A bit of background to the Doctor Who debacle from Davies’ pov…
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I am watching since Friday “House of Cards” the original BBC TV series with Ian Richardson, who is fantastic in the lead. I watched this original around 1990 on Dutch television and I thought it was brilliant. Bought on dvd maybe ten years ago but never got it out of it’s seal, untill Friday afternoon. I watched the first series, but there’re two more to go “Play the King” and “The Final Cut” which I will watch the folowing days. I never watched the American remake and I am not going to, just not interested and I don’t like the American lead.
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This reads… exuberantly. I felt overwhelmed and rushed by someone absolutely sure of himself.
Maybe it’s time for a showrunner who is more in doubt.
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He sounds very confident in that snippet. Wonder if he would if someone else had pitched him that Doctor Who Christmas Special with the Daleks…
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You should read The Writers Tale. RTD it turns out is full of self doubt but his public persona is the most confident and bombastic force of nature you’ve met, but then his friends and colleagues of years read that book and where shocked to discover that is all an act to make sure his scripts get made or convince people that it’s completely right to change this or remove that.
First time I’ve ever seen someone use that ability to cancel his OWN script mind you…
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I encountered people with similar behaviour.
Very, very difficult to deal with since their confidence is so off the charts, at least in their official public persona, that they tend to throw tantrums whenever one dares to make a comment.
Some producers and studio people even get so scared that they duck behind writers to have them say what they are afraid of.
Not a good atmosphere to work in. And the results often show that.
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The interest definitely seems to be there.
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It is a major IP.
But imagine how many will now have to compete… for free. Even the big guns in today’s climate will be asked to ask for nothing before they are chosen.
At least that is something I encounter now every day. One used to get paid for a pitch. Now it´s just: no, are you kidding? Be grateful that you are allowed to compete for us. And by the way: your ideas will be owned by us, sign this before you send in your pitch.
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Particularly with it being at the BBC at the moment - if part of the pitch you give doesn’t have an idea where most of the money is coming from, it’s a non-starter. Would certainly suggest why the partnership with ITV is being floated.
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The first trailer did not convince me. But this one - yes, I am intrigued and I will watch.
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I don´t know how good this show is - but the trailer made sure it is a James Bond spoof. And the score is fabulous, tipping its hat to the Barry classics.
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Cage. I‘m in.
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Antonio Banderas for me is a huge selling point.
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The Diplomat season one (Netflix)
This is a weird show where we puzzle for several episodes what it wants to be, quirky political love triangle romcom, international politics satire, The Office in an embassy setting? Time and again the show changes focus, tone and pace and there’d be a risk audiences lose interest if the cast wasn’t so bloody good, particularly Russel, Essandoh, Ahn and Sewell. Watching them is fun whether the show tries to be serious or satire.
But do not fall for it, The Diplomat is a thriller.
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For me, it really finds its groove in the third season, and I am intrigued to see that escalated in the just released fourth one.
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CARRIE (Amazon Prime)
Why? The DePalma film remains a classic and one of the best King adaptations out there.
Here‘s the reason. Two reasons, actually.
No.1: it‘s 50 years, half a century!, since the movie depicted teenage angst (with quite adult actors). Lots of things have changed, and in order to tell the story for the current generation and make it relevant, a new contemporary viewpoint is thrillingly interesting.
No. 2: It’s Mike Flanagan who has created this new adaptation, in a series format which allows for a more deeper look, expanding the story while making use of many aspects of the book which were not / could not be part of a two hour movie.
And while De Palma is a master, Flanagan is, too. Just a different stylist, yet with a distinctive, often classicist and classy mise en scene which hooks me every time from the very first minute.
Also, Flanagan is pitch perfect with casting and directing actors, just like he is with writing, choosing the right score (and in this case needle drops).
Yes, this show is fantastic, and I absolutely recommend it.
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Seems like people love CARRIE. Season 2 is a go after the massive success in the first week.
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My first thought was to roll my eyes. After Penguin and Clayface maybe it’s time they stopped with the pretense of a DC Universe and just do a Batman Universe.
However, Poison Ivy is perhaps the easier villain to rehabilitate into an anti-hero right now. With everything going on in the world it should be fairly easier to audience to get behind a plant-powered eco-terrorist. In fact, in the traditional battle between the billionaire corporation owner and the eco-warrior, can we really be expected to root for the billionaire?
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I think the first Joker movie was great. The Penguin TV series is my favourite depiction of any comic villain, Batman or otherwise. But these are the exception. I’ve had my fill of these villain projects now. These characters typically work best when the hero is present, opposed to their scheme. The new Clayface movie is getting decent feedback, but I highly doubt it’s better than the BTAS two-parter Feat of Clay. Which kind of makes me think what’s the point?