BBC series on comics

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 16 Jul 2007, 14:22

Does anyone know when the three-part BBC Four documentary on British comics is likely to be aired? (As mentioned here months ago.) Or have I missed them?

Lew

Peter Gray · Post by **Peter Gray** » 16 Jul 2007, 18:15

you havn't missed them.....

Captain Storm · Post by **Captain Storm** » 16 Jul 2007, 21:27

Hopefully in time it may find its way onto youtube

moose · Post by **moose** » 17 Jul 2007, 20:07

not heard anything from the bbc guy who was doing them...shelved?

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 20 Jul 2007, 23:17

moose wrote:not heard anything from the bbc guy who was doing them...shelved?

No. According to today's Forbidden Planet International website it'll be broadcast in September:

http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/?p=4667

Lew

moose · Post by **moose** » 22 Jul 2007, 21:47

fine work lew...i'm setting the hard disk recorder already!

Captain Storm · Post by **Captain Storm** » 22 Jul 2007, 21:54

In retrospect it is probably an area of the comics genre that is virtually untapped...that is-recordings,either radio or video as apposed to printed material.It is important that we preserve this as well as we do our paper comics.Especially in this modern age where we can get to actually hear the artists/writers concerned...well that's the idea anyway..our descendants will thank us for it..just as we thanks our ancestors who preserved comics from long ago for us to enjoy today...

Shaqui · Post by **Shaqui** » 30 Jul 2007, 00:59

Captain Storm wrote:In retrospect it is probably an area of the comics genre that is virtually untapped...that is-recordings,either radio or video as apposed to printed material.It is important that we preserve this as well as we do our paper comics.Especially in this modern age where we can get to actually hear the artists/writers concerned...well that's the idea anyway..our descendants will thank us for it..just as we thanks our ancestors who preserved comics from long ago for us to enjoy today...

Cap'n, you must tell us what you're drinking/smoking... cos I think I want some!

mr ed · Post by **mr ed** » 30 Jul 2007, 13:26

Heard that the series is to be aired on Sept 10th. The comics section is very much a celebration of great comic artists of the past - Ken Reid, Dudley Watkins, Davey Law and Leo Baxendale.

Captain Storm · Post by **Captain Storm** » 30 Jul 2007, 20:42

Ah Shaqui old boy! If I told you that you'd all want some

Anyhoo,simply put-besides archiving strips and written interviews,it should become our mandate,nay our manifesto to collect as many mp3s of recorded interviews with artists/writers and videos of same and archive them appropriately for future reference and study.I think that's really a good idea.Anybody disagree?

p.s. I know Al has started the ball rolling with I think about 4 mp3s of interviews on the site at present.Maybe Al is smoking the same brand as me

Dave Windett · Post by **Dave Windett** » 10 Aug 2007, 12:28

This just appeared in the media section of The Guardian Online:

BBC to screen history of comics

Leigh Holmwood
Friday August 10, 2007
MediaGuardian.co.uk

BBC4 is to explore the world of British comics in a new season of programmes
that includes a history of the genre and a documentary in which Jonathan
Ross goes in search of his hero. The three-part Comics Britannia will look at classic comic strips from the
past 70 years from the Beano to Bunty, Commando to Viz and Eagle to 2000AD.

Narrated by The Thick of It creator Armando Iannucci, the series will
feature those who wrote and illustrated the strips, comic experts and a
range of celebrity fans who will relive their favourite moments and
characters.

The Bash Street Kids, Dennis the Menace, Roy of The Rovers, the Fat Slags,
Watchmen and V for Vendetta will all be brought to life.

Comics Britannia, which was ordered by the BBC's commissioning editor for
arts, performance and religion, Adam Kemp, is being made in-house by BBC
Bristol and will be executive produced by Michael Poole and series produced
by Alastair Laurence.

As part of the season, which is due to air in the autumn, In Search of Steve
Ditko will see Ross go in search of his hero, American comic book artist and
writer Steve Ditko, who co-created Spiderman and Doctor Strange.

The documentary, which is being made by independent company Hot Sauce TV,
was also commissioned by Mr Kemp, with Ross and Deborah Cox as executive
producers.

Adam West's classic 60s Batman TV series will also be repeated, as will a
movie featuring comic strip character Modesty Blaise.

BBC4 acting controller George Entwistle said: "Whether you grew up on the
Beano or Jackie - or wished you'd been allowed to - this season offers a
trip down memory lane, peppered with the customary wit and intelligence of
BBC4."

Dave

Shaqui · Post by **Shaqui** » 10 Aug 2007, 13:16

Captain Storm wrote:Anyhoo,simply put-besides archiving strips and written interviews,it should become our mandate,nay our manifesto to collect as many mp3s of recorded interviews with artists/writers and videos of same and archive them appropriately for future reference and study.I think that's really a good idea.Anybody disagree?

I agree in principal but the audios of the interviews I've done are considered the 'raw' versions and are usually subject to editing, either by myself (for clarication, and to get rid of repetition/non essential/personal information), and sometimes by the interviewee. Mike Noble made a few 'off the cuff' comments which he preferred to be taken out of the version made available at the GACCH website. Cefn Ridout also asked for some information to be removed from the Space Precinct information regarding his unpublished story. Bob Reed (art assistant at Century 21 Publishing) and i waxed lyrical for an extra couple of hours about how our graphic professions have changed over the last 40 odd years... boring to anyone else I suspect!

For various reasons, I can't release the 'raw' audios, or back-up MPGs held by site co-producer Kim Stevens, though it is a concern if anything were to happen to myself that they would be lost so I'm giving the matter some thought as to 'archiving' them...

HighAndMighty · Post by **HighAndMighty** » 13 Aug 2007, 14:22

Looks like it's not just one show, it's a whole "season" of programmes.

Fingers on the record button....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6940239.stm

Captain Storm · Post by **Captain Storm** » 13 Aug 2007, 19:19

If somebody has the equipment why not record and convert to mpeg and lash it up in the interviews section of this site?

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 13 Aug 2007, 21:24

Captain Storm wrote:If somebody has the equipment why not record and convert to mpeg and lash it up in the interviews section of this site?

Probably because it'd be illegal and Al doesn't want his website closing down.

Why not just watch it when it airs?

Lew

Comics UK