Moffat talks Eccleston and The Day of the Doctor

[Starkers]

Apologies if this has already been posted. Anyway interesting stuff and Eccleston comes out of it well I think, seems odd that they were waiting so late in the day for Matt and David, at the very least I'd have thought Smith was contractually obliged to do it.

Link

Loved the bit where Moffat namechecked Janette Krankie, I now insist a future incarnation of the Doctor has Famdabidozie! as a catchphrase (that's going to go over 75% of people's heads but I don't care it made me giggle)

 

[sttngfan1701d]

Yeah, WTF?! You'd think that Matt Smith would be on board same as Jenna. I think Moffat is exaggerating there. How could the incumbent Doctor not be under contract for the episode but the incumbent companion was?

As for Eccleston, we knew all along that he took 2 meetings. That he took 2 instead of 1 has me thinking he was doing it for more than just a courtesy to Moffat, as Moffat implies here. He was definitely kicking the idea around in his head. Whether it was 75% sure or 90%, he was close. Ah well.

Loved the bit about Sylvester McCoy though. Nice of him to "be" the Doctor for Moffat's son.

 

[Starkers]

I wonder if it was something to do with being a special one off, maybe that wasn't covered by the standard contract or something and Smith's agent wanted to get a good deal for his client whereas Jenna just jumped straight in?

That is a really nice story about McCoy.

 

[sttngfan1701d]

I wonder if it was something to do with being a special one off, maybe that wasn't covered by the standard contract or something and Smith's agent wanted to get a good deal for his client whereas Jenna just jumped straight in?

Yeah, that's got to be it. I'm sure Smith was always going to do it after some light contract renegotiation because it was a special episode. But Moffat sure loves for things to sound more sensational than they really are.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I love the story about Sylvester McCoy.

I like how Moffat spoke respectfully of Christopher Eccleston and chose not to speculate as to why Eccleston turned it out down.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Great interview, thanks for posting, Starkers.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

Yeah, WTF?! You'd think that Matt Smith would be on board same as Jenna. I think Moffat is exaggerating there. How could the incumbent Doctor not be under contract for the episode but the incumbent companion was?

AIUI, Matt's initial contract was up with "The Name of the Doctor." He had to be contracted for the specials individually.

 

[Sci]

I wonder if it was something to do with being a special one off, maybe that wasn't covered by the standard contract or something and Smith's agent wanted to get a good deal for his client whereas Jenna just jumped straight in?

Yeah, that's got to be it. I'm sure Smith was always going to do it after some light contract renegotiation because it was a special episode. But Moffat sure loves for things to sound more sensational than they really are.

I mean, from his POV, he doesn't know that Smith is coming on board after his agent gets whatever deal he can get. There is always the possibility that negotiations could break down, even if such a possibility is unlikely. So as the executive producer, it is Moffat's responsibility to prepare for how to produce a 50th anniversary special if Smith doesn't sign. I don't think that's sensationalism -- that's a very real concern from the executive producer's POV. Because the train doesn't stop running just because Smith leaves, y'know?

 

[Starkers]

Yeah, WTF?! You'd think that Matt Smith would be on board same as Jenna. I think Moffat is exaggerating there. How could the incumbent Doctor not be under contract for the episode but the incumbent companion was?

AIUI, Matt's initial contract was up with "The Name of the Doctor." He had to be contracted for the specials individually.

ah, interesting.

 

[mythme]

Honestly, if I was a casting director I would be afraid to approach Eccelston for ANYTHING. Apparently his issue was with "higher ups" at the BBC, so why is he so testy with potential directors he hasn't even worked with previously? Its not really an actor's place to demand who directs you. Now we'll probably never really know what's going on in Chris' head, but I think biting the bullet and putting in a few days work for the Anniversary would have probably helped his career rather than this "dark cloud" mystery that will dog him for years.

 

[Starkers]

Really I doubt it's going to affect his career, and it's only 'dogging' him as far as Who fans are concerned.

 

[Saul]

Frankly I don't think he is the kind of person to be bothered by the "dark cloud" of mystery. He had a reason for leaving. I doubt quitting a job after a year is easy for anyone. He has stated that he banged heads with people at the top of the show but doesn't go into details since those people aren't there to defend themselves in any interview he may give about it. Seems fairly respectful and level headed to me. Damn shame he wasn't in the 50th but Moff seems sure it was a likely no either way.

 

[Csalem]

Boith Eccleston and Hurt come out of that interview very well, as does "my" Doctor (McCoy).

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

Really I doubt it's going to affect his career, and it's only 'dogging' him as far as Who fans are concerned.

I still think that he'd have had an easier time of it had he just done it. That way, people would stop asking him about it. But if he doesn't want to do that, I guess his dogged determination to not look backwards is his next best option. At the very least, his time as the Doctor was so short and the show still in such a formative stage that he's easier to forget compared to, say, Tom Baker.

 

[sidious618]

Loved the Sylvester McCoy story. Very touching.

I like that Eccleson made sure to see Moffat in person; also liked that he's apparently been keeping up with the show!

 

[Cyke101]

Honestly, if I was a casting director I would be afraid to approach Eccelston for ANYTHING. Apparently his issue was with "higher ups" at the BBC, so why is he so testy with potential directors he hasn't even worked with previously? Its not really an actor's place to demand who directs you. Now we'll probably never really know what's going on in Chris' head, but I think biting the bullet and putting in a few days work for the Anniversary would have probably helped his career rather than this "dark cloud" mystery that will dog him for years.

I get the sense that Eccleston's career is just fine. He's been working steadily since he left the show, and his CV reflects a great diversity of range. And no one, especially him, doubts the fact that the show greatly increased his profile; it seems he's getting more work outside of the franchise than David Tennant, who is very much the more popular Doctor.

If anything, it's not just a hesitation to work for specific people, but also the culture within an organization. You can replace everyone in a company, but if the policies and atmosphere is the same, then you can't really expect a different working environment.

----

On a side note, since Eccleston named-dropped Amy Pond, I'd love to think that he's a fan of hers.

 

[Cutter John]

I'm certainly disappointed that Chris didn't choose to return, but I'm certainly not going ot hold a grudge. It's his life, and his career. From what I've heard, he's actually a good person who doesn't deserve any flak he might have gotten.

"And meanwhile the entire internet is finding my email and sending me the most hideous death threats. Because I haven’t got William Hartnell back!"

That's just scary.

 

[The Wormhole]

"And meanwhile the entire internet is finding my email and sending me the most hideous death threats. Because I haven’t got William Hartnell back!"

That's just scary.

Definitely, but unfortunately it's nothing new. Back in the 80s Michael Grade received threatening mail from fans who claimed to have connections through the government that could make him disappear. Even in Star Trek fandom, Ron Moore and Malcolm McDowell both reported death threats over Kirk's death in Generations.

We can only hope the people making these threats were apprehended and got the help they clearly need.

 

[Timby]

Honestly, if I was a casting director I would be afraid to approach Eccelston for ANYTHING. Apparently his issue was with "higher ups" at the BBC, so why is he so testy with potential directors he hasn't even worked with previously? Its not really an actor's place to demand who directs you. Now we'll probably never really know what's going on in Chris' head, but I think biting the bullet and putting in a few days work for the Anniversary would have probably helped his career rather than this "dark cloud" mystery that will dog him for years.

It's really no mystery.

1) Eccleston had severe issues with director Keith Boak and how he treated the cast and crew. Boak never worked on the show again.

2) Eccleston was incredibly pissed that even though he had always signed a one-year contract and everyone knew he was leaving after the first year, the BBC jumped the gun and said he had decided to bail out of fear of being typecast.

Simple as that. He's very clearly proud of his work on the show but he has no desire to return to it. I don't blame him; he doesn't owe fans anything. I had a great time at a job I held for a couple of years a while back, but I left on my own terms and if they asked me to come back for a few days of work, I'd tell them to pound sand, because I've moved on.

 

[sidious618]

I had a great time at a job I held for a couple of years a while back, but I left on my own terms and if they asked me to come back for a few days of work, I'd tell them to pound sand, because I've moved on.

This is something fans seem to miss. Acting is a job. He doesn't have to do one take, have fun, and leave. He has to put in time and effort and after being burnt in the past he just doesn't want to go through it again.

In terms of it hurting his career, that's obvious nonsense considering he's now the star of an HBO drama, a sign of prestige if there ever was one.