Special Effects (CON episode)

Special Effects
Broadcast on:	BBC Three
Broadcast with:	The Empty Child
Series number:	1
Broadcast date:	21 May 2005 (full length) 16 September 2005 (Cut Down)
Runtime:	30 minutes (full length) 14'10" (Cut Down)
Key crew
Narrator:	Simon Pegg
Memorable moment
Doctor Who Confidential
← Previous	Time Trouble
Next →	Weird Science

Special Effects was the episode of Doctor Who Confidential broadcast in conjunction with 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.

2005 promo image.

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

• "Moonlight Serenade" by Glenn Miller
• "U Got The Look" by Prince
• "Main Title (from 'Capricorn One')" by Jerry Goldsmith, Album: The Number One Sci Fi Album
• "Galvanize" by The Chemical Brothers, Album: Push the Button
• "Planet Home" by Jamiroquai, Album: Synkronized
• "Black Capricorn Day" by Jamiroquai, Album: Synkronized
• "In the Mood" by Glenn Miller, Album: The Ultimate Glenn Miller
• "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
• "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane, Album: Now That's What I Call Music 57

This song was in the music list on the Doctor Who website, but does not feature in the episode:

• "Pushing the Senses" by Feeder, Album: Pushing the Senses

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

Notes

• Interestingly, like CON: The Daleks, one of the montages within this episode features footage from the Peter Cushing Dalek films.

Elements retained in Cut Down

to be added

Home video releases

Doctor Who: The Complete First Series DVD cover.

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.