Dimension Jump update III

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

Very exciting news, people! It's the announcement you've been waiting for since the dawn of time.

A new series of Red Dwarf has been officially confirmed by Dave.

I'm trying to get as many details as possible down for you guys whilst I still remember, so here goes....

The series has been officially dubbed 'Red Dwarf X'
This was Dave's decision
The series will go into pre-production in October, be filmed in Nov, Dec, Jan
It will be aired in Autumn 2012
Six 30 minute episodes
Audience filming is a very strong possibility
Yes, the new series will explain what happened in the 9 year gap...but not right away
No, Doug isn't fully decided which version of Rimmer it was in BTE
Model shots are unlikely to be used due to cost restraints
Doug is keen to go back to the character's roots and focus the comedy on their ineptitude and lack of skills
He wants the new series will focus mostly on the main four characters
Yes, Talkie Toaster could make an appearance
No, he hasn't written them yet

Hope that answers as many Q's as possible beyond the press release now online on the Dave website. If you fire over any Q's to me quickly via comment I can ask them for you

Comments

[toadwart.livejournal.com]

YAY!!!

[eastpath.livejournal.com]

*swoon* This made my whole day :D

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

T'is a day of win! ^__^

[beetle-breath.livejournal.com]

He wants the new series will focus mostly on the main four characters

yessssssssss

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

Sorry for my total lack of grammar, there :-S I was typing on an iphone...

[beetle-breath.livejournal.com]

it's okay, I totally missed it until you pointed it out :)

[roadstergal.livejournal.com]

Awesome. You da woman!

(Any mention of Hattie? :) :) )

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

Gosh yes, I forgot! Possibility of Hattie returning as Holly but not decided

[roadstergal.livejournal.com]

Sweet, I love her. :)

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

She's gorgeously wonderful in real life and very timid and unassuming about her popularity amongst the fans. Her stand up was utterly brilliant.

"You know the good thing about raffle tickets? If you don't win, you can take them to a nightclub, hand one in at the cloakroom and see which coat you get. Perfect for winter. Free jacket."

[roadstergal.livejournal.com]

Oh, god, she is win.

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

Hattie is so adorable <3

[kahvi.livejournal.com]

I forgot to tell you too!! Earlier, on Twitter, I saw there was mention of her being included, and I squeed out loud. So y'know, new series: "Oh, cool". Hattie is in it. "OMGFTWGAAAAWHEEE!!" :D

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

From Doug's reaction to the question, I still think he's weighing up whether to go for it or not. If Holly is written in, it'll definitely be Hattie as (and I quote) "Norman keeps saying over the last couple of years that he doesn't want to be in it any more!"

[laurenthemself]

Norman is a whiny little whiner and I hope Hattie's in it instead because I like her better.

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

SO exciting! I wasn't too hot on BTE to be honest, so I'm looking forward to some root-digging and explaining about wtf actually happened there.

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

Again, from the way Doug was talking, he seems to have really tuned into the constructive criticism from the last couple of series/BTE and is very very keen to ensure he goes back to basics and draw out the old style comedy from the characterisation. Sounds like a good plan to me! ;-)

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I'm sort of torn on how media writers take suggestions from their fanbase. On the one hand it's nice to know, as a fan, that the creator cares what you think; on the other, while sometimes "writing by committee" works out well, other times it does not. I guess we'll have to wait to see which category this falls under (and if Doug is simply taking general remarks to make broad changes, or incorporating specific suggestions - I'd actually prefer the former, but I'm just one viewer). Just IMO. :-D

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

I think there's a difference to be had between 'writing whatever the audience wants' (otherwise, there'd be FAR more slash involved!) and 'listening to the fan's constructive feedback'. I still think he'll do whatever the hell he wants ^__^

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

So my next two objectives are to see if I can glom onto tickets to go see the filming if that's possible (of course, you know this) and if I can afford the trip in the first place.

/eyes bank account

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

See, a part of me was thinking 'crap!' as that's around the time the baby is due! ^__^ I might have to ask Jo to hook me up with tickets for the January filming when babba is 3 months or so.

As soon as I work out the means behind securing tickets then I shall let you lovely lot know

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Honestly, for me, the later the better. January would put me after the holidays when there's nothing to do anyway (assuming you're still interested in me tagging along and find a way to do it).

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

January's also my birthday month which would make it uber awesome.

Of course - it's always more fun to go along to these things with other fans.

[eviltigerlily.livejournal.com]

Yays!

[pebblerocker]

How exciting! I'd love to see Hattie back.

[dauphkantus.livejournal.com]

GLEE! I am fangirl, hear me squee!

Now if only I knew 100% if I would be able to see it outside of youtube fan posts. ;_;

Basic cable sucks. None of the truly FUN stuff. I mean, Comedy Central, Adult Swim, G4, sure, all awesome, and GSN is always a way to while away the time, but I need my British fix!

[laurenthemself]

Am I the only person who's scared this is going to be utterly shite?

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

No, I don't think you are. I admit I'm sort of worried the same magic won't be there after 23 years if he goes back to the early dynamics - I know it's a comedy, but the characters have still grown. I just hope what he means by back to basics is an extension of their dynamic, not a re-installation of the first season.

I hope it doesn't sound all buzzkill-y! I don't want to be. :-D

[laurenthemself]

You're not buzzkilly, I started it.

I'm worried that he'll expect it to be the same and it totally won't. We need to see how the characters have changed in those missing years. I'm not saying it has to become totally serious, because it can still be a comedy, but there needs to be an acknowledgement that they've grown and changed.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Oh, I just meant on my comments. I don't think you were "killing" anything - it's a legitimate concern, and if the mod can't say it, who can? *G* I just wanted to be sure I wasn't; I should've added, I think the actors can probably elevate whatever they're given, to a certain extent; IMHO that was the case in BTE. The parts I didn't like, I blamed on the script.

[laurenthemself]

I don't want the mod saying it to put people off! :D

I think the actors are as brilliant as ever. I'm just concerned about the writing. I try to tell myself I liked BTE because it was new RD, but in reality I've watched it twice and I just keep cringing.

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

I think we're all on edge slightly as to what it's going to be like. Doug seemed to be very aware of the criticism of BTE and what needs to be rectified.

On the point of character development, my iphone really didn't allow me to elaborate to the full extent that I'd have liked. His explanation ran thus:

'There's a very difficult balance to maintain as the show airs with more and more series. On one hand, comedy derives mostly from their ineptitude and lack of skills. However, you can't deny that they'd have developed skills and relationships over the years - that's just not realistic.

But at the same time, my concern is keeping them from becoming fully skilled - after all, we don't want them turning into heroes. I think the new series needs to explore new areas of skills lack and ineptitude - that's where their comedy lies.'

[laurenthemself]

They could turn into Big Damn Heroes and there could be a Firefly crossover, but that's not gonna happen outside of fanfic. I'm glad he's got that notion in his head at least and isn't planning to just have them be the same as ever.

[afullmargin.livejournal.com]

*squee* While I will admit I'm a bit worried after BTE... I just... I'll sit through anything to get more RD and I think going back to basics is the perfect way to do it.

So very stoked for this news!

[leyosura.livejournal.com]

With regard to which version of Rimmer it is, I still think that Rimmer's Return is the best gap fic I've read in that respect. It rocks.

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

You know I love you, right? ^__^

[leyosura.livejournal.com]

In my own personal canon that's exactly what happened to Rimsy.
You should write the script of Rimmer's Return and send it to Doug. *nods*

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

I don't think I could ever gather the balls I'm afraid!! Still, I'm enjoying writing Cosmic Castaway. Muchos fun.

[leyosura.livejournal.com]

Ooh, yes. I've fallen behind with CC, need to catch up.

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

:-O! hehe. There's only three chapters so far.... :-S

[leyosura.livejournal.com]

I thought there were four. I'm only one behind then, that's not too bad. ^_^

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

Ahh thanks chick ^__^ I've disabled the annonymous reviews on ff.net after you mentioned it last time. Why can't I write for a living rather than this crappy fare!!

[leyosura.livejournal.com]

You should have a try. You're certainly good enough.

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

I love you to bits, I truly do. ^__^

[leyosura.livejournal.com]

I just realised that we went all weekend without mentioning slash - how on earth did we manage that?!!

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

It's a bit hard when you're in earshot of Craig/Chris ;-)

[leyosura.livejournal.com]

I think Craig has set a precedent with his Gelf bride and at the next DJ we need to recreate a scene from Blue. It would be worth suggesting it just to see Chris apoplectic with horror. ;)

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

Kiran encouraged me to buy the 'Heartache' script but I think it was a bit much for me ^__^