Brief Summary
In this episode of The Sirens of Audio, Dwayne and Philip have a long-overdue conversation with John Dorney from Big Finish Productions. They discuss various Big Finish releases John has been involved with, the impact of the pandemic on Big Finish's production methods, and John's approach to writing and script editing. They also touch on specific stories like "Shadow of the Daleks," "Stranded," "Dalek Universe," "Calamity Jenny," and "Monsters in Metropolis," exploring the creative processes and inspirations behind them. The hosts and John share insights into character development, plot construction, and the balance between comedy and suspense in storytelling.
- John Dorney discusses his experiences with COVID-19 and its impact on Big Finish's recording processes.
- The creative process behind "Shadow of the Daleks" and the collaborative effort involved in its creation.
- The evolution of the "Stranded" series and its unique approach to Doctor Who storytelling.
- John's approach to writing comedy, suspense, and incorporating social commentary into his stories.
- The challenges and creative decisions involved in adapting comic strips for audio in "The Avengers" series.
Intro
The podcast is available on YouTube and Spotify in video format. Listeners are encouraged to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts, like, comment, and subscribe to the video episodes to help more people discover the show.
Rabbit Hole - Big Finish Trailers
Dwayne and Philip discuss Big Finish trailers, with Dwayne mentioning backlash over a changed sound effect. They share their favorite trailers, including one for the Ninth Doctor with Christopher Eccleston and another for "Doctor Who: Davros" by Lance Parkin. Philip prefers to watch trailers after listening to the box set to compare expectations versus the actual story, while Dwayne is 50/50.
Interview with John Dorney
John Dorney discusses his recent activities, including surviving COVID-19, touring, completing his mission of watching every Oscar-winning film, publishing a book, writing 13 stories for Big Finish, script editing, and acting. He recounts catching COVID-19 twice and how it changed the way Big Finish operates, noting a recent invitation to a physical recording after two years.
Shadow of the Daleks
John describes "Shadow of the Daleks" as the first project to emerge from lockdown, requiring a quick turnaround of about a week and a half for the first draft. He aimed to lock in the explanation and ending early to help other writers. He also shares that the inspiration for the multiple castings came from Cloud Atlas.
Stranded
John explains the decision to bring "Stranded" back to Earth was pre-pandemic, aiming for a Back to Basics approach without time lords. The initial meeting involved brainstorming in a Starbucks, leading to a contemporary, non-science fiction story. The second box set was written during the pandemic, with "The Long Way Around" inspired by lockdown recordings and interviews.
Pandorum, Palindrome, Best Year Ever
John discusses playing with form in his writing, starting with "Palindrome" (story working backwards), "The Wrong Way Round" (series of two-headers), and "Best Year Ever" (dealing with the pandemic). He mentions being inspired by a TV drama called "Together" and acknowledges that these stories deviate from the usual Doctor Who format. He also teases "Paradox of the Daleks" and that it's supposed to be weird.
Big Moments and Tartiness
John admits to liking big moments and causing a stir online, describing himself as a "tarty show off" as a writer and actor. He contrasts his style with Matt Fitton's elegant constructions and shares his determination to make "Day of the Master" a big, fun event. He also discusses the creative process behind "Buying Time" and "The Wrong Woman," including considering killing the Doctor and a fake-out regeneration.
Calamity Jenny
John discusses the origins of "Calamity Jenny," which started with the idea of Jenny on a horse chasing a train in the Wild West. He struggled with the plot for months but eventually connected it with the idea of a thing that steals luck. He emphasizes the importance of putting the plot in order and knowing the tone (comedy, scary, thriller) early in the process.
The Avengers
John discusses adapting comic strips for "The Avengers" series, noting the variable process and the need to find a good fit between the writer and the material. He mentions the challenges of adapting strips with potentially sensitive content and the importance of adding a unique angle or edge. He also shares that the comic strips are from variable places like TV comic.
Return of the Cybermen
John discusses adapting "Return of the Cybermen," aiming to create an historical document accessible to those without access to the original material. Changes were made to bulk up Sarah's part and to change the miners from Welsh to South African accented. He also touches on the rights issues involved in adapting original Avengers material versus comic strips.
Monsters in Metropolis
John discusses his Ninth Doctor story, "Monsters in Metropolis," inspired by the film "Metropolis." He had not seen the film until 2020. The idea came from thinking about celebrity historicals and casting a real Cyberman in the film. The title "Monsters in Metropolis" led to the plot, with the question of who the other monster was.
Script Editing
John discusses the art of script editing, emphasizing the importance of helping other people get the best version of their script possible. He avoids being too prescriptive and respects the writer's vision, unless it conflicts with the overall vision or other stories. He also shares a story about setting up PDFs to prevent writers from changing things back after he's made edits for specific reasons.
Tenth Doctor Classic Companions
John discusses the "Tenth Doctor Classic Companions" box set, created during lockdown with tight timings. He loves "Splinters" and was inspired by Neil Gaiman. He chose Leela as the companion because of his familiarity with the character and Louise Jameson.
Touring and Podcast
John discusses his recent tour and how he managed to keep his podcast, "Shaped My Shame," going while performing. They banked a few episodes and had guests recommend films. The podcast is still going, with upcoming episodes featuring guests and discussions of foreign language films.
Future Projects
John shares his upcoming projects, including more podcast episodes, a TV pilot, a film, and Big Finish work. He teases a "concept album" series and mentions an ongoing list of things he's supposed to be doing.
Recommendations
Philip recommends John Dorney's "Better Watch Out" and "Fairy Tale of Salzburg" from the "Ravenous 2" box set, praising the casting, production values, and Dorney's writing. Dwayne recommends The Cloister Bill podcast, particularly the episode with Kenny Smith reviewing "Storm Warning," and mentions the podcast "A Podcast of Spurious Morality."
