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Blue
Box - A Doctor Who Convention
Producer/Director
- May 1993
(1
x 12 mins) Bournemouth University / B.A. Media Production
A
documentary about a group of Doctor Who fans convening in
Bournemouth. One dresses as Peter Davison's Doctor and hopes to hear
enthralling stories from BBC cameramen; another claims not to be an
anorak but turns up dressed as The Master and loses out in the
charity auction. Such fun and games are intercut with memories from
actors guesting at the convention, who relate their experiences of
travelling the world to meet their fans.
To
describe this project as my dream come true would be an
understatement. But I still faced the responsibility of delivering a
decent programme at the end of it, rather than wallowing in my pet
subject. For example, I had to consider the sanity of my crew, all
pals from my Bournemouth degree course, most of whom I wanted to stay
friends with afterwards. They were shell-shocked after spending a
whole weekend locked up in a hotel with a group of hard core fans
dressed up as Peter Davison. Alison Jenkins said to me after the
wrap, "Simon, I certainly won't forget that weekend in a hurry..."
My
favourite moment involved veteran actor John Woodnutt relating his
experiences of meeting American fans at a convention in Chicago. When
asked, "Excuse me sir, but is it true you were in Doctor
Who?", he told them about the four different roles he had played
over the years. Then, in tones of great reverence, one of the Yanks
exclaimed, "You weren't Broton in Terror of the Zygons?!"
Another highlight was the sight of Peter Miles - also known as Nyder
in Genesis of the Daleks - singing the greatest hits of Frank Sinatra...
Contributing
guests:
Colin
Baker,
Elisabeth Sladen,
Deborah Watling,
Peter Miles,
John Woodnutt,
Peter Bryant. Plus
fans Iain
Fellowes and Colin
Francis. |
