"Pablo, if you say again that my chin was the inspiration for Cubism, I'll stop talking to you..."
A Doctor Who fan film, for the 50th, by a particularly awesome group of Spanish fans, set in Barcelona- the city, not the planet, and shown off in all its considerable glory. And... it's in Castilian. I suspect the locals might not approve!
Anyway, I won't discuss the delightfully witty and metatextual plot here as, more so than most of my blog posts, I suspect most of my readers won't have seen it... spoilers! But this fantastic, forty-five minute fan film is on YouTube for anyone to see, courtesy of the No-Nose Dog Project.
Suffice to say, though, it's a love letter to fandom. As well as a meditation on the nature of fiction and reality, and lots of fan-pleasing little character moments during a carefully curated selection of the most popular Doctors and companions spanning all fifty years of the show.
Some of the performances are exceptional, particularly those of Jordi Armengol as the First Doctor, Mat Cruz as Ten, and Rebeca Sanchez as Rose. But the entire cast is magnificent, as is the script, which fizzes with wit but also with heart. A fan film of the very finest calibre.
I squealed when I saw you had made an article on this. It is truly a love letter. I remember an article (translated from Spanish) detailing the making of the film.
ReplyDeleteI was impressed how the actress playing Rose really looks like Billie Piper (the resemblance is uncanny and she even gets the mannerisms right). I don't know what are your thoughts when it comes to the Doctor's love interests (I am personally neutral on it, though I can see why Rose is popular among fans) but I am not ashamed to admit I literally was moved when 11 noticed Rose; I can't think of a more perfect performance for a scene that some fans wished was in the actual 50th. 11's surprised, yet anguished expression. Real and not forced. The subtlety in the way he sheathed his sonic screwdriver with a slight tremor. Then, he literally hugs her close to him, as though to be certain she is real. The way Rose innocently asks "Who...?" then as she looks into those eyes as he pulls back, and (as we can easily imagine as we see her reaction) sees the ancient pain that she has seen in 9 and 10 and realizes who it is and she smiles that wide smile that the Doctor is happy to see again.
I don't know if this is a foreshadowing that you may do the Rich Morris fan comic "The Ten Doctors", and I don't know if you have watched fan films before but I am impressed with your review. Well done.
Heh, thanks for the kind words, especially as I felt I ought not to say anything spoilerific (spellcheck doesn't much like that word!) given that most people reading this probably won't have seen it, which limited what I was able to say somewhat! It was a delight to watch, with all the performers (amateurs, I assume) superb and, yes, Rebeca Sanchez really does look uncannily like Rose.
ReplyDeleteI'm fine with the Doctor doing romance. Of course, before the show was revived in 2005 I was sort of unthinkingly of the "no hanky panky in the TARDIS" viewpoint as we all were back then, but then RTD brought the show back with more of a focus on actual drama, vital among other things for drawing in female viewers, and the Doctor doing romance just seemed to follow on naturally... although it was always played just for vibes really, even with Rose. I loved the River Song arc, but even there (and I mean this not as criticism), the romance was at surface level. All of which is a long-winded way of me agreeing with you about Eleven and Rose!
I'll get to The Ten Doctors at some point!
I can't think of a more perfect performance by the actor playing 11 during that tender moment. His expression and that hug. Real and not forced. The subtlety in the way he sheathed his sword with a slight tremor. You see 11 (even if it is not Matt Smith) as as a person and not a stereotype. That is some really good acting there.
DeleteThe plot of The Ten Doctors may be better than some television episodes, interestingly enough. Without giving any spoilers away, there are “edge of the seat” and “behind the sofa” moments, then happiness when our hero (in various forms) comes sweeping in to save the day. There are the epic battles and the hilarious clashes, the heartwarming reunions and goodbyes. The story uses all the emotions and sometimes you forget you’re just looking at a comic.
DeleteI will get to it, honest!
DeleteThe downloads page is archived on the Wayback Machine and the big .zip file was also archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20230323113619/https://comics.shipsinker.com/downloads/
DeleteProbably the only place to legitimately find the story if Rich's blog doesn't come back.
Thanks- got that open on another tab. I'll be off work for a few weeks after my op in late January, so I'll read and blog it to pass the time as I recover:)
DeleteThe Sarah Jane actress was so good too. Amusing when she saves the First Doctor and says “you shouldn’t be doing that to the elderly!” (Ironic considering 1 is meant to be the younger Doctor as the timeless child wasn’t canon then). It actually felt like a nice callout to the fandom (back when it still seemed United) when the fans all cheer for the Doctors and companions. If you were to ask me what year I wish I could relieve, 2013, every time. EVERY TIME.
ReplyDeleteHeh, let's just say that for me personally 2013 wasn't as good a year in hindsight as it seemed at the time. But in terms of Who fandom? Hell yes! Ominirumour and all...
ReplyDeleteFandom wasn't completely united in 2013, perhaps: it never was. But compared to the deeply unpleasant culture wars of today? Halcyon days!
When it comes to the Doctor and Rose, I think I find their romance more believable than River, especially as she came to learn about regeneration in the show first hand; she loved 9 and she loved 10. She loved the Doctor both times, so it makes it more stronger how an ordinary human can feel so much affection and bring much inspiration towards a being that can use multiple appearances in bodies. I think it is sweet how the First Doctor, clearly seeming to see the bond that his future self and Rose seem to have, appears to keep a respectful distance from Rose (ironically, he is actually the YOUNGEST Doctor when you think about it) but points out to 10 that Susan's Gallifreyan name was Arkytior, which means "rose" in High Gallifreyan (an actual source according to spin-off media). 11 first seeing Rose is honestly touching, as is the sweet moment when she compliments his bow tie.
ReplyDeleteThere's so much to explore, I think, of the dynamic between Rose and the Doctor, perhaps in expanded media. Between Rose and Ten there was certainly a romance, unacknowledged explicitly yet blatant. The bond between Rose and Nine, though... I think that was different and nuanced.
ReplyDeleteThen again, Big Finish may well be exploring this stuff, and this hard of hearing person doesn't really do audio drama!
It is amazing how all of the cast members manage to inhabit the characters they are playing, right down to the mannerisms, and does not even treat Whovians in a silly way; it was a fitting touch when the fans all applaud for them by the end.
ReplyDeleteExactly right- there's wit within the dialogue and characters, but it's so endearing how the love of the show is played absolutely straight.
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend "The Final Game" by Studio Severn, a fan made audio adventure that adapts on what would have been the planned final Roger Delgado Story. The voice cast is good. Out of all the Jon Pertwee impressions I heard, Marshall Tankersley is absolutely the best. He has Pertwee's voice down to the right touch. It is scarily accurate.
ReplyDeleteThe acting is truly good. Especially when 11 noticed Rose and his expression and that hug. His eyes look like they are literally going to well up with tears at the sight of her.
ReplyDelete