I went to a Doctor Who convention yesterday. ‘Global Conspiracy’ was a one-day affair themed around a story called ‘The Green Death’, just released on DVD. This story lives on in the vague memories of a generation as ‘the one with the giant maggots’.
The guests were writers/producers Terrance Dicks and Barry Letts, guest actor Stewart Bevan, and Nicholas Courtney who played the iconic recurring character the Brigadier. They were all very charismatic raconteurs, thoughtful and driven and absolutely lovely to listen to.
Most compelling was Barry Letts, who was in acting in the 40s and 50s, then moved to directing, then on to production and writing. He knows the business of TV thoroughly, and expressed himself with care and commitment. He was mesmerising. The others were also great fun; the massively enthusiastic Terrance Dicks, the booming luvvie Nick Courtney, and Stewart Bevan, bemused to find himself answering questions about a minor role from thirty years ago.
The discussion ranged much further than Doctor Who, though. A major theme was concern over the current state of British TV and film. There was a charming moment when Barry Letts talked about the great tide of reality TV, and as if on cue the other three panellists shook their heads gravely at the awfulness of it all.
I like Doctor Who. I like what it stands for. I remember mulling over the character and the TV show when I was newly arrived in Britain, flying a kite on Blackheath as it happens, and it all made sense in a way it never quite had from the other side of the world. Scribbled some lines in my notebook that evening, which I’ve dug out for this blog entry:
“The power of the idea – a man who solves problems through good humour and common sense and lateral thinking, who opposes the crushing logic of Voltaire’s bastards… there is a need for this kind of man, now more than ever. This man makes particular sense among the isolating traditions of England. Ultimately, [the heath] is where his stories return to – the common space in an increasingly uncommon world.”
4 thoughts on “Chap With Wings”
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For me the cool thing in this blog post is the enthusiasm. It is compelling to listen to someone who is really passionate about something, even if it’s not something you share the passion for (though if you do it’s all the better). Same is true of reading blog posts – they are somewhere between conversation, public speaking, and more traditional writing like columns. Reading about someone else having a good time, getting inspired, refelecting on the ways things are or should be – that pretty much rocks. This post had both sides of that passion – it being recognised in others, and being communicated by the writer.
It’s all that and a packet of crisps.
~m: excuse my ignorance but “flying a kite on Blackheath as it happens” wtf? Is this Dr Who speak for something else I’m ignorant about?
By the way, b-ball practice with the Hutt boys rocked last night. Ben and Brad in fine form. We took out the other Sentinals members 11-(something much less) with solid inside passes, twirley Ben posts and wee Brad jumpers and banks!
PS: Ben and I think you are still much the geek for your Dr Who obsession!
“flying a kite on blackheath” – um, there’s this place, and its a big heath, and its called Blackheath, and I was on it, flying a kite.
Pleased to hear Brad was throwing a ball around. That crazy man! Good on yer all of yer.
Gadzooks! You were being literal. I hadn’t thought of that.
*sighs with happiness at the world making sense*