- Paperback: 228 pages
- Publisher: Reynolds & Hearn Ltd (4 Oct 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1905287410
- ISBN-13: 978-1905287413
- Product Dimensions: 23.5 x 16.1 x 1.7 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 619,489 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Synopsis
Behind the scenes on Doctor Who from one of the show's leading directors. Graeme Harper's association with Doctor Who began in the mid-1960s, and he directed some of its best-loved episodes in the 1980s. In 2005 he made a triumphant return to the series, directing David Tennant's Doctor in the acclaimed episodes Rise of the Cybermen, The Age of Steel, Army of Ghosts and Doomsday. The momentous events in these stories included the birth of Cyberman, their subsequent confrontation with the Daleks and the departure of Rose, played by Billie Piper. In 2006, Harper was entrusted with the episodes 42 and Utopia. The latter re-introduced the Doctor's arch-nemesis the Master, played by Sir Derek Jacobi and John Simm. As the only director to have worked on both classic and new Doctor Who, Greame Harper is uniquely qualified to reveal how the show's techniques have evolved. Calling The shots is part production diary, part memoir, and brings an unparalleled insight into the making of a modern television drama.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is Director Graeme Harper's production diary from some episodes of series 2 and 3 of the new run, including the series 2 finale "Doomsday", and series 3' "42" and "Utopia". It's an interesting insight into the day-to-day process of making a Doctor Who episode, and is packed with quite a few fun anecdotes about the show's cast.
Graeme Harper also worked on the classic series of Doctor Who, and the blurb on the back makes something of the fact that Harper compares working on the original series to working on the new one- however the chapter "How It Used To Work" is literally FIVE PAGES long, which was by far the most disappointing thing about the book. If Harper could've spent a bit longer telling stories of the 'olden days' this would've been a truly fascinating read for all Whovians, but that's a missed opportunity there.
At times the diary is a little bit dry- too many dates and dry production information, not quite enough personality- but mostly it's a decent read, and worth reading for a Who fan or if you're interested in working in TV.
Graeme Harper also worked on the classic series of Doctor Who, and the blurb on the back makes something of the fact that Harper compares working on the original series to working on the new one- however the chapter "How It Used To Work" is literally FIVE PAGES long, which was by far the most disappointing thing about the book. If Harper could've spent a bit longer telling stories of the 'olden days' this would've been a truly fascinating read for all Whovians, but that's a missed opportunity there.
At times the diary is a little bit dry- too many dates and dry production information, not quite enough personality- but mostly it's a decent read, and worth reading for a Who fan or if you're interested in working in TV.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An intersting perspective. Not the run of the mill Doctor Who book but seen through the eyes of the makers of the programme.
A great gift for any fan.
A great gift for any fan.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Inside The New Who
14 May 2008
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Graeme Harper may well be the best director on the revived Doctor Who TV series. While many making of books can be dull, Harper and coauthor Adrain Rigelsford bring the director's energy and movement to this book. The result is anything but dull: Calling The Shots is a well-paced making of that should make fans happy.
Harper begins with the pre-production work on his four episodes from series two (Rise Of The Cybermen, Age Of Steel, Army Of Ghosts, Doomsday) and how the return of the Cybermen came about. Harper then goes from the pre-production work into the filming of the episodes themselves. This section is full of what makes the book work: a combination of anecdotes, observations on the complexities and difficulties of making the series, and the sheer joy at the heart of it all. Harper's full of praise at times, especially when dealing with scenes like the emotional finale of Doomsday. Fans of the classic series will be intrigued by the third section of the book as Harper looks back at his work on Power Of The Daleks, The Caves Of Androzani, Revelation Of The Daleks, and the aborted thirtieth anniversary story The Dark Dimension. Though it is an intriguing comparison of production methods and even insightful (especially on Dark Dimension), this section is also frustratingly short. From there it's back to the new series with Harper's two episodes from series three (42, Utopia). Harper's energy is there as his is praise for the cast and crew, especially Derek Jacobi as Professor Yana in Utopia. To wrap it all up, we're then given a teaser of Harper's work on series four which is now broadcasting as of this writing.
While having a frustrating short section on the classic series, Harper's book is a interesting look at the making of the new series. Instead of being dull and matte rof fact ins style, Harper brings the energy of his direction from the screen to the page. Fans will find plenty to read about as will filmmakers, who will enjoy the insights into the complexities of making the show. This book may be THE making of book on the new series.
Harper begins with the pre-production work on his four episodes from series two (Rise Of The Cybermen, Age Of Steel, Army Of Ghosts, Doomsday) and how the return of the Cybermen came about. Harper then goes from the pre-production work into the filming of the episodes themselves. This section is full of what makes the book work: a combination of anecdotes, observations on the complexities and difficulties of making the series, and the sheer joy at the heart of it all. Harper's full of praise at times, especially when dealing with scenes like the emotional finale of Doomsday. Fans of the classic series will be intrigued by the third section of the book as Harper looks back at his work on Power Of The Daleks, The Caves Of Androzani, Revelation Of The Daleks, and the aborted thirtieth anniversary story The Dark Dimension. Though it is an intriguing comparison of production methods and even insightful (especially on Dark Dimension), this section is also frustratingly short. From there it's back to the new series with Harper's two episodes from series three (42, Utopia). Harper's energy is there as his is praise for the cast and crew, especially Derek Jacobi as Professor Yana in Utopia. To wrap it all up, we're then given a teaser of Harper's work on series four which is now broadcasting as of this writing.
While having a frustrating short section on the classic series, Harper's book is a interesting look at the making of the new series. Instead of being dull and matte rof fact ins style, Harper brings the energy of his direction from the screen to the page. Fans will find plenty to read about as will filmmakers, who will enjoy the insights into the complexities of making the show. This book may be THE making of book on the new series.
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