Interview with Steven Moffat about the special 50th anniversary episode
By Gabrielle Pantera
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Daily Star 2013/11/21 - “Writing the 50th special was exciting and terrifying, everything that showbiz should be,” says <em>Doctor Who</em> executive producer Steven Moffat. “I didn’t want this to just be a celebration of fifty years of the past. I wanted it to be a celebration of the mythology of the legend of the Doctor and all that entailed.”
“This should be the first step on the next journey, guaranteeing the 100th anniversary,” says Moffatt. “The story focuses on the most important thing that ever happened to the Doctor. We very rarely do that in<em> Doctor Who</em> as it’s usually about<!--more--> the people the Doctor meets or the companion that travel with him. This time it’s different.”
<em>The Day of the Doctor</em> welcomes back the shape-shifting Zygons, a monster we haven’t seen since the 1970s. “The Zygons without question are a design classic,” says Moffat. “They are superb...brilliant from the voice to the appearance. Essentially, we’ve resurrected exactly the same Zygon as Tom Baker fought back in the 70s...looks forward to the future of Doctor Who and also celebrates the legend.”
At the end of the last series we were introduced to John Hurt as The Doctor. “With John Hurt we have serious acting royalty and that was the intent of John’s character,” says Moffatt. “John is one of the most distinguished film stars of British origin, one of the most distinguished actors this country has produced and has now become part of Doctor Who mythology.”
<em>The Day of the Doctor</em> is the first time Doctor Who is shown in full 3D. “My first impulse was if we’re going to do 3D it had to be part of the plot,” says Moffatt. “We actually have to make 3D part of the story and if at all possible, to try and make 3D a bit scary. I wouldn’t say it’s in every scene, but there is an element of the show that exploits the fact of 3D.”
It will be surreal to see the tenth Doctor, David Tennant, and the eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, on screen together. “It was eye twisting at times,” says Moffatt. “You don’t quite realize how these two men have become hard wired into your brain as the Doctor.”
“Matt and David got on so well and their interaction on screen is a sublime double act,” says Moffat. “Matt said to me, 'It’s a bit like Laurel and Laurel. It’s like Hardy didn’t turn up'. They are absolutely great together. Sometimes very, very, different. Other times in moments they choose together they are exactly the same.”
“Seeing Billie [Piper] and David standing on set together was quite epic,” says Moffatt. “Billie told me that as she is very good friends with both Matt and David. She felt quite torn and divided. She didn’t know how to deal with both of them at the same time, so if she was talking to one she would stroke the arm of the other.”
Where will Moffat watch this epic event? “I’ve got two impulses,” says Moffatt. “One is to watch it at home with my friends, particularly friends who made the show. My other impulse is to go out and join the party.”
“But it’s a difficult one,” says Moffatt. “When Matt and I watched the <em>Eleventh Hour</em>, we watched it many times before it went out. Then came the faithful day, the 3rd of April 2010. Matt came round to my house, my parents and his parents were there to watch the episode go out and have our future decided. Everyone sat down, but Matt and I couldn’t stay in the room. So I might be watching it peering round my kitchen door with Matt.”
By Gabrielle Pantera
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Daily Star 2013/11/21 - “Writing the 50th special was exciting and terrifying, everything that showbiz should be,” says <em>Doctor Who</em> executive producer Steven Moffat. “I didn’t want this to just be a celebration of fifty years of the past. I wanted it to be a celebration of the mythology of the legend of the Doctor and all that entailed.”
“This should be the first step on the next journey, guaranteeing the 100th anniversary,” says Moffatt. “The story focuses on the most important thing that ever happened to the Doctor. We very rarely do that in<em> Doctor Who</em> as it’s usually about<!--more--> the people the Doctor meets or the companion that travel with him. This time it’s different.”
<em>The Day of the Doctor</em> welcomes back the shape-shifting Zygons, a monster we haven’t seen since the 1970s. “The Zygons without question are a design classic,” says Moffat. “They are superb...brilliant from the voice to the appearance. Essentially, we’ve resurrected exactly the same Zygon as Tom Baker fought back in the 70s...looks forward to the future of Doctor Who and also celebrates the legend.”
At the end of the last series we were introduced to John Hurt as The Doctor. “With John Hurt we have serious acting royalty and that was the intent of John’s character,” says Moffatt. “John is one of the most distinguished film stars of British origin, one of the most distinguished actors this country has produced and has now become part of Doctor Who mythology.”
<em>The Day of the Doctor</em> is the first time Doctor Who is shown in full 3D. “My first impulse was if we’re going to do 3D it had to be part of the plot,” says Moffatt. “We actually have to make 3D part of the story and if at all possible, to try and make 3D a bit scary. I wouldn’t say it’s in every scene, but there is an element of the show that exploits the fact of 3D.”
It will be surreal to see the tenth Doctor, David Tennant, and the eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, on screen together. “It was eye twisting at times,” says Moffatt. “You don’t quite realize how these two men have become hard wired into your brain as the Doctor.”
“Matt and David got on so well and their interaction on screen is a sublime double act,” says Moffat. “Matt said to me, 'It’s a bit like Laurel and Laurel. It’s like Hardy didn’t turn up'. They are absolutely great together. Sometimes very, very, different. Other times in moments they choose together they are exactly the same.”
“Seeing Billie [Piper] and David standing on set together was quite epic,” says Moffatt. “Billie told me that as she is very good friends with both Matt and David. She felt quite torn and divided. She didn’t know how to deal with both of them at the same time, so if she was talking to one she would stroke the arm of the other.”
Where will Moffat watch this epic event? “I’ve got two impulses,” says Moffatt. “One is to watch it at home with my friends, particularly friends who made the show. My other impulse is to go out and join the party.”
“But it’s a difficult one,” says Moffatt. “When Matt and I watched the <em>Eleventh Hour</em>, we watched it many times before it went out. Then came the faithful day, the 3rd of April 2010. Matt came round to my house, my parents and his parents were there to watch the episode go out and have our future decided. Everyone sat down, but Matt and I couldn’t stay in the room. So I might be watching it peering round my kitchen door with Matt.”