BITR Reshoot Details News Posted by John Hoare on 17th May 2005, 02:18 Following discussions both on here and the TOS Webboard, Andrew Ellard posted on the Webboard a list of what reshot for Back In The Red. Note that he specifically says this is from memory; so consider this a general overview rather than the ABSOLUTELY COMPLETE AND 100% VERIFIED. Incidentally, the reshoot happened on 30th November 1998; the main recording was on the 28th September. I confidently predict that the interim period was “stressful”. Anyway- here are a few of the changes, from memory (incomplete, and certainly prone to human error): Lister and Rimmer outside doc’s (“French movie star”), and Lister and Rimmer later in a holding cell (“G.R.O.P.E.”) both part of the reshoot. Original scene combining some elements of both, set in the grey bunkroom, should be in Deleted Scenes. Rimmer finding the luck and sex viruses in Bug wreckage also part of the reshoot. No equivalent previously, but mentioned in deleted scene above. (As was Rimmer’s diary disc, which was sold recently by Propstore.) Rimmer and Hollister, Hollister’s Office (the lo-o-o-ong salute). Again, a reshoot. Original scene should be in deleted scenes. I think there are some other drop-ins for parts 1 and 2, but I forget. Things also got moved around – Kryten’s medical examination (inflating hand, etc.) was originally shown immediately before the decent to Floor 13 at the end, for example. BITR3’s cell ‘flashforward’ was added (I always thought that fitted better between parts 1 and 2 myself), but all the midget dance stuff is as-is. (And worked so much better after an hour-long story build, let me tell ya.) The crew originally escaped from AR as shown (after the screensaver and Rimmer editing their reality). But once Kochanski got lustful for Rimsey in the doorway, we cut back to show ALL of them on AR beds (a VERY different set; should be in deleted scenes). So their time in the elevator, the second ground controller gag, the escape in Blue Midget…all this was additional shoot stuff. So, mostly Part 3 – but not all. (And I’m skimming over stuff, so please don’t see this as definitive, or think that this contradicts what I’ve already said.) Ian actually has the shooting script for the reshoot, but he’s currently HUNDREDS OF MILES away from it. He might do an article on it once he’s reunited with it – but, erm, rather carefully. One thing’s for sure – the deleted scenes for VIII are going to be very interesting. Oh, and sorry Andrew – but you’ll never convince me that the Blue Midget dance is in any context anything other than excruciating…
>Original scene combining some elements of both, set in the grey bunkroom, should be in Deleted Scenes. ARGH! YOU’RE TELLING ME THEY SHOT MORE STUFF IN THE BUNKROOM BUT DIDN’T USE IT?!?!?!? I’ve always been immensely frustrated by the fact that they went to so much trouble to painstakingly rebuild the bunkroom only to have it appear for a total of about two minutes. But perhaps, it seems, it was intended for far more, and Doug might have been just as immensely frustrated that it wasn’t…
God, that set was lovely. You can say a lot about Series VIII but the production values were spot on (CG not withstanding).
I know. It’s what series I would have looked like if they’d had (a) some money and (b) some blue lighting.
I never really liked that set. I loved the idea of it – but the fact it looked *so* different to the Series 1/2 set jarred with me. As much as anything else, it just looked so much *smaller*.
Why they used floating plastic goldfish instead of live ones like they did in Future Echoes is beyond me. If Lister can figure out the circuitry of Lennon and McCartney then certainly the nanobots should have been able to.
I too wish they’d used the bunkroom more. If only so I could delude my brain into thinking I was watching series 1 or 2 instead of 8. I wish Doug had written an episode that was a lot like the first two series, going back to basics.
I wish Doug had tried a little more to write a decent series rather than the greatest pile of crap I ever saw.
Oh, come now. I’m no fan of Series VIII, I downright loathe significant chunks of it, but if it’s the greatest pile of crap you ever saw, then you, sir, have lived a charmed life indeed…
When I look at Series VIII I think ‘Hmmm. Would I rather watch an episode of this or an episode of My Hero?’ Then I realise that the fact that I’m even asking that question means that the series is fucking bad. HOWEVER, it’s still Dwarf and I’d take it above the majority of bubo pus the BBC seem to think is good comedy.
There’s huge amounts of crap and average stuff on TV that VIII is miles, miles better than. The sad thing is thought that I find so much stuff better than VIII. Tonight’s ep of The Thin Blue Line on UK Gold pisses on any VIII ep. Mind you, I am unnaturally fond of The Thin Blue Line. Me and Tanya watched an ep a few months ago and laughed out loud at it probably more than anything else we’ve watched together. “It’s *my* arse Raymond, and I will not have you poking your nose in and sniffing about!” “It’s my arse, and I will not have a cockup!” Erm, anyway. Series 1-VI is up there with the best stuff anyone has ever produced ever. I really wish I could say the same for VII/VIII. That’s what upsets me so much about it.
OH FUCKING HELL ANOTHER VII/VIII DISCUSSION KILL ME KILL ME NOW AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH FUCKKSQWREASOPSDDF
For the life of me I can’t understand why people don’t like VII. Kryten changes a lot, but I liked the new direction. And Rimmer’s not in it, but i think they do superbly without him. And there’s a (tiny) hint of drama in some of them, which really enriches the characters. VIII, though, plays like a bad Carry-On film. Still disappointed in that.
Oh dear. Yes, I’ve talked about it before. I am sick to the back teeth of it. And yet I still keep getting dragged back… Basically, I’m not keen on VII because it’s not funny enough. I’m not that keen on VIII because it’s not funny enough – but it’s a lot funnier than VII. But I’d never say either series had no worth whatsoever. There’s some really good stuff in there. (“I owe my life to him!”) Just that they pale in comparison to what came before.
> I never really liked that set. I loved the idea of it – but the fact it looked *so* different to the Series 1/2 > set jarred with me. It’s not too different. The biggest difference is that some things are blue rather than grey. > The crew originally escaped from AR as shown (after the screensaver and Rimmer editing their reality). > But once Kochanski got lustful for Rimsey in the doorway, we cut back to show ALL of them on AR beds > (a VERY different set; should be in deleted scenes). > So their time in the elevator, the second ground controller gag, the escape in Blue > Midget…all this was additional shoot stuff. > So, mostly Part 3 – but not all. (And I’m skimming over stuff, so please don’t see this as > definitive, or think that this contradicts what I’ve already said.) Hmm…
>>Tonight’s ep of The Thin Blue Line on UK Gold pisses on any VIII ep. Mind you, I am unnaturally fond of The Thin Blue Line. Me and Tanya watched an ep a few months ago and laughed out loud at it probably more than anything else we’ve watched together. “It’s *my* arse Raymond, and I will not have you poking your nose in and sniffing about!” “It’s my arse, and I will not have a cockup!” “It’s your cockup, my arse!” :D
Ben Elton thought that although technically that was only one joke, it was such a good one it was worth mentioning twice.
