TV Gold

Here's a slightly different suggestion being thrown into the pot:

When BBC Video started releasing classic Who on sell-through video in the early 1990's, I suppose we all thought: "Wow, one day I'll have every surviving episode/story in my collection!" But what happened? Individual stories released at a snail's pace, year in year out (including those annoying "double packs" of 6 episodes when everyone knows they could have crammed them all onto a single E180). By 2003, when the videos stopped being released in favour of DVD's - what have we got? Shelves groaning under the weight (and sheer volume) of video tapes ..... but never the entire collection of surviving episodes!!! So many stories never released, which may have been circa 2007 if they had released one a month.

So what have we got now? Periodic releases, story by story. Ok fine, but do I really want to wait until the year 2017 when they finally get round to releasing them all (assuming some new media format hasn't become all the rage and DVD is old technology and they've started all over again!)?

Why can't they do what other sensible companies do, and release Doctor Who in series boxes? Start with Season 1 (1963), then a box set of all Season 2, etc. And in box sets they'll take up less space on our shelves than the current individual story by story releases.

Of course, no-one ever thinks of the sensible option!!!

I'd have preferred it that way Marcus. This drip-drip-drip method of releasing material is infuriating to say the least.

But.......the BBC would claim that people don't want Hartnell, and that 'we' are only interested in the Golden Era of Who.

I'm just glad I've got The Key to Time boxset-a vision of what could have been.

My view on the DVD releases is purely 'quality not quantity'. I feel that every story released on DVD should have its own moment in the retail spotlight rather than saturating the marketplace like for example the Star Trek box sets.

For one thing not everyone has masses of money to spend on box sets! <!--emo&:angry:-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif[/img]<!--endemo-->

If you take, for example 'The Curse of Fenric' double DVD you can see that one hell of a lot of work was done for this release (e.g. digitally regrading certain sequences and creating a 5.1 sound mix, two versions of the story (one the standard four parter (with commentaries), the other a specially extended 'movie version' with additional scenes not to mention the assembled specially shot extras)

As if to confirm my point I have just heard this morning that the final 2005 DVD release, 'City of Death' will be a special two disc release, obviously indicating a mass of material and work has gone into preparing this release.

<a href='http://www.purpleville.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/rtwebsite/cityofdeath1.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.purpleville.pwp.blueyonder.co.u...ityofdeath1.htm</a>

However it is a great shame that Tom Baker (or for that matter, surprisingly Lalla Ward), apparently, will not be participating in the commentary.

As we all know the William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton seasons (1 through 6) are not complete so there is therefore no chance of 'box sets'. I sincerely believe we would not be as best served regarding the contents of each release as we have from the current policy.

Besides, there are other releases to consider which Doctor Who releases have to compete with.

Why rush through the releases on DVD, let's just enjoy what is being released each year

<!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->For one thing not everyone has masses of money to spend on box sets!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Trouble is though-they usually work out cheaper!

Argghhhh-why do dvds have to be so good? <!--emo&;)-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]<!--endemo-->

<!--QuoteBegin-Reinhardt+Aug 16 2005, 10:34 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Reinhardt @ Aug 16 2005, 10:34 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Trouble is though-they usually work out cheaper!

Argghhhh-why do dvds have to be so good? <!--emo&;)-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]<!--endemo-->
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Yeah but you don't usually get much in the way of extras when it comes to box sets and its extras that is DVD's main selling points over Video, I think.

Good case in points are the 'special' releases of 'The Curse of Fenric' and now the forthcoming 'City of Death'. You certainly would not get so much 'unique' extras if they were part of Season 26 and Season 17 box sets!

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Ahhhh, see that's where I differ.

I'm not usually interested in extras at all-in fact, I can say the only extra I've ever been interested in is the 'cast reunion' on Secret Army.

I'm purely interested in the programme (or film) itself-and the fact that it's not on dodgy video tape. I find with extras, I only have a quick look, and don't really look at them again after that.

Vanilla editions with restored picture-that's my cup of tea. <!--emo&:)-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]<!--endemo-->

I think we know why Tom Baker can't make the commentary recording session for the 'City of Death' DVD release. I suspect he is currently hard at work recording the seventh and final series of 'Monarch of the Glen' (a series I vaguely enjoy).

Last night watched 'The Leisure Hive' DVD and was very impressed with the 5.1 surround sound mix that Mark Ayres had created.

In the opening scenes you really got the feel of Brighton beach with the waves lapping the shore and sea gull sounds coming from all round my arranged speakers.

Also loved the Foamasi transformation sequence at the episode three/four crossover scenes, Mark's incidental music was really amazing!

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<!--QuoteBegin-Sarah Tarrant+Nov 1 2005, 09:42 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sarah Tarrant @ Nov 1 2005, 09:42 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Last night watched 'The Leisure Hive' DVD and was very impressed with the 5.1 surround sound mix that Mark Ayres had created.

In the opening scenes you really got the feel of Brighton beach with the waves lapping the shore and sea gull sounds coming from all round my arranged speakers.

Also loved the Foamasi transformation sequence at the episode three/four crossover scenes, Mark's incidental music was really amazing!

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Ah the beginning of Tom's final series...I really liked it too, new opening titles and theme and the Doctors new costume. Leisure Hive was a great opener. Maybe not so hot was Meglos which I think came next. It was the final stories in his last season that really made it for me. The "strange" Warriors Gate, the fab Keeper of Traken and of course one of my faves Logopolis.

There was something sad about this season probably as we know now it was Tom Baker's last year as the Doctor.

You put me in the mood now...Leisure Hive tonight for me!! (Only on video though..Doh)

Thanks Sarah <!--emo&:)-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]<!--endemo-->

<!--QuoteBegin-Highlander69+Nov 1 2005, 10:34 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Highlander69 @ Nov 1 2005, 10:34 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Ah the beginning of Tom's final series...I really liked it too, new opening titles and theme and the Doctors new costume. Leisure Hive was a great opener. Maybe not so hot was Meglos which I think came next. It was the final stories in his last season that really made it for me. The "strange" Warriors Gate, the fab Keeper of Traken and of course one of my faves Logopolis.

There was something sad about this season probably as we know now it was Tom Baker's last year as the Doctor.

You put me in the mood now...Leisure Hive tonight for me!! (Only on video though..Doh)

Thanks Sarah  <!--emo&:)-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]<!--endemo-->
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I certainly agree with you about 'Warriors Gate', a great strange feeling story with Kenneth Cope and Clifford Rose guest starring. Yes indeed, 'Keeper of Traken' is marvellous as well, beautifully shot in studio settings and costumes. Did you know that a four handed commentary (one of those contributors is none other than sadly departed Anthony Ainley <!--emo&:(-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif[/img]<!--endemo--> ) has been recorded for this?

Personally I'm not overly keen about 'Logopolis', watched it a couple of Sunday's ago and don't feel it holds up that well compaired to other season eighteen stories.

caio

Sarah
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<!--QuoteBegin-Sarah Tarrant+Nov 1 2005, 12:58 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sarah Tarrant @ Nov 1 2005, 12:58 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I certainly agree with you about 'Warriors Gate', a great strange feeling story with Kenneth Cope and Clifford Rose guest starring.  Yes indeed, 'Keeper of Traken' is marvellous as well, beautifully shot in studio settings and costumes.  Did you know that a four handed commentary (one of those contributors is none other than sadly departed Anthony Ainley <!--emo&:(-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif[/img]<!--endemo--> ) has been recorded for this?

Personally I'm not overly keen about 'Logopolis', watched it a couple of Sunday's ago and don't feel it holds up that well compaired to other season eighteen stories.

caio

Sarah
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Hi Sarah,

A lot of peeps aren't keen on Logopolis...I can understand this. I think Tom wasn't too keen on it either. I met Tom in Edinburgh in the late 90's and he was a nice guy. He was doing a talk at the concert hall. He has a lot of time for his fans.
Now Anthony Ainley.....He was brilliant as the second Master.
I didn't think anyone could replace Roger..but there you are.

Catcha soon Sarah.

Ian.

I know I am a bit slow about this but I just got my hands on a copy of the Doctor Who DVD 'City of Death'.

Just wanted to firstly say do any other members think that the cover artwork (and that which is replicated on both discs) is one of the best we have had so far (i.e. really intricate detail on the Paris buildings).

Amazed to find that this release has FOUR easter eggs.

Nice idea the 1980 Annual as a PDF but, I personally found it a bit boring looking.

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Just came across this 'mini interview' from an old issue of TV Zone Magazine and thought you guys might find it of interest:-

Paul Vanezis ? 'New (Ish) Who?
TV Zone magazine mini interview new ?Five Doctors? version producer
Written by Jane Killick

This month?s Doctor Who video release is the exciting (or sacrilegious, depending on your point of view) new version of The Five Doctors, with an extra 10 minutes 12 seconds of material. The project was the brainchild of Paul Vanezis, who discovered unseen footage when he was asked to remove some faults from the master videotape.

?The whole thing has been reedited from scratch,? says Paul, who is the producer of the new version. ?We?ve re-ordered a lot of scenes into the original script order, but the most striking difference is with the opening of the programme. It previously started in the TARDIS control room, but I just thought that?s not a traditional opening to a drama like Doctor Who, which normally starts off with a teaser. So using the beginnings and ends of takes from the studio-recorded corridor, I created a little sequence showing the empty tower as a sort of calm before the storm.

?Then it?s little things rather than new chunks of material,? Paul continues. ?So, for example, we see Peter Davison come out of the police box on the location which you never saw, and also the introduction of the Lord President entering the corridors of Gallifrey.?

One of the problems with adding new material is making the incidental music fit. For The Five Doctors, Paul went back to Peter Howell and asked him to adapt his original score. ?I had more music created and also the original music has been re-edited to give a better flow in this new version. It?s designed for you to sit in front of a big tv with big speakers and turn the volume up. It?s mixed in Dolby surround sound, so it would be nice if people watched it in surround because we?ve put in lots of little tricks coming out of the speakers to frighten you.?

Visually, the biggest change is in the video effects, which were all re-done using 1990s technology. ?I went back to the video effects workshop at Television Centre and David Chapman, who did the original effects, worked on it again. He said, ?It?s nice to have a second crack at it with new technology?. For example, when the Cybermen get killed on the chessboard, bolts of lightening shoot down from the ceiling and destroy them, whereas previously it had been a video effect created on a BBC micro which looked very tacky.?

Paul Vanezis was not involved in the 1983 Doctor Who reunion special, but hopes his 1995 version will make fascinating viewing for Who fans and non-Who fans alike. ?I wanted to make more of who the villain was, to make it more of a mystery,? he says. ?Now there are more obvious clues because of the extra material we?ve put back, but you?re still not sure if those clues are [a red herring]. And the pace is generally a little bit slower, but because of the re-ordering of some of the scenes, it gives you a little bit more time to think about what?s going on.?