Doctor Who Club of Australia

[Theta Sigma]

B7 Productions has just issued a press release:
"DREW KAZA APPOINTED: CHAIRMAN, B7 PRODUCTIONS

Former UIP Pay-TV President and BBC Worldwide executive is the new Chairman of UK-based independent production company, B7 Productions


LOS ANGELES, November 2, 2005 : UK-based independent film and television production company, B7 Productions, has announced the appointment of Andrew L. Kaza to the position of Non-Executive Chairman.

Kaza, whose career spans 20 years in TV, film, music and new media industries, will be responsible for spearheading development of the new “Blake’s 7” series, based on the British classic serial from yesteryear.

B7P said it plans to tap into Kaza's studio and industry connections to bring a number of projects to fruition in 2006 and beyond. Kaza joins a board, which includes Simon Moorhead who recently produced Sony Pictures’ “Mirrormask”.

Andrew Mark Sewell, Managing Director, B7P comments: “It’s fantastic to have Drew on board. His experience and industry knowledge is both diverse and global, which I’m sure will benefit us in bringing our projects and brands to a worldwide audience.”

Kaza said: "I am delighted to be involved with Blake’s 7 and the outstanding B7 production team. The original series has a long running love affair with British audiences and was aired in some 40 countries. We are confident we can build on that success by taking the legacy to a whole new audience."

Kaza added that there are other great products in the B7P stable and he anticipates a "long-standing involvement" with the company.

Drew Kaza: Career History:

In accepting the non-exec Chair role, Kaza continues to maintain his own consultancy, quoin media [www.quoinmedia.com] which assists start-up media firms and existing "blue chip" clients in international media development. Originally with Comcast both in the US and UK, he was previously President of studio joint venture UIP from 1993 to 1995 and joined the board of BBC Worldwide and ran its Internet and Interactive division from 1999-2001.

More recently, he was CEO of Paul Allen's London-based Hospital Group, where he oversaw Vulcan investments in Europe, including a stake in the Irish-based North American Sports Network (NASN). Vulcan sold its interest in the channel earlier this year. Oregon native Kaza left Allen's employ in early 2003 and re-started his consultancy work later that year.

B7 Productions: Projects in Development:

Blake’s 7: Legacy
2 x 90’ Mini-Series
Written by Ben Aaronovitch and D. Dominic DeVine
Based on the original television series BLAKE’S 7 created by Terry Nation
Christina Tala swore an oath to uphold the ideals of Nu Earth. When terrorists strike at the very heart of her society, Tala’s response is immediate and fearless, but she finds herself caught up in the legacy of past events. Forced to confront an evil as terrifying, as it is secretive, Tala will find that history casts a long shadow over her, her friends and Nu Earth. She will be forced to make a choice that could turn her against her own society and lead, ultimately, to the genocide of the human race.

Blake’s 7: The Animated Adventures
26 x 22’ Children’s Animated Action Adventure Series
Writer(s): Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, Marc Platt and James Swallow
When fate puts a small band of questionable misfits and criminals in control of the most powerful spaceship in the known galaxy - the LIBERATOR - it falls to ROJ BLAKE to lead them. He alone can weld this disparate group into a unified fighting force if they are to topple the corrupt Federation and restore liberty and justice to the galaxy.

The Puckaneers
26 x 22’ Children’s Animated Comedy Series
Co-created and Written by Bev Doyle
Somewhere on the second floor of the Universe is a very peculiar Galaxy in which a small band of rebel parrots are all that stand in the way of environmental meltdown! Cue the baddies! Howling out of the abyss come the evil Eaton Empire, an outrageous race of evil consumerists who are compulsively snacking their way across the universe. These are the continuing adventures of Captain Pilsna and his buccaneering band of Puckaneers striking a feathered blow for freedom.

Once Upon a World: Audio Book (2005)
Children’s Bedtime Bible Stories
Written and Illustrated by Robert Duncan. Narration by John Le Mesurier
“On the first day the world had ever known God had a busy week in front of Him …” Bible stories selected from the Old and New Testaments are told in a modern, light hearted, highly readable style and illustrated with delightful humorous cartoon sketches. The fresh clear style of author and illustrator, Robert Duncan combines superbly with the narration of the late John Le Mesurier, known for a plethora of classic British comedy films."

Given that significant announcements have been made before in regards to Blake's 7 future all of which produced no results it is perhaps not surprising it has not gotten an enthuasiastic response over at the Gallifrey forum.

[Greg]

It's hardly surprising that peole are cynical: Blake's 7 Enterprises have been promising to revive the show in one form or another for years now, originally with the support of Paul Darrow - but he got jack of them and ended his involvement.

There's no particular link between the described Blake's 7: The Legacy and the original series, even some of the trappings are wrong. Where did 'Nu Earth' come from? And, let's face it, in Blake's 7 out heroes are more likely to be described as terrorists than many! Over all, it sounds like sticking a known name on something in order to scare up an audience it doesn't deserve.

I'd be more hopeful if we heard that original actors will be involved in voicing Blake's 7: The Animated Series, but with the sad passing of David Jackson (Gan) this year, one can only wonder whether any of the original cast will be interested. THis one could be nice, if done right.

As to the rest... nothing to do with Blake's 7, and poor old John Le Mesurier has also passed away back in 1983, so one can only presume the Bible stories were recorded more than 20 years ago!

Cynicism is the most obvious response to a company that has failed to deliver on past proposals and which has no obvious connection to teh original cast and crew of the series. However, as Russell T Davies has shown, none of that may be an impediment.

If anything comes of this, it'd be interesting to see, but I'm not holding my breath!

[Wester]

Well lets look on the bright side - at least the rights havent been sold to the US who would make it into some silly Americanised version.

[Greg]

Funnily enough, I always felt that Firefly was a bit similar to Blake's 7 in basic concepts!

[Kerr Avon]

I've thought the same thing Greg, though my wife (who loved Firefly but only just tolerated the first season of Blake's 7) can't see it

[Theta Sigma]

I picked up on the Blake's 7/Firefly similarity even before seeing Firefly when I read a description of the latter show some months before buying the R1 boxset of it.

I even recommended Blake's 7 at the Buffy Down Under forum because of it.

[Theta Sigma]

Yesterday I finished seeing Poirot: The Mystery of the Blue Train which featured Josette Simon.
There was one shot in the train of the title of the number 7 and Josette is seen in the next shot. Coincidence or in-joke?

[Theta Sigma]

Having originally posted this thread as news about the press release, I am now making it the general thread about Blake's 7. This is because out of nowhere, Blake's 7 got mentioned in last night's Einstein Factor.

In the true/false bonus question about Apollo 7, one of the Brains Trust, Tony Wilson said:
"I've seen Blake's' 7 but never Apollo 7(!)"

Just out of sheer coincidence just a couple of hours before The Einstein Factor came on, I was checking up on the length of the early Blake's 7 episodes to check how long each of them were to see how many of them would be shown at my sci fi club which is scheduled to show the series Friday week. After doing that I decided to see the end of the season 2 finale Star One again and having another look at the trailer for season 4 included in the season 3 DVD. (Well, what I can say I just had to see them again.) That's not all to the Blake's 7 coincidences because just a few days before I had emailed the ABC to ask if anyone had applied on the Einstein Factor with Blake's 7 as his/her special subject. I let people know if and when I get a response on this.

[SharazJek]

OMG Thete!!!

[Theta Sigma]

[Theta Sigma]

[Theta Sigma]

Outpost Gallifrey quoted this bit from DWM 370 about Doctor Who writer and Life of Mars co-creator Matthew Graham:
"Writer Matthew Graham reveals a few secrets about his forthcoming episode, Fear Her, as well as chatting about the success of his BBC One time-travel drama Life on Mars - and his plans to bring back Blake's 7! "

Matthew Graham bringing back Blake's 7. I like to see that.

[Theta Sigma]

After some stalling, I finally bought the season 4 DVD when I was at Galaxy. The reason why I bought it a couple of hours ago is because I got a $35 voucher from Galaxy and therefore I thought this was a good time to buy it meaning that instead of $97.95 I instead paid $62.95. Of all the 4 season boxsets, season 4 was definitely the cheapest that I have bought.

[Theta Sigma]

While watching season 4 saw Paul Darrow last night in The Saint episode The Gadic Collection on UKTV. Took me some time to realise it was him that I was seeing.

[Theta Sigma]

This morning I finished listening to the DVD commentary of the final episode Blake. The episode had a scene in which Blake walked passed someone. In the commentary Gareth Thomas said that he always wanted to do a scene like that with Tom Baker in which Tom as the Doctor and he as Blake would walked passed and say hello to each other but the BBC wouldn't allow it. This is a shame as I would have loved to have seen it.
This episode written by script editor Chris Boucher also featured a guest appearance by David Collings. Not only has he appeared in three Doctor Who serials including Boucher's Robots of Death but like Colin Baker (in the City at the Edge of the World) and Richard Hurndall (in Assassin), Collings is another Blake's 7 guest star who later went on to play the Doctor. In Collings' case it was in Doctor Who: Unbound: Full Fathom Five from Big Finish.
Another interesting thing is that Josette Simon later went on to appear as Paul McGann's wife in the mini series Nice Town and in The Last Detective episode Lofty alongside Peter Davison. She has appeared with a total of five Doctors. Quite impressive for someone who has not yet done a Who.

[Theta Sigma]

James Swallow who has written for Big Finish has recently said on BBC radio that he was working on something new for the BBC.

He described it as the "rebirth" of something, and apparently the title has a number in it.

There is speculation at the Gallifrey forum that this is a revival of Blake's 7. In response to this Swallow says he can't say what the revival is all about (yet).

Another thing is that James Swallow was mentioned in last year's press release to be one of the writers for the Blake's 7 animated series.

[Suketeh_the Destroyer]

I hope something from Blake's 7 does materialise!! There has been much chatter about a revival for years on the net.

[Theta Sigma]

Blake's 7 comes back in audio form:
http://community.livejournal.com/blakes7/53511.html

"REF: B7P PROD BLAKE’S 7 AUDIO_UK06
DATE: MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2006

BLAKE'S 7 REBORN
www.blakes7.com

LONDON, December 11, 2006: UK-based independent media production company, B7 Productions[1], has announced the return of the cult television classic, BLAKE’S 7 as a series of original audio dramas.

Taking full advantage of BLAKE’S 7 (circa 1978-1981) cult status and enduring popularity, B7 Productions has produced a series of original audio adventures based on the format and characters created by the late Terry Nation. The broadcast platform is currently under negotiation.

In what the producers promise to be a radical new re-interpretation of Terry Nation’s original series, DEREK RIDDELL (No Angels, Doctor Who) heads an all new cast as the eponymous rebel leader, Roj Blake. COLIN SALMON (best known for his film roles in James Bond, Alien vs. Predator and Resident Evil), assumes the iconic role of Kerr Avon with DANIELA NARDINI (This Life) as the rebel’s arch nemesis Supreme Commander Servalan.

Other cast members include CRAIG KELLY (Queer as Folk), CARRIE DOBRO (Babylon 5); MICHAEL PRAED (Robin of Sherwood), DOUG BRADLEY (Hellraiser) and INDIA FISHER (Doctor Who).

BLAKE’S 7 will be produced as a series of all new 36 x 5-minute audio dramas based on the original cult series broadcast on the BBC in the 1970’s. The audio adventures were recorded last week and will debut in spring 2007. A special ‘extended’ CD edition will be released for retail the month following broadcast.

Ben Aaronovitch, Marc Platt and James Swallow wrote the audio plays based on the format and characters created by the late Terry Nation, one of Britain’s foremost television writers of the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Simon Moorhead, Executive Producer, B7P comments: “Representing the best traditions of the original television series these all-new audio adventures will be a fresh and dramatic interpretation of this much loved cult classic. Whilst they are intended to appeal to fans of the original series, equally we hope they’ll capture the imagination of the next generation of fans who love science fiction and enjoy compelling radio drama”

Audio Director, Andrew Mark Sewell believes that radio is an ideal medium for reviving a show that represents the best traditions of the genre. “In the 1970’s, BLAKE’S 7 heralded a new creed of television science fiction. Radio represents the ideal medium to re-introduce BLAKE’S 7 and to remind people what a rich and imaginative world Terry Nation created.”

Sewell adds: “With the superb cast we’ve brought together we’re set to deliver a compelling but very different take on the original show, with the added benefit of no wobbly sets or dodgy special effects.”

About … Blake’s 7

In the original series (circa 1978-1981), Terry Nation, one of Britain’s foremost television writers of the 1960’s and 1970’s, gave the world a vision of the future, a future where the galaxy is ruled by the iron fist of a galactic federation, in which freedom and justice are things of the past. Into this vision he cast a small band of outlaws, who by pure chance found themselves in control of the most powerful space vessel in the known galaxy – the Liberator. Led by the enigmatic Roj Blake this group of rebels would strike at the very heart of the Federation and change the face of science fiction television forever.

To this day, BLAKE’S 7 retains a cult following second only to “Doctor Who”.

About … B7 Productions

B7 Productions is a creative partnership that develops and produces original programming and formats for radio, television and film. Following its debut feature “Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont” (UK Producer for Claremont Films) B7P is currently working on its next feature, the psychological thriller, “Twisted Love”. Future projects include the one-off factual documentary “Best Evidence”, a radio sitcom “The Victorians” and the much anticipated live action revival of the cult SF classic “Blake’s 7”. For more information, visit www.b7media.com"

[Greg]

As previously mentioned, I've been mildly annoyed with Blake's 7 Enterprises for holding the licence and doing virtually nothing with it. However, this news may go someway to vindicate them.

It will be interesting to see how well people will cope with a complete recasting of the parts. That's a real risk, but starting to head into inevitability. Mnay of the original cast aren't that young anymore, and David Jackson (who played Gan) is no longer with us.

The new cast is, indeed, impressive, and I was surprised to see Daniela Nardini listed - she should be able to put in a creditable job as Servalan, given the difficulty of anyone taking over that role from Jacqueline Pierce.

It's a bit of a pity that the parts to be played by the other actors weren't listed - but maybe that's to conceal the extent to which this is a reboot or a reimaging of the series.

But... 5 minute audio dramas? That's something that I will seriously need convincing on!

[Theta Sigma]

Ben Aaronovitch - Sneak Peek Q&A
http://b7media.com/06december_feature_ben_interview.html

From last year's press release: