Director’s Cut Down News Posted by Ian Symes on 1st May 2009, 11:10 TOS’s update today confirms the commentary news that bobbyllew twatted last weekend, with a number of interesting additional details. Firstly, the cast commentary will be on the broadcast episodes, and the director’s commentary on the Director’s Cut. Excellent news, most sensible. What’s more interesting, however, is that the Director’s Cut will actually be shorter than the broadcast version, with (from the sounds of it) a fair chunk of material chopped from Part One. Apparently, there was some material that was only included because they needed a minimum programme length, which is absolutely fascinating – we know that some scenes in Part One drag and fall a bit flat, and it’ll be interesting to see which bits in particular Doug wanted to cut. One thing’s for sure – it’s looking increasingly likely that this Director’s Cut will be the definitive version of Back To Earth…
Personally, I’d have hard cut just after Rimmer’s “something good for me to read while you’re all down there” line to the establishing diving bell shot. But that’s just me. :-))
Probably a sensible decision. I wonder how much this is based upon the reviews… Something similar to the fan edit on Youtube wouldn`t be a bad idea.
Hmmmm. If the thing as structured flows better, then fair enough – but I do hope there are deleted scenes in at least some form…
My guess, or at least hope, is that the bunkroom scenes in part 1 have been given some extra zip with quicker cutting. The Cat exposition scene in particular is a little painful because it needs to feel faster and the cuts to Lister with ‘he means “tentacle”‘ and all that bollocks should be on the cutting room floor. I can’t think of entire scenes that need to be excised, though obviously we won’t see the repeating sections of the dimension cutter and Carbug driving onto the Street which were essentially ‘teasers’ for the next ep, so that’s some explanation for the shorter DC length.
That is kind of surprising and also kind of good. We’ll see, but I hope there are a nice selection of deleted scenes.
I have to admit, I was hoping for a bit more footage in the Director’s cut, pertaining in particular to the second two episodes, but I think the decision to trim episode 1 is a good one. They state it’s the opening scene that will be trimmed down, which is probably a good thing. I think some of the stuff in the other earlier scenes (the Cat’s description of his confrontation with the squid, etc) should be trimmed a bit too. Preferably not any lines though, and certainly not the ‘he means tentacle’ bit. I thought the testicle/tentacle gag was actually rather funny, especially Rimmer’s comment (and delivery) following Lister’s explanation. It’s mostly the flow of the scene, the pauses between lines, etc which could use some tightening up I think. As for the other episodes… as I said, I would actually have preferred a bit more footage there as some of that actually seemed a bit rushed to me. Mainly the jump from Corrie to the pyramid. Even if it’s just a few more seconds showing the drive up, etc. A touch more perspective, maybe. The other characters’ reastion to riding a bus would be great too, although I can see why that would not be included not being plot specific, etc. If these things are not included I wouldn’t consider it a disaster though. A trimmed, tigher show overall would be an improvement.
It makes sense that they would chop it up to fit the lengths of the 3 eps for broadcast, even if the timing/pacing was out. I’m looking forward to the definitive version.
We’re definitely getting deleted scenes in some form, as Bobby Tweeted about recording commentaries for them a few days ago.
But Bobby also said the version he commented on was “a slightly tweaked slightly tighter version. Seems longer and smoother, not sure it is longer.” Yet the cast were watching the original, broadcast eps throughout. Before this becomes a thing: the cast haven’t recorded any deleted scene commentaries.
I wonder about the extended shoot/dropping of Unplugged if that ultimately meant that they needed to shove material that they thought of as substandard into it to stretch the story to a three-parter. What was so critical to the story that they only realised they needed it after they started shooting?
Probably thought they didn’t have enough time spent on the hilarious thrashing around and dancing stuff in the diving bell scene. Looking back, I wish they’d spent even more time on that, to really milk the comedy out of it.
> What was so critical to the story that they only realised they needed it after they started shooting? Doug’s scripts were too long for two episodes and it became apparent the extra length was needed, but that was obviously mainly for everything after the boys arrived on Earth. Probably when it was just two eps they left the a lot quicker. > to really milk the comedy out of it. Oh…milk your own prostrate, why don’t you?
>Oh?milk your own prostrate, why don?t you? Only if I am laying in prostate position at the time of course. :)
I hope episode 3 gets most of the extra content, episode 3 had no gap between Coronation Street and meeting the maker, I think a Car Bug scene would have made it so much smoother, it just felt overly rushed to me, like something was inbetween but it was taken out, one of the very few criticisms of the episode from me there. We will end up with about 4 minutes of extra content in episode 2 and 3 though, take out two opening and closing credits, slice a little from episode one.
In the department store, Lister reads that they’re going to look for the actors that play them. I’ve always thought it was a shame they didn’t go looking round assorted scrapyards, or [insert Storymakers location, and something to do with Chris here], looking for the others.
> I?ve always thought it was a shame they didn?t go looking round assorted scrapyards, or [insert Storymakers location, and something to do with Chris here], looking for the others. This. And the fact that it only explored the Lister/Kockanski scenario, when it would have been nice to see how the squid induced happiness in all of them. I found that disappointing, esp. as it was done so concisely in BTR in the space of 1/2 hour.
Yeah, having read the actual article on the official site (should have done that to begin with really) it doesn`t sound like the director`s cut will have that many cuts. Not as many as I would have liked anyway. The site says that it will be similar to the premiere version and the first section of that didn`t get great reviews at the time.
> In the department store, Lister reads that they?re going to look for the actors that play them. I?ve always thought it was a shame they didn?t go looking round assorted scrapyards, or [insert Storymakers location, and something to do with Chris here], looking for the others. I was a little disappointed that when they met Craig he didn’t say “Danny, Chris, Bobby? What are you doing here?” instead of just “Hi guys!”
So it was too long to work as a two parter, but not long enough to work as a three parter. Oh dear. The fact that there is a directors cut because the needed release contained extra footage the director doesnt want in there anymore, is yet another Blade Runner reference then :-)
I was a little disappointed that when they met Craig he didn?t say ?Danny, Chris, Bobby? What are you doing here?? instead of just ?Hi guys!? Yes, because that would have been much more realistic.
Maybe a “What’s with the costumes?” or a “Is it Memorobilia time again?” type line could have worked. But that’s just me.
I still wonder what they will do about the cut to ads in episode two, i.e. the freeze gag. Surely that wouldn’t work without actual ads.
Well it’ll either be cut or the scene will be recut to accommodate, or maybe it just won’t be as strange as I’m imagining.
I still wonder what they will do about the cut to ads in episode two, i.e. the freeze gag. Surely that wouldn?t work without actual ads. Mmmm, could still be a scene change – there’s another fade-out cut later in the episode (which I always find a weird choice of transition, actually, it’s unsurprising that they’re so rare, but hey ho, that was the choice he went for)
Instead of a fade out it would be OK if it just quickly cut to the next scene in the middle of Kryten’s line.
>> I hope episode 3 gets most of the extra content >What extra content are you talking about there? Deleted scenes put back in.
> Deleted scenes put back in. Ah, so I guess you saved valuable minutes by not actually reading the news article…
Ahem, what? I did read the article like I do every fucking friday. Episode one is shorter but you mention nothing about Episode 2 and 3, with the titles out of the episodes you must have put other material back in because it is only slightly shorter than the original.
> and certainly not the ?he means tentacle? bit. I thought the testicle/tentacle gag was actually rather funny, especially Rimmer?s comment (and delivery) following Lister?s explanation. Yeah leave that in but definitely cut ‘this is so weird’ and the for-those-not-in-the-know ‘we’re in deep space’ line IMO. The only thing I’d cut from either parts 2 & 3 is Cat and Rimmer’s reactions to finding out they’re ‘not real’. They’re too much like stock lines and Cat crying for a second is just cringeworthy.
> Cat crying for a second is just cringeworthy. I laughed my ass off at that. DJJ was fantastically understated in that scene. I would never want to lose that.
Yeah leave that in but definitely cut ?this is so weird? and the for-those-not-in-the-know ?we?re in deep space? line IMO. Yeah, and while we’re at it let’s go back and chop “We’re in a mining ship, three million years into deep space…” out of the Morning After scene in The Last Day. Because, y’know, we shouldn’t beat viewers over the head with the concept of the show.
> Episode one is shorter but you mention nothing about Episode 2 and 3 with the titles out of the episodes you must have put other material back in because it is only slightly shorter than the original. I think you’ve rather stretched things there. No scenes have been added. We mentioned cuts, we mentioned added shots. That’s it. Honestly. We didn’t forget to mention scenes being put back in.
>Yeah leave that in but definitely cut ?this is so weird? and the for-those-not-in-the-know ?we?re in deep space? line IMO. >> Yeah, and while we?re at it let?s go back and chop ?We?re in a mining ship, three million years into deep space?? out of the Morning After scene in The Last Day. Because, y?know, we shouldn?t beat viewers over the head with the concept of the show. Yep and we’ll have to get rid of all those Holly intro’s at the start of the series I-II episodes too.
>Yeah leave that in but definitely cut ?this is so weird? and the for-those-not-in-the-know ?we?re in deep space? line IMO. >> Yeah, and while we?re at it let?s go back and chop ?We?re in a mining ship, three million years into deep space?? out of the Morning After scene in The Last Day. Because, y?know, we shouldn?t beat viewers over the head with the concept of the show. >>>Yep and we?ll have to get rid of all those Holly intro?s at the start of the series I-II episodes too. Scrub The End in that case too. In fact, someone could probably cut Series one down to an half an hour edit…
No, just cut to the Tony Hayers scene in Alan Partridge. Let me rephrase that…can I…actually I’ll just repeat the question.
