Welcome to our exclusive interview with acclaimed horror author, Isaac Thorne. Known for his spine-chilling narratives and masterful suspense (check out Hell Spring now!!), Thorne has carved a niche in the literary world that leaves readers clinging to every word. Today, we delve into the depths of his horrifying imagination, exploring the forces that inspire him, his unique writing process, and the stories that have left countless readers sleeping with the lights on. Prepare yourself as we step into the darkness of Thorne’s world, a realm where fear is the only certainty.
Sorta Legit Transcript
00:00.00
jim_phoenix
Hey, everyone Jim Phoenix here and boy am I excited for this new. What’s crack and this one I’ve been waiting for for our author series for a while it is probably the person I thought of first when I said we’re gonna do author series. It’s none other than Isaac Thorne if you’ve done anything at all in horror. You should know his name. He’s got housepring already out. It’s almost legal to drink in some areas or legal to date freak out, you’re old I don’t know one of that too but isaac. Thank you so much for coming over I bet you’re regretting it already like my. Looks legal to drink now. What? No how are you doing sir.
00:38.80
Isaac Thorne
Ah I’m doing Well thanks for ah for having me here. It’s ah it was ah quite a job to get us on the the same schedule but we did it and and we’re here now.
00:47.76
jim_phoenix
Yes, yes, it was it was for for those that don’t follow social media that much we we kind of tag team covered and not in the cool way in a very weird awkward way like I got call I can’t do it like oh that’s 5 will will schedule and then a day that day. The day of same thing like oh I just came down with it. How how it’s like a little virus I guess that goes around through the computer waves now. But I’m so glad it worked out both of our voices willing will kind of hold up now I have to o admit I do remember I do remember you? Ah, ah. A young strapping author who is already well established by the way. But my mind a young strapping author submitting to I think was was it ricky’s backyard or was that or was it haunted Mtl then.
01:37.12
Isaac Thorne
Now it was it I so it it wasn’t haunted Mtl but it was haunted mtl by the time. Yeah, ah but by the time it got into the publication. It was haunted mtl. Yeah.
01:43.75
jim_phoenix
That was Rookie’s backyard. It got into the publication.
01:54.24
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, that was ah a little ah short story called Dead rights that ah has never been published anywhere else since as a matter of fact, it’ll probably end up in a collection someday. But but yeah, ah.
01:58.56
jim_phoenix
That writes.
02:04.16
jim_phoenix
Wow, that’s.
02:10.87
Isaac Thorne
I was happy to have it in in haunted Mtl I Love that that story I thought it was funny and and you guys apparently did too.
02:16.53
jim_phoenix
It was It was brilliant. No it was. It was absolutely amazing because if you ever have to get the other end of this tick with being a publisher you get a lot of stuff going. Oh the slush piles get like really slushy sometimes I saw this like oh my God This is like really good.
02:34.22
Isaac Thorne
Yep.
02:36.42
jim_phoenix
This is amazing me not googling. Anyone’s name at all I like boy he’s got a career going for me if he he can take this far and then later on I I see the name pop up on Twitter im like oh okay, okay, right, right? right? right? ah.
02:53.96
Isaac Thorne
Ah I appreciate that? yeah.
02:56.25
jim_phoenix
Yeah, yeah, it’s a brilliant I felt like I just discovered Michael Jordan this is awesome like oh no, he plays for the bulls already really the five five championships are ready really, but who knew so you have the talent. Yeah.
03:07.80
Isaac Thorne
And dead rights was ah oh thank you. Thank you very much dead Rights was one of those that that actually it it was kind of a rarity in in Idea. You know it was one of those things that just basically comes to you fully formed and um and you write it down and and usually my stuff doesn’t work that way I’ll start with a yeah you know a scene um an idea for a scene and then work around.
03:27.73
jim_phoenix
Um, yeah.
03:40.00
Isaac Thorne
That for the short stories at least. But yeah dead rights.
03:41.76
jim_phoenix
Okay, that’s interesting. You’re saying that. So this came forbably formed dead rice just popping your head.
03:50.48
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, yeah, and it ah I don’t know why I usually my stuff is is somewhat influenced by the news current events you know, ah politics ah culture things like that.
04:05.21
jim_phoenix
Right.
04:06.49
Isaac Thorne
And um I don’t remember what was going on. Um, when I wrote it but but there there was some I remember there being some kind of news influence there and I’m like oh it wouldn’t it be funny. You know if if ah if this ah. This guy working in a University Morgue studying anatomy ah fell in lust with the corpse on his table and then she sat up and called him out on it. You know.
04:39.33
jim_phoenix
See That’s okay, that’s what brought me to it because maybe it’s my generation but was very aware of this one of my friends. Their father owned him ah are mortuary and this is when the.
04:52.81
Isaac Thorne
Oh.
04:56.72
jim_phoenix
The mortuary people were sleeping with the the dead and getting caught apparently like I don’t know who’s catching them but they’re in getting caught with it like the Snl Ski like we absolutely do not have sex with our cadavers that was the whole Snl skit for a bit so I read that like oh my god it’s like that ski it’s like that’s good for like.
04:58.80
Isaac Thorne
O god.
05:13.58
Isaac Thorne
Right.
05:16.67
jim_phoenix
You know the the 90 s I love it and you’re like that’s what I think to dereha I yes, the the news this must have been oh man well pre covered so it go back to about 5 years and then probably what between. 2015 to 19 to 18 ish. Maybe so it’s probably a lot of scandals. Yeah, so a lot of the the sexual. Ah this the scandals kept breaking you know, breaking wide open. Ah.
05:34.88
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, 18 probably yeah.
05:46.50
Isaac Thorne
The Weinstein thing and all that. Yeah.
05:48.66
jim_phoenix
Me too might have been Weinstein. Yeah was starting to crack open so there we there we have it is the I see you see something on the news or is is it earworm and its thing it’s like wouldn’t it be funny if this happens like wouldn’t that like little twist a little twist of the the truth of the truth of the story and.
06:01.10
Isaac Thorne
Right.
06:07.76
jim_phoenix
That’s an amazing way of of doing it I’ve I have heard from other authors who said they have the entire story I’m usually one of my other entire story in my head like even even unfortunately in the novels and screenplay in which gets really heavy and it’s it’s insane. Ah, but that and the the this.
06:17.64
Isaac Thorne
Ah.
06:26.27
jim_phoenix
Scene stars like he had a scene then he’s write the story around the scene or you see what the scene takes you do you ever try to force a character in and see with like what would happen if I do this hat You know this guy gets in there.
06:29.77
Isaac Thorne
Right.
06:35.72
Isaac Thorne
Yeah I’ve learned I’ve kind of learned that I can’t force a character to into any situation. The character doesn’t want to be as soon as I start trying to to force it it. It starts to read that way.
06:43.77
jim_phoenix
Right? yes.
06:53.17
jim_phoenix
Um, yes, absolutely and you did you learn it. How’d you learn it? How did you learn it. You try it. You try it The pick of we Alpad before? yeah.
06:54.47
Isaac Thorne
You know what? I mean Um, if you read that right? Yeah, actually yeah I mean I’ve I’ve gone back? Yeah, you know you go back to well especially in my first drafts. Um.
07:10.25
jim_phoenix
Yes.
07:12.10
Isaac Thorne
Because even the short stories I I you know rewrite and and rewrite several times but but you can when you read it especially in the first draft you can tell oh I was trying to make this something that the character obviously didn’t want it to be so cut.
07:26.80
jim_phoenix
Right.
07:31.42
Isaac Thorne
You know and or replace with ah with something else.
07:34.50
jim_phoenix
That’s that’s pretty good advice I think it’s things that we think intrinsically we can do and then we find out. No no, no, you can’t like we think like oh this is possible like I can make my characters do what I want.
07:44.53
Isaac Thorne
You can’t right? yeah.
07:50.81
jim_phoenix
And the character fights back like oh yeah I Guess you’re right? It’s it’s plot driven not care, got it plot driving. So we we find this out. There’s anything else you did in your past as a writer that you discovered a better way of doing.
08:07.23
Isaac Thorne
Um, not necessarily a better way. There are things I’ve stopped doing or stops trying to do like yeah when I um when I write my novels I I tried originally to do outlines. Um.
08:13.14
jim_phoenix
Right? really.
08:24.84
Isaac Thorne
Because a lot of people. Yeah, a lot of people I admire were were like outlines outlines you gotta outline it and once you outline it once you have all your ideas and and scenes and characters and everything in that outline The writing is easy. Well, the problem is I don’t have.
08:25.53
jim_phoenix
Aha.
08:44.15
Isaac Thorne
The story fully formed enough to create an outline from it. Um, like ah especially I mean you wouldn’t I wouldn’t outline a short story anyway. But but with the novels once I have the idea and and I know I have kind of a sketch in my head of.
08:49.99
jim_phoenix
Oh.
09:02.32
jim_phoenix
Um, right.
09:03.56
Isaac Thorne
Of what I think is going to happen. Well, as soon as I try to outline that and think I have a good solid outline when I start writing it. It goes somewhere else. So I ended up being what they they call a seat of the pants. Um, writer you know more? so. when I when I do the long fiction I do instead of trying to outline from the beginning. Um, before the first draft I take the first draft and I create an outline from that when it’s done. Yeah, and that way.
09:34.99
jim_phoenix
Oh really, this is pretty interesting.
09:41.24
Isaac Thorne
That way when I do the rewrites I can see the holes I can see the places where the the dots don’t connect I can see things that that you know started to go somewhere and never did um and that way I in right? in other words I use an outline to fix.
09:45.85
jim_phoenix
Right.
09:55.20
jim_phoenix
Yes.
10:01.80
Isaac Thorne
More than I use it to create.
10:05.64
jim_phoenix
I I laugh because I find I’ve given my own novel coming out. Ah shortly and I I found the same things where you write it and like this is great in your head they start outlining like oh this character appears like once for a.
10:21.25
Isaac Thorne
Right? exactly.
10:21.72
jim_phoenix
3 pages like why is this person even here story what? why is this even a thing. What what am I doing so the it’s that the it like the ah you doing like a post on on the postmortem on the outline on the first draft and trying to outline that way.
10:38.54
Isaac Thorne
Ah, yeah, yeah, absolutely.
10:40.80
jim_phoenix
But that’s and then do you then? ah pin them to scenes or how do you move things around.
10:46.85
Isaac Thorne
Um, what I usually do. Um once I have that that outline is I might move um, a chapter here there you know I might see something that that I think well this.
10:58.40
jim_phoenix
I.
11:02.90
Isaac Thorne
Really should have happened earlier for this character to be in this place. You know later on or or maybe you know this character wouldn’t be having these revelations yet because not enough you know has has occurred to guide them to to.
11:07.67
jim_phoenix
Um, right.
11:21.74
Isaac Thorne
Whatever conclusion it is. They’re coming to so I might move chapters around and and if you do that Then you you do have to do some some rewriting in the chapters as well to make sure you don’t have any you know leftovers there where somebody’s somebody’s reading.
11:32.45
jim_phoenix
Um, yeah.
11:40.70
Isaac Thorne
Um, and they it it sounds like something just happened when it actually happened days ago now you know, um.
11:46.79
jim_phoenix
Right? And that and that’s the thing. Especially we start moving around so tell me this is not in freshen your mind anymore. So you really have to be careful with that. Yeah.
11:55.40
Isaac Thorne
Right? Yeah, exactly and that’s why it pays to um to not only do that outline for me but also to reread and and review multiple times and put some space in the days. Ah, between those like I finish a first draft I I won’t look at it for a week or 2 um, and then when I go back to it to do that right? when I go back to it to do that outline. It’s all fresh. You know, um.
12:20.46
jim_phoenix
Right? Put it in the freezer was that now.
12:32.13
Isaac Thorne
And then ah same thing after rewrites you know I’ll I’ll go through it again and I actually I have a um application on my laptop that I used to to have it read the manuscript aloud. To me while I wear headphones because I’ve also discovered that I can catch a lot of crap that way that I don’t catch by reading it writes.
12:51.82
jim_phoenix
Um, really.
12:57.68
jim_phoenix
Because you’re not gap filling. Yeah, whenre when when you’re especially when you’re reading your own work your mind Gap fills it just skips over stuff and because you you wrote it’s like you know what you mean, but it satsate’s silent in the paper though.
13:06.81
Isaac Thorne
Yes, exactly yep, right? Yeah I mean you mean the reader can’t see what I’m thinking you know.
13:15.79
jim_phoenix
What’s on papers different from what’s in your headd. That’s the that’s the issue. Yeah so I love it right? Yeah, if only if only next year the next new food and that’ll be horrific for me for technology now. So.
13:28.15
Isaac Thorne
Ah, yeah.
13:33.44
jim_phoenix
When you’re doing something like housering and I know housepring is the one that’s your almost one year old. Oh look at that almost one year old I Remember that first came out I remember like I saw that the the the cover like oh that’s a cool that’s cover man actually probably text is like like that’s a cool.
13:39.30
Isaac Thorne
Um, yep, yeah.
13:49.69
Isaac Thorne
That cover. Yeah, that cover has has generated a lot of eyeballs and a lot of comments and and hopefully a lot of the sales I’ve gotten of that that novel. It’s ah.
13:51.56
jim_phoenix
Cover.
14:06.36
Isaac Thorne
It’s actually my I have 1 cover designer who’s done most of the covers for my my books and that includes the the short stories that I put out as singles. Um and she and I actually usually table together at at local cons.
14:11.60
jim_phoenix
Wow.
14:24.77
Isaac Thorne
Um, because she has her own you know, art and coloring books horror and fantasy themed that she sells um and ah yeah, she Ah, she just knocked it out of the park with hell spring it. It is my favorite of.
14:32.99
jim_phoenix
Um, oh that’s amazing.
14:41.98
Isaac Thorne
Of the cover. She’s done for me I actually have a ah print of that hanging on my wall. You know, framed print because I yeah I Absolutely love that cover.
14:48.77
jim_phoenix
Really that’s but that’s awesome. I’m so glad you brought up your wall because one of the things I’ve seen and I’m on your website right now which is isaacthorn.com isaacthor and e.com which if you are an author I I’m not guilty I’m not doing this but mine’s coming if you’re an author I strongly suggest getting your own website because it gives you that 1 big step towards your readers that you won’t get just from doing ah Amazon’s
15:24.35
Isaac Thorne
Right.
15:26.60
jim_phoenix
And this is something I saw on your Instagram it was the the mailing room I believe you’re you’re doing like the whole mail. Yeah, and I’m looking at sign paperbacks if you go to isaacthorn.com sign paperback and please correct me if I’m wrong is 1999 right now.
15:29.61
Isaac Thorne
Um, yes, yeah.
15:42.86
Isaac Thorne
That’s correct. Yeah.
15:45.12
jim_phoenix
And if you go to Amazon the paperback file a signature 1999 so what you know it’s like it’s no brainer. What would rather do like get it from the author of a signature on it or you know Amazon you you this is a brilliant move.
15:58.30
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, it.
16:02.41
jim_phoenix
So what? what led you? What led you to this.
16:05.15
Isaac Thorne
I pricing a book when you’re an indie author and it’s always been kind of a hand-wringing thing for me because I I you know I want some profit from it. But when you’re an indie. Um, especially if you’re.
16:09.84
jim_phoenix
Oh yeah, yeah.
16:21.77
Isaac Thorne
The print stuff if you’re doing print on demand. It is more expensive short term to print on demand the per copy um, ah Print cost is higher than if you you know went to your local offset printer and had them print a thousand of course.
16:31.34
jim_phoenix
Yes.
16:41.57
Isaac Thorne
Then you have a thousand sitting in your basement you know, um.
16:42.17
jim_phoenix
That was what I got to got thousand copies. Yeah you you have a castle you you build cardboard box castles out of um, that’s what we used to do my castle.
16:49.92
Isaac Thorne
Ah, right? So so the pricing is is always you know a little bit of ah of a hand-wringing thing for me but I figured if I at least if I price it the same as I sell it for retail.
17:07.83
Isaac Thorne
I can include stickers I can include Bookmarks I can include a signature and these little things that also have cost to them but not so much cost that that it’s you know, completely taking away the the profit.
17:12.20
jim_phoenix
Um, right.
17:25.75
Isaac Thorne
And right and the ah the customer um gets more for their money as a result and I I enjoy doing that I like being able to to provide them with something that they’re not going to get buying it through Amazon or.
17:26.13
jim_phoenix
You’re not getting your Hopa margin. Yeah.
17:33.23
jim_phoenix
Yes.
17:45.20
Isaac Thorne
Or Barnes and I will and that’s not that I’m not happy when someone buys it through you know another channel um bookshop dot org you know, indie bookshops. Ah I’m a big fan of but but if I can give them a little something extra. Um. Even I have custom packaging that I send the the physical books in that has my little evil bunny character on it. So yeah, yeah, so right? exactly.
18:06.65
jim_phoenix
Really oh man so we see like that includes 2 free evil bunny stickers like on you one these now I got ah I’d buy for me is like the book probably already have but the bunny stickers I do not.
18:22.12
Isaac Thorne
Um, yeah.
18:23.98
jim_phoenix
It’s like a $20 bunny sticker like ah, it’s $10 each I’ll do it I’m crazy that way give me those buddies look I’ll think buy stickers all days. Sir. So I like how you’re packing this up, you’re you’re making you’re making it both a business but not so much. Is that like like an Mba kicking in. It’s it’s a business because you want to give the reader something more and and I making sense. Okay, yeah, and I know.
18:42.89
Isaac Thorne
Right.
18:48.55
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, exactly exactly?? Yeah absolutely and I mean if if I wanted and the thing about being an indie as well is is if I was doing this because I wanted to. Retire from it then that’s a fool’s Errand you know there’s There’s no way that I as an indie author without the the vast. Um, you know pocketbook of of a traditional publisher I’m gonna. Make enough doing this in the way that I do it to you know quit my day job. Um, so that’s not the reason I’m doing now that’s not saying an indie author can’t there are indie authors who have but that’s not me. Um I think.
19:29.26
jim_phoenix
Right.
19:42.69
Isaac Thorne
You know number one. My audience is too niche and I’m just I’m not I’m afraid if I try to make it my entire work life that the fun will leave. You know.
19:56.68
jim_phoenix
It’s the old Hunter Thompson thing when a young writer’s like I want to write for a living. It’s really fun like I give him the quote from Thompson’s like writing is a lot like sex. It’s only fun for amateurs. You don’t hear any old horrors giggling and and that’s like.
20:12.19
Isaac Thorne
Absolutely.
20:13.83
jim_phoenix
Like when you when you make it your fulltime Gig is like the the joy starts straining you know, but okay so I I see I see I see where you at I mean this is one of the things I was like Wow you’re and by the way for those who don’t know and it’s shame I You don’t know not knowing but you.
20:17.84
Isaac Thorne
Um, yeah, yeah, absolutely.
20:33.77
jim_phoenix
Isaac Thorne could go full time. My opinion. You could go full time and this is your old gig and that’s it because you’re writing spectacular. Your imagery is outstanding. The pacing is wonderful. Everything you want to. Not only teach in a writing class but things that you can’t quite teach unless you know it’s repetition. You just kind of like have to learn it. You just have to learn it by master crafting it. You’re there. You’re already there and well I appreciate you putting out good works.
20:58.15
Isaac Thorne
Um, well I appreciate that I appreciate that.
21:07.89
jim_phoenix
Like it’s mutual appreciation that way absolutely and then not only are you there but you understand the indie game. You understand what is what it’s like to apps I will say okay I’ll ask I’m only gonna say so. Have you thought about going to a I don’t I use a traditional publishing of vernacular like ah the external indie meaning a small publisher.
21:41.69
Isaac Thorne
A small press. Um I have considered it I have considered it occasionally but there’s also a part of me that actually yeah.
21:43.94
jim_phoenix
Um, yeah.
21:49.74
jim_phoenix
Just offload it.
21:54.28
Isaac Thorne
And and there are times when I desperately want to do that, Especially if they’re willing to take over stuff like social media. Um, you know which I’m ah I’m all over. But oh my god.
22:07.13
jim_phoenix
I don’t know how you do it I have no idea you’re my inspiration for social media like like you got like 5 points 2000000000 followers what like what.
22:18.73
Isaac Thorne
That well Twitter twitter I was able to build pretty quickly over a couple of years years ago I well x now whatever um but I don’t think I could do it now and and my other social media. Um.
22:24.37
jim_phoenix
Um, yeah.
22:36.18
Isaac Thorne
You know they’re not not paltry but they’re nowhere near um the number of of Twitter followers I managed to to build over that time. That’s 1 reason I’m sad to see what’s happening to it because I have a feeling I’m eventually gonna have to leave. Um.
22:49.44
jim_phoenix
To yeah I know that was the I evolve them I like Twitter the most as well used to and it’s just it’s more and more painful every time I look at it.
22:56.60
Isaac Thorne
But yeah, yeah, yeah.
23:05.95
jim_phoenix
And I’ll I’ll have to ask because I see it on your profile is is your Tiktok feed as painful as mine trying.
23:14.65
Isaac Thorne
I I have attempted to curate my I I have attempted to curate my my Tiktok feed so that it is mostly ah like cats you know? um.
23:15.55
jim_phoenix
Like you must’t use tik to like I used to pick Tikt Tock I did do want know.
23:30.81
jim_phoenix
There you go there, you go? Yeah smart Oh man I wish I was that smart I wish I was that smart I was like I was doing old man playing basketball again that was me I was like yeah.
23:34.12
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, cats and dogs and and particularly talking cats you know? ah.
23:49.39
jim_phoenix
Welcome to gens I’m out of shape. Oh boy that was a horrible. What what thing you used to be good at you’re really horrible now mind’s breathing like fuck like like that that’s like I 2 videos I think that but so we are both in the i.
23:53.20
Isaac Thorne
Um, yeah.
24:08.34
jim_phoenix
Yeah I I am there with you. It’s the you have to live social media and God I know some people who are marvelous at social media and they love social media and they eat it up I ain’t one of them and I always thought you might be because how hard you see you look like you’re working very hard I mean just.
24:27.52
Isaac Thorne
I am Yeah yeah I am yep yeah and I I don’t think I don’t think my work would have gotten um as out there as it is without.
24:27.97
jim_phoenix
You know the the retweets and the yeah so you’re doing that because you have to oh wow.
24:41.61
jim_phoenix
Um, right.
24:44.14
Isaac Thorne
Ah, Twitter in particular in the beginning if that Facebook I’m bad at um I I’ve never really um, never really become enamored of Facebook the way some folks have I’m I’m on it rarely? um.
24:57.84
jim_phoenix
9
25:02.80
Isaac Thorne
And a lot of that is just you know things I’m copying from from Twitter and and just reposting there. Um, but I I never really never really found my my legs there you know, um.
25:07.56
jim_phoenix
Um, yeah.
25:20.22
Isaac Thorne
Instagram I’m slightly better at um, but ah yeah I mean yeah yeah, that’s where I that’s where I post my ah my shipping station and my pops and.
25:22.85
jim_phoenix
I like your Instagram because I get to see your world. You know I get to see the picture is like oh this is very visual pops. You know that shipping honestly I saw that shipping saving like.
25:42.27
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, if.
25:42.29
jim_phoenix
Oh that is it. That’s what I have to do I to get off my butt and it’ it’s very inspiring so for your house spring. Yeah how a spring you say you may be doing another convention about house spring or we kind of kind of toy coming from Hell spring.
25:50.37
Isaac Thorne
Yes.
25:59.91
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, is there’s a a book. There’s a book blog tour coming up in October for health spring and um, the the tour manager that I’ve I’ve been working with for a year over a year now
26:00.74
jim_phoenix
I know I did the course.
26:08.52
jim_phoenix
Nice.
26:17.24
Isaac Thorne
On this book is just amazing in connecting ah with people and getting people to read it and and review it and and buy it. Um, so we’re we’re doing another one on this october. So so you’ll probably hopefully. Bc in hell spring on some book blogs and and much more on your social media feeds that not that I don’t post enough about it already. But.
26:43.41
jim_phoenix
Well heck if you don’t you always post more and that’s the thing you are a so kind and generous to us haunted empty L is like it blows me away every time like like is he just like really just. Spoke of my ass right now is that like no, it’s like oh Wow, this is very kind of you. Oh Wow and I see retreating stuff and listening and just blows me away man.
27:06.94
Isaac Thorne
now I yeah now I love you guys I love you guys I know and I listen to a lot of podcasts but and and they’ve come and gone over the years um you know and I don’t stick with. With all of them. But but you guys I’ve I’ve stuck with there are some core you know other podcasts that I’ve I’ve stuck with and I love your microfiction that you post on. Yes.
27:28.13
jim_phoenix
Well.
27:34.78
jim_phoenix
The microfictions but the the insitwes you know what helps ah especially for longevity of both podcasts and microfiction liquid I v so if you go liquid I and I’m kidding I’m not going to drop a plug inmi interview. But like what I be like the 1 times the legit thing you’re not talking about ewwas right now. It’s like now you’re pulling away? Yeah, but this is my point when you were you’re using social media even though you see it as part of a job for an author when I I agree it it is. You’re not just pushing book book book book book. You’re also pushing other people you’re talking, you’re engaging. You’re watching the last drivein you’re you’re tweeting at this, you’re you’re doing the cat video. You’re doing this you’re doing this photo it’s it’s it’s engaging you’re not just doing It’s not the echo chambers like to here it is you know press play and let it recycle through.
28:13.81
Isaac Thorne
Right.
28:23.75
Isaac Thorne
Um, yeah.
28:29.46
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, yeah, and I well I think that’s important. Yeah I think it’s important to do that and I well and I’ll tell you I’ll tell you when I first landed on on Twitter back. It’s probably 2015
28:31.25
jim_phoenix
You are absolutely engaging with people which I think is a missing step. Yeah, it bus to.
28:47.48
jim_phoenix
Wow.
28:48.45
Isaac Thorne
I think was when I started my account on there of 1 of the first people who followed me and I followed back is is ah a guy called the bleeding critic. Um. He wears a ah clown mask and he does you know reviews of of movies video reviews of movies and books and one of the things that he always said um at the end of his videos was you know, make sure you. Ah, follow and like and engage you know with and he would promote other accounts. You know, saying like follow engage with this this account. It’s a cool account. So so he kind of started me down this road of of keeping up.
29:23.63
jim_phoenix
Um, yeah.
29:36.21
Isaac Thorne
Engagement and and actually you know talking to people and and responding to to other people and and helping them. You know, become more visible as Well. Um, and I do think it’s it’s important to do that. Otherwise you’re all, you’re doing is. Promoting and and people are going to ignore that after a time you know? yeah.
29:58.60
jim_phoenix
Yeah, they suss set up pretty quickly, especially nowadays it’s it’s why influencers only go so far once the Botox wears off, it’s over you know because they they didn’t build. They didn’t it sounds mean but they don’t didn’t build an honest.
30:06.47
Isaac Thorne
Right.
30:17.93
jim_phoenix
Like relationship with her followers is is a 1 way you know and this way you build it and I think we both watched the last drive and I’m pretty sure we’ve we’ve seen shoulder tweets on that I think that’s what they do really? well like people like that.
30:19.58
Isaac Thorne
Right? Yeah, exactly.
30:29.60
Isaac Thorne
Yeah, yeah, thank you.
30:35.46
jim_phoenix
Do it really? Well, you do it amazingly well and I think it goes off into why people should buy housepring First of all, if you want an autograph copy. There’s still some stuff right? There’s there’s a autograph. Okay, if you want an autograph copy of hell spring I’m feeling cocky ah hard back.
30:44.92
Isaac Thorne
Yes, absolutely.
30:55.31
jim_phoenix
Why not? why not get the heart back out. So I want I want to see this suck anyway, if you want to autograph copy ah of how was bringing the hard back hard back. You can kill someone with this probably don’t please don’t see your lawyer first I actually don’t see it lawyer. It’s illegal to kill anyone you want period haunted empty yale it’s on us, you go tweet at us you dm us you x thread us Tick I don’t even know what Facebook messaging I don’t know whatever is you make it known with your address and we will send out one the paid to you that that’s how it is how spring the very first 4 people I like number 4 kind of weird that way.
31:31.80
Isaac Thorne
Awesome.
31:33.56
jim_phoenix
Get a copy of hellring and everybody else by yourself by yourself. Go to isaacthorn.com ISAACTHORNEDotCom get yourself some house spring. It is awesome sauce and there’s even a I’m ultra jealous. There’s an audible book I’m so jealous.
31:50.48
Isaac Thorne
Um, um of not of hellspring yet. Um my my yet. Yeah yeah, the other books.
31:53.50
jim_phoenix
Have no idea not if yet. Okay so I’m not jealous of you yet? Okay think yet is it coming out. How’s that how’s that working for you.
32:05.94
Isaac Thorne
Um, the the other books are all in audio format. The narrator of the Gordon place is is actually hopefully going to be able to do the the audiobook edition of of hell spring I wanted. I had hoped to be able to get him on it. Um, in time to to have them both. You know, sort of released around the same time. Unfortunately, he was already overwhelmed with projects. So it’s it’s in his queue.
32:32.19
jim_phoenix
Um, right.
32:39.86
Isaac Thorne
And hopefully hopefully will be coming soon.
32:42.63
jim_phoenix
Did you ever think about doing yourself doing the reading years.
32:45.83
Isaac Thorne
I I have my I actually have my short stories in audio format. Or yeah, they’re mostly narrated by me. Yeah, yeah.
32:51.99
jim_phoenix
I was say for the shorts. Yeah right? Yeah yeah, that that’s it’s always the thing because authors usually can do the best of inflections at the same time if for a novel that that’s a lot but that’s gonna take some time.
33:05.16
Isaac Thorne
Um, yeah, yeah, um.
33:11.65
jim_phoenix
But that’s like I can hear you glen fondinele. Ah, you just Hire Matt Barry there you go I hear you can do some stuff when he’s not being a vampire so you know what this has been a wonderful chat I thank you so much for a time we actually went over a little bit.
33:13.36
Isaac Thorne
Bad. Yeah.
33:27.88
jim_phoenix
I think for time and again if you want Hellring first 4 on us autograph hard copies. Why not you do some have our copy autographer. Okay yes, first 4 ah graph our copies. Why not.
33:35.80
Isaac Thorne
Yes.
33:44.43
jim_phoenix
Ah, give us Dm slide us in no bra blemo. We’ll get them out to quannie’s last but check out the site isaacthorn.com check them out on all the socials. It’s actually pretty cool. We follow them. Ah sir I’m gonna find your Tiktok now and your pinterest. Go hunt your pinterest take ax down. That’s woman do after this but thank you very much for everything sir isaac r thorne everywhere. That’s a very long name isaac r thorne everywhere. Oh but no, that everywhere was that part of it. Space. Okay.
34:03.42
Isaac Thorne
Ah, eyes it’s isaac R Thorne everywhere. Absolutely Yes, it’s isaac R Thorne space everywhere.
34:20.66
jim_phoenix
Like that’s a off play law name. Go follow them. It’s it’s entertainment is what well worth it and you’re going to learn something if if you are a horror fan. You had to follow if you’re a writer who wants to learn a trade follow them. Do just this follow you go learn Iler I Still learn a lot Honestly God I learned lot from you. So I Want to say thank you for that and thanks for coming and as it bye. Everyone.
What if ours weren’t the only reality? What if the past paths converged, if those moments that led to our current circumstances got tangled together with their alternates and we found ourselves caught up in the threads?
Marla returned home after the funeral and wake. She drew the key in the lock and opened the door slowly, the looming dread of coming back to an empty house finally sinking in. Everyone else had gone home with their loved ones. They had all said, “goodbye,” and moved along.
Her daughter Misty and son-in-law Joel had caught a flight to Springfield so he could be at work the next day for the big meeting. Her brother Darcy was on his way back to Montreal. Emmett and Ruth were at home next door, probably washing dishes from the big meal they had helped to provide afterward, seeing as their kitchen light was on. Marla remembered there being food but couldn’t recall what exactly as she hadn’t felt like eating. Sandwiches probably… she’d have to thank them later.
Marla had felt supported up until she turned the key in the lock after the services, but then the realization sank deep in her throat like acid reflux, hanging heavy on her heart – everyone else had other lives to return to except for her. She sighed and stepped through the threshold onto the outdated beige linoleum tile and the braided rag rug that stretched across it. She closed the door behind herself and sighed again. She wiped her shoes reflexively on the mat before just kicking them off to land in a haphazard heap in the entryway.
The still silence of the house enveloped her, its oppressive emptiness palpable – she could feel it on her skin, taste it on her tongue. It was bitter. She sighed and walked purposefully to the living room, the large rust-orange sofa waiting to greet her. She flopped into its empty embrace, dropping her purse at her side as she did so.
A familiar, husky voice greeted her from deeper within the large, empty house. “Where have you been?”
Marla looked up and glanced around. Her husband Frank was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, drying a bowl. Marla gasped, her hand shooting to her mouth. Her clutched appendage took on a life of its own, slowly relinquishing itself of her gaping jaw and extending a first finger to point at the specter.
“Frank?” she spoke hesitantly.
“Yeah,” the man replied, holding the now-dry bowl nestled in the faded blue-and-white-checkered kitchen towel in both hands. “Who else would you expect?”
“But you’re dead,” Marla spat, the words falling limply from her mouth of their own accord.
The 66-year old man looked around confusedly and turned to face Marla, his silver hair sparkling in the light from the kitchen, illuminated from behind like a halo. “What are you talking about? I’m just here washing up after lunch. You were gone so I made myself some soup. Where have you been?”
“No, I just got home from your funeral,” Marla spoke quietly. “You are dead. After the boating accident… You drowned. I went along to the hospital – they pronounced you dead on arrival.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Frank said. “What boating accident?”
“The sailboat… You were going to take me out,” Marla coughed, her brown eyes glossed over with tears.
“We don’t own a sailboat,” Frank said bluntly. “Sure, I’d thought about it – it seems like a cool retirement hobby – but it’s just too expensive. We’ve talked about this, we can’t afford it.”
Marla glanced out the bay window towards the driveway where the small sailboat sat on its trailer, its orange hull reminiscent of the Florida citrus industry, and also of the life jacket Frank should have been wearing when he’d been pulled under. Marla cringed and turned back toward the kitchen. She sighed and spoke again, “But the boat’s out front. The guys at the marina helped to bring it back… after you… drowned.”
Frank had retreated to the kitchen to put away the bowl. Marla followed. She stood in the doorway and studied the man intently. He was unmistakably her husband, there was no denying it even despite her having just witnessed his waxen lifeless body in the coffin at the wake before the burial, though this Frank was a slight bit more overweight than she remembered.
“Well, that’s not possible. Because I’m still here,” Frank grumbled. He turned to face her, his blue eyes edged with worry. “There now, it was probably just a dream. You knew I wanted a boat and your anxiety just formulated the worst-case scenario…”
“See for yourself,” Marla said, her voice lilting with every syllable.
Frank strode into the living room and stared out the bay window. The driveway was vacant save for some bits of Spanish moss strewn over the concrete from the neighboring live oak tree. He turned towards his wife.
“But there’s no boat,” he sighed. “You must have had a bad dream. Did you fall asleep in the car in the garage again?” Concern was written all over his face, deepening every crease and wrinkle. “Is that where you were? The garage?”
Marla glanced again at the boat, plain as day, and turned to face Frank. Her voice grew stubborn. “It’s right here. How can you miss it?” she said, pointing at the orange behemoth.
“Honey, there’s nothing there,” Frank exclaimed, exasperation creeping into his voice.
Marla huffed and strode to the entryway, gathering her shoes from where they waited in their haphazard heap alongside the braided rag run on the worn linoleum floor. She marched out the door as Frank took vigil in its open frame, still staring at her. She stomped out to the boat and slapped her hand on the fiberglass surface with a resounding smack. The boat was warm to the touch, having baked in the Florida sun. She turned back towards the front door.
“See!” she bellowed.
The door stood open, empty. No one was there, watching. Marla sighed again and walked back inside. The vacant house once again enveloped her in its oppressive emptiness. Frank was nowhere to be found.
So I guess it’s goodbye for now. Feel free to check out more of Jennifer Weigel’s work here on Haunted MTL or here on her website.
Today on Nightmarish Nature we’re gonna revisit The Blob and jiggle our way to terror. Why? ‘Cause we’re just jellies – looking at those gelatinous denizens of the deep, as well as some snot-like land-bound monstrosities, and wishing we could ooze on down for some snoozy booze schmoozing action. Or something.
Honestly, I don’t know what exactly it is that jellyfish and slime molds do but whatever it is they do it well, which is why they’re still around despite being among the more ancient organism templates still in common use.
Jellyfish are on the rise.
Yeah, yeah, some species like moon jellies will hang out in huge blooms near the surface feeding, but that’s not what I meant. Jellyfish populations are up. They’re honing in on the open over-fished ocean and making themselves at home. Again.
And, although this makes the sea turtles happy since jellies are a favorite food staple of theirs, not much else is excited about the development. Except for those fish that like to hide out inside of their bells, assuming they don’t accidentally get eaten hanging out in there. But that’s a risk you gotta take when you’re trying to escape predation by surrounding yourself in a bubble of danger that itself wants to eat you. Be eaten or be eaten. Oh, wait…
So what makes jellies so scary?
Jellyfish pack some mighty venom. Despite obvious differences in mobility, they are related to anemones and corals. But not the Man o’ War which looks similar but is actually a community of microorganisms that function together as a whole, not one creature. Not that it matters when you’re on the wrong end of a nematocyst, really. Because regardless what it’s attached to, that stings.
Box jellies are among the most venomous creatures in the world and can move of their own accord rather than just drifting about like many smaller jellyfish do. And even if they aren’t deadly, the venom from many jellyfish species will cause blisters and lesions that can take a long time to heal. So even if they do resemble free-floating plastic grocery bags, you’d do best to steer clear. Because those are some dangerous curves.
But what does this have to do with slime molds?
Absolutely nothing. I honestly don’t know enough about jellyfish or slime molds to devote the whole of a Nightmarish Nature segment to either, so they had to share. Essentially, this bit is what happened when I decided to toast a bagel before coming up with something to write about and spent a tad too much time in contemplation of my breakfast. I guess we’re lucky I didn’t have any cream cheese or clotted cream…
Oh, and also thinking about gelatinous cubes and oozes in the role-playing game sense – because those sort of seem like a weird hybrid between jellies and slime molds, as does The Blob. Any of those amoeba influenced creatures are horrific by their very nature – they don’t even need to be souped up, just ask anyone who’s had dysentery.
And one of the most interesting thing about slime molds is that they can take the shortest path to food even when confronted with very complex barriers. They are maze masterminds and would give the Minotaur more than a run for his money, especially if he had or was food. They have even proven capable of determining the most efficient paths for water lines or railways in metropolitan regions, which is kind of crazy when you really think about it. Check it out in Scientific American here. So, if we assume that this is essentially the model upon which The Blob was built, then it’s kind of a miracle anything got away. And slime molds are coming under closer scrutiny and study as alternative means of creating computer components are being explored.
Jellies are the Wave of the Future.
We are learning that there may be a myriad of uses for jellyfish from foodstuffs to cosmetic products as we rethink how we interact with them. They are even proving useful in cleaning up plastic pollution. I don’t know how I feel about the foodstuff angle for all that they’ve been a part of various recipes for a long time. From what I’ve seen of the jellyfish cookbook recipes, they just don’t look that appealing. But then again I hate boba with a passion, so I’m probably not the best candidate to consider the possibility.
So it seems that jellies are kind of the wave of the future as we find that they can help solve our problems. That’s pretty impressive for some brainless millions of years old critter condiments. Past – present – perpetuity! Who knows what else we’d have found if evolution hadn’t cleaned out the fridge every so often?
Feel free to check out more Nightmarish Nature here.
The second half of 2024 was a bit of slow for Doctor Who news. Ncuti Gatwa’s first season finished in June, and the Christmas special was months away. Comics and audio plays continued, and a Blu-Ray set of Season 25 was released – but that was all.
However, what was new and exciting was a spate of unofficial recreations of missing Doctor Who stories from the sixties. Re-animations of missing stories have occurred previously, both officially by the BBC and unofficially by fans. However, animation production time means it’s rare to have more than a few episodes a year. However within the space of six months, forty-four recreated episodes were released, with the promise of more to come.
The reason how so many stories have been released so quickly is artificial intelligence (AI). These reconstructions are Generative AI, funded by professional songwriter, film producer, and fan, Ian Levine. This decision to make Doctor Who AI Reconstructions, to put it mildly, has been controversial online.
But is it worth it, in order to having otherwise missing stories returned to us? I’ve examined many of these Doctor Who AI reconstructions, and the discourse around them, to find out.
In Brief – Missing Episodes
A decent proportion of Doctor Who’s earliest years shockingly does not exist anymore. Doctor Who is one of the BBC’s biggest revenue raisers, and most famous show around the world. However it was not always the case.
When Doctor Who first began in 1963, the idea of keeping media was not really considered. Home video did not exist, and would not exist for two decades. Repeats were rare, due to the costs at the time to store old material and pay people involved in them. Also, old film presented a fire hazard. So it was often disposed of.
Despite this, Doctor Who is fairly lucky compared to other series. Firstly, fans at the time recorded the audio of each story. This means even the first ever Christmas Special – “A Feast of Stephen,” never broadcast internationally or repeated, still exists as an audio.
Doctor Who is also lucky because of only six seasons are not complete. In addition, of those six seasons, only half are missing only episodes from one or two stories. This allows us to get a feel for the early years of Doctor Who in a way fans of other series, like “Quatermass” and “The Avengers” aren’t able to. And part of the reason most of these early seasons survive is due to Ian Levine.
Who is Ian Levine?
Ian Levine professionally is a songwriter and DJ. He has written and produced records connected to such bands as Take That, Pet Shop Boys, Bananarama and Bucks Fizz. His total sales exceed 40 million records.
He is also well known as a prominent Doctor Who fan. There are many prominent Doctor Who fans. The series from 2004 onwards has been largely made by prominent Doctor Who fans of the 70’s and 80’s. Many of these fans contribute to Doctor Who in official ways. For instance, many older fans have written books, or audio plays. All three showrunners for the modern series would be considered prominent fans from the nineties. For Ian Levine, his main contribution is seeking to find and restore missing episodes of Doctor Who.
This work started in 1978 where Levine reportedly requested the permanent halting of old episodes of Doctor Who. At the time the idea of home video was being considered, leading to more reasons to keep old film. Levine also claimed to have rescued the first ever Dalek story from being sent into a furnace. Following this, he began purchasing private copies of the remaining stories, and attempting to return them to the BBC.
He also connected with the Doctor Who Production Team of the eighties in other ways. This included composing the theme tune for the spin-off series “K-9 and Company”, and the protest/charity album “Doctor In Distress.” His was also consulted about continuity during seasons eighteen to twenty-two.
However, he also gained a notorious reputation as obsessive in an unappealing way. During the 1985 Doctor Who hiatus, Levine was encouraged by Producer Jon Nathan-Turner to use protest the decision. Levine argued against the decision on television, and smashed his television with a hammer, and inviting newspapers to photograph it.
So he is fan who has both done great things, but also sought notoriety and negative attention.
More recently, Levene has worked with animating missing or incomplete episodes. This started in 2010 with “Mission to the Unknown.” This was not allowed to be shared or sold due to it being made without BBC authorization. In 2013, Ian hired an animated reconstruction of the unfinished story “Shada.” This version used pre-existing footage and new audio to create a finished product he hoped could be licensed. However, the BBC chose not to. Instead they made their own animated version that was released four years later.
- Join the Doctor (Tom Baker), Romana (Lalla Ward), and K-9 (voiced by David Brierley) as a visit to a Time Lord living incognito on Earth leads to a desperate race to a distant prison planet
- A BBC strike halted filming of this never-broadcast Baker six-episode serial written by “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” author Douglas Adams
- Christopher Neame, Victoria Burgoyne co-star
Last update on 2025-03-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Subsequently, Levine made comments regarding Jodie Whittaker as the first female Doctor which were deemed by many to be sexist. Levine responded by publicly quitting the fandom, though later created his own private Doctor Who Facebook group.
This group has now become the location where his AI recreations he has funded and received donations for are shared.
The Doctor Who AI Reconstructions – How to Access
The Facebook Page: “Ian Levine’s Facebook Group” requires an agreement to two questions to join. Firstly, you must agree to respect the right to criticize Jodie Whittaker. Secondly, you must recognise this is Ian Levine’s group for sharing his opinions on Doctor Who. Agree to all this, and you’re allowed in.
Inside the group, Levine has shared around twenty videos. This includesall of “The Dalek Masterplan,” “The Massacre,” and “The Savages.” However for the remainder, you must make a donation of fifty pounds, to become a contributor to the series.
Once your donation is confirmed, you are authorized to join the separate contributors group, for contributors only. This is where all the current videos being made are released.
Except…. None of these videos are unavailable privately. Ian Levine has placed them all on Youtube. They are unlisted, so they cannot turn up in either a Google or YouTube search. However, if you have a direct link or URL to them, they are accessible to everyone. Unlike other systems like Patreon which restrict content to only certain subscribers, nothing stops these links being shared elsewhere.
And of course, these links are shared. In response, Levine has issued threats and warnings against other Facebook groups and leakers trying to destroy his vision. In his group, people support him and join in denouncing those who criticize his work or mock it. People outside the group in response denounce Ian Levine and his supporters.
One thing I hate about internet culture is the push for tribalism. This is the idea we are joined in a selective tribe and must fight the rivals to connect. Over time the views become more strict in supporting your own tribe, and rejecting the opposition, and the middle ground is lost.
In the case of Ian Levine’s group, this is best shown by the view of alternative animations of missing Doctor Who stories. All of these are seen as not as good as Levine’s AI reconstructions. Levine’s reconstructions are seen as the only correct way Doctor Who is meant to be.
Initially Ian Levine’s AI project aimed to complete the ten missing stories not completed by the BBC. The initial project recognised the slow time it took to animate missing stories, and focused on stories that were difficult and costly to animate with people. Very soon after, however, Levine denounced many of the prior animations as “Silly Scooby Doo Cartoons.” The project was quickly extended to include stories previously animated by the BBC. Levine’s argument appears to be Levine’s objections to story changes animation had included. These included adding a surprise image of the Master in “Fury from the Deep”, prior to his debut appearance. Given Levine’s history of making things for the BBC, with the hope the BBC would license them, there have been rumours Levine initially was hoping the BBC would license some of his AI recreations, which has not come to pass.
Levine presents his animations as the most authentic way to view the missing episodes. Therefore appreciation of official animated reconstructions are not allowed. A poster saying they enjoyed the animated version of “The Celestial Toymaker,” was informed by Levine tht anyone who enjoyed the animation was unwelcome. Common responses of new animations being announced are people accusing the BBC of ruining another story. When Levine had a fault pointed out in one of his stories by Frazer Hines, who played the second Doctor’s companion, Jamie, Levine’s first response was to accept that the animation had limitations, but insisted it was still better than any animation the BBC has made. Most of all, posters all reinforce the message that AI reconstructions are the true version of the lost stories and the BBC are fools for not paying for them.
![Doctor Who - The Celestial Toymaker [DVD]](https://hauntedmtl.com/wp-content/plugins/aawp/public/image.php?url=YUhSMGNITTZMeTl0TG0xbFpHbGhMV0Z0WVhwdmJpNWpiMjB2YVcxaFoyVnpMMGt2T1RGUWVsZFROSEZ5V0V3dVgxTk1NVFV3TUY4dVgxTk1NVFl3WHk1cWNHYz18MTc0MzYxODM3MQ=)
- The Celestial Toymaker sees the Doctor and his companions separated when they come up against the Toymaker
- While the Doctor plays the Trilogic Game, Steven and Dodo are forced to play their own seemingly childish, but ultimately dangerous games, with the aim of being reunited and getting back to the TARDIS
- Who will be the first to make a false move in this battle of wits, and will the TARDIS ever escape the Toymaker’s snare Fans of Doctor Who have long lamented the loss of the original 1966 master recordings of all except one of The Celestial Toymaker
Last update on 2025-03-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
In response to this, or provoking this, depending on your point of you, external Facebook groups and YouTube channels are highly critical of the AI reconstructions. Some videos see them as threats, preventing the BBC from every investing in animation involving real people. Some hav dismissed the project as a scam.
So with such strong opinions on both sides, it’s time to actually watch them.
The AI Reconstructions
My first response on watching is they’re not that bad, but they’re not that good. Animation varies wildly in quality from story to story, making it hard to tell an overall trend towards or away from quality. However there are some good examples of how to recreate a story. “The Massacre” and “The Dalek Masterplan” for instance are incredible to watch. “The Savages” on the other hand is laughingly bad.
I chose to mostly focus on the stories not yet officially animated, so as to judge these stories by their own merit rather than compare to other animated versions of the same stories. However, it’s interesting the similarities that occur between the official animations and AI reconstructions. Non human characters (Particularly Daleks) look and move great, but people largely do not.
Animating People
Across most forms of Missing episode recovery, whether AI or human drawn, the difficulty is always animating people to show emotions and movement. Many of the official BBC animations often leave characters looking like stick figures bobbing up and down.
However one of the key things the official reconstructions provide is consistency. A human being develops a pre-existing model for characters, and because of this, these characters stay consistent over time.
AI on the other hand appears to forget things, or lose focus unless properly guided. People’s faces can change dramatically from shot to shot to the point, as in “The Savages” characters can be unrecognizable. This means, unlike with official animations, I often had to follow a story summary to figure out what was going on.
AI also forgets smaller things that make people seem human. In “The Highlanders” for instance the Doctor’s companion Polly does not blink for most of episode one, despite being in shot. This is a small detail, but throws the story into the uncanny valley – characters involve look like people but they feel wrong based on how they act.
Movement is a struggle for all reconstructions because human movement is difficult to animate. Once again, “The Massacre” demonstrates small examples of movement than seem fluid, particularly in the first episode. “The Savages” on the other hand has main characters seemingly to perform scissor jump spread legged when the script call on them to walk.
How the animation occurs
Having watched many of these animations, some of means AI generated these reconstructions became clearer. A lot of these animations, especially some of the later ones, do not actually generate much new material, instead using existing material in different ways. The First Doctor saying goodbye to Susan in the TARDIS, from Episode 6 of the Dalek Invasion of Earth, for instance is frequently re-used. This scene is redubbed multiple times in the reconstructions, when a missing story needs a scene of William Hartnell standing alone in the TARDIS.
Another method is using the telesnaps, and slightly animating the mouth and face. This creates a sense of fluidity and movement, but a very limited one. This is particularly noticeable in the Space Pirates. The resconstructions rely on switching between static photos of one cast member with mouths moving. On the one hand, this is no worse than the telesnaps, but the telesnaps were aware of their limitations, so often would use narration or subtitles to fill the gaps. However these reconstructions are presented as the most life like renditions of the missing episodes. As the original story did not have subtitles or narration, therefore, they are not allowed. As a result the story is incomprehensible.
Benefit – it exists
But despite the complaints, there is a significant benefit in these reconstructions. And that’s the fact that they exist.
Currently nine missing stories have not been officially animated by the BBC. I would love for all missing stories to be animated. However, the reality is most of the stories remaining might be too costly to animate.
Of the nine stories, six are pure historicals – stories with no science fiction elements apart from the TARDIS and its crew. These stories tended to have a larger number of human characters than stories with monsters, and a human being with their range of emotions is harder to animate than a Dalek.
Historicals also tend to have more detailed and complex scene change. A story in the future can replicate cold, grey corridors throughout a space colony. Historicals however must recreate significant locations in the world at particular times in history. Having to recreate 15th century France, for instance, is made up of multiple distinct locations. This makes historical stories more time consuming and therefore costly to animate. Therefore, despite stories being reanimated for almost twenty years now, the total number of historical episodes animated have been two – both missing episodes of the Reign of Terror.
For the remaining three stories, the limited human cast and isolated space station locations makes Wheel in Space relatively simple to animate. The Space Pirates, may also be animated as the story focusing mostly on space ships should make some aspects of the design easier to manage.
That just leaves The Dalek Masterplan¸ a massive twelve episode story, with a one episode prequel, where the Daleks chase the Doctor throughout time and space. The cast is huge, and while it is not a historical, the story would require animated sets of ancient Egypt during the building of the pyramids. None of this would be easy to do on the current BBC animation budget.
Therefore, it appears of the remaining nine missing stories, only two are highly likely to be animated.
And this is where AI can play a role. As AI does not rely much people, it means the costs to recreate a story like the Dalek Masterplan is significantly easier and cheaper than hiring a production studio to make it. While the end result is not as good as a professionally animated episode, for stories where hiring professional animations is not feasible, this is one way for people to observe a version of a story we otherwise cannot access.
Ultimately the frustrating thing about these reconstructions is they’re not allowed to be what they are. If they were simply an attempt to make otherwise lost stories more accessible, without any pretention or idea of superiority they would be fine. There are no shortages of fan made reconstructions, which vary in quality, but are all warmly received because they don’t pretend to be more than fan made animations. They are no better or worse than any other reconstructions.
If Levine’s reconstructions were presented with the same humbleness, the response would be more positive. If Leveine would present it as a project, and be accepting of others not needing to accpet them, there would be less retaliation online. But they aren’t presented as a fun way to view a loss episode. The reconstructions are presented as the only correct way to view the stories, superior than any other effort. In fact, he considers the stories no longer lost due to his AI reconstructions.
But by doing so, he puts the reconstructions on a pedestal of perfection. But they aren’t perfect, not by a long shot. By Leveine presenting these as perfect, he ultimately encourages people to notice how they are lacking by comparing to perfection. In comparison, more humble attempts of reconstruction, by presenting themselves as not the best, encourage people to notice what they do right.
So, try to enjoy the reconstructions for what they are. Some are surprisingly good – especially The Dalek Masterplan and The Massacre, and it’s a chance to see stories animated that you may not get to see animated elsewhere. But try to filter out all the rhetoric about how amazing and perfect they should be, and just enjoy them as they are.
(2 / 5)
