TRON (episode)

## Behind the scenes

**TRON** is the sixth episode of *Doctor Who Velocity*.

Crossing over with the real-life franchise Tron, the story follows the Doctor and new ENCOM CEO Jeremy Butler as they work together to escape after getting trapped in the video game Tron. Including the game, ENCOM, and the title, the uses of various references include the appearances of Flynn (character) and Flynn's (location).

All cast members were filmed with a green screen to maintain social distance in order to ensure safety. Special guest star Megan Shirley respired her role as Megan Williams from *Doctor Who FanFilm* that ties-in with the story after Eternal Darkness. Recurring actors Dylan Wood, Chance Fuerstinger, Denae Gardner, Paycen Styhl returned as Jeremy Butler, The Master, Ashley, and Kevin Apiary, respectively.

## Cast

* Krystal Moore as The Doctor
* Jen Potcher as Gloria
* Dylan Wood as Jeremy
* Nick Gill as Corey
* Tom Sanford as Flynn
* Chance Fuerstinger as The Master
* Erick Gutierrez as Opponent
* Chris Phillips as MCP (voice)
* Denae Gardner as Ashley
* Paycen Styhl as Kevin Apiary

## Crew

* Production Crew - Tom Sanford
* Prop Creation - Matt Gillikin
* Music - The Boffins
* Theme Tune - Hardwire Productions
* Special thanks to - SOVRN
* Special thanks to - Repop Gift Shop
* Special thanks to - Kody Newton
* Special thanks to - DW2012
* Written, Directed and Edited by - Chris Phillips

## Sypnosis

Enter the game grid of TRON as The Doctor battles against the mysterious forces of the MASTER CONTROL PROGRAM.

## Production

***This section of the article is a stub, meaning it's incomplete. You can help by expanding it.***

As a result of the issuing of the stay-at-home order for all of Idaho, there was plenty of time to work on pre-production. The animated storyboard made was to provide all the shots necessary, making the scenes "quick and efficient", reducing the time an actor spends at the studio. With this, director and editor Chris Phillips had the chance to shoot what was "really needed".

However, compared to pre-production, filming was trickier to do according to Krystal Moore. In order to maintain safety for all the cast and crew, most actors were filmed separately from each other with a green screen, ensuring social distance. The filming for Dylan Wood's scenes was finished by Chris Phillips. In order to ensure a good performance for these actors, they were filmed together with other actors who only used a webcam. To fill in the green screen, virtual sets were used for the actors to appear in, giving the opportunity to detail references from the eighties such as the computers, posers, arcade cabinets, and the TRON digitizer. Editing and special effects were used to make the actors appear together or alone inside the sets, using filmmaking techniques.

## Plot

ENCOM employee Corey, proclaimed the best video game programmer on the company's team, meats Jeremy Butler, criticizing the new owner of the company's decision to fire everyone else which left her to finish the game conversion alone by Christmas. Without any documentation, she had to reprogram from scratch. When she realized that he's the new owner, he assures her to run her own department and to be in charge of creativity if the game is successful, giving her the freedom to design any game with the ideas she has. Before he left her alone, he informs her of them attending Games Expo '89 this afternoon, planing to introduce her as a "hot shot programmer behind ENCOM's next big hit", leaving her exhilarated.

At Games Expo '89, he announces to a wide audience of a home computer release of the hit-arcade game TRON that will release next Christmas, adding that he played a demo. Reading what he gave her, she described the game to have "mind-blowing graphics", "amazing stereo sound", and "incredible artificial intelligence". Assuring what she said was not "marketing hype", he reminds the audience that she is the lead programmer.

She then privately expressed to him her concern, believing the deadline given to be unrealistic for the game. Fortunately, he discovered a map of a hidden archive full of trade secrets after scoring the ENCOM archives, possibly found a solution. Suddenly, intrigued with the mention of "secrets", the Doctor jumps in, reuniting with him, happens to be here to catch up on the latest video games. When the Doctor curiously asks about the home computer release, Corey is about to answer before getting interrupted by him who responds that it is top-secret. When Corey and he left, the Doctor smells "something suspicious".

Elsewhere at ENCOM, he accessed the MASTER CONTROL PROGRAM (MCP) via computer that contains all of the secret information of the ENCOM software. When the program asks for his name, he truthfully answers and requests access to the archive. It accepts and transports him to the Game Grid via particle accelerator.

Inside, he materializes in a light-color room with a suit, admiring the experience, pondering about making millions from this. The MCP is also there, appearing in a physical form. It sets him up to battle via frisbees with an opponent, resulting in Jeremy's victory, leaving Jeremy's opponent to die. When Jeremy argues his opponent not needing to die, the MCP tells him that he must recharge, warning that his next game will not be easy. The MCP soon traps him in a box as he fails to escape.

Back at ENCOM, the Doctor and Gloria arrive as Gloria admires the eighties video games there. In favor of the Doctor since she's her only holographic cyborg friend, Gloria used her advanced neuro processors to decrypt the code from an arcade machine of TRON, connected to the game, scanning the code. Since ENCOM's technology is "far too radical" to be just used for video games with their artificial intelligence and state-of-the-art encryption, the Doctor believes Jeremy is "over his head" about this. Suddenly the particle accelerator shot the Doctor into the Game Grid and knocks Gloria as the cyborg fell unconscious.

Inside, the Doctor arrives at a separate box next to where Jeremy is trapped. When the Doctor failed to contact Gloria, he informs her that anything will be deleted if the game system gets disrupted. Despite his warning, knowing that the game has secret code, the Doctor sets on getting out only for him to insist on them needing to win the game instead. They soon got taken to a maze to compete to reach the end in order to survive and to not get eliminated, instructed by the MCP. He insists on her going without him only for her to encourage him to stick together.

Inside the maze, they are surrounded by all the Doctor's adversaries: the Daleks, Cybermen, Weeping angels, and the Sontarans. Turns out, the MCP can set the parameter by gathering her enemies from its detection to weakness. Seeking assist, she sends Gloria a reset command.

Back at ENCOM, Corey searches for Jeremy only to discover an unconscious Gloria. Gloria wakes up, up to Corey's disbelief. Fortunately, Gloria then receives the Doctor's holographic message about what happened. The Doctor seeks assist on exploring the game system outside the Game grid. Thought that it was a rumor, Corey became excited about the technology's capabilities to transform objects into digital information, comparing the particle accelerator to a "two-way portal" that is between the "virtual and the physical". To help the Doctor and Jeremy, Corey begins to eject code, giving them clearance for restricted areas of memory. When Corey starts working, she asks Gloria about being a holographic cyborg only for her to insist to explain later.

When Corey's code worked, the Doctor begins to ponder where the secret code is hidden. Not knowing, he admits that he was part of the video game business just to make money.  Comforting him, the Doctor relates to his ignorance and advises him to just "pick a direction". Soon, they discover a cave that is inhabited by Flynn, the creator of the game. Haven't had visitors for a long time, Flynn admires the familiar scent from her of coffee, donuts, and intergalactic. The Doctor offers to join them to go back only for it to be impossible since it would also let "them" out. However, to help them leave, Flynn offers a pair of keys.

The Doctor and Jeremy transport via motorcycles, heading to a portal. When she noticed her adversaries close by, she has him go ahead while she distracts. When she realizes that the MCP has "Master" in its name, it turns out to be the Master, who controls the Game Grid via computer. Upon the Doctor's request, Gloria provides backup with the help of Corey, setting a proxy server for extra players to join. Game invites are virtually sent to Ashley, Kevin Apiary, and Megan Williams, who all played through a video game console, virtual reality headset, and a laptop, respectively. Soon, they all join including Corey and Gloria, riding in motorcycles, instructed to district the adversaries. As they fight off against the adversaries, the MCP increases the game difficulty to the maximum. However, the Doctor and Jeremy made it to the portal, escaping the game, up to the Master's dismay. Once he is defeated, the Master remarks to the Doctor of his return.

Because of Corey with the help of Gloria copying TRON's code into the home system, the sales of the newest version of TRON went "through the roof", promoting Jeremy to reopen Flynn's using the profits — an arcade provided with the classic game. Impressed what he did, the Doctor decides to play one more game here before leaving.

## External links

* TRON on the Doctor Who Velocity Facebook account