A Writer's Tale

[louisedennis]

A Writer's Tale by Benjamin Cook and Russell T. Davies is a (just about) year long email interview come conversation between Benjamin Cook (a Doctor Who Magazine writer) and Russell T. Davies about the writing process. It encompasses the writing of the 2007 Christmas Special (the one with Kylie in) and then Season 4. And it's a pretty fascinating

Comments

[reggietate]

If it's the book I'm thinking of, I may well buy it once it hits paperback. It's easy to knock RTD (I do have issues with some of his stuff myself) but few of us could do what he's done with Who, even half as well as he has. He isn't perfect, but nor is he the rubbish writer some suggest he is.

I certainly didn't know about the rewrite of The Fires of Pompeii; that's interesting.

[louisedennis]

I was very interested in the Fires of Pompeii. I was so excited when I heard James Moran was writing a Primeval episode because I liked that Who episode so much and then we got the rather lacklustre haunted house story. Obviously I had other disappointments with S4 but that episode was a big blow because I'd been looking forward to it so much.

The book is well worth getting though.

[parrot_knight]

I'm fascinated by the gaps - there is little discussion of Helen Raynor's Sontaran two-parter, for example, beyond hints that it needed as much, if not more, rewriting as Moran's script. Perhaps we will learn more in the extended paperback edition. It's heavily reworked from the source materials, no doubt, to preserve confidentiality, and there is a clue in an early e-mail where there is a reference to Donna's mother at a time when they should still have been discussing Penny, suggesting material which has been moved.

[louisedennis]

It's obviously been edited. There's a startling lack of swearing, which seems unlikely given the nature of the personalities involved.

I find it interesting as an "Old Who" fan, long grown accustomed to knowing all the behind-the-scenes shenanigans in as much detail as I can stomach, how frustrating I find the wall of solidarity maintained by the current production team, even when I understand and respect the fact. Some of the gaps are beginning to show, especially in recent discussion of the first season. I think the book was a lot more candid, even with the obvious editing, than I might have expected.

[parrot_knight]

The S3 two-parter was the victim of a last-minute budget recalculation which led to the excision of a very expensive climax and lots of material being reshuffled to cover for it, according to articles in DWM.

[fredbassett]

Fascinating. I think this has just explained for me why I've got so bloody sick of RTD's writing. I've got no respect at all for anyone who leaves the writing so bloody late that they haven't got time to fix obvious problems. That's just sloppy and unprofessional in my view.

I used to like RTD a lot, but then when I've seen more of his stuff on NuWho, and Torchwood, I've been getting less and less impressed.

I think I'll need to get this book now.

[louisedennis]

One thing that isn't entirely clear in the book is how habitual Davies' late starts actually are. It's clear he's always been something of a last minute writer but the book gives the impression its particularly bad with this run of the stories and that in some ways its the result of a kind of backlog of things gradually building up, while being a little vague on what those other things are

[fredbassett]

Actually, I don't find it particularly hard to believe that someone with unprofessional habits could have risen like RTD has. TV is a very fickle medium, and can elevate - and dash down - quite the most unlikely people.

And ranting about time wasted at launches also irritates the hell out of me, like F1 drivers who complain about having to schmooze the sponsors. It goes with the bloody job. Suck it up, is my view.

I have no bloody sympathy whatsoever with people who moan about having to do the social stuff. If that's the hardest thing they have to put up with in a working day, they're bloody lucky! *rant rant*

[louisedennis]

I don't know. I get the impression the lower echelons of TV writing are full of a respect for writers who can deliver something the right length, and the right budget and on time, irrespective of quality and Davies had to rise through those ranks to get where he is.

I may have the wrong impression there - but I've seen enough writing manuals which stress how many people fail at those basics and that contemplation of the deathlessness of the prose only starts once those boxes have been checked.

I really do find it hard to imagine Davies getting any of his early opportunities - many on soap opera like productions, if he was leaving things quite as late as he does here.

[telperion_15]

This sounds like it might be a fascinating and frustrating read all in one!

I do get a tad annoyed with all the RTD backlash sometimes (I'm not accusing you of this, you understand!). Yes, his writing's not perfect, yes it can be a bit OTT, but at the end of the day we wouldn't have NuWho without him, and despite the flaws in his eps I still enjoy them massively, and feel that sometimes people can be a bit harsh.

But I shall definitely have to look out for this book...

[louisedennis]

I find NuWho and RTD extremely frustrating. Many of my favourite Dr Who episodes are NuWho ones, and some of those are written by RTD - both Midnight and, it would seem, The Fires of Pompeii to name but two. But in some ways it's like getting a tantalising glimpse of something that could be so much better...

Of course on other days I'm just cross that it wasn't Firefly which I know is plain stupid of me, but everyone has their moments of rationality fail.

[fredbassett]

I think you've just summed up pretty much what I feel about RTD as well. It's good in places, but it irritates the hell out of me because it could have been so much better. And some of his comments over the Torchwood ending left me with the inescapable feeling that he's an arrogant twat. Telling fans they should go read poetry or watch SPN if they didn't like it was pretty much beyond the pail for me. (And I am speaking as a slash fan who was left completely cold by Jack/Ianto, so I certainly don't have a personal axe to grind in that argument.)

[louisedennis]

See its funny, I agreed with a lot of what he said about the Torchwood ending.

If TV can't have tragedy, like Ianto dieing, then I think it is a poorer place.

[lukadreaming]

I bought the book with some Christmas money and enjoyed the glimpse at the writing process. I did roll my eyes at RTD leaving everything to the last minute, but then reminded myself how hypocritical I was being, as that's how I've written for a living for the last 25 years. But then again I'm not a BBC scriptwriter *g*.

[fredbassett]

*smiles winningly*

Can I borrow it? I'd love to read it, but don't fancy shelling out for the hardback.

[lukadreaming]

Of course you can! Btw, been trying to email you, but Googlemail is down. Snarl!

We now return you to normal service on Louise's LJ *g*.

[fredbassett]

Splendid! It sounds like the sort of book I'd have fun moaning about!

*snarls at your email*