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The Making of Doctor Who: Silver Nemesis was the most comprehensive documentary to be filmed around a single story: the three-part serial celebrating the 25th anniversary, Silver Nemesis, first broadcast in 1988.
Including a series of archive clips from the BBC and candid behind-the-scenes interviews and features, presenter Eric Luskin takes the viewer through all the various stages of bringing a script to screen, from writer Kevin Clarke's first, somewhat ill-prepared pitch for the story, from the earliest rehearsals to actual location filming showing things going right and things going wrong, through to post production.
Fully supported by John Nathan Turner, it was a bold move to raise the Doctor Who profile in the USA with coverage of this action-packed, non-studio-bound story. With its Royal family theme of particular interest to the American audience, even the actress Dolores Grey featured as an American tourist tracing her family roots.
This documentary was only ever released with the extended edition VHS of the story, and on this occasion had to be slightly edited to remove clips from stories written by Eric Saward, from whom clearance permission had been refused. It was never shown on UK television and, because of copyright issues, could not be included with the 2010 DVD release as part of a box set with Revenge of the Cybermen.
Documentary breakdown
The Making of Doctor Who
Featuring:
Presented by Eric Luskin at Arundel, and Arandale offers an introduction to the location rehearsing and recording the 25th anniversary story of the long-running television series, from the earliest rehearsal to actual location see things going right and things going wrong.
- A look at casting, usually 8-15 principal actors with, for this story 20-40 extras.
- West London Television Studio room 103 Day 2
- Entirely shot on location rehearsal time being reduced for this production[statement unclear].
- John Nathan Turner - Producer
- Chris Clough - Director
- Gary Downie - Production Manager
- Dorka Nieradzik - Make-up and Costumer
- Fiona Walker - Lady Peinforte and the Nemesis statue
- BBC TV Costume store Wales Farm Road rehearsal rooms costume fitting
- Mark Harding and Brian Orel from 21st season return with David Banks on his fourth Cyberman story.
- CLIP: Gavin Scott from "Did You See" BBC 1982 featuring 1966 clip from The Tenth Planet 15:10:1966 and The Invasion 07:12:1968
- A Tech Chat at West London Television Studio room 103 (June 21 1988)
- Metin Yenal (Karl) and Anton Diffring (De Flores)
- CLIP From “Whose Doctor Who” BBC 1977 Rehearsal of The Talons of Weng-Chiang featuring Tom Baker (The Fourth Doctor) with Trevor Baxter (Litefoot) with Deep Roy (Mr Sin) watching Also features the voiceover of Kevin Clarke Writer,”Silver Nemesis”
- Kevin Clarke Writer discusses original idea
- Richard Croft Costume Designer discusses ‘Cyber crotch’ (costumes breaking at the crotch because of the level of paint applied to the costumes)
- Behind the scenes footage with voiceover of John Nathan Turner
- Keff McCulloch Freelance composer discusses the incidental music (June 21 1988) and featuring music from “Remembrance of the Daleks” 25th Season
- June 23 1988 Greenwich London. A series of 4 takes for Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred running across the wasteland
- Gary Downie Production Manager and Chris Clough Director discuss the battle sequence and over-running
- Voiceover of Ian Dow Lighting Engineering Manager
- Doug Needham BBC Staff Armourer discusses weapons training and handling for actors
- CLIP: Video Effects from “Attack of the Cybermen” 22nd Season showing Cryon attack on Cybermen
- June 26 1988 - featuring the folly used in filming Arundel was vacant with plans to be made into a home.
- Friday day of chaos – very behind schedule last scene, run out of money, just one hour to go
- Voiceover of Chris Clough while location filming the scene where Richard Maynarde and Lady Peinforte's escape from the crypt. John Asbridge (Designer) explains how the exit from the crypt was adapted from an old shooting range.
- Voiceover from Ian Dow Lighting Engineering Manager
- Dorka Nieradzik Make-up Designer on location
- Explaining the Front Axial Projection (FAP) technique using a silver super reflective paint (like that on a projector screen and on road-signs at night) used on the statue, bow and arrow.
- John Nathan Turner (Producer) talks about taking the show into the 80s’s and now the 90’s and giving each new Doctor a fresh new look
- Sophie Aldred discusses the companion as a role model
- Filming at a very cramped indoor location, Day 5, at Arundel Castle (June 27th 1988)
- Lynne Grant Assistant Floor Manager (A.F.M.) talks about learning on the job and always redefining her role.
- “Whod –out”, John Nathan Turner again discusses this, his last series of Doctor Who - or not as it turns out!
- A post credits clip shows Chris Clough, Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred having a “Happy 25” group hug.
Production credits
- Produced and Written by Eric Luskin
- Directed by Freddie Chisholm
- Lighting Cameraman Kevin Baxendale Know Who Productions
- Location Audio Stan Nightengale
- CMX Editors Bob Herman and Larry LiMato
- CMX Assistants Grace Bethea-Shipman and Richard English
- Electronic Graphics Allison Goodman
- Engineering Supervisor Jeffrey Joslin
- Post Production Audio Robert E. Dorsey
- Art Direction Ed Yungman
- Graphic Artist Steve Oleszek
- Opening Animation Syntheic Imagery, Princeton, N.J.
- Animators John Maurer & Harry Saffren
- BBC Production Liason Marion McDougall
- Special Thanks to Virgin Atlantic Airways and The Members of the New Jersey Network
- Theme Music Doctorin’ the TARDIS Coutesy of TVT Records
- Program Clips Coutesy of BBC Television
- Executive Producer Albert Rose
- The Making of Doctor Who had been a co-production of New Jersey Network and BBC/Lionheart C1988 N.J.N. All Rights reserved