But as a concept a repeat run of Big Brother over here could never work as no one would be interested- except diehards on the BB forum- and I'm unaware there has ever been a DVD made of a series so in the long term it is dead money.

One thing to consider there was already in a camera crew in Venice to film Francesco Da Mosta's series on Venice. I'm not too sure if this was at the same time as the filming of Doctor Who but they could have used the film crew already there rather than ship another one from the DW team - so it could have been just Matt Smith and the writer.

True.

It's all a non-story, anyway. Simply a case of Tories, inside and outside the press, lashing out in anger because their party didn't win a majority.

True .. typical "post and run" thread designed to cause an argument ..

I was trying to make a list of the costs for Doctor Who Confidential, not that episode of Doctor Who, however you are right, we saw some guys go to Venice to take a few landscape shots.

I think anyone who saw the episode, who have said that filming in Croatia was a smart move, along with clever tricks of the trade, when it came to lighting the set to make it look like it was next to water.

Cant say I was too suprised about the fake gonadal however, that said im sure doing it that way was alot cheaper and alot quicker.

I don't usually watch Confidential but tuned in to see where the money had been wasted. That bit started with the writer meeting a historian. it was interesting, educatonal and well done. Smith's presence wasn't 100% necessary, but he added thespian enthusiasm and was an extra hook to keep the kiddies glued. Trip money (presumably journey to/from Croatia?) well spent.

Good use of the licence money, especially if some kids learnt something or had their imagination sparked.

Heartfelt thanks to News International for showing me yet another reason why the BBC and the unique way in which it is funded is such a good thing. I'll now be sure to vote against anyone appearing to want to harm it! Thanks again!

WHAT???

DW is what the BBC is all about..Drop all the other BS like Wipeout,all those god awful lottery shows.

its shows like Ashes to Ashes , Dr Who just cant be matched by another Channel.

Fake gonad? No - Rory just looks like that anyway.

I'll get my coat. :

ok lets try gondola.

I actually just started watching it, and in the first 5 minutes or so they are, shock and horror, taking shots for the Episode with the camera crew, trying to find a good place to get a shot that will let them blend the real venice with the location they are doing the actual episode.

I'm not surprised at that (as I think I posted earlier, I've known it to happen in animated series on much tighter budgets), so that accounts for the film crew being there, which means that anything else shot there is likely done at effectively no, or very little cost in terms of the crew.

Add the educational value of some of the other bits in the episode of confidential and I'd say they probably did quite well in educating, entertaining and informing people cheaply, partly on the back of necessary work for the main show (making smart use of the available facilities).

It is my hope that in 10 years time, there will be a generation of media students, who have been inspired to go into the production side of TV, rather than the on camera side, thanks to Doctor Who Confidential.

Aye, it's things like Doctor Who Confidential that give an insight into what goes into making TV, and how much hard work, ingenuity and outright trickery is involved to get effects that most people won't notice if it's done right, but will notice if it's done wrong (and also why it can cost as much as it does, and involve as many people as it does).

It also makes it quite clear that it's not all glamour and fun, nor necessarily particularly safe for those that don't know what they are doing/have experience
The poor lass who had to jump into the water mid December, although she did get to wear a customised wet/dry suit (which I suspect some people would complain about the cost of if the Mail printed an article on it "BBC wastes money on customised clothing to protect stars from getting wet").

I suspect the H&S people were great fans of this episode (the risks of jumping into very cold water alone would probably make some H&S guys a little nervous).

I wont lie I was a little bit surprised by her attitude, a good actor will do this stuff, and not complain quite as much as she did, and its not like she can say, oh I thought it would all be studio based, this isnt EE, this is Doctor Who, the only thing you know, is that you dont know what you will be required to do. She should have seen it as part of the job.

What I liked was the cost saving measures shown, the fake gondola, just think how much it would have cost to film it on a real gondola, surprised the BBC doesnt have an underwater camera, that Doctor who could use.

Also the water pool, to reflect the light and make it look like they were near water, worked really well on screen, and a very cheap solution to the problem.

I'm not too surprised by the possible attitude about jumping in the water, I suspect that may have been glossed over a little in the audition "can you swim"

Although as you say the cost saving measures, and the odd little tricks really do work well, and are probably at least in part based on the experience of various members of the crew from past work (the gondola shadow is i think standard theatre sort of thing, but the water bowl reflection is something i'd not heard about).
I suspect the reason for the lack of underwater cameras is probably cost, it's probably much cheaper for Doctor Who to have it's cameras allocated for the whole series up front than hire/buy a specific camera, especially if they know a work around that is cheap/safe enough to risk and probably saved a fair bit of change (although I can imagine a picky accountant asking "why did you need a fish tank again?").

if she didnt want the role, she could have given it to another girl, im sure plenty would have volunteered even knowing what would be expected of them.

can i just ask on this ,does anyone know if there is an agent that covers extras for dr.who?

I am guessing Doctor Who does what most people does, and uses an extras agency for extras.

Ill do that one day, either go see a TV show being filmed, or be an extra on something.

that wasn't really the question i was asking,is there any company that deploy extras for dr.who if so whats there weblink or adress etc

sorry, dont know what agency they use, would you like me to ask on the Doctor Who forum? you may get an answer.

i am trying there too ,my error from writing here

ok, hope you get an answer

thanks