35mm is a standard film format, so named because of its 35-millimetre width. It is the largest-format film stock ever used for the recording of anything to do with Doctor Who. Because of its relatively high cost, it was infrequently used for principal recording, though it was sometimes used by BBC Enterprises for telerecording.[1] One exception was the second episode of The Space Pirates, which had principal studio recording shot on 35mm.[2]
By far, the most ambitious use of 35mm was in the recording of the 1996 telemovie, which is the only Doctor Who story within the televised continuity to be entirely filmed in the format.[3][4]
However, the BBC Wales team have occasionally used 35mm for certain scenes to which they wanted to apply traditional film effects. A good example is in the Tooth and Claw teaser sequence with the monks. There, 35mm was used when the monks were actually "flying" through the air. (DCOM: Tooth and Claw)
References
- ↑ Though most telerecordings were done in 16mm, four survive in 35mm: "The Waking Ally", The Wheel in Space episode 6, The Krotons episode 1 and The Seeds of Death episode 5.
- ↑ Serial YY: The Space Pirates. A Brief History of Time (Travel). Retrieved on 8 September 2017.
- ↑ The Restoration Team's notes on the TVM
- ↑ Both of the 1960s Dalek films, Dr. Who and the Daleks and Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D., were also filmed in 35mm.