Q&A with PHIL FORD [writer on The Sarah Jane Adventures]
Hi there! New face to sarahjane_fic here, and I hope to be a regular poster!
So I recently had the chance to interview Phil Ford, writer for the 'Eye of the Gorgon' and 'The Lost Boy' two-parters on the Sarah Jane Adventures, and thought I'd share. Hope you find it informative!
Phil, I'm a HUGE fan of your writing! Can't wait to see what you have coming for Season 2 of SJA! I'm sure it's going to be epic!
Thanks for the praise. I'll try and live up to expectations - but I do think that the next series of Sarah Jane will be great! I'm working on the series finale right now. Apart from my eps, Gareth Roberts has a couple of typically weird and wonderful stories coming up, and Joe Lidster has written a fab adventure that'll pluck the heart strings as well as scare the pants off folk!!
Do you go to conventions or signings or any sort of Doctor Who-related gathering?
If I have the opportunity I love to go to conventions. I recently did The Rift down in London with Joe Lidster and James Moran flying the writers flag with the Torchwood crowd. In the past I've done of couple of Fandersons because of my work on New Captain Scarlet. It's a teriffic opportunity to hear what the fans think about the shows, and I never grow tired of their enthusiasm.
Do you prefer writing/watching Torchwood to the Sarah Jane Adventures?
I loved writing both Torchwood and SJA, and I love both shows. And I think there are a lot of adult viewers who enjoy Captain Jack and the team who will find a lot to love about Sarah Jane. It might go out in a kids' slot, but I have never thought of it as a kids' show when I've sat down to work on it.
Are you at liberty to reveal how many scripts you'll be writing for Season 2, what the titles are or any teasers on what we can expect? From the way you described the Season 2 finale, I have every confidence your episodes are going to be epic!
I'm writing three stories for Season II, that's six scripts. I'm kicking the series off and winding it up. But I'm not going to tell you anything about them!! Not just yet...
On the SJA, do you just write the scripts, or are you on hand for consultation or advice to the actors/crew with regard to how you picture certain scenes in an episode being played out?
Good question. Before we start filming we generally have a read-through. That's where the cast gets to grips with the script and if any one has any questions, then I'm there for them. The director is also there and will generally ask the odd question, if necessary. After that, they're all pretty much on their own as far as I'm concerned! It's great to get down to the filming if you can, but I've tended to be too busy on the next script to see much of it, so writers don't tend to be on set much. By then it's really the director's baby, any way. You also hope that any questions that actors might have about character/motivation, that sort of thing are answered in the script, any way.
Season 3 of the Sarah Jane Adventures is rumoured to have already been given the go ahead. Would you return to the show to write episodes for that series, too?
Yes, we are already talking about Season 3. And yes, I'll be there. But that's probably all I can say right now. Just keep your fingers crossed that we get a green light.
The episodes of the Sarah Jane Adventures have been turned into books up till 'The Warriors of Kudlak'. But have you been approached to write a story version of 'The Lost Boy'?
They have asked me, but I had to say no due to work commitments. But I believe that Gary Russell might be taking it on. Gary is my script editor on Sarah Jane and I know he'll do a fantastic job.
I personally adored the book version of 'Eye of the Gorgon'. A novelization has more insight and you can pick up things you may have missed or not even noticed in the episodes.
The great thing about doing a novelization is that the really hard work is already done - you have the script. The fun thing then is to flesh it out, possibly with elements that got cut from the shooting script. It is also nice to develop characters a little more in the way that you can only do in a novel.
I'd LOVE to get your autograph on my 'Eye of the Gorgon' novelization. What's the best way to go about doing this?
Short answer is, I'm not sure. Let me think, and see how we could arrange it.
Torchwood Season 2 boxset will be coming out soon, as will the Sarah Jane Adventures boxset this Autumn. Do you plan to get them? Were you disappointed when the SJA Volume 1 DVD got delayed, and possibly even canceled?
I wasn't aware that SJA Vol 1 had been delayed. I do know that there are plans for a box set later this year (they've just been in touch about doing something on it). And of course I like to get the box sets - for all the extras. Even when you work on a show you don't see or know everything that goes on, so those extras can be an eye-opener!
Recent visits to the SJA set by some fans have revealed that the subject of some Season 2 episodes may involve an astrologist named Michael Trueman as well as a circus museum. Were you involved in writing these episodes at all?
You know what? You're just going to have to wait and find out. One of the episodes filming at the moment is mine, the other was written by Gareth. But as for what they might involve... I'll tell you this: there are some scary moments in the wings!
Except for SJA, do you have any other projects on the go?
Nice of you to ask. Right now I'm also writing a Torchwood novel which I think is due out some time in the autumn. Apart from that I'm quite heavilly committed to Sarah Jane, although I do have one or two other projects bubbling away with people. Development can be a long and angusihing process that often ends in disappointment, so I hope you'll forgive me if I don't give too much away right now. I am hopelessly superstitious!
MANY THANKS TO PHIL FORD!
So I recently had the chance to interview Phil Ford, writer for the 'Eye of the Gorgon' and 'The Lost Boy' two-parters on the Sarah Jane Adventures, and thought I'd share. Hope you find it informative!
Phil, I'm a HUGE fan of your writing! Can't wait to see what you have coming for Season 2 of SJA! I'm sure it's going to be epic!
Thanks for the praise. I'll try and live up to expectations - but I do think that the next series of Sarah Jane will be great! I'm working on the series finale right now. Apart from my eps, Gareth Roberts has a couple of typically weird and wonderful stories coming up, and Joe Lidster has written a fab adventure that'll pluck the heart strings as well as scare the pants off folk!!
Do you go to conventions or signings or any sort of Doctor Who-related gathering?
If I have the opportunity I love to go to conventions. I recently did The Rift down in London with Joe Lidster and James Moran flying the writers flag with the Torchwood crowd. In the past I've done of couple of Fandersons because of my work on New Captain Scarlet. It's a teriffic opportunity to hear what the fans think about the shows, and I never grow tired of their enthusiasm.
Do you prefer writing/watching Torchwood to the Sarah Jane Adventures?
I loved writing both Torchwood and SJA, and I love both shows. And I think there are a lot of adult viewers who enjoy Captain Jack and the team who will find a lot to love about Sarah Jane. It might go out in a kids' slot, but I have never thought of it as a kids' show when I've sat down to work on it.
Are you at liberty to reveal how many scripts you'll be writing for Season 2, what the titles are or any teasers on what we can expect? From the way you described the Season 2 finale, I have every confidence your episodes are going to be epic!
I'm writing three stories for Season II, that's six scripts. I'm kicking the series off and winding it up. But I'm not going to tell you anything about them!! Not just yet...
On the SJA, do you just write the scripts, or are you on hand for consultation or advice to the actors/crew with regard to how you picture certain scenes in an episode being played out?
Good question. Before we start filming we generally have a read-through. That's where the cast gets to grips with the script and if any one has any questions, then I'm there for them. The director is also there and will generally ask the odd question, if necessary. After that, they're all pretty much on their own as far as I'm concerned! It's great to get down to the filming if you can, but I've tended to be too busy on the next script to see much of it, so writers don't tend to be on set much. By then it's really the director's baby, any way. You also hope that any questions that actors might have about character/motivation, that sort of thing are answered in the script, any way.
Season 3 of the Sarah Jane Adventures is rumoured to have already been given the go ahead. Would you return to the show to write episodes for that series, too?
Yes, we are already talking about Season 3. And yes, I'll be there. But that's probably all I can say right now. Just keep your fingers crossed that we get a green light.
The episodes of the Sarah Jane Adventures have been turned into books up till 'The Warriors of Kudlak'. But have you been approached to write a story version of 'The Lost Boy'?
They have asked me, but I had to say no due to work commitments. But I believe that Gary Russell might be taking it on. Gary is my script editor on Sarah Jane and I know he'll do a fantastic job.
I personally adored the book version of 'Eye of the Gorgon'. A novelization has more insight and you can pick up things you may have missed or not even noticed in the episodes.
The great thing about doing a novelization is that the really hard work is already done - you have the script. The fun thing then is to flesh it out, possibly with elements that got cut from the shooting script. It is also nice to develop characters a little more in the way that you can only do in a novel.
I'd LOVE to get your autograph on my 'Eye of the Gorgon' novelization. What's the best way to go about doing this?
Short answer is, I'm not sure. Let me think, and see how we could arrange it.
Torchwood Season 2 boxset will be coming out soon, as will the Sarah Jane Adventures boxset this Autumn. Do you plan to get them? Were you disappointed when the SJA Volume 1 DVD got delayed, and possibly even canceled?
I wasn't aware that SJA Vol 1 had been delayed. I do know that there are plans for a box set later this year (they've just been in touch about doing something on it). And of course I like to get the box sets - for all the extras. Even when you work on a show you don't see or know everything that goes on, so those extras can be an eye-opener!
Recent visits to the SJA set by some fans have revealed that the subject of some Season 2 episodes may involve an astrologist named Michael Trueman as well as a circus museum. Were you involved in writing these episodes at all?
You know what? You're just going to have to wait and find out. One of the episodes filming at the moment is mine, the other was written by Gareth. But as for what they might involve... I'll tell you this: there are some scary moments in the wings!
Except for SJA, do you have any other projects on the go?
Nice of you to ask. Right now I'm also writing a Torchwood novel which I think is due out some time in the autumn. Apart from that I'm quite heavilly committed to Sarah Jane, although I do have one or two other projects bubbling away with people. Development can be a long and angusihing process that often ends in disappointment, so I hope you'll forgive me if I don't give too much away right now. I am hopelessly superstitious!
MANY THANKS TO PHIL FORD!