Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Production Still Photographs Exposed

For the third time during Series 11 production, some revealing materials were "leaked".

It would be accurate to call only the first instance a deliberate leak. An entire Episode 1 clip was uploaded to Tapatalk and eventually made its way to YouTube, Twitter and other forms of public media along with two photos involving the thirteenth Doctor seeming to construct her new sonic screwdriver. I've described the materials on this blog post.

The second instance involved a merchandiser called Calender Club, who posted images of a Series 11 Doctor Who Calendar by Danilo. Those images were also distributed further on social media. The images consisted of character portraits of the Doctor and her companions, with a larger photo of Yasmin Khan. The images were removed from the website and the DMCA removed the images from tweets so it would seem Calendar Club must have posted the images too early. Danilo has now released some of the images and is offering the calendars for presale. Calendar Club has now re-released the images. 

The third instance is the result of the way a production stills photographer posted his portfolio online. One thumbnail from each of the categories in photographer Ben Blackall's Doctor Who Series 11 portfolio were visible when accessed via the mobile version of his website. The thumbnails have since been removed from public view, but two more thumbnails were revealed during the process of reprogramming his website. The photos are not in their final form with the background drape and actor's marks visible and color grading for alien worlds missing.

Blackall's portfolio was accessed by a curious fan who learned of the photographer's involvement via a photo credit in Doctor Who Magazine #528, which published Blackall's photo of the thirteenth Doctor standing on a rocky outcrop in what looks like a landscape from the filming in Granada Province in Spain. This photo appeared in Blackall's portfolio with the TARDIS photoshopped into the foreground on the right side.

Two of Blackall's thumbnails featured two photos the brand new interior of the Thirteenth Doctor's TARDIS!  Your best bet in finding the photos would be to search "new tardis" on Facebook, which doesn't seem to be subject to the same corporate copyright pressure as Twitter. It is likely the other photos can be found on Facebook as well. The http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk website has the photos in one of its posts under a spoiler tag.

The first photo shows the Doctor in the blue-shirt version of her costume inside the TARDIS, showing the entrance. This still is probably from late in Episode 1. Rather than the TARDIS doors opening directly into the console room, the entrance is three-dimensional with the two interior police box walls flanking the door visible from the inside. Only the wall of the police box facing the interior is missing, except the edges and the top with the "POLICE PUBLIC CALL BOX" sign. So the TARDIS has a police box vestibule of sorts. This would explain why it was unnecessary to have a flat photo of the interior just inside the prop door during location filming.

The interior wall near the door is beige with circles within large hexagons. The circles each have two concave-curved tri-"spokes", one overlapping the other. It is not a regular pattern, however, with some of the hexagonal units seeming to merge in places and intertwine in a somewhat organic fashion. This design is also three-dimensional with an alcove leading to the police box portion with and opening with angled edges formed by the hexagons.

Another photo showed more of the TARDIS interior from the outside through the doors. The doors open inward. Four director's chairs face the opening to the TARDIS console set with the names, "JODIE", "MANDIP", "BRAD" and "TOSIN". Black curtains conceal some of the undressed set exterior. Though the door, crew can be seen working on the interior. The hexagonal motif continues on the floor and light red walls with blue and purple hexagons. Some of the hexagons in the floor light up to a warm white. The rotor platform consists of two concentric circles forming steps going up. The step-rings are rimmed in black with white Gallifreyan symbols. I don't think the rotor was visible through the doors because of the camera angle, some of the crew standing in the way or because the set was unfinished.

Another Episode 1 publicity shot shows the Doctor in the Twelfth Doctor's costume in front of the the large cranes at HTC Crane in Sheffield lit up at night. It is labeled from a November 21 album.

I can place only some of the photos in episodes or filming blocks.

One character photo of a young, asian woman in a tan shirt and black trousers from the episode in the finale block which involves hostages. Part of this finale block episode was filmed in the Tredegar area. I've previously blogged about it.

Another photo is a still from Block 3 filming in Sheffield on February 13 at the tram bridge. It is essentially this scene from a different angle. Tanya Fear is the guest star in this photo.
There are two photos of a young, red-haired man. One of the photos is a character shot in side view of him pregnant! Yes, a Doctor Who episode with a pregnant man! The character photo shows the man in an olive green jacket with many round black and sliver patches, blown, baggy knickers, brown tights, tan socks and hiking boots. The second photo is a still of the same man smiling while looking down at an infant swaddled in a gray quilted blanket in his arms. He appears to be in a hospital setting in a white t-shirt with one of the black/silver patches and a blue hospital gown.

There are three recognizable guest stars in the photos: Julie Hesmondhalgh, Mark Addy and Claudia Jessie. I cannot place any of them in any specific episodes.

Julie Hesmondhalgh is pictured in a production still in what looks like a vast storage facility. Her hair is short and blonde. She is wearing black-rimmed glasses and a grey shiny blouse and grey blazer of the types I would describe as futuristic. She is looking very businesslike holding a white tablet.

Mark Addy's character is dressed in tan and brown rugged clothing with a jacket, chaps, boots and lots of straps. He is holding a rectangular, hand-held instrument. He is pictured in two stills walking in a rocky setting (probably filmed in a quarry) with Graham, the Doctor, Yasmin and Ryan. The Doctor holds a translucent, white, irregularly-shaped object. There appear to be the ruins of a crashed flying vehicle in one of the photos somewhat resembling turbo engines.

Claudia Jessie is pictured in a character portrait wearing a white, long-sleeved shirt, black trousers and an open purple vest with three grey strips, vertical on the shoulders and horizontal at waist and hip.

Three of the photos show the Doctor in her costume with the burgundy shirt she wears in Episode 3. I think the Doctor wears this shirt for more than one episode. One photo is a character portrait of the Doctor walking. The second shows the Doctor with her companions at night surrounded by mounds of scrap metal. This is possibly from Episode 7 filming at HTC Crane in Sheffield. (There was definitely some Episode 1 filming at this location with the thirteenth Doctor in the twelfth Doctor's costume with her three companions plus Graham's wife, Mary played by Sharon D. Clarke.) The third photo is from the same episode as the second photo. It is a still of the Doctor, her companions and an unknown dark-haired actress dressed in a white, sleeveless futuristic outfit with trousers. All five people look down a white, circular corridor with astonished expressions on their faces. There is a damaged panel with dangling wires just behind the Doctor.

Some photos I can't place:

A still of the Doctor in a blue shirt with the companions in costumes I can't find in any other stills or video. They all look astonished as they peer down from a metal railing. In the background is a white wall with a large, circular doorway. Behind them on the wall through the doorway is a circular object with an unfamiliar (yet strangely somewhat familiar) red and black geometric design. It's possible this is a placeholder graphic for something which will be added to the photo later. I am unsure.

A still from an album titled "Dr Who Rumble" showing two men, one in a red tank top and another in a chef's uniform with raised fists about to engage each other. Graham can be spotted in the background.

Last, but not least, is a photo of Graham from an unknown episode. Graham is in a dark hallway lit by wall lamps. He his holding a copper-colored spherical object approximately a half meter in diameter which somewhat resembles the hovering security cameras in Silence in the Library, only more utilitarian and not quite so Art Deco.

That's it for the photo descriptions. A tantalizing glimpse into Series 11.


Tuesday, July 24, 2018

More filming Photos from South Africa

Production Assistant Tash Montlake was thrilled to be involved in Doctor Who filming in the Cape Town area of South Africa. There are multiple photos on this one Instagram post.
"The cast & the crew were so sweet to me, I can’t even begin to explain. When Jodie found out I was a fan of the show she made sure I had a selfie and a proper photo with her in costume. I didn’t even ask, she absolutely insisted. I love her for that so very much. I learnt the most badass things about the Dr. Who universe. Everything from the finer details to The Doctor’s costume to playing with the brand new Sonic. This season is steeped in references from the old and still making it feel new & relevant and I cannot wait to watch it." 
Story time: Since my buddies have done a panel at SDCC I can finally share a couple photos from a set that makes me miss my job so deeply it hurts. Everyone knows how much I love a good sci-fi and being British born you could imagine how much I nearly DIED when I got invited to work on @bbcdoctorwho it was honestly, without question the most special job I have ever done. The whole experience reminded me that this is what I came to this little blue green planet for. This industry is not just a job for me, being able to make shows & movies I love has always been a crazy dream. I have to constantly remind myself that this is actually happening in real life. The cast & the crew were so sweet to me, I can’t even begin to explain. When Jodie found out I was a fan of the show she made sure I had a selfie and a proper photo with her in costume. I didn’t even ask, she absolutely insisted. I love her for that so very much. I learnt the most badass things about the Dr. Who universe. Everything from the finer details to The Doctor’s costume to playing with the brand new Sonic. This season is steeped in references from the old and still making it feel new & relevant and I cannot wait to watch it. As soon as it’s revealed, I’ll share my photo of the TARDIS, it’s such a goodie. Jodie Whittaker will forever be my doctor 😍
A post shared by tashmontlake (@tashmontlake) on

Here's what can we learn from her post:

There was some filming in Ottery, a suburb of Cape Town on January 12.

The filming at the Kimberley Hotel on January 14 involved the new sonic screwdriver.

The filming in Greenmarket square (cobblestones) on January 18 was for Scene 55 of  Episode 3, the episode which features the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott. You can see Jodie Whittaker in the variation of the Doctor's costume with the burgundy shirt.

Friday, July 20, 2018

Series 11 Trailer Breakdown by Episode/Filming Block

First, the new Doctor Who Series 11 Trailer:


Block 1, Episodes 1 and 7:

Episode 1:

The Doctor in a cave


The Doctor, startled, rising abruptly.


These two scenes are believed to be of the Doctor constructing her new sonic screwdriver. Note she is still wearing the twelfth Doctor's vest and shirt. Some photos from this scene of the Doctor constructing the sonic screwdriver were leaked.

Chris Chibnall had this to say about the new sonic screwdriver at San Diego Comic Con:
"There's a very specific way this Doctor comes by this sonic screwdriver." 
"It's made out of some interesting components which you'll find out about in Episode 1."

Block 2, Episodes 2 and 3

Episode 2:

This episode features aliens in a desolate landscape, likely another world. These scenes were filmed at Macassar Beach Pavilion, an abandoned water park near Cape Town, South Africa.

The Doctor, Graham, Yasmin and Ryan climb a sandy slope with some ruins.

Graham, Yamin, Ryan and the Doctor look out on the ocean from some ruins.

Here are two scenes which contain the actor Shaun Dooley which I believe are from the same episode.

Episode 3:

An episode set during the 1955 Montgomery, Alabama Bus Boycott and the events with Rosa Parks which led up to it. This episode also features scenes filmed in South Africa, mostly in Cape Town. Note the Doctor's costume variation, a burgundy shirt instead of navy blue.



Block 3, Episodes 4 and 6:

This is the block which contained the much-covered filming in Gosport and Sheffield in February. Alan Cumming is playing Kings James the First in one of the episodes which features witches in the 17th Century. The other episode features at least one spider but it is unclear whether the episode is about spiders.

I can tell this still is from Block 3 because Tosin Cole and Bradley Walsh are wearing the same costumes from the Sheffield filming photos.

Block 4, Episodes 5 and 8:

Not enough is known about this filming block to place any stills from the trailer.


Block 5, Episodes 9 and 10:

Some of the filming from this block took place in Granada Province, Andalucia, Spain.

There were local horse riders hired for scenes for the Spain filming. Note one of the them holds a gun.

The rest of the stills I cannot yet place:


These scenes were likely filmed in a quarry. 



This may be from Block 1 filming in a forest on November 16.




Monday, July 16, 2018

Series 11 News from Radio Times Magazine

A new issue of Radio Times cam out this week with Jodie Whittaker on the cover.

This is what Chris Chibnall has to say about casting her as the Doctor:
"I felt the time was right for a female Doctor – I felt the audience were really ready for it. I think if we hadn't done it, we would have been really behind the world – and Doctor Who has to be out front leading the world, showcasing all the amazing things out there. So it was never a question in my mind. It was time."
"The 13th Doctor is incredibly warm, funny, energetic, inclusive – she's the greatest friend you could wish to have as your guide around the universe."
 Jodie Whittaker added:
"And now it isn't just attainable for half the population. The Other half can be the Doctor as well. Girls will no longer just think, 'Oh I can be the companion.' Being the first female Doctor and showing children that their heroes in shows don't always look the same is a huge honor for me."
"The pressure on any actor coming into the role – man or woman – is huge because they're big boots to fill. And for me, there's been 12 pairs of boots."
Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole are interviewed as well. The interviews were recent because they were nearing the end of Series 11 filming after nine months of filming, which began in November.

There is a new photo of Graham in a fish and chips shop with a fictional newspaper in his hands called the Sheffield Advertiser. It's the same restaurant set as seen in the teaser which was just released.

Radio Times is officially scheduled to hit newsstands and digital editions Tuesday, July 17.

New Teaser Released

BBC Studios released a new teaser featuring Ryan Sinclair, Yasmin Khan Graham and the thirteenth Doctor.

None of the scenes appear to be from any Series 11 episode.

Each of the three companions have their own experience simultaneously, evidenced by the same panel show on the television in all three scenes. There are glimpses of the Doctor before she appears; a hand reaching for Ryan's food, her coat glimpsed in the room where Yasmin and her friends are eating pizza and her feet in the diner where Graham is eating.

Before she shows up at the end of the clip, the Doctor employs her time skills to replace an empty pizza box in Yasmin's hands with a the same box before the pizza was eaten and changes the Sheffield Advertiser newspaper Graham is reading to a 1981 issue of Beano.


If you look carefully, you can spot Doctor Who crew member Lauren Pate, listed on Linkedin as a Floor Runner, playing Yasmin's friend sheepishly eating the last piece of pizza. Pate also had a brief speaking role in the Series 10 episode Oxygen, playing a St. Luke's University student at one of the Doctor's lectures.


Saturday, July 14, 2018

Another "Leak"

This web page, was deleted. It's from a merchandiser selling a calendar by Danilo, a company licenced to sell Doctor Who merchandise.

I do not know why the web page was taken down but I can venture to guess that perhaps they did not yet have permission to post the images of the calendar or offer it for sale.

Hence, we have another "leak", although it would likely be more accurate to call it an early, unauthorized posting of merchandise images.

The images on the website contained character portraits of the Doctor and her companions, Graham, Yasmin Khan and Ryan Sinclair.


Friday, July 13, 2018

New Series 11 Information and Photos from Entertainment Weekly Magazine

Photo by Simon Ridgeway

Photo by Sophie Mutevelian


This next photo is from South Africa filming. Note the photo credit given to the South African photographer, Coco Van Oppens.


Photo by Giles Keyte

Note each of the production stills are by a different photographer, which suggests that a unique stills photographer was employed for each filming block, which would mean they are not from the same episodes. The change of costume for the companions would suggest this as well.


Series 11 Information from the Issue

The thirteenth Doctor's costume has some "hidden attributes" yet to be revealed which will "delight longtime Whovians".

Chris Chibnall said casting Jodie Whittaker "was the easiest decision I made in my whole career" because "She was just so compelling."

Graham is a "regular bloke from London who's ended up living in the north of England and gets taken away on this journey," according to Bradley Walsh. "It's like Jodie is Captain Kirk and we're the rest of the guys on the bridge. I'm like, Lieutenant Uhura."

Jodie Whittaker said the TARDIS rejected the Doctor, kicking her out at the the of Twice Upon a Time.

Whittaker was interviewed by the magazine five months into filming, sometime in March, so likely during the third filming block.

After a set visit during the filming of a scene, the thirteenth Doctor is described as "excitable and ebullient" and Mandip Gill describes her as having "a similar energy to Matt Smith's Doctor. Very high energy."

Jodie Whittaker herself describes her Doctor as "hopeful and fizzing with wonder." "This Doctor goes in all sorts of directions but essentially, I think the big theme is hope." "There are no rules, and it's liberating. But it's equally terrifying."

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Filming on Newton Beach in Porthcawl July 12


Curiously, all the information I could find about the filming is from Facebook posts. All I could gather was that they are filming a wintery scene and one of the props is a large monolith with strange markings. This is possibly Christmas special filming or, as one of the Facebook posts mentioned, a promotional short. The trouble with asking the crew for information about what they are filming is that you can't always get a straight answer. One person was told they are filming there two days.


This person claims the crew told him they are filming for two days.





Wales Online briefly covered the filming and shared the video below.



There were even actors on location.

And here is one more Facebook post I found which shows the monolith being filmed with a strange tent and another actor.



Monday, July 9, 2018

Will There Be Filming the Work Week of July 16-20?

With few exceptions, the Doctor Who film crew typically works Monday trough Friday of any given week.

The week of July 16 to 20 coincides with San Diego Comic Con.

The BBC America Doctor Who panel is scheduled for Thursday, July 19,  at 11:45 a.m. Jodie Whittaker, Tosin Cole, Mandip Gill, showrunner Chris Chibnall and executive producer Matt Strevens will feature on the panel.

To be able to join an early morning panel in San Diego, the panelists will need to fly into San Diego Wednesday, July 18, at the latest.

Jodie Whittaker is scheduled scheduled to join the Entertainment Weekly's Women Who Kick Ass panel at SDCC at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 21, which means that Whittaker will remain in San Diego at least until late Saturday or early Sunday morning.

So the only two days of the typical work week available for filming that week are Monday and Tuesday, July 16 and 17.

The question remains, will the cast and crew take the entire week off?

Update: that question has been answered by this tweet:

And this tweet:
It looks as if Jodie Whittaker probably headed to San Diego on Monday, July 16. In any case, if she is at an airport for a flight, she is unavailable for filming.

Also of interest, will they commence filming the unannounced Christmas Special directed by Wayne Yip after the convention?

Wayne Yip was spotted at Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff on June 18 so the preparations are well underway.

Perhaps we will get more answers about the production schedule at the convention, though Chris Chibnall has not been forthcoming with production news.

A production news update written by Chris Chibnall is planned for the following week in Doctor Who Magazine #528, though exclusive news is now difficult to come by in the magazine since Chris Chibnall became showrunner so it's possible that Chris Chibnall's column will only reiterate any news he divulged at San Diego Comic Con. Doctor Who Magazine also promises a Series 11 update which will hopefully contain some exclusive news and photos. It would be a shame if the publication were relegated to reiterating news already announced through other official sources.


Thursday, July 5, 2018

Doctor Who Christmas Special is in the Works with a Familiar Director

After months of rampant speculation and debate that either there would be no Doctor Who Christmas special or that the Christmas special would be filmed as part of the ten Series 11 episodes, I'm happy to report that there will be an additional filming block for the Christmas special directed by Wayne Yip.
Wayne Yip directed two episodes of the Doctor Who spinoff Class before directing two episodes of Doctor Who, Series 10, Empress of Mars and The Lie of the Land.