Who's Changing :
An Adventure In
Time With Fans
I don’t usually watch documentaries. The ones I usually enjoy watching are the
ones about my favorite Boston sports teams winning yet again another
championship and the trials and tribulations it took to win that championship. Right now I’m watching the ones about the
2013 Boston Red Sox winning the World Series which for me was a delight and
surprise as they were not predicted to even be a contender but back on topic
with documentaries. I generally do not
watch them that much and when a new Doctor Who DVD comes out I generally watch
the episode and do not watch the extras or VAM as you call them in the UK. So when I saw the trailer for Who’s Changing
and posted it on the site I was a bit curious.
A documentary about Doctor Who fans that is funded by Doctor Who fans
through an internet fundraising site and most importantly it was made by fans.
I was pretty intrigued that I had to have this DVD and watch it.
Who's Changing - An Adventure In
Time With Fans is produced by Capital City Entertainment who is run by a couple
of guys that are very familiar in the world of Doctor Who fandom. The first is Elisar Cabrera who runs the
popular Doctor Who podcast Talking Who (@TalkingWho ) and the second, everyone
knows this guy, is the creator of one of the most popular Doctor Who websites Blogtor
Who (@BlogtorWho) Cameron K. McEwan. Cameron also has a Doctor Who book out also The
Who's Who of Doctor Who and is working on another one due later this year. The fact that these two recognizable names in
fandom made this documentary is the main reason I wanted to get and watch this documentary
because it would really give us a sense of the fans point of view and not be a
water downed account or make fun of the fans as a corporate one might. I knew it would be made with utmost care and
I wasn’t wrong in my assessment.
I really enjoyed watching Who's
Changing - An Adventure In Time With Fans.
It was extremely interesting listening to all the interviews with the
various fans and celebrities talking about the first Doctor Who convention that
took place in a church in Battersea in the late 70’s to the formation of The
Doctor Who Appreciation Society, The Wilderness Years, and Cosplaying. I really found the part about the beginning
of Doctor Who fandom to be the most interesting and hearing the accounts of
those who were there like Gary Russell and Louise Jameson talking about how
Doctor Who fandom was 95 percent male and then hearing them talk about how it
is like today with it being an even split of 50/50 male and female. Doctor Who fandom has really taken off and
hearing Sophie Aldred and Tony Lee talking about the early days compared today
really got me nostalgic as I remember those days fondly. Just to see where Fandom has come to and
seeing it in this documentary is really amazing. It is especially great to see how fandom has evolved
now and hearing all the different viewpoints from the old fans and new fans is
truly a highlight of the documentary.
I was around during The
Wilderness Years when the fans kept the spirit of the show alive. It is true
and this documentary does a good job of explaining what went on during that
time period with the Virgin Books and Big Finish. It still amazes me that a lot of those
writers are now the same ones that have a hand in making the show today and
more importantly they are fans themselves.
It is probably why the show is as popular as it is as the fans are
taking care in making a product for everyone to enjoy whether you like the new direction
or not so much. I really loved this history
lesson as there was quite a bit that I had forgotten like Russell T. Davies
writing a New Adventure novel.
As a convention goer I have
noticed the big Cosplay movement. Who’s
Changing does a wonderful job explaining this especially for those who do not
get it. Well mainly for those who do not
go to conventions anymore and just sit at home drinking beer and Doctor Who DVD’s. It is really interesting to see how many
people dress up as their favorite Doctor Who characters at conventions. It seems like the biggest participants are
female and they have no qualms about dressing up as The Doctor at all and even
putting their own twist onto the character.
It is good to see this as it brings new enthusiasm to conventions and
keeps the fans interest in the show as they discover new characters they can
dress up as. Some really good Cosplay on display in this DVD and they are all
having a great time it seems.
I really liked this DVD. It was good to see Neve, Campbell, Catrin
Stewart, and Dan Starkey talk about being fans of the show and of course Simon
Fisher – Becker talking about his first memory of Doctor Who as being the
Hartnell to Troughton regeneration. It
was also good to see extended interviews with the Doctor Who actors in the
extras and that added a lovely highlight to an already great DVD.
Who's Changing - An Adventure In
Time With Fans is a documentary that is really well done and done with love and
passion for the show of Doctor Who. It
is made by fans funded by the fans for the fans and if you are a fan of the new
or classic series of Doctor Who you must buy this documentary DVD as it is the
best Doctor Who documentary we have had in a long time and that includes the
ones by BBC America. Who's Changing -
An Adventure In Time With Fans is worth the time to buy and watch.
Grade A +
You can buy the DVD Who's Changing - An Adventure In
Time With Fans at these links
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