Are there any aspects of design history you feel needs to make a comeback in design in general?

Well, that’s the real trick isn’t it. Everything good does the rounds and that’s true of music and fashion too. Our Doctor Who illustrator, Anthony Dry [co-founder of this very website - Ed], nailed it with his style which pays homage to those Who paintings of the 70s by Frank Bellamy and Chris Achilleos – but contemporises that look.

So what are you working on at the moment?

If I told you I’d have to… you know. Some more top secret Who projects for the 50th – but my lips are sealed!

Stuart Crouch, thank you very much.

Out now, the Doctor Who Regeneration set can be ordered from Amazon for £46.21. Find out more in our recent review of the collection.

The post Interview With Stuart Crouch, Designer Of Regeneration DVD Boxset appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Tovey, Burn and Colman Deny Doctor Who Rumours

Andrew Reynolds is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

You may have counted them in but now you’re going to have to count them back out again as Russell Tovey, Burn Gorman and Olivia Colman have ruled themselves out of the running for the Twelfth Doctor.

While both actors are keen to tackle the Doctor neither of them believes that their respective places in the Whoniverse will stand against them when the producers finally name the next Doctor.

Russell who previously played Alonso Frame in Voyage of the Damned and The End of Time and was believed to have had a screen test for the Eleventh Doctor after being recommended by former show runner Russell T Davies for the part, told UKPA:

It would be an incredible job to do, but don’t bet on me as the Doctor this time round. It was incredible to be part of it as Alonso; part of that family, and especially in David Tennant’s reign.

Meanwhile, Burn, who played Owen Harper in Torchwood, explicitly ruled himself out because of his ties to the Doctor Who spin-off:

I’m afraid the Doctor Who door is probably closed because of me being in Torchwood. I’m really excited to see who it will be, let’s hope they go with someone different but I’m sure whoever they choose will be amazing.

Someone amazing who won’t be taking on the role is double BAFTA winner and former Doctor Who guest star Olivia Colman, who won’t be backing herself at the bookies when it comes to who’ll be the next Doctor.

Olivia told What’s on TV:

My brother sent me a text saying ‘Congratulations, they’ve released odds on you being the new Doctor Who. How funny, I wouldn’t put any money on it!

With so many established names declaring or denying their interest in the role; would you like to see another unknown cast in the role or an as yet to be revealed leftfield known name? Should established Whoniverse actors be counted out?

The post Tovey, Burn and Colman Deny Doctor Who Rumours appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Watch the Doctor Who Prom!

Christian Cawley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Where you one of the many fans able to make it the Royal Albert Hall for last night’s Doctor Who Prom? If so, you may not have been witness to the unveiling of the Twelfth Doctor, but you will however have seen a musical spectacular celebrating 50 years of time travelling music and sound FX!

If you didn’t see it, you’ll be able to catch it on BBC One soon, but in the meantime, you can either head to the official page for Saturday night’s performance (a repeat run is being performed this evening) and listen via iPlayer get in the mood first with these video clips!

Among those appearing on stage were the newly shorn Matt Smith, Jenna-Louise “call me Jenna” Coleman and Neve McIntosh and Dan Starkey as Vastra and Strax.

And hey, who cares if they didn’t announce the new Doctor? Was a pretty dumb place to be doing it anyway…

The post Watch the Doctor Who Prom! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Doctor Who: The Monster Collection Details

Christian Cawley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Yesterday we brought you news of a new DVD series, Doctor Who – The Monsters Collection. Below you can find details of the full series, which is set for release in September 2013. You’ll also find approved cover art, which supersedes the images available on the majority of other websites!

The Monster Collection: The Daleks

The Daleks (1963)

On the planet Skaro, the mutated Daleks plan a final assault on the Thals. Starring William Hartnell as the First Doctor

Asylum of the Daleks (2012)

Kidnapped by his oldest foe, the Doctor is forced on an impossible mission – to a place even the Daleks are too terrified to enter… the Asylum. Starring Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor.

Order Doctor Who – The Monsters Collection: The Daleks for just £9.02 from Amazon.

The Monster Collection: The Cybermen

The Tomb of the Cybermen (1967)

The TARDIS arrives on the planet Telos where an Earth archaeological expedition, led by ProfessorParry, is attempting to uncover the lost tombs of the Cybermen. Starring Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor.

Rise of the Cybermen and The Age of Steel (2006)

Lurking in the shadows are creatures made to destroy – one of The Doctor’s greatest fears have come true…the Cybermen are reborn.  Starring David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor.

Order Doctor Who – The Monsters Collection: The Cybermen for just £9.02 from Amazon.

The Monster Collection: The Sontarans

The Time Warrior (1973)

Missing scientists have been kidnapped by a Sontaran, Linx, and taken back to medieval England, where they are working under hypnosis to repair his crashed spaceship. Starring Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor.

The Sontaran Stratagem and The Poison Sky (2008)

With planet Earth choking under the poison sky, the Doctor must stop the Sontarans’ threat to the planet. Starring David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor.

Order Doctor Who – The Monsters Collection: The Sontarans for just £8.98 from Amazon.

The Monster Collection: The Master

Terror of the Autons (1971)

The Master arrives on Earth at a circus run by a man named Rossini and steals a dormant Nestene energy unit from a museum. He reactivates it using a radio telescope and uses his hypnotic abilities to take control of a small plastics firm. Starring Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor.

The End of Time Parts 1 and 2 (2009-10)

With almost everyone on Earth now recast in his image, The Master controls the world. He’s shocked however when he realizes that one person hasn’t changed… Starring David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor.

Order Doctor Who – The Monsters Collection: The Master for just £9.02 from Amazon.

 

The Monster Collection: Davros

Genesis of the Daleks (1975)

The Time Lords intercept the transmat beam taking the Doctor, Sarah and Harry back to Nerva and deposit them instead on the planet Skaro at an early point in its history. Starring Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor.

The Stolen Earth and Journey’s End (2008)

The return of an old enemy leaves Earth along with 26 other planets stolen from their places. As the Doctor and Donna look for the whereabouts of Earth, former companions of the Doctor assemble a resistance against the new Dalek Empire. Starring David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor.

Order Doctor Who – The Monsters Collection: Davros for just £9.02 from Amazon.

The Monster Collection: The Silurians

The Silurians (1970)

Investigating a nearby cave system, the Doctor discovers it is the base of a group of intelligent reptiles, termed Silurians, who went into hibernation millions of years ago but have now been revived by power from the research centre. Starring Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor.

The Hungry Earth and Cold Blood (2010)

The Doctor tries to get everyone to Rio, but nothing quite goes as planned. They arrive in a small Welsh village where the Doctor immediately senses that the ground isn’t quite right. Starring Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor.

Order Doctor Who – The Monsters Collection: The Silurians for just £9.08 from Amazon.

The Monster Collections will be available from 30 September 2013 – head to Amazon to order them today!

The post Doctor Who: The Monster Collection Details appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Daleks’ Master Plan 7: Coronas of the Sun

Christian Cawley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Ready? It’s time for this week’s installment of Rick Lundeen’s audacious adaptation of The Daleks’ Master Plan. We’re up to episode seven, Coronas of the Sun, in which the Doctor and Steven manage to get Sara Kingdom on side and pull a fast one over the Daleks and Mavic Chen…

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This week’s episode is now available as a free PDF download from the Kasterborous Store – stay tuned for CBR and CBZ versions.

The post Daleks’ Master Plan 7: Coronas of the Sun appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Is the Twelfth Doctor Who About to Be Unveiled?

Christian Cawley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

So tonight is the night that the Doctor Who Prom will entertain guests at the Royal Albert Hall and on BBC Radio 3 – but could something else be afoot?

Thanks to SF Crowsnest we know that something else is taking place tonight, something secret, something that might just be the unveiling of the Twelfth Doctor Who, if their source science fiction author Stephen Hunt is right.

Our own man at the event has so far told us that programmes have been withheld (apparently they were available upon arrival last time) and that there have been limited opportunities to move around e venue…

We will, of course, let you know as the evening progresses!

(Thanks to Simon Mills, Gareth Kavanagh and The Fiction Stroker)

The post Is the Twelfth Doctor Who About to Be Unveiled? appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Why Not Buy Matt’s First Motor?

Christian Cawley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Here’s a rare opportunity for a Doctor Who fan – own Matt Smith’s first car, which has been donated by the actor to Starlight Children’s Foundation, a charity for which he is ambassador.

Says Matt:

While I have been travelling the universe in my TARDIS, my much-loved Vauxhall Corsa, aka The Shed, has been parked outside my parents’ house. As my first ever car, it has seen lots of adventures, not to mention a fair few mishaps (hence the dents). I’ll be very sad to see it go but I understand my parents want their driveway back! I’d love to find a new owner for this great little car, particularly as all the profits will go to Starlight, which is an amazing charity that brightens the lives of seriously and terminally ill children.

Affectionately called The Shed by many of Matt’s friends, the Corsa which Matt has had since new has been involved in many of his most memorable journeys to and from university in Norwich and to the National Youth Theatre and even to some of the Doctor Who locations. Latterly Matt asked his sister to drive the Corsa, keeping it in near perfect working order.

Currently priced at £1140 and closing on July 18th, you head to eBay and bid on Matt’s old Vauxhall Corsa today!

The post Why Not Buy Matt’s First Motor? appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Colin Explains the York Maize Maze!

Christian Cawley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

You should have already seen our previous items on the 50th anniversary design for the York Maze, here’s the Doctor himself, Colin Baker, explaining it all, accompanied by maze owner Tom Pearcy.

We’ll have our own video of the maze over the weekend – don’t miss it!

The post Colin Explains the York Maize Maze! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Exclusive SDCC Figures!

Meredith Burdett is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Just in time for the San Diego Comic-Con, Bif Bang Pow! are proud to reveal that they will be selling their exclusive First and Eleventh Doctor retro toys!

These fan-demanded collectibles will each come in a convention exclusive Tin Tote featuring images from Doctor Who that span the Doctor’s entire lifetime.

Where some Doctor Who figures are now getting smaller in size, these releases are 8 inches in size and feature real fabric clothing; this is none of your plastic malarkey; these are full-on retro classic style collectibles! The figures also feature multiple points of articulation so if you want to put them in a classic Doctor pose, you can bring their eras to life on your shelf.

They’re available for pre-order now, with a delivery date also promised this month. The First and Eleventh Doctor set will take $54.99 from your wallet so you may want to plan out if this is going to be a gift for yourself or a gift for someone very special indeed (that could still be yourself).

The chances are that these little beauties will fly off the shelf and become a rare collectible before you know it; your best bet is to head over to Entertainment Earth as soon as you can to make your order!

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York Maze – It’s a Giant Dalek!

Christian Cawley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

While you might not get the chance to see it from the air in a helicopter, the remarkable Doctor Who tribute that forms the centrepiece of the York Maze this year will be open for fun from tomorrow, Saturday July 13th, running until Monday, September 2nd.

Former Doctor Who star Colin Baker was on hand to promote the event, and you can see him above with the man behind the maze, Mr Tom Pearcy. The maze, grown from maize which is then strategically removed in order to form a design (with a bit of GPS thrown in), is just one of the attractions at the event near Elvington, just outside York. There are tractor rides, farm animals, a cafe, bouncy castles and a great sand play area with static diggers.

In addition, in keeping with the Doctor Who theme in this 50th anniversary year a special sci-fi day is arranged for Saturday, July 27th,where visitors will come face to face with the Daleks, peer inside the TARDIS and take part in other fun Doctor Who and sci-fi activities.

You should be able to spot local news items about the York Maze this weekend in the Yorkshire and north east areas, and also look out for mentions in the regional and national press over the next few days.

I was fortunate enough to speak with Colin (as well as take the photo below…) and you can hear him in our podKast next week! Here’s a little teaser…

As you should have guessed, York Maze is a family day out, and a lot of fun it is too! Find out more at www.yorkmaze.co.uk!

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