Absolute Anonymität
BBC VISUAL EFFECTS DEPARTMENT
Paul Daniels: Magicians illusion
Video Iron Maiden
Exterminate! Remembrance of the Daleks
“The blue-grey Daleks were old wooden ones that had to be refurbished due to budget constraints.
We used to buy the lights on top from a car spares shop in Acton. The cream ones were I believe the first fiberglass ones and made by the plaster/molding workshop at BBC Acton.
The VIS FX department fitted them out and made the ball wheel frames.
The special weapons Dalek turned up at the Dr. Who Exhibition in Cardiff, I don’t know if its the original “
Top of the Pops: Production planning for the dry ice effect
Video Dry Ice
Light Entertainment: Only Fools and Horses
” I was sent to the props room in television center and spent the morning trying to stick plastic patches to adult inflatable dolls to cover their private parts. Not much sticks for obvious reasons. Filming was spent crouched behind the bar with a compressed air cylinder and partially inflated dolls which then popped up on cue”
Video Only Fools and Horses Dolls
Dr Who: Dragonfire
Light Entertainment: Gunge
Video Noels House Party Gunge
Gunge and Props: Double Dare Children’s obstacle course
Video Double Dare Gunge
Fire and explosions: Crimewatch
Video Crimewatch
Period drama: Smoke and rain
Video Story of a Recluse Rain
Historical reconstruction: John Logie Baird mechanical television
Props
Mechanical props: Exploding food mixer
Breakable and Rubber Props
A Royal Event: The Royal Variety Performance
The Workshop in Acton
Staff Structure
Books relating to the department:
The Technique of Special Effects in Television (2nd Edition) by Bernard Wilkie
Published 1993 by Focal Press ISBN-13: 978-0-240-51361-4, ISBN: 0-240-51361-4
A Peculiar Effect on the BBC by Bernard Wilkie
Publisher: Miwk Publishing Ltd (29 Sept. 2015) ISBN-10: 1908630221 ISBN-13: 978-1908630223
BBC VFX: The Story of the BBC Visual Effects Department by Mat Irvine and Mike Tucker
Publisher: Aurum Press Ltd (11 Nov 2010) ISBN-10: 1845135563 ISBN-13: 978-1845135560