American mass-entertainment has a stranglehold on fan films. I mean, amateur tribute flicks are made all over the world, as noted just the other day when I wrote about the Australian fan flick Suburban Knights, but generally, if a franchise is getting a homemade rendition from a fan, odds are that it’s an American franchise…unless you’re talking about Doctor Who.
While the long-running BBC show has a presence in the U.S. on SciFi Channel and has a legion of followers in this country, Doctor Who is an undeniably English creation, and simply doesn’t have the following in the U.S. that, say, Battlestar Galactica does (or even my late, lamented pet series, Journeyman). It’s ironic then, that due to that gap of awareness, most U.S. fan film followers don’t realize that Dr. Who is the subject of more fan films than any other franchise except for Star Wars. So then—where to enter the world of the legendary show’s fan films?
There’s a few stops; for instance, Clifford Hoeft’s Doctor Who fan film page, the 114 Who flicks listed at fanfilms.net, and my personal favorite, The Doctor Who Fan Film Database, which lists related fan shorts running back to 1985.
As good a place to start as any is the fun, three-part flick, Tyranny of the Daleks, 4198 A.D., produced by the mysterious UK outfit, Cheeky Monkey Productions. One of the first things that jumps out at you is the quality of acting; these people can spill extensive exposition without batting an eye (particularly the cute Lizzie Whitting, playing Romana), and the cast clearly has a blast in the movie. Pay attention and you’ll even notice a Star Trek crossover of sorts!
If you’d rather just read, you can always check out the aptly titled Doctor Who Fan Film Magazine (you’ll never guess what it’s about). Produced as a free downloadable PDF file by teen fan film fan Billy Treacy, the nine-page zine covers the production of a number of flicks, most noticably fan films by, erm, Billy Treacy.
That said, it’s all in good fun, he gets other filmmakers in there, and the layout quality is impressive for a first-time zine. Topics in the current issue include a preview of the fan film Time Agent, a chat with Chris Thompson, creator of a fan production called The Final Adventure, and some other bits and pieces.
Got a Who flick the world ought to check out? Tell all about it in the comments section below!
Hi and thanks for your kind words about Tyranny of the Daleks.. hoping to finish Episode IV next year!
Cheers!
Adam
The Federation is an American group that has been making Doctor Who fan films since 1983. The group history can be found on the sorely-needing-updating website at http://www.fedvideo.net . A selection of short subjects by the Federation (and other groups)can be found on the Federation website at http://www.fedvideo.net/6m2. Details about our most recent production, “Shadowcast”, can be found at http://www.shillpages.com/shadowcast/ .
There are SOME Americans who get the whole Who phenom! Check out our production of Timelord. This deals with the 13th Doctor and a startling “regenration”. Episode one is in two parts on YouTube, with three more episodes to follow.
http://www.youtube.com/user/wemadeyoulook
Apparently something got written about this post over at drwhoforum.com, but I can’t see what it is. I signed up to be a member so I could take a look but am still waiting to be approved. If one of you has some clout, could you get me through that final hurdle? Thanks,
Clive
Hello… probably one of the best Who fan films,especially of the ones available over the Net is Deconstruction.. a wonderful film with so much to recommend it. Available to download here :
http://www.westlakefilms.co.uk/deconstruction.html
Cheers!
Adam
Nice little article, there – well done!
As requested, I’ve stuck my head above the parapet to flag up the ‘Doctor Who’ fan-films by ‘The Projection Room’. There are 7 to-date (‘The Crystal of Achillon’, ‘The Invisible Opiate’, ‘The Deadly Alliance’, ‘A Stitch in Time’, ‘Masterplan’, ‘Gene Genius’ and ‘The Schrodinger Effect’) made since 1994, and the last two have parts played by Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred & Colin Baker!!
A specific website is on the way, but trailers for our productions are on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ChrisHoyle) and the episodes are on the Doctor Who Fan-Film Data-Base.
Happy viewings!!
Homegrown Productions have been making Doctor Who fan films since 2000 and are currently in the process of making a three episode mini season with a story arc similar to the new series. The first story is online on our page entitled “Lost and Found”, with our next story coming soon entitled “Zoprhen”. Thanks for looking!!!
http://www.hgpdoc9.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/hgpdoc9