Are we really here already? Having found our feet on the Series I and II DVDs, pushed the limits for III and IV, and showed what we can really do with V and VI, what's left? Well, the last two smegging series, that's what - and we're determined to push the envelope further still.
Expectations are obviously high, and early production and marketing meetings have shown just how determined people are to ensure the quality holds up to the very end. The early list of extras is mouth-watering - aided somewhat by the fact that these two series were the most recent, and so more of the production material is still in existence!
One key change is the shift at BBC Worldwide's video and DVD division, which has merged with VCI - who produce the Spaced, Black Books and Phoenix Nights DVDs - to form a new company, 2 entertain. It is under the combined name of 2 entertain and BBC DVD that Series VII and VIII will be released - with Grant Naylor Productions obviously playing the usual key role as producers of bonus material.
So what can we tell you so far? Well, the cover art concepts are currently being finalised, but the GELF ship (a maroonish-purple) and prison tower (orange) are the likely contenders for the main backgrounds. And the main documentaries already have working titles - Back From The Dead and The Tank - with the bulk of our extensive interviews already slated for March 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
Interestingly, by this time of year we would normally have the cast commentaries recorded, but the gods of scheduling have conspired against us. Getting one or two members of the cast together at once is tricky - getting all five regulars on VII and VIII, plus Norman Lovett and Mac McDonald, has been almost insurmountable. Rest assured, though, it will get done... even if we have to hold their children/pets/wardrobes/cars hostage to do it.
There will of course be a fair few surprises that we can't reveal as yet, but you can certainly expect the usual high standard of deleted scenes (series VIII, especially, is providing some remarkable stuff), smeg ups, archive footage, raw FX material (and you'd better believe the stuff on VII is going to be fascinating) and a bundle of goodies from our archive. Plus, inevitably, the disc will contain the winning entries to our fan film competition.
Right now, though, I'm finalising the interview questions in preparation to direct the doccos. If there's something you really want us to ask the cast about, post your thoughts on our WebBoard.
More DVD Details will follow soon...
Rammsteinfan
02-25-05, 04:20 PM
http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/webboard/wbpx.dll/~reddwarf thats their webboard if you want to post questions.
Eric F
02-25-05, 07:47 PM
Oh joy. Something to look forward to- in over a year from now.
In the meantime I'll be purchasing my HD DVD player.
Rammsteinfan
02-25-05, 08:17 PM
Hehe i know... a whole year! I bet we still wont have that RD movie by then.
garolo
02-26-05, 07:49 AM
Hehe i know... a whole year! I bet we still wont have that RD movie by then.
But at least Hitchhiker's Guide will be out on dvd by Fall. :D
2 more weeks before I have V and VI in my greedy little hands.
Rammsteinfan
02-26-05, 01:19 PM
I wonder after they finish VII and VIII if they will go back and release those Remastered seasons w/ the new FX.
Rammsteinfan
03-12-05, 02:48 AM
From the official site.
Directing cast and crew interviews has become one of my favourite parts of DVD production. It's the most fun - and most exhausting - part of the process. I get to play with cameras and booms (and a crew!), and it gives us a chance to touch base with everyone, find out what they're up to.
We returned once again to Waterfall Studios in White City, mere seconds from BBC TV Centre, for three days of shooting in front of bluescreen. A highly caffeinated, clock-watching three days where, I'm proud to say, we only ever ended a day half an hour behind schedule - about as un-Dwarf like an experience as one can have!
Tuesday, March 1st kicked off in good style with Ed Bye. Ed's boundless enthusiasm made the Series III and IV documentaries a joy to edit, and thankfully he was still on form this time. Never has a man been so happy with what was, essentially, a rubber crocodile. He was followed by the delightful * and fairly delectable * Chris Barrie. What a gent that man is.
Next up Series VIII guest - and Series I original - David "Selby" Gillespie, who, frankly, expected his character to be brought back a lot sooner than he was. David was followed by another Series I returnee, Mac McDonald, in an interview so downright hilarious that we all had to fight to keep from laughing within earshot of the mike. I still have the teeth marks in my hand...
The day was rounded off by Chris Veale. Aside from repeatedly (and accidentally) describing Starbug as appearing on greenscreen - which really wouldn't have worked! - Chris gave his own perspective on the controversial Series VII effects, a key aspect of the documentary.
Wednesday began with Robert Llewellyn, his effusive, informative and entertaining presence marred only slightly by his turning up in a blue shirt, which would have made his body disappear in front of the bluescreen. Robert was eventually dressed in a spare shirt, thereby forcing him to be filmed sporting someone else's fashion choice for an hour and a half. He coped admirably.
(A brief note here to point out that I did not wear the so-called 'lucky shirt' this time around - see previous reports - despite having used it for every DVD shoot up to this point. This was a mistake. At the start of day one, before we had shot a frame, we had already been the victim of equipment that wouldn't function, a VHS machine that chewed up our very first backup tape and a redhead lamp that exploded in my face! The shirt, brought along in case of emergency, was subsequently retrieved and placed on the back of my interview seat. It was plain sailing from that point on. Go figure.)
Robert was followed by the verbose Craig Charles who, riding high on the news that he is to join the cast of Coronation Street, had enough hair product in his pockets to render the New Forest glossy and manageable. Plus he said that I resembled Rob Grant... which might even have been a compliment.
Amid the constant in-and-out activity (no, not that kind), the various cast members were asked to sign some items for a forthcoming charity auction. It wasn't until the end of the day that I discovered my own copy of the Programme Guide had become caught up in the conveyor-belt process and was now signed in silver pen by Robert, Craig and Danny. Erm, thanks guys - but I was actually trying to keep it mint!
Graham McTavish popped in before lunch and took the expected ribbing about those car ads, followed by Danny John-Jules, a man so chilled he could go into the industrial freezer business. They were followed by model-and-prop-maker Mike Tucker, costume designer Howard Burden, and Jo Bennett, Dwarf's production manager and the one woman who knows where all the bodies are buried. We duly provided the shovel.
(We were running a tad behind by the time Jo's interview was scheduled to begin, and the poor woman might have been waiting around for a while had the M25 not seriously delayed her arrival. Some say it was coincidence, some that it was just bad road design. Me, I'm going with the lucky shirt, which I'm quite sure really caused the jam.)
Day three got, if I may say so, a little childish. Partly due to us all asking Gary "Epideme" Martin to do voices for our general entertainment, and partly because Chloλ Annett had her gorgeous new baby in tow - the one and only thing guaranteed to make producer Helen Norman forget all about the budget and the schedule in favour of doing a little babysitting.
Bill Pearson arrived next - early, if you can believe it - to talk Starbug explosions and escape pods, but shortly after I had the chance to stare deep into the blue eyes of Nicky Leatherbarrow, who, let me tell you, looks a hell of a lot better when not under her Caroline Carmen make-up.
The post-lunch pair at the end of our final day were Paul Alexander - who may qualify for some kind of 'nicest man on the planet' award, as well as talking an excellent game when it comes to the writing of Series VII and VIII - and Peter Tyler. Many fans may be aware that Pete found himself at the centre of much of the Series VII effects controversy, and his contribution will prove invaluable in getting a balanced version of the story.
Three long days - made all the longer by the uncomfortable stools both interviewer and interviewee had to perch upon - finally over, we grabbed up our tapes and headed back to Shepperton to begin the edit. Tapes are being loaded as I type, and we eagerly await Doug Naylor's return for his own interview, which promises to be a treat indeed.
There are, obviously, more names involved with Red Dwarf production than could ever be interviewed, but we were especially disappointed to miss out on director of photography Peter Morgan, Brian Cox and Sarah Alexander (who had work commitments and sent apologies) and guest actors such as Paul Bradley, Jake Wood and Ken Morley (who were approached, but to no avail). But even at this early stage we have more interviewees than ever before, and certainly some of the best backstage anecdotes to date. I can't wait to start cutting them together!
More DVD Details will follow soon...
Series VII is due for release in the UK in November '05, VIII in February '06.
ViewAskewbian
03-12-05, 11:12 AM
As always Rammsteinfan, thanks for the update. One more year to go and we will have all of Dwarf on DVD. It's been a yearly event with me collecting these with the 5 and 6 arriving next week. :)
Rammsteinfan
03-12-05, 04:50 PM
I cant wait until tuesday... i know what Ill be doing all night :)
I wonder after they are done with VII & VIII if they wlil go back and release those remastered 1-4 w/ new special effects. I know I would buy em just to have a complete collection. I wish they could get the rights to the american pilot and add that as a extra someday! I used to have it on VHS but lost it over the years. :(
garolo
03-12-05, 08:02 PM
Thanks again, Rammsteinfan, for the udpates. Only 4 more days till V & VI.
Dazed
03-13-05, 12:23 PM
I *cough*Downloaded*cough* the US pilot a few years ago, its was actually not too bad (some strange casting choices but Kryton as usual had most of the best lines).
Fok
03-13-05, 07:04 PM
I *cough*Downloaded*cough* the US pilot a few years ago, its was actually not too bad (some strange casting choices but Kryton as usual had most of the best lines).
Sinner! none of us here download stuff ;)
Eric F
03-13-05, 07:12 PM
So when VII and VIII are ready will the whole set be available on HD DVD?;)
Rammsteinfan
04-08-05, 09:23 PM
From the official site today...
At our new (and fabulous) facility of Metropolis in Chiswick, the cast of Red Dwarf gathered on April 4th and 5th to record, with a hint of sadness, the final two DVD commentaries.
Over the two days we were visited by Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Danny John-Jules, Robert Llewellyn, Chloλ Annett, Norman Lovett and Mac McDonald - and with the interviews already put to bed, this really did feel like the beginning of the end for our four-year production.
As you'd expect, getting these old friends together one more time, there was much to talk about both inside the booth and out. Craig's appearance in The Games was a biggie, especially as the actor had fled Sheffield only that Monday morning to be with us, but everything from 'crap gigs I have done' to the new Dr Who were covered.
There was also a 'who's had the longest, hardest journey for a production' conversation between Craig, Robert and Chris which rapidly evolved a certain one-upmanship akin to the classic Four Yorkshiremen sketch. ("I had to get on a dilapidated plane, carry the crew's gear across the runway, cycle up a volcano to get to the hotel and assemble my own bed using a Polish instruction manual...")
Still - what a great two days. Newcomer Chloλ, who had actually - gasp - done her research, hit full schoolteacher mode, keeping the boys in line whenever the topic strayed. (And with a Liverpool match scheduled for the Tuesday night, it did tend to happen!) Though even the lady herself could be distracted - especially when it came to the subject of her hair.
The others were equally effusive, and some all new running gags evolved through each series run - plus some rather more traditional digs at the expensive of Norman's charming face, Danny's dress sense, Chris's parting and Craig's fitness levels. Robert also faced stiff interrogation throughout the episode he co-wrote for Series VII, Beyond a Joke.
But who spoke when? With 16 episodes and a varying 'main cast', there was a little game of musical chairs going on. Chris Barrie saw out all his episodes of VII and VIII, but also stayed in the booth for Duct Soup and Beyond a Joke, providing an interesting (and often hilarious) perspective on episodes with all his mates in.
Norman Lovett and Mac McDonald chatted their way through the whole of Series VIII (though Mac stepped out of Krytie TV, which he's not in), and Norman also showed up for a brief half-hour day (well it would have been, we kinda kept him waiting for a while) so he could contribute to his big return in Nanarchy.
So, a fuller house than usual - seven in a room at its peak. It's at times like this that you become glad each of the guys has a strong and independent voice. Danny doesn't sound like Craig, who doesn't sound like Robert. And Mac (being the only American) and Chloλ (being the only girl) differ from everybody.
It's a long way until the November and February release dates, but already there's a feeling that this is the beginning of the end. The last two series on DVD. But we still have a hell of a ride ahead of us - and plenty more surprises on store.
More DVD Details will follow soon...
Rammsteinfan
04-15-05, 09:40 PM
From the official Site...
On the up side, this will be the last time we have to do this. The last time the tapes get called out of storage. The last time a Beta cassette snaps just as a key piece of footage is discovered. The last time we discover any more of Red Dwarf's deleted scenes.
I'm mostly kidding, of course. It's been a ridiculous privilege to be the first person the first fan to view these victims of the edit, these Avid casualties, in years. And how much weirder, having watched Series VIII as one of the studio audience, to look at these episodes pretty much as they appeared to us on the monitors back in 1998.
It's weird to think that, before the advent of DVD, the glimpse of even one unseen piece of Dwarf was quite an experience. That Series VI original ending, for example, or the original first scene from Marooned they went out on Smeg Up/Outs tapes years before it became de rigueur. They're so expected at this point that people forget just how cool an extra they are to have, what they mean to our DVDs. It's not just about new gags and performances, it's a glance inside the production process.
It's usually fairly obvious to tell why sequences would be removed, trimmed or even re-shot. Issues of length, issues of quality, of storytelling, of repetition. As ever, we'll be adding captions to better explain, but... well, they pretty much speak for themselves.
So Series VII and VIII. First things first we're looking, once again, at over 40 minutes of recovered scenes for each, with VIII possibly containing the most ever. This is partially down to reshoots, to older versions of scenes that ultimately made the cut in a rewritten, re-filmed form.
For example, there's Rimmer's salute from Back in the Red Part 2... which was never in the first filmed version of that scene. Both BITR and Pete have a number of reshoots included (caused mostly by the splitting of the stories into multi-parters), and in one notable instance the reshoot was actually rejected in favour of the original! But you'll have to wait a while to find out which one.
Still, there's a lot of new stuff to see from both series some of which you may have read in the Series VIII scriptbook. There's a great moment from Cassandra where Lister realises that, while Canaries are eligible for conjugal visits, the prison doesn't provide the partner; some more of the 'animatronic' AR crew seen in Blue; and a lengthy scene from Stoke Me a Clipper which reveals the new Ace's dark history.
Plus, naturally, many, many more including several from Tikka to Ride, Ouroboros and Duct Soup (even though much had already been reinstated for the Xtended versions). Original Series VIII ending? Sure, and the one from Epideme, too. But my favourite so far is Back in the Red's 'hearing' scene, as the crew begin their trial before the captain.
In the final episode, not an especially noticeable scene. In the first incarnation? It's not just longer, it's way, way funnier in fact, it's the very scene I remember laughing so hard at from the studio audience in 1998.
You'll have to wait 'til February '06 to see if you feel the same. We'll have full lists on reddwarf.co.uk later in the year so keep watching.
More DVD Details will follow soon...
Rammsteinfan
05-13-05, 05:58 PM
From the official site...
To catch a jump on the fake Red Dwarf DVD covers that always seem to appear on the net around this time of year, we present the development art for the covers of Series VII and VIII.
While the background artwork has yet to be completed (the current versions, as you may have spotted, use the Blue Midget summarily re-coloured), the chosen images are pretty much locked. Which means that yes, after much debate, Captain Hollister will be gracing the Series VIII spine he edged out another possible idea of Rimmer with his arms folded, mirroring the similar image on Series I. (See below.)
The colours are approximately what you'll see at the final stage, with Series VII's GELF ship and VIII's prison tower as the basis for Chris Veale's work this time around. As usual, photo choices emphasise the Rimmer/Lister theme on the front cover, with the back given over to a small shot of either 'the entire crew' or 'a scene you might remember' respectively.
Ignore most of the text, though. The Bonus Material list is an old version from Series IV and the quantity of bonus material has yet to be confirmed. (Because we're still editing it.) What has been confirmed, however, is the rear-cover paragraphs:
Series VII
After a temporary bout of deadness, the Dwarfers find themselves solving one of the biggest conspiracy plots of all time, before Ace Rimmer drops in with the challenge of Rimmer's life. Meantime Kryten gets seriously tetchy and Lister has one of the hottest screen kisses ever. Pity it's not with the girl of his dreams. Pity it's not with a girl.
Series VIII
The nanobots have populated the ship with its original crew. This is especially good news for Rimmer, who is now a lot less dead, but is extremely bad news for everyone else. Locked up on Red Dwarf's prison deck, the crew join the Canaries a battle hardened convict army and not, as they first thought, the prison choir.
But what's this? Series VII is described as 'Entire and Extended'! That's right, we're really pushing the boat out this time you'll be able to watch either the original or 'Xtended' versions of Tikka to Ride, Ouroboros and Duct Soup. The Xtended editions include additional scenes and effects sequences, plus the peculiar experience of no laugh track.
Nor does the joy end there. Series VIII is likely to include the full-length versions of Back in the Red and Pete. Doug was never entirely happy when these episodes had to be shown as multi-parters, and in their full-length edits make for a much more satisfying viewing experience.
How will all this fit on the DVDs, I hear you ask? (If I strain hard enough.) Simple, in discussion with 2 Entertain/BBC DVD, we're aiming to put Series VII and VIII out on three discs each! And the way the edit's going, we'll need every inch of space.
And you thought this was just a dull little piece about cover design. Shame on you. Still, now we have your attention, why not share your thoughts now on our Webboard.
BizRodian
05-13-05, 10:40 PM
But what's this? Series VII is described as 'Entire and Extended'! That's right, we're really pushing the boat out this time – you'll be able to watch either the original or 'Xtended' versions of Tikka to Ride, Ouroboros and Duct Soup. The Xtended editions include additional scenes and effects sequences, plus the peculiar experience of no laugh track.
That sounds pretty interesting.
Rammsteinfan
05-14-05, 12:47 AM
I like the sound of...
"Simple, in discussion with 2 Entertain/BBC DVD, we're aiming to put Series VII and VIII out on three discs each!"
Chaza
05-14-05, 02:23 AM
I like the sound of...
"Simple, in discussion with 2 Entertain/BBC DVD, we're aiming to put Series VII and VIII out on three discs each!"
Cool, this is one show, that I'll buy all the seasons for!
grim_tales
05-14-05, 05:00 AM
All this time I've been saying I probably wont buy VII and VIII as I dont think they lived up to the heights of the previous series (though they were good in parts). The X-Tended versions sound interesting though, as well as editing Pete into 1 part. What to do?! :D
"Blue" (the one where Lister thinks he's missing Rimmer) is a superb episode :lol: Maybe that's what the "hottest screen kiss" refers to :lol:
Rammsteinfan
05-27-05, 04:47 PM
Not much today but some info from the official site...
The joy of working on DVDs for Series VII and VIII is that, by this time, the production team for the show had begun recording what they were doing. Dwarf was 'a big deal', plans on the backs of beer mats had gone out the window in favour of concept drawings and storyboards. Affordable camcorders had finally been placed in the hands of anyone who wanted one. Sadly, this never led to a 'behind the scenes' documentary being mounted at the time... but the titbits we do have are pretty tasty.
From The Depths
Firstly, we have Chloλ Annett's audition tape and once she'd nabbed the role hair tests. Was the baseball cap really a serious consideration?! Plus some bright spark actually took a camera along to the location scout for Series VIII, so you'll get a look at what some of the location interiors really look like.
Then there are snippets of the cast readthroughs for Back in the Red and Cassandra. The team were recorded on audio cassette as they ran through the early drafts of the scripts, and messed about in between. We'll be including two or three of the tastiest chunks. Next, captured on camcorder, there's Danny John-Jules blocking and rehearsing the Blue Midget dance sequence on the studio floor with choreographer and former Queeg Charles Augins.
From The Depths
All of these will be incorporated into the appropriate documentaries we simply don't have disc space for the entire collection in the raw! but one child of the camcorder generation that will get its own featurette is Robert Llewellyn's Video Diary.
You may have seen some of this footage on Robert's site, and we'll be including this, plus the best of the rest. Sadly, he only shot a little here and there, with the bulk of the material coming from filming days for Jane Austen World and Duct Soup shoots. But even these few minutes give an entertaining insight, and certainly deserve a place on the bonus disc.
From The Depths
Apart from these, of course, we've once again trawled the regular rushes tapes from each episode for interesting and illustrative moments everything from the real 'Dallas' location of Tikka to Ride to the waterlogged (and re-mounted) medieval shoot on Stoke. We'll even see the full form of Terry Fisher, the man hired to be Lister's bulked-up body in Nanarchy. An embarrassment of riches indeed. Well, Chloλ certainly blushed a lot.
All the stops have been pulled out for this, our final crack at Dwarf DVD, and the work so far suggests it will not disappoint. It's worth it just to hear Norman Lovett welcomed back into the readthough room after a nine-year absence!
ArchibaldTuttle
05-27-05, 07:00 PM
you're like the official red dwarf news copy and paste guy
do you know when the movie is coming out?
Rammsteinfan
05-28-05, 01:14 AM
I dont think we will ever see a movie... it just isnt happening at the moment.
renaldow
05-28-05, 05:13 AM
Is this going to be the end of the series? Unfortunately I've only in areas that show the first 2 seasons of RD, and have had to catch up with the rest with the DVD releases. I will be sad to see these end.
Eric F
05-28-05, 11:06 AM
Sad? I'll be glad to see them finally release them all, rather than having to wait 3yrs to get them.
Rammsteinfan
05-28-05, 11:47 AM
You know they will go back after these releases and release those remastered series I-VI... but we need a movie or Series 9 ASAP to finish where the VIII cliffhanger left off.
Rammsteinfan
06-03-05, 02:48 PM
New update from the official site today... Next year wont come soon enough!
With Red Dwarf's VII and VIII both going out in three disc sets, one would think the production could breathe easy, safe in the knowledge that there's more than enough space on the discs for everything we could want to include.
Despite one disc of each series being entirely devoted to bonus material documentaries, featurettes, outtakes, deleted scenes the sheer bulk of what we have to talk about means that some extras are going to have to slide to the episode discs.
So what's the cause of this peculiar spreadage? Unfortunately, it's just too damn early to reveal many of the surprises in store including one that will knock your week-old socks off but one of the basic reasons is simple mathematics. Eight episodes means more interview material, and more deleted scenes.
And while the pressure of deleted scenes is taken off Series VII somewhat by virtue of the Xtended episodes being included, Series VIII is chock full of the buggers. Well over an hour of material, in fact!
VII has its own Everest to climb, though. This is the series where (in no particular order), Rob Grant quit, Chris Barrie left (temporarily as it turned out), Chloλ Annett/Kochanski joined, Ed Bye returned and the shooting style changed completely. That's a lot of stuff to get on the record and that's before we cover the major issue of the model/CGI effects.
Both series documentaries Back From The Dead and The Tank will eventually run at around 90 minutes each, which is 10-15 longer than previously. Some of this is also due to having more episodes to discuss, too although Series VIII's doc will contain Back in the Red and Pete to their own segments, rather than split the discussion between the multiple parts.
Another interesting aspect of the edit is the new 'feature-length' version of Back in the Red. Aside from joining the various parts together, Doug Naylor has isolated four brief Deleted Scenes which, due to their quality (having been cut for time) are now to be incorporated into the new edition.
There's obviously a great deal more to talk about including one DVD extra that will surprise many and hopefully impress everyone but right now we have to return to The Shed and select bluescreen backgrounds for our interviewees. Danny John-Jules in front of a wardrobe, maybe...?
More DVD details will follow soon...
Giles
06-03-05, 03:02 PM
THREE DISC SETS!!!..... Holy Moly! be still my beating heart....
well at least next year's projected release date will give me some time for me to catch up on all the episodes and extras...
Rammsteinfan
07-09-05, 04:03 PM
From the official site yesterday...
Time for a shaggy GELF story. Just a quick one.
Back in 1996, when Red Dwarf VII was in production, various writers were invited to submit storylines for the series to ease the load on the newly-divorced (from writing partner Rob Grant) co-creator Doug Naylor. A lucky few were invited to write scripts from those outlines. And most of those scripts were, after rewrites, filmed.
Except one.
The script was Identity Within. The author was John McKay, and the story revolved around the Cat finally getting his end away before death takes him. Scripts were given to the cast, rewrites performed by Blue writer Kim Fuller, and the whole thing might have been filmed... if it hadn't been way too expensive to shoot.
So out went female cat Ora, evil beast Zural, a marketplace teeming with GELFs and a grotty boozer in deep space. In their place, Doug Naylor penned Duct Soup no big sets, no major guest characters, and certainly not a pub scene populated like a Star Wars cantina.
Why are we telling you this? Well, hopefully the pictures will have given you a clue...
On the morning of Monday, May 9th Chris Barrie came to Shepperton to record a reading of the script in preparation for its use on the Series VII DVD. For three hours Dwarf sound supervisor Jem Whippey recorded the lost episode known around here as 'IDW' complete with stage direction, character voices and awkward GELF speak.
Chris worked from the first draft of the script, keeping this as close as possible to McKay's original intentions. Handily, this is also the only version to feature Rimmer which offered Chris an excellent chance to get back into character.
Anyone who's heard the talking book chapters on the previous discs will know just how good Chris is at performing as Lister, Cat and Kryten, and it was a joy to hear him going at it full-pelt (that's another GELF pun, by the way).
Subsequently Jem was to be found locked in The Shed with the audio files, editing the best takes together and adding key music and sound effects. The final version has background sound very much akin to the Dwarf TV series, along with the odd bazookoid blast and Starbug woosh. The top moment so far, though, is a scene described as having 'Mission: Impossible-style music' and includes the Cat banging his head and falling over a lot. It's comedy heaven on the ears!
This is just the beginning, though. We've also had a storyboard artist working day and night to produce images that will run alongside the finished audio. These will be edited together, including the odd camera move or zoom, to create a fully-fledged 'almost' episode of Red Dwarf!
Could this be the best bonus feature ever? It's certainly up there. You can discuss the merits right here on the Red Dwarf Webboard.
More DVD Details will follow soon...
Eric F
07-09-05, 04:22 PM
Only 8 more mos...
mifuneral
07-09-05, 08:00 PM
wow, awesome!!! :)
but yeah, such a long wait. meh. :(
Squirrel God
07-09-05, 08:49 PM
They should've just filmed the whole thing.
ViewAskewbian
07-09-05, 09:03 PM
Once again, these guys proving that they are the BEST in TV on DVD!
jlm71176
07-09-05, 09:14 PM
Cool news, but for a minute I thought the 7th series was going to be short an episode.
Rammsteinfan
07-09-05, 11:40 PM
lol I didnt think of that when I posted it but now that you said it... does sound like a negative thing at first. LOL
milo bloom
07-10-05, 02:37 AM
I thought it was going to be missing one too. It is pretty nice in this day and age to see something like this created out of sheer love. Too bad we can't get more announcements like this.
grim_tales
07-10-05, 05:19 AM
Cool news, but for a minute I thought the 7th series was going to be short an episode.
I thought that too, LOL :p
I must admit I'm more interested in getting Series VII now, because of the extended episodes and the way it follows on from Series VI (can't remember how exactly).
The "Blue" episode with Rimmer is hilarious :lol:
I still think they should of brought back Clare Grogan as Kochanski, instead of the annoying, PC Chloe Annet. ;)
I can't wait for this lost episode, it sounds a fantastic idea to "re-construct" it (kind of). :D
When is this out on UK R2? It should be November since Series VI was released in Feb wasnt it?
Eric F
07-10-05, 10:52 AM
I've been resisting for the past 3yrs from watching any Red Dwarf with anticipation I'll be able to watch the whole series in one sitting.
Too damn long!
Rammsteinfan
07-16-05, 03:38 AM
Updated info on the LOST EPISODE:
It was penned by John McKay subsequently writer for, among other things, The Canterbury Tales and movie Crush and was the first Cat-centric episode since Series I's Waiting For God (which, even then, was actually more of a Lister story).
But in addition to the audio track featuring Chris's spot-on character impersonations and narration, not to mention a background effects track akin to the 'Red Dwarf Radio Show' audio tapes there will also be a collection of storyboards shown on screen.
Board artist Neil Maguire an old hand with a pencil, who's worked on everything from Bulletproof Monk to the new Captain Scarlet TV series has busied himself to provide the 200+ images that will illustrate the audio, capturing the spirit and intent of this lost show.
As you can see from the pictured examples, these are not just 'straight' boards. They also feature a colour wash, which adds detail to backgrounds and lighting effects to faces. It's just another layer of texture that should make 'IDW' one of the most fascinating DVD extras yet produced for Dwarf. Once created, the images are then scanned in and edited to the audio track by jack-of-all-trades Chris Veale.
The final result is a 45-minute 'almost' episode of Red Dwarf. Sure, rewrites would have altered the script substantially, and the production design and budget would have taken its toll on expensive sequences such as the GELF marketplace and multi-lifeform drinking establishment but essentially this is it, this is Identity Within.
I've been resisting for the past 3yrs from watching any Red Dwarf with anticipation I'll be able to watch the whole series in one sitting.
Too damn long!
Funny! I'm doing the same thing!
I've seen the odd handful of episodes over the years and liked the feel of the show but knew I was always missing the series thread. So I've been collecting, waiting to be able to run the entire series, with extras. Only a couple to go!
Rammsteinfan
07-22-05, 07:40 PM
About the updated effects...
Not to rake over old ground or anything, but not everything with Series VII's model effects went entirely to plan. You'll have heard the story by now problems with the delivered shots, a last-minute CGI save but the Series VII DVD will be providing the full SP for the first time.
But that's not what we're talking about today. Today we're giving you a first look at Tikka to Ride: Remastered.
Now, before anyone does the crazy dance (usually followed by the traditional Webboard rant), Series VII will be appearing on DVD exactly as it was shown on TV. It will also be shown in its Xtended format, with new scenes and no laugh track.
But Tikka to Ride will also be available to view in an all-new Remastered edition replacing all that hurried Starbug footage with brand new CGI of an impeccable standard. Thanks to the joys of multi-angle viewing, these effects shots will be available via a menu option, and will be included on both the original and Xtended versions of the episodes.
Truth time. Neither Doug Naylor, nor FX creator Chris Veale, were ever happy with the CGI in Series VII. When the fan reaction was one of disappointment, it was nothing compared to the guys in the hot-seat(s). The shots which you can read all about here did what they needed to, they told the story on time and for the remaining pennies in the budget. But they weren't how anybody wanted them to be.
So, out of GNP's own pocket (rather than the DVD budget), a series of new shots have been created for one episode just to show how the series should have looked.
And... well, just check out the screenshots. These images which look even better moving than they do static do total justice to how things might have been.
They're inserted into the show at the exact same points as the current FX shots, replacing all of the existing (even those in the title sequence) save for the splitting Starbug Xtended finale. All sound FX have likewise been retained and let me tell you, that whole Voyager-spoof at the start of Tikka Xtended is now just jaw-droppingly cool.
It's an example and an experiment. An opportunity. And it certainly seems to have paid off. Without the cash to fund an entire series-worth of remastering, Tikka to Ride: Remastered gives a succulent taster of the series that almost was.
If nothing else, the fan reaction is going to be very interesting!
Tikka To Ride: Remastered
Click to enlarge Tikka To Ride: Remastered
Click to enlarge
More DVD Details will follow soon...
Rammsteinfan
08-19-05, 04:26 PM
The seventh Red Dwarf DVD release is slated for November 7th. It is, by far, our most ambitious to date both in terms of content, and in terms of the discs themselves. Authoring house Deluxe Digital have described it as their most complex job ever not just on Dwarf, but any DVD. It's a release to be proud of, and it seems to have come round so quickly!
Disc 1
Episodes
Tikka to Ride, Stoke Me A Clipper and Ouroboros. All appear as broadcast in 1997.
Xtended Episodes
Tikka to Ride and Ouroboros can also be played in their longer versions, with additional scenes and no audience laugh track.
Tikka to Ride: Remastered
See how the Series VII CGI effects should have looked. Available on both original and Xtended versions of the episode.
Cast Commentary
Featuring Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules, Robert Llewellyn and Chloλ Annett. Commentaries appear on Xtended versions where available.
Identity Within
The 'lost' episode of Red Dwarf by John McKay, presented in storyboard form and performed by Chris Barrie.
Disc 2
Episodes
Duct Soup, Blue, Beyond a Joke, Epideme and Nanarchy. All appear as broadcast in 1997.
Xtended Episode
Duct Soup can also be played in its longer version, with additional scenes and no audience laugh track.
Cast Commentary
Featuring Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules, Robert Llewellyn and Chloλ Annett plus Norman Lovett. Commentaries appear on Xtended versions where available.
Fan Films
Two competition-winning shorts made by Red Dwarf fans. With introduction by Doug Naylor.
Disc 3
"Back From The Dead" Original Documentary
A 90-minute look at the making of Series VII, featuring cast and crew interviews plus never-before-seen footage.
Deleted Scenes
Over 40 minutes of deleted and extended moments.
Smeg Ups
A compilation of outtakes and fluffs.
Trailers
The almost-lost Series VII trailer taken from a home VHS recording, plus Kryten introductions for the Xtended episodes and 10th Anniversary Smeg Ups broadcast. (Also featuring Rimmer and Lister and recorded alongside the Xtended ending to Tikka to Ride.)
Behind the Scenes
Robert Llewellyn's on-set video diary, plus the BBC's How Do They Do That? programme visits the effects department.
Raw FX Footage
A compilation of filmed model FX and CGI created by both the BBC and Chris Veale.
"Burning Rubber" Featurette
Those boys can crash any vehicle you give them... (Featuring the song 'Buck Rogers' by Feeder.)
"Dave Hollins" Radio Sketch
A chance to hear two of the original Son of Clichι radio sketches that led to the creation of Red Dwarf.
Isolated Music Cues
Instant access to the various elements of Howard Goodall's Series VII score.
Photo Gallery
A massive collection of production images and artwork.
Weblink
Link to the official website. Um which would be this one.
Subtitles
English subtitles for episodes and extras.
Easter Eggs
Several bonus extras are hidden within the DVD menus can you find them all?
Once again, aside from the 'biggies' Identity Within, Back From the Dead and the newly remastered Tikka to Ride we're taking the chance to include some choice tit-bits that might otherwise vanish into the ether. Things like Kryten's introductions often become lost in the mists of time, and DVD gives us a chance to create something of a historical archive.
It's pretty rare for the discs to include sections of other shows, though and in that respect How Do They Do That? is a relative rarity. For those unfamiliar with the clip, it reveals how some of the miniature and model effects were created for the seventh series, with interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. Lengthy clips from a non-GNP programme are generally too costly to include, but we stretched it in this case, as the chance to see Peter Wragg and his team working their magic was worth every penny.
In the weeks between now and November we'll be bringing you news on the menus and packaging, plus further info on deleted scenes, music cues and chapter points. You can find more details on the cast and crew interviews, deleted scenes, remastering and other elements in previous DVD Details instalments. The links are just over there, in the margin. Go ahead, we'll wait.
More DVD Details will follow soon...
The upcoming Red Dwarf DVD releases are as follows:
Region Location Series Date RD Shop Link
2 UK/Europe VII November 7, 2005 Click Here
1 America VII February/March 2006 Click Here
4 Australasia VII November 2005 Click Here
2 UK/Europe VIII February 2006 Click Here
1 America VIII February/March 2006 Click Here
4 Australasia VIII February 2006 Click Here
Cameron
08-20-05, 06:57 AM
11.07.05 is a monday
Heartagram
08-20-05, 07:55 AM
always raining on other peoples parades Cameron.
Good News whether it be a monday or not.
Cameron
08-20-05, 07:58 AM
-smile- :bmonkey:
yah...I know...I manage the jerk store...
just trying to keep things straight...good news for everyone none the less
Rammsteinfan
08-20-05, 10:54 AM
Well its from the official site so its prob just a typo unless dvd's come out on Mondays in the UK.
Deus
08-20-05, 01:15 PM
Well its from the official site so its prob just a typo unless dvd's come out on Mondays in the UK.
Bingo! They do come out on a Monday here.
Cameron
08-20-05, 01:18 PM
ohhhhh....ok so this is R2 stuff.....i suppose they will follow suit here in the states
Scott Connors
08-20-05, 01:43 PM
Smeggin' great :banana:
Eric F
08-20-05, 03:12 PM
-smile- :bmonkey:
yah...I know...I manage the jerk store...
just trying to keep things straight...good news for everyone none the lessI slept with your wife.;)
To pee some more on the parade, only 6 more mos here in the US.:)
BTW:For those with region free players, CD-WOW is selling both S5&S6 sets complete for $15 shipped.
Rammsteinfan
09-10-05, 01:23 AM
Rather than get all anxious in anticipation of the final result, let's just skip to the end. This is what the Red Dwarf VII DVD artwork is gonna look like:
The background this time, as you already know, is based on the GELF ship that hunts the gang through space (and non-space). It is, in fact, this fellow here:
As you can see, Chris Veale has done the business once again, recreating the shape and style of the object in question. What differs somewhat is the colour the ship is more on the red side of maroon than solid purple. But with Series I's cover already red, and in the absence of any ships in VII that aren't grey, we felt this to be an acceptable... tweak.
Anyway, here we are again. Another Rimmer-Lister pairing on the cover, another group shot on the back, another character shot on the spine. 'Over 4 hours of deleted scenes, outtakes, interviews and extras' this time up an hour on previous releases, and rendering the 'over 90 minutes' of Series I and II a distant memory.
Now each series and its bonus content is spread over three discs we've had to include a third character on the DVD 'onbody' art. It will come as a surprise only to arctic polar bears without adequate home viewing facilities that the third character is Kryten.
As for the Collector's Booklet well, there's more to talk about this time, right? More episodes, more extras? So the booklet has more pages 16 in fact. The format is much the same as before, but with a few twists and additions.
As you'd expect, two of the new pages are given over to episodes Series VII has two more eps than VI had, and we like to spend a page talking about each individual show but another page contains some more in-depth information on Identity Within, the lost episode which features among VII's bonus material. Oh, and there's a page for IDW and Xtended chapter points. We'd hate you to get lost.
There are also box-outs on the Tikka to Ride, Ouroboros and Duct Soup pages detailing the differences between the original episode and the Xtended versions. Tikka's box also explains the decision to include a remastered version of the episode.
So there you have it. With the Content Confirmed we have only a few more updates to go before Series VII will be appearing on a shelf near you!
More DVD Details will follow soon...
ViewAskewbian
09-10-05, 08:59 AM
Excellent. Oh, March can't get here fast enough. These guys have done everything right from the get go with their releases. A fan could not ask for me (except maybe a date with Chloe...:p)
Rammsteinfan
09-10-05, 12:05 PM
That should be a contest for the last season... Chloe shall be mine!
I wonder if they will go and do the 1-4 rehash versions w/ those new FX. Im sure we havent seen the last of Dwarf of DVD.
Rammsteinfan
09-16-05, 04:57 PM
So here we are, thrust once more aboard the crashed Starbug, as the DVD menus for Series VII are completed. Once again the lighting's been through a bit of a change and the sets have been redecorated to better represent the series and how delightful they are.
As the map below shows, it's been a much more involved task for authoring house Deluxe Digital. How lucky we are to have such an illustrious team on the job. Three discs this time, so it's not just the additional sophistication of multi-angled FX shots and densely-packed DVDs, it's also the sheer volume of work.
As ever, we've been done proud. The camera enters the Bug and wanders into the mid-section, sneaking a glance at the galley on the way past (complete with ready-cooked lobster). The episode selections once again reside in cockpit, with the scenes laid out on our newly-configured central console, adorned with the rotting arm of Caroline Carmen. Lovely.
Up the stairs and into the sleeping quarters you'll find the bonus material, again represented by two screens of items culled from the series. Epideme's projector will lead you to behind the scenes footage and Kryten's spare heads go to the various FX footage compilations. The time drive appropriately houses the deleted scenes, the toilet paper the smeg ups...and so on.
So do you think you've spotted where our Easter Eggs might be hiding? A lot of obvious-looking red herrings have been thrown in this time, and with three discs to explore it'll certainly pass the time. Will you embark on a voyage of discovery... or just wait until the directions get posted on the net?
In other news, the Region 1/USA release date for Series VII will be January 10th. The surprise there, aside from being much earlier than before, is that the date will be separate from the Series VIII release. Typically, Region 1 have released the series in pairs but because these are three-disc sets, it was felt wiser to separate the two. Shocking!
Cameron
09-16-05, 05:24 PM
good news Rammsteinfan, but you really should keep a standard thread going. These are just for VII....you did the same thing for the prievious red dward releases....people want to see the info grouped together. You started all of these...
Red Dwarf News - VII Cover and Disc Art (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=437423&highlight=dwarf)
Red Dwarf News - VII Final Specs - 3 Discs (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=434799&highlight=dwarf)
Red Dwarf News - VII Xtended bits (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=431506&highlight=dwarf)
Red Dwarf News - VII Lost Episode - Updated 7/15 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=429869&highlight=dwarf)
Red Dwarf News - VII & VIII - 3 Disc Sets! (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=425327&highlight=dwarf)
Red Dwarf News - VII & VIII tidbits (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=424448&highlight=dwarf)
Red Dwarf News - Covers for VII & VIII! (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=422526&highlight=dwarf)
Red Dwarf News - Series VII / VIII Deleted Scenes (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=418723&highlight=dwarf)
Red Dwarf News - Series VII / VIII Commentaries (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=417800&highlight=dwarf)
Red Dwarf News - Series VII & VIII interviews (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=413804&highlight=dwarf)
Red Dwarf News - Series VII & VIII early info (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=411518&highlight=dwarf)
Rammsteinfan
09-16-05, 05:45 PM
We cant merge stuff can we? only mods can? Prob should just have em merge it all
RKillgore
10-08-05, 11:37 PM
Good news/bad news about the release for VII & VIII.
Good is that the release date for Series VII in Region 1 has been moved to January 10, 2005. Sooner than the usual late February-mid March that we've been seeing for the previous releases.
Bad news is, you guessed it, Series VIII is coming out much later than that, May 2, 2006. Not only does this delay us Dwarfers getting the full run, it'll mess up the price break we would usually get from ordering a bundled set of both seasons.
Also, there's an update on the Red Dwarf Site (http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/index.cfm?frameset=deck01/deck_fs.html&page=dvd_idw_clip_300905.html) that has a clip of the Chris Barrie narrated storyboard of the "lost episode" from extras of Series VII.
Cameron
10-09-05, 12:11 AM
are those dates from the website...I don't doubt, just want to add them to the update if you can link me.
Rammsteinfan
10-09-05, 12:12 AM
Yeah at least we get something soon....
THanks for the merging of the threads too mods!
RKillgore
10-09-05, 12:31 AM
are those dates from the website...I don't doubt, just want to add them to the update if you can link me.
Yep, from the official site. Just click the link that's in my post about the "lost episode". They have the updated schedule on that page as well.
Just occurred to me that we'll probably see a price increase for these series sets too, considering the three-disc sets. The MSRP comparing the Series VII release to the previous ones is £3 more, which will probably translate to at least $5 more Stateside.
Rammsteinfan
10-14-05, 04:27 PM
Well, yeah, this is quite a list, but despite the fact there are only about three people who are really interested in chapter points, we're posting it anyway. You'll cope.
Aside from the eight regular episodes for Series VII, we also have to include the three Xtended episodes and Identity Within, the 45-minute 'lost episode'. (What the smeg are we going to call it once the DVD is released and it's officially no longer 'lost'?! Anyway click here for our exclusive clip of the final product.)
Here's the breakdown, we'll be back once you've scrolled down. And if you need a break on the journey, have a quick click of the additional menu screens on display.
Tikka to Ride
Lister's Journal
Titles
The Curry Supplies
Switching Chips
Arrival in Dallas
Consequences
Campfire Meal
John F. Kennedy
Credits
Stoke Me a Clipper
Ace Rimmer
Titles
Getting Medieval
Ace Arrives
The Legend
Training
Rising to the Challenge
Farewell to Rimmer
Credits
Ouroboros
The Aigburth Arms
Wibbly Thing
Three Million Years Earlier
Stranded On Starbug
Jealous Mode
Saying Goodbye
Rescuing Destiny
Aigburth Arms Reprise
Credits
Duct Soup
Restless Nights
Princess Leia
Laundry Night
The Bath
Claustrophobia
Boy is it Cramped
What's That Noise...?
Surf's Up!
Credits
Blue
Titles
Cleaning Up
Into the Comet
Remembering Rimmer
The Kiss
Dream Analysis
The Rimmer Experience
Munchkin Song
Credits
Beyond a Joke
Titles
Anniversary Dinner
Jane Austen World
Brown Ketchup?!
Cat In GELF's Clothing
Able
Nega Drive
Able's Redemption
Credits
Epideme
Titles
Iceberg In Space
The Leviathan
Caroline Carmen
Meet Epideme
Barbecue Wings
Suicide Mission
Final Solution
Credits To Be Continued
Nanarchy
Previously.../Titles
One Arm Band
Molly Coddling
A New Arm
Back to the Red
Holly Returns
Laundry Basket
We Got a Problem...
Credits
Tikka to Ride - Xtended
Lister's Journal
Titles
The Curry Supplies
Switching Chips
Arrival in Dallas
Consequences
Campfire Meal
John F. Kennedy
Credits
Ouroboros - Xtended
Titles
The Aigburth Arms
Wibbly Thing
Three Million Years Earlier
Stranded On Starbug
Jealous Mode
Saying Goodbye
Rescuing Destiny
Credits
Duct Soup - Xtended
Titles
Restless Nights
Laundry Night
The Bath
Claustrophobia
Boy Is It Cramped
What's That Noise...?
Surf's Up!
Credits
Identity Within
Medical Alert
Dominos
The Gates
Ora
Mission In-puss-ible
Gambling
Auction
Feline Farewell
Credits
I know, I know, it's about as exciting as a colour supplement detailing the complete history of plaid but in the years to come, as you hunt through episodes in search of a key scene, shot or quote, good chaptering will make all the difference between a quick and easy search and a load of tedious rewinding and fast-forwarding that just drags you back to the days of VHS.
It's also worth noting that Red Dwarf remains atypical among TV shows in its rigid commitment to making the opening titles skip-able. Sure, it may not sound like much but you'd be astounded by the number of DVDs which have failed to include this obvious-seeming choice to skip a theme tune you've already heard five times.
Those of you paying attention at the back may also have noticed from our item on the Series VII Menus that our two-pairs-of-four chapter select screens have always included a 'Play Episode' button to compensate for 'chapter one' not being shown.
Well, chapter one has always, traditionally, been the opening titles. With Series VII this is no longer always the case. Tikka to Ride, Stoke Me a Clipper and Nanarchy all have pre-credits sequences of one kind or another, and Ouroboros and Duct Soup as-broadcast have no titles at all thanks to their tight running times. Which leaves only three episodes that would suit our previous menu system!
So from now on with titles often either non-existent, or actually located at chapter two chapter one gets its own home in the eight-icon selection menu. Instead, the closing credits won't be listed though they'll still be skip-to-able with your remote by just jumping on from chapter eight.
Got that? No? Then go back and read it again.
Finally, as a reward for hanging around through this entire item, here's a bit of news on the music cues for Series VII. We were surprised to discover some key holes in the tapes available for the series plucked from storage, three pieces in particular were missing: The Tikka to Ride assassination score, Ace Rimmer's opening adventure music, and the death of Ace Rimmer piece that accompanied his burial casket through space.
Significant problems ahoy! Some things wouldn't be noticed if left absent, but not these. No way. In two cases we were extraordinarily lucky the Ace Rimmer pieces were readily available from Howard Goodall's website! - but what of that vital section of Tikka music?
Well, it turns out that Howard didn't compose the scene's music used in the final episode! That entire sequence was accompanied by a beautifully-incorporated library track Target Imminent by Alan Hawkshaw.
Howard's alternative version which endeavours to tie the Kennedy plotline with Lister's curry hunt by use of more Indian-sounding instruments will be available on the new DVD from November 7th. Though we wish someone would have mentioned this whole business when we were editing Settling the Score...!
Still to come menus, extras and the whole shebang for Series VIII. But in the coming weeks expect a full rundown of Series VII deleted scenes, the international DVD covers, and something of an online surprise you'll know it when you see it.
More DVD details will follow soon...
Rammsteinfan
01-20-06, 02:26 PM
R1 and R4 to get SKUTTER TOY!
http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck01/images/dvd_skutter_update_200106_1l.jpg
Fok
01-20-06, 03:24 PM
wasn't there plans for a movie?
mifuneral
01-20-06, 04:13 PM
wasn't there plans for a movie?
Yes, and I think there still are plans for a movie. Now that the dvds are (mostly) out of the way, they can probably focus on making those plans a reality.
Eric F
01-20-06, 04:39 PM
Yes!!! Nooo!!!!
Can I go back to my post where I said there'd be a new format out before all 8 seasons were out?:p
If you are interested in saving money and have an all region player, you can pick up the R2 S7 set cheap off CD-WOW for ~$22.
Buy: