Fan Film Review - "The Millennium Trap"
Apr. 5th, 2009 08:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fangrrl_squees(note to those who might be concerned: I'm hoping to get to Time Rift tonight, honest!)
So, I watched The Millennium Trap, last night, and rather enjoyed it.
The Bedlam Theater company clearly wanted to do a more old-school (early old school) style story and they tackled that in a fairly inspired way - shooting in b&w, and making a point of appropriating the earliest opening title sequence for the intro/closing credits. Despite the fact that it's clearly stated that the story occurs in 1998 (I think I heard that correctly) a very palpable old-old-school feel is maintained throughout. Given that the piece was shot (or restored?) in 2007, I'm guessing the slightly-fuzzy look to the footage was a deliberate effect added in post, to enhance a resemblance to crumbling 3/4" video tape and not, in fact, evidence of crumbling DV. Given how strong the production values were, I'd be surprised if the video signal was like that by accident.
The story was quite ambitious - a full-on four parter, featuring Daleks, Thals, UNIT and (you guessed it) a sand pit. Unfortunately, I think the pacing dragged in the latter half - after a very strong opening episode and a follow-up, but that was okay, because I was too busy goggling at the quality of the production. Several exterior locations were used (quite intelligently, too via the common-sense method of create a smart sign and bung it in front of that old school house, now it's UNIT HQ! approach), and the crew built a great laboratory set - again, in an old-school style with a multiplicity of switches and things that look like they run on vacuum tubes, rather than microchips. I must admit, I rather coveted that set, given the project I'm trying to bring together at the moment...
My minor kvetching about the pacing, aside, the premise of the story was sound - Daleks sucker Terran scientists into helping them after their ship crashes on Earth, Thals show up in hot pursuit and hilarity ensues. The dialog was plausible and paced well, and the acting a cut above many of the fan films I've seen, so far. True, this might have been a case of the director/writer - Rob Thrush - making some good decisions during casting/letting the talent play to their strengths, but I don't know - information about the production is surprisingly scanty, alas.
I'll mention Nick Scovell, in particular. He played a solid Doctor which nicely walked a line between pastiche and homage, and he did a good job. I've encountered a couple of fan films where the Doctor tends to completely overshadow the supporting cast (either in acting ability, or sheer presence on-screen) but, as mentioned, the supporting cast was, in fact, v. competent and kept up, handily. Kudos to 'em, I say.
Using a non-canonical Doctor gave 'em a certain amount of freedom re: characterization and (a major headache for any crew) the TARDIS console room. I think a viewer is more willing to accept all sorts of divergence from so-called canon if the film uses an original Doctor. Once they accept that change, things like re-designed console rooms, new supporting characters (not a Lethbridge-Stewart in sight, although there was definitely an homage going on) are taken in stride.
The sound editor (sorry, no credit list close to hand) did a very fine job of sampling music from the BBC production and re-using it in the fan film. The sound mixing, in general, was quite good - there were a couple of muffled moments and it's a shame that the Dalek voices occasionally had some technical difficulties (popping on the 'p's, that sort of thing) - but, again, better than the average, imho.
All in all, an enjoyable fan-film and one I'll add on to my list of recommendations.
So, I watched The Millennium Trap, last night, and rather enjoyed it.
The Bedlam Theater company clearly wanted to do a more old-school (early old school) style story and they tackled that in a fairly inspired way - shooting in b&w, and making a point of appropriating the earliest opening title sequence for the intro/closing credits. Despite the fact that it's clearly stated that the story occurs in 1998 (I think I heard that correctly) a very palpable old-old-school feel is maintained throughout. Given that the piece was shot (or restored?) in 2007, I'm guessing the slightly-fuzzy look to the footage was a deliberate effect added in post, to enhance a resemblance to crumbling 3/4" video tape and not, in fact, evidence of crumbling DV. Given how strong the production values were, I'd be surprised if the video signal was like that by accident.
The story was quite ambitious - a full-on four parter, featuring Daleks, Thals, UNIT and (you guessed it) a sand pit. Unfortunately, I think the pacing dragged in the latter half - after a very strong opening episode and a follow-up, but that was okay, because I was too busy goggling at the quality of the production. Several exterior locations were used (quite intelligently, too via the common-sense method of create a smart sign and bung it in front of that old school house, now it's UNIT HQ! approach), and the crew built a great laboratory set - again, in an old-school style with a multiplicity of switches and things that look like they run on vacuum tubes, rather than microchips. I must admit, I rather coveted that set, given the project I'm trying to bring together at the moment...
My minor kvetching about the pacing, aside, the premise of the story was sound - Daleks sucker Terran scientists into helping them after their ship crashes on Earth, Thals show up in hot pursuit and hilarity ensues. The dialog was plausible and paced well, and the acting a cut above many of the fan films I've seen, so far. True, this might have been a case of the director/writer - Rob Thrush - making some good decisions during casting/letting the talent play to their strengths, but I don't know - information about the production is surprisingly scanty, alas.
I'll mention Nick Scovell, in particular. He played a solid Doctor which nicely walked a line between pastiche and homage, and he did a good job. I've encountered a couple of fan films where the Doctor tends to completely overshadow the supporting cast (either in acting ability, or sheer presence on-screen) but, as mentioned, the supporting cast was, in fact, v. competent and kept up, handily. Kudos to 'em, I say.
Using a non-canonical Doctor gave 'em a certain amount of freedom re: characterization and (a major headache for any crew) the TARDIS console room. I think a viewer is more willing to accept all sorts of divergence from so-called canon if the film uses an original Doctor. Once they accept that change, things like re-designed console rooms, new supporting characters (not a Lethbridge-Stewart in sight, although there was definitely an homage going on) are taken in stride.
The sound editor (sorry, no credit list close to hand) did a very fine job of sampling music from the BBC production and re-using it in the fan film. The sound mixing, in general, was quite good - there were a couple of muffled moments and it's a shame that the Dalek voices occasionally had some technical difficulties (popping on the 'p's, that sort of thing) - but, again, better than the average, imho.
All in all, an enjoyable fan-film and one I'll add on to my list of recommendations.
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no subject
Date: 2009-04-05 09:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-05 11:28 pm (UTC)Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be available online/for DL. I can consult the list of which titles I'm allowed to copy, though, and get a copy to you that way (if I can).
no subject
Date: 2009-04-06 02:08 pm (UTC)Actually, it was shot in 1997 or '98 (don't remember offhand) so the slight fuzziness of the image is indeed rapidly-diminishing pre-digital masters.
There was much talk of a remastering of this one a couple years ago with new fx, but I haven't heard a peep since about '07 or so. Hmm, I need to check into that...
no subject
Date: 2009-04-06 06:47 pm (UTC)Well, the fuzzy look worked for the film, then. :)
no subject
Date: 2009-04-06 06:50 pm (UTC)Because you did -- I designed the box art for that one, and when I do that, I always give them a (then) current copyright date... silly, I suppose, but it makes it look more authentic and "real." So yeah, yer tender eyes do not deceive, however neither was the (c) intended to deceive! ;-p
no subject
Date: 2009-04-06 07:02 pm (UTC)Still liked it, regardless of the image quality. I thought it was quite good fun.