"Journey To Cathay" progress

[John Pandora]

The redubbing of the Dr Who classic "A Journey To Cathay" (judged by many to be the finest DW serial ever... unless you've had to sit through it several hundred times like myself!) into English continues, despite the overwhelming difficulties we have had to face. The problems with synchronisation continue to be a bugbear - the off air English soundtracks were of course recorded on the cheapest kind of domestic machine, probably battery operated and thus drift out of synch with the film every few seconds. I have spent untold hours on the Mac resynching 3-4 second segments of audio, a problem which is compounded by occasional slight cuts in the prints (probably made by the South American broadcaster rather than as a result of damage)... often it is difficult to assess exactly how many frames are missing.

If all goes well, we hope to have the first four episodes in a ready state for the next screening in August, with the final three ready by Christmas. Since this is such a significant piece, it will also be made available as a special commemorative 16mm B&W print as well as the more usual formats.

[John Pandora]

On that point, just what language *are* they speaking here? We all assumed these prints originated in Venezuala, but what language is spoken there? Or is it some other language?

[Kev Munroe]

Surely it must be Spanish; or a bastard dialect thereof.

So are these locally-dubbed episodes, then? Does that mean the vision is a dupe copy of the original BBC print? Better than nothing, I suppose, but still! If that's the case, I hope you're remembering to use the Bristol print of "Mighty Kublai Khan".

[John Pandora]

Kev said:

Surely it must be Spanish; or a bastard dialect thereof.

So are these locally-dubbed episodes, then? Does that mean the vision is a dupe copy of the original BBC print? Better than nothing, I suppose, but still! If that's the case, I hope you're remembering to use the Bristol print of "Mighty Kublai Khan".

It's difficult to know the origin of these (Spanish?) prints. Unfortunately unlike many of our acquisitions which came directly via TV companies or their employees, these were bought on the free market and were provided in plain film cans. I am uncertain as to whether episodes were dubbed by the BBC themselves or by the broadcasters, but probably the latter.

In any case, there is little to choose between the two copies of part 6 vision wise. The Bristol print (ex Enterprises) is perhaps slightly dirtier, but the final choice will be made when a direct A/B comparison can be made.

[Jacob Brannagh]

John said:

It's difficult to know the origin of these (Spanish?) prints. Unfortunately unlike many of our acquisitions which came directly via TV companies or their employees, these were bought on the free market and were provided in plain film cans. I am uncertain as to whether episodes were dubbed by the BBC themselves or by the broadcasters, but probably the latter.

In any case, there is little to choose between the two copies of part 6 vision wise. The Bristol print (ex Enterprises) is perhaps slightly dirtier, but the final choice will be made when a direct A/B comparison can be made.

Its 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. The Bristol print suffers from a lot of dirt and sparkle, but is relatively sharp. The other copy doesn't have the dirt and sparkle but has a nasty scratch running through the middle of it for about 10 minutes.

Jacob

[Kev Munroe]

Surely you could do something clever and computery to improve it, Jake? (Slime slime, flatter flatter)

[Jacob Brannagh]

Kev said:

Surely you could do something clever and computery to improve it, Jake? (Slime slime, flatter flatter)

Its towards the end of a very long queue.... as you well know, ya bugger, after leaving all those cans with me!!

Jacob

[AlexB]

So how long are we gonna be waiting in total then...not long I hope! ;D