Special Effects (CON episode)

Special Effects was the episode of Doctor Who Confidential broadcast in conjunction with series 1 episode The Empty Child. The working title for this episode was FX.

Aspects of production covered

 * John Barrowman discusses the joys of making his first appearance in Doctor Who, fulfilling a childhood dream.
 * The work that went into creating the sequence of Rose holding onto the blimp using wirework, greenscreen and location filming.
 * The building of the interior of Captain Jack's spaceship.
 * The difficulties of figuring out the period gas mask look for the Empty Child.
 * More detailed look at the VFX work on The End of the World.

Additional topics covered

 * Challenges of working with children from one of the scenes in The Empty Child.
 * The makeup used for the Empty Child.
 * The use of photogrammetry to create a 3D geometry map of the London skyline.
 * Designing of Captain Jack's spaceship.
 * Concept artwork across this series of Doctor Who.
 * Some of the lighting choices throughout this series, and the reasoning behind them.
 * VFX work on the classic series.

People interviewed

 * Julie Gardner, Head of Drama, BBC Wales
 * James Hawes, Director, Episodes 9 & 10
 * Russell T Davies, Head Writer
 * Phil Collinson, Producer, Doctor Who
 * Steven Moffat, Writer, Episode 9
 * Billie Piper, Rose Tyler
 * Will Cohen, Visual Effects Producer
 * Edward Thomas, Production Designer
 * Ernie Vincze, Director of Photography
 * John Barrowman, Captain Jack Harkness
 * Christopher Eccleston, The Ninth Doctor
 * Neill Gorton, Prosthetics Designer
 * Richard Wilson, Doctor Constantine
 * Peter Davison, The Fifth Doctor
 * Tom Baker, The Fourth Doctor
 * Sylvester McCoy, The Seventh Doctor
 * Andrew Collins, Critic & Broadcaster
 * Colin Baker, The Sixth Doctor

Music list

 * "Planet Earth" by Jamiroquai, Album: Synkronized
 * "Main Title (from 'Capricorn One')" by Jerry Goldsmith, Album: The Number One Sci Fi Album
 * "Pushing the Senses" by Feeder, Album: Pushing the Senses
 * "Galvanize" by The Chemical Brothers, Album: Push the Button
 * "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane, Album: Now 57
 * "Holding Out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler, Album: The Greatest Hits
 * "Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin, Album: Led Zeppelin
 * "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin, Album: Led Zeppelin
 * "In the Mood" by Glenn Miller, Album: The Ultimate Glenn Miller
 * "Holding Out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler, Album: Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire

Crew

 * Camera - Mat Bryant, Eric Huyton, Andy Smith
 * Sound - Kevin Meredith, Phil Turner, Ryan Windley, Steve Hoy
 * Runners - Nic Britz, Maxine Hughes, Lucy Lutman, Hannah Williams, Bethan Evans
 * Junior Researcher - Alexander Gratton
 * Researchers - Geoff Evans, Zoë Rushton, Stephen Thomas
 * Production Co-ordinator - Hannah Simpson
 * Production Managers - Catherine Gosling, Zoë Scott
 * Editor - Caroline Lynch-Blosse
 * Colourist - Jon Everett
 * Dubbing - Peter Jeffreys
 * Executive Producers for Dr Who - Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner, Mal Young
 * Executive Producer - Mark Cossey
 * Series Producer - Gillane Seaborne
 * Produced & Directed by - Tony Lee

Elements retained in Cut Down
to be added

Home video releases
The "Cut Down" version of this episode was included on the Doctor Who: The Complete First Series DVD box set released on 21 November 2005.