From: ph9991_manfr@rivers.acc.uwrf.edu
Newsgroups: rec.arts.drwho
Subject: Constants a Movie should observe
Date: 9 Jan 93 22:40:24 -0600
Organization: University of Wisconsin - River Falls


I've been giving thought to this in-the-works Doctor Who movie that will
probably finally get made here in a year or two.  

There are few constants in all of the television series, but what few there
are I feel are sort of "sacred" and should be observed in the movie, and
then everything else is open to whatever the producers want.  I feel like
is these particular things aren't done, then I can't consider it "official"
Doctor Who. 

Thought I'd share 'em with you to see what you think.

1)  The theme music.  It MUST be the Ron Grainer signature tune.  It can
	be rearranged and restyled slightly as it has been on the TV series,
	but if it's a completely different song, then it very definitely
	won't be Doctor Who to me.
2)  The TARDIS exterior.  Has to be the standard Police Box.
3)  Basic design of the TARDIS interior.  Entry into the console room,
	hexagonal console with translucent column in the centre that rises
	and falls in flight (and lights up). Rotation is optional, but 
	preferred.  Glowing roundelled walls, large double doors on the
	left side, scanner mounted on the right side, interior door on the
	right.  Doors and scanner operated from the main console.
	The console instruments and scanner can be updated of course.
4)  The TARDIS' dematerialization sound effect.  Has to be the original
	Brian Hodgson effect.  Can be, and I would even advise this, 
	remastered into stereo surround sound so long as nothing is 
	subtracted or added from the original sound.
	Goes for the materialization too.
5)  Certain terms such as Gallifrey, Type 40, you get the idea.
6)  Title sequence.  Must contain no "real" images except for the face of
	the Doctor or the TARDIS exterior.  No previous title sequence has
	had in it any real, ordinary everyday object as part of it.  
	Also, the traditional progression of the titles should be preserved,
	thusly:  a) weird patterns or starfield;
	b) patterns form into the Doctor's face
	c) patterns return and form Doctor Who logo  (logo is optional,
	whatever they want it to be)
	d) logo fades and credits follow like this:  Story title, Writer.
	Obviously an episode number wouldn't be in order.
	And that should be it.  No "A Merimax film, A Joe Director film,
	A Phil Producer film, Starring Impressive Star" credits, in
	fact no other credits in the opening at all, or if they do
	appear, they appear after the writer credit and the title patterns
	return.
        This one's a little nit-picky, but it would be nice if they could
	preserve that tradition.  
	Closing credits are a bit more complicated.  BBC style is to give
	the stars first (that's OK), but the Script Editor, Designer,
	Producers, and Director don't appear until the very end.  This would
	probably be very unacceptable to the Producers.  
	I'd then suggest the normal closing title music over the title
	patterns, give the major actors, major technical people, 
	then Producer etc, end the title music and the patterns there and
	continue the fiddly credits on a black background with either a
	weird arrangement of the music or a specially commissioned song,
	possibly for pop music release, but still suitably weird for the
	Doctor.

This one's probably impossible, but it would be nice if somehow the 
BBC Radiophonic Workshop were given the Sound Effects chores, or at least
hire Brian Hodgson or Dick Mills on a freelance basis.  

Just get those things right, or mostly right, and I'll be happy.

What do you lot think?

Steven.K.Manfred