Creating the Vashta Nerada - Radio Times, June 2008

Features

Creating the Vashta Nerada - Radio Times, June 2008

Benjamin Cook finds out how shadowy Doctor Who monsters the Vashta Nerada were brought to life.

Doctor Who monsters tend to fall into one of two categories: those born of grisly make-up (this series, we've had Ood, Sontarans and Hath) and those brought to life by computer graphics (Adipose, Pyroviles and Vespiform). But last week's episode claimed something of a first: a creature made from…lighting?

Director of photography Rory Taylor explains, "Lighting, like music, is often overlooked by the audience. It should blend into the picture, creating an impression, a mood. Usually, if the audience doesn't notice my work, it means I've done a good job. So these shadow monsters were something of a departure for me."

Last week, when the Doctor said, "We've got a live one", he wasn't lying: the Vashta Nerada - shadows that melt the flesh - were made "live" on set. "A brilliant opportunity to show off what I do," says Taylor. "They aren't monsters in the traditional sense. It's more of a psychological thrill. The director of photography is always trying to get rid of shadows; this time I was asked to add them in!"

"It absolutely felt real," confirms Alex Kingston, who plays Professor River Song. "When you go for a take, you're aware of the camera team, but the shadow monsters moving about added to the feeling of immediacy and reality. Your heart's beating and the adrenaline kicks in. It's great fun."

In post-production, visual effects company The Mill blackened and deepened some of the shadows, drawing the eye towards them, and painted out the odd lighting rig, but otherwise the creeping Vashta Nerada - hungry for more this week - were Taylor's responsibility.

"I hope people are scared," he says. "That's the idea of Doctor Who, to terrify everyone. All of us, when we're young, are scared of the dark. You're supposed to grow out of it, but how many of us really do?"

Kingston adds, "I remember growing up and being petrified of Doctor Who. My mum would get cross and say, 'Why don't you just turn it off?' But I never did. I wanted to watch. I wanted to be scared. And I still do."

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Read our 2008 interview with Steven Moffat - or take a look at our full Doctor Who guide.

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