Behind the Scenes of The End of Time - Photoset Part Two
Excerpts from Benjamin Cook’s article in DWM #417
Today is history. It’s David Tennant’s last day filming Doctor Who. Yes, ever! We’re at Upper Boat to watch David record his very last shot: jumping through the hatch of the Hesperus, again, but this time suspended from a wire and against green screen. At present he’s stood in the middle of the studio with his trousers around his ankles, black boxers on show, so that stunt coordinator Lee Sheward can fit on David’s harness. No-one could have imagined that this is how the Tenth Doctor’s era would end.
“He’s horizontal,” explains Euros, as David is winched skywards, “then falls horizontal, then he’s leaning towards us…”
“I’m like an un-cool Spider-Man,” muses David.
David is almost hanging upside down. "How difficult is it for you to have your head lower than your feet?“ wonders Euros.
“Exactly the same as my first day on the job,” smiles David.
“Can we lower him by a foot-and-a-half?” asks Euros. "On this one, David, if there’s a little more movement from you…“
This is taking ages. Take after take after take. After each one, Euros says, "One more, please.” Until the take when he doesn’t…
At 6:49pm, on 20 May 2009, David Tennant films his final shot. It’s slate number 999. "Dial for a Doctor,“ sniffs Julie, sadly.
"Am I free?” asks David. "Can I walk away?“
And he’s gone. Oh. Is that it?!
Apparently not. The shot was in the can ages ago, but Euros and Pete are stalling, while the Any Effects team frantically heap pink confetti into a cannon. Right. They’re ready. David is called back on set. "Let’s make him think we’re just getting him back for a green-screen reference,” says Pete.
“As if he’ll believe that,” says Russell.
David returns. He’s still in costume. Pete announces: "Ladies and gentlemen, you’ll be very sorry to hear, that’s a golden wrap on David Tennant, the Tenth Doctor.“ BOOM! An almighty bang, and confetti fills the air. The biggest round of applause.
"I’ve changed my mind,” says David. "I’m going to stay on after all. Is it too late?“ And then: "I’m not going to make a speech, am I?”
Almost a hundred tearful, joyful, expectant faces stare back at him. "Oh, stop it,“ David tells himself, as he struggles to fight back the tears. "This is ridiculous.” He picks confetti out of his hair, and composes himself just about long enough to say: "I’m very proud of everything we’ve done, and thank you all very, very much.“
The other End of Time sets in this series are here:
[ one ] [ three ] [ four ] [ five ] [ six ] [ seven ] [ eight ] [ nine ] [ ten ]
The rest of the behind-the-scenes photosets are available here
