Calling the Shots: Directing the New Series of Doctor Who

by Graeme Harper, Adrian Rigelsford

The scripts have been delivered . . . what happens next? When Harper returned to Who, he found himself directing a very different show than the one he remembered, and rose to the challenge of bringing back the most popular monsters from the series’ past—the Cybermen and the Daleks. Beginning from day one when the scripts arrived, fans are led through every stage of preproduction, including brainstorming creature and set designs, scouting locations, dealing with casting, figuring out the sheer mechanics of filming, and planning for some of the most complex effects shots the series had ever attempted. Attention is also given to the process of assembling footage, dubbing, scoring the music, and adding computer-generated effects—all done while time becomes tighter and the broadcast draws near. Every anxiety, challenge, and ultimate solution is covered through diary accounts and simple explanations from Harper’s point of view. Illustrations show how storyboards transfer to the screen, diagrams detailing camera positions reveal how action scenes are covered economically, and shooting schedules illustrate how scripts are blocked to utilize any given location in the most effective way. Above all else, Graeme Harper conveys the excitement and challenge of making Doctor Who, revealing the answers to viewers' awed question, "How did they do that?"

Genres: Doctor Who

228 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2007

Reviews

[Rick Chagouri-Brindle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into director classic and nu Who from one of the best directors!

[Matthew Kresal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graeme Harper may well be the best director on the revived Doctor Who TV series. While many making of books can be dull, Harper and coauthor Adrain Rigelsford bring the director's energy and movement to this book. The result is anything but dull: Calling The Shots is a well-paced making of that should make fans happy.

Harper begins with the pre-production work on his four episodes from series two (Rise Of The Cybermen, Age Of Steel, Army Of Ghosts, Doomsday) and how the return of the Cybermen came about. Harper then goes from the pre-production work into the filming of the episodes themselves. This section is full of what makes the book work: a combination of anecdotes, observations on the complexities and difficulties of making the series, and the sheer joy at the heart of it all. Harper's full of praise at times, especially when dealing with scenes like the emotional finale of Doomsday. Fans of the classic series will be intrigued by the third section of the book as Harper looks back at his work on Power Of The Daleks, The Caves Of Androzani, Revelation Of The Daleks, and the aborted thirtieth anniversary story The Dark Dimension. Though it is an intriguing comparison of production methods and even insightful (especially on Dark Dimension), this section is also frustratingly short. From there it's back to the new series with Harper's two episodes from series three (42, Utopia). Harper's energy is there as his is praise for the cast and crew, especially Derek Jacobi as Professor Yana in Utopia. To wrap it all up, we're then given a teaser of Harper's work on series four which is now broadcasting as of this writing.

While having a frustrating short section on the classic series, Harper's book is a interesting look at the making of the new series. Instead of being dull and matte rof fact ins style, Harper brings the energy of his direction from the screen to the page. Fans will find plenty to read about as will filmmakers, who will enjoy the insights into the complexities of making the show. This book may be THE making of book on the new series.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, fun, read for anyone curious about how Doctor Who is made. I don't think it has many deep insight on how to direct television shows (especially since Graeme Harper sometimes seems to have only one instruction to his actors: "Loads of pace and energy!"), but it does give you a feel for the basic challenges directors face and what the atmosphere is like on the set. And it gives you loads of respect for the people who make television - it's amazing that something so cobbled together from bits and pieces as a TV episode looks like a seamless whole when it airs.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at the making of "New Who" (The RTD years), as well as Classic Doctor Who. Graeme Harper worked both eras and manages to include interesting behind the scenes technical information that a layman can understand.

[Paul Doody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graeme Harper directed one of the best Doctor Who stories of the 1980s, and was the only director from the old series to be brought back when the pregramme returned in 2005. Here he tells the behind the scenes stories of his experiences on the show.

[Rosianna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written and seemed thrown together with little work on how it read whatsoever. Some of the content was interesting but the writing lacked fluidity or any sense of direction.