Thoughts On The DVD Doc
Nov. 19th, 2016 01:16 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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reddwarfslashMostly just an excuse to ramble about things I liked about the main extra, the BTS doc. Under a cut for both length and spoilers.
I'll get the mild niggles out of the way first. I was already aware that the doc was about half the length of "We're Smegged" and it does show in some ways, mostly the very brief interviews with some guest stars. Howard Burden is only seen at the readthrough and doesn't speak, which is a bit of a shame.
However, it's easy to understand the reasons for this. The production of XI was far smoother than that of X so of course there's less to talk about. Also, this can be viewed as Part 1 of a doc covering the XI / XII production block.
As for Howard's absence from the interviews, given that he'd already discussed his creations for the Boyz in the X doc in some detail, it makes sense to instead interview the new Make-up Designer Vanessa White about her work.
One of the things she discusses is Chris's wig. It amused me that after all the speculation about it, Chris just flat out admits that he didn't want to wear a wig, but reluctantly accepted the inevitable. He's very complimentary about the one she settled on.
I also enjoyed the glimpse of the initial readthrough where everyone had their names in front of them and in the case of the cast, their character names too. Who is this for? Who on the production wouldn't know who they were?
There was a charming moment where someone said "Coffee?" and Craig and Chris raised their hands simultaneously, followed by Chris quipping "Does the budget only run to one kettle?"
We also got to see the moment where the cast were reunited with hugs all round and Craig joking "The bitch is back!" as he paraded in his Lister get-up.
Robert told an anecdote about how - on the way to location filming for "Give & Take" - he, Craig and Danny stopped at a service station. They were queueing in Starbucks in full costume and make-up when a woman approached and said "Are you real?", prompting an apology from her embarrassed husband.
Regarding Snacky, Robert jokes that he thinks Doug just wants to live in a world of snack dispensers.
Chris fans alert - for some reason we glimpse Chris during rehearsal in a sweat-drenched jumper with a nipple protruding visibly beneath. I am simply describing. :p
Continuing that theme, we also see him partly topless but I'm afraid it's not sexy as he's covered in blue goo and pulling Rimmer monster faces.
Craig keeps all his clothes on but watches as Chris struggles under the weight of the Rimmer monster costume and remarks "I'm just gonna say it makes a change from carrying the rest of the cast!"
Doug and Craig are in awe of Lucie Pohl who knew her lines by heart from the start and delivered them perfectly. She however admits that it took her four hours to learn the most difficult one and she had to look up what it meant so she could remember it.
Sadly that's the only contribution we get from her, but at least we also hear from Rebecca Blackstone again.
There are plenty of other charming moments such as Craig and Robert peeking in at the guest cast filming their scenes in "Samsara". Nosy smeggers. ;)
Here endeth my ramblings. Anyone else have favourite moments?
I'll get the mild niggles out of the way first. I was already aware that the doc was about half the length of "We're Smegged" and it does show in some ways, mostly the very brief interviews with some guest stars. Howard Burden is only seen at the readthrough and doesn't speak, which is a bit of a shame.
However, it's easy to understand the reasons for this. The production of XI was far smoother than that of X so of course there's less to talk about. Also, this can be viewed as Part 1 of a doc covering the XI / XII production block.
As for Howard's absence from the interviews, given that he'd already discussed his creations for the Boyz in the X doc in some detail, it makes sense to instead interview the new Make-up Designer Vanessa White about her work.
One of the things she discusses is Chris's wig. It amused me that after all the speculation about it, Chris just flat out admits that he didn't want to wear a wig, but reluctantly accepted the inevitable. He's very complimentary about the one she settled on.
I also enjoyed the glimpse of the initial readthrough where everyone had their names in front of them and in the case of the cast, their character names too. Who is this for? Who on the production wouldn't know who they were?
There was a charming moment where someone said "Coffee?" and Craig and Chris raised their hands simultaneously, followed by Chris quipping "Does the budget only run to one kettle?"
We also got to see the moment where the cast were reunited with hugs all round and Craig joking "The bitch is back!" as he paraded in his Lister get-up.
Robert told an anecdote about how - on the way to location filming for "Give & Take" - he, Craig and Danny stopped at a service station. They were queueing in Starbucks in full costume and make-up when a woman approached and said "Are you real?", prompting an apology from her embarrassed husband.
Regarding Snacky, Robert jokes that he thinks Doug just wants to live in a world of snack dispensers.
Chris fans alert - for some reason we glimpse Chris during rehearsal in a sweat-drenched jumper with a nipple protruding visibly beneath. I am simply describing. :p
Continuing that theme, we also see him partly topless but I'm afraid it's not sexy as he's covered in blue goo and pulling Rimmer monster faces.
Craig keeps all his clothes on but watches as Chris struggles under the weight of the Rimmer monster costume and remarks "I'm just gonna say it makes a change from carrying the rest of the cast!"
Doug and Craig are in awe of Lucie Pohl who knew her lines by heart from the start and delivered them perfectly. She however admits that it took her four hours to learn the most difficult one and she had to look up what it meant so she could remember it.
Sadly that's the only contribution we get from her, but at least we also hear from Rebecca Blackstone again.
There are plenty of other charming moments such as Craig and Robert peeking in at the guest cast filming their scenes in "Samsara". Nosy smeggers. ;)
Here endeth my ramblings. Anyone else have favourite moments?
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no subject
Date: 2016-11-20 01:56 am (UTC)Sadly have to wait till my birthday to see the DVD will return to this then ☺💖
no subject
Date: 2016-11-21 01:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-12-11 05:53 pm (UTC)Had my birthday today but will sadly have to wait a little longer as Amazon sent X instead of XI 😯
no subject
Date: 2016-11-20 05:58 am (UTC)So I have a couple of questions about Craig's talking head segments (cap (http://imgur.com/eFTH8mD)): Is he sitting in a wheelchair, and what is that figure to his left?
After a re-watch, I feel less annoyed about the briefness than I was before. I think what would have filled things out nicely is more meta -- for example, I loved the cast giving their thoughts on parenting in We're Smegged. Maybe a bit with them discussing their own midlife crises, or would that have been too weird? :p
I actually enjoyed learning about the Rimmer Monster despite my dislike of the episode. Captain Herring, however...still can't look directly at that mask. Nope nope nope.
no subject
Date: 2016-11-21 01:15 am (UTC)Regarding the figure, I admit I'm puzzled. It appears to be wearing one of Lister's Hawaiian shirts, plus sundry other bits and bobs which would suit the character. Maybe Nathan just saw it hanging around and put it in for the express purpose of messing with the fans' minds. ;)
More meta would have been nice, but I imagine the cast wouldn't have wanted to discuss their own mid-life crises. Just a tad too personal, methinks.
Oh good, it's not just me who looks away whenever Herring appears. Is the body horror the reason you dislike the episode or is it also Rimmer's behaviour?
I have an odd relationship with the ep having seen it filmed. I knew while watching that I didn't like it anywhere near as much as "Trojan", but still found it entertaining. And as I've said elsewhere, it's excellent fic material.
no subject
Date: 2016-11-21 01:50 am (UTC)Is the body horror the reason you dislike the episode or is it also Rimmer's behaviour?
Both, plus the narrative structure where lots of wacky things seemed to happen for the sake of wackiness wasn't my cup of tea. That was my issue with Can of Worms as well.
no subject
Date: 2016-11-21 02:36 am (UTC)In addition, the other cut bits set up the theme of the ep and even lay a little groundwork for Rimmer's behaviour since he's visibly annoyed with Lister. Plus Lister's "Technician 2.0" line at the end would have more bite as a direct callback to Rimmer's earlier jerkiness.
I honestly don't know what possessed Doug whilst he was editing this. I'm clinging to the hope that some of the cut footage will make more sense in a XII ep, but it's hard to imagine.
But even if he hadn't messed around in the edit, I still don't think the basic plot of this would ever make it a favourite of mine. I find it interesting though.