Doctor Who Confidential

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Production methods used on Doctor Who.

Extract from a documentary series on production methods used in the science fiction series ' Doctor Who' - one of the many spin offs following on from the success of the new Doctor Who produced by BBC Wales. Shows how the production team creates an explosion in studio and the importance of the reactions of the actor David Tennant to this explosion as an effect. Short sequences showing the hero and the villain. Interviews with members of the production team including chief writer Russell T Davies, the director and the special effects director.

From: Dr Who Confidential: End of an Era

First Broadcast : 05 July 2008

Teachers' notes

Age Group : 14-16,16+

Subject : Media Studies

Topic : Drama genre

Keywords : Production, Production methods, Doctor Who, Science fiction, David Tennant, History of broadcasting

Notes : 1) Analyse the scene from the viewpoint of the features of documentary - eg. interviews with specialists, a voice-over, head and shoulder shots, cutting back and forth with short examples of the actuality, etc. 2)Prepare interviews; plan questions for Russell T Davies - author, Graeme Harper - director and Danny Hargreaves - special effects director. 3) Analyse the mise-en-scene; note the way the set has been created and the iconography of a science fiction programme; eg the Tardis, the Daleks, the electronics, the villain in the Dalek chair. 4) Analyse the target audience and examine how this has been expanded through the use of spin-off series. Doctor Who and science fiction fans are one target. Would an audience for documentaries be expected? Are these two target audiences different? 5) Have a look at Doctor Who; evaluate how this attracts Doctor Who fans. Explore parts of the site - look at 'Trailer Maker' 'Comic Writer'. Peruse the 'Monsters' section and in particular the history of the Daleks. Can use this to ask pupils to create their own stories on Davros and the Doctor.

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