An infamous Doctor Who screenwriter is reluctantly dragged back into the American Whoniverse, in this funny and moving documentary about finding family in the unlikeliest of places.

Interview with Writers/Directors/Producer Vanessa Yuille, Matthew Jacobs

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

MATTHEW: It seemed like an intrinsically funny and dramatic situation - venturing back into a world that I thought had rejected me. Also, the landscape of American Doctor Who fandom has never really been explored, and they are pivotal to the show’s global appeal in my opinion. I also wanted to work with Vanessa again after having collaborated with her on two of my previous independent fiction features. And lastly, I’d never made a documentary feature, and after thirty years of making movies and TV, I wanted that experience. Little did I know how complex and lengthy that process can be!

VANESSA: It all started over a cup of coffee and catching up with Matthew in a café in San Francisco. He mentioned that he was invited to a Doctor Who convention, and I asked, “What? Why?!” I had no idea that Matthew wrote the Eighth Doctor and was a part of the Doctor Who universe. My mind was blown. I had fond memories of watching Doctor Who in the 1980s with my dad when it was on public television in the US, but I hadn’t followed it since then. I also thought the controversy around the TV movie was hilarious. Two months later, we were filming, blissfully unaware of the long and arduous road ahead (aka documentary filmmaking).

Doctor Who Am I - Paul McGann, the Eighth Doctor

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

VANESSA: It’s fun! You’ll laugh, and you’ll be moved. You don’t have to know anything about Doctor Who to enjoy Matt’s journey. It's a touching film that anyone can relate to.

MATTHEW: Maybe to reflect upon your own relationship with stories that you love, and how they help you cope with life’s ups and downs. Also to simply enjoy our roller coaster ride with a family of fans that are truly lovable at the end of the day!

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

MATTHEW: The relationship between personal and universal themes sits at the heart of our story.

VANESSA: They’re intertwined. Fandom is a very personal and universal experience, and so is identity, family, community, forgiveness, mortality, and rebirth/regeneration.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

MATTHEW: Initially I wasn’t that enthusiastic about bringing my personal backstory to the table, but Vanessa always knew my personal history was a massive element in our quest to understand why stories are so important. We learnt that fandom is about so much more than the shows that are adored. Just as I’d brought myself to creating the Eighth Doctor in the 90s, it seemed natural that this was the right way to go. So, we went for it!

VANESSA: Even though I knew Matt was central to the story, he had to be convinced; and that happened in the editing room. As the editor, Matthew placed a tremendous amount of trust in me, and I deeply thank him for that, especially since I never edited a feature before. It became clear that there were three storylines: on one hand we’re following Matthew’s journey of self-discovery; on another we’re learning about the fans and fandom; and lastly there’s our journey together as friends making this movie. To me, it’s an ode to fandom, friends, and the love of filmmaking.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

MATTHEW: So far so good. Audiences both laugh and are touched by our journey. We picked up The Audience Award at the movie’s world premiere at Sci-fi London International Film Festival in May, and glowing press in the UK Guardian, Starburst Magazine, and Digital Spy. Now we are hopeful Australia will be warm to the movie.

VANESSA: What Matt said!

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

MATTHEW: What has both pleased and surprised me is the degree to which so many viewers see themselves in both my story and the fan’s stories. Especially because the movie embraces me becoming a fan, they can reflect on their own journey to fandom.

VANESSA: If anything, I feel relief. I’m happy that people are emotionally connecting with it and seeing themselves in Matthew’s journey.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

MATTHEW: I’m hoping that through your site we can broaden our audience to people who will see the truly universal nature of the story we are telling.

VANESSA: We want to get the word out! We’re an official selection of the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival next month. If you live in Australia, it will be available for online screenings. Also, the BBC recently announced Ncuti Gatwa as the 14th Doctor, and the 60th anniversary is next year. There is a lot of excitement for Doctor Who, and We Are Moving Stories can help tap that excitement for our documentary.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

MATTHEW: At the moment we are starting the search for buyers and platforms. To that end, the more noise we can make in Australia, the better. We want to prove that just as there is a global market for Doctor Who, there is a global audience for this documentary.

VANESSA: What Matt said!

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

VANESSA: I want people to enjoy Doctor Who Am I and be surprised by it. Similar to how Shrek says he’s like an onion and has layers, so too is this film.

MATTHEW: Obviously if we can get people thinking about the themes of community, family, and regeneration within their own lives that would be fantastic!

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

MATTHEW: Do you ever really know who you are?

VANESSA: What are you a fan of, and how has it enriched your life?

Would you like to add anything else?

MATTHEW and VANESSA: You don’t need to be a Doctor Who fan to understand or enjoy our documentary.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

MATTHEW: As always, more scripts for TV and the movies, and I continue to occasionally act for other directors and in my own projects. Both Vanessa and I have good roles in Bernard Rose’s upcoming release, “Traveling Light” where we appear alongside Danny Huston, Tony Todd, and Steven Dorff. Look out for it. I also continue to coach new filmmakers and occasionally guest lecture at universities.

VANESSA: Aside from getting Doctor Who Am I out there, I’m editing commercials, writing my first feature, and talking to Matt every day.

Interview: June 2022

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

Doctor Who Am I

Length:
1:20:00

Writer/Director/Producer

VANESSA YUILLE is an award winning filmmaker and editor. DOCTOR WHO AM I is her feature film directorial and editorial debut. She earned her bachelor’s in Astronomy from Barnard College and her MFA in film from the Academy of Art University. Her thesis documentary AN AMERICAN CONTRADICTION investigates one of the Japanese American concentration camps from WWII.It was screened at international film festivals and continues to be viewed as an educational resource today.

MATTHEW JACOBS has been writing, directing, and acting for over thirty years both in the UK and America. Writing credits include THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE, DOCTOR WHO, LASSIE, PAPERHOUSE, and YOUNG INDIANA JONES CHRONICLES. Directing credits include award-winning BBC feature films: MOTHERTIME, HALLELUJAH ANYHOW and indy movies YOUR GOOD FRIEND and BAR AMERICA. Acting credits include leading roles in Bernard Rose’s BOXING DAY (2012) TRAVELING LIGHT (2022).

Key cast:

Paul McGann (self), Eric Roberts (self), Daphne Ashbrook (self)

Looking for:

sales agents, distributors, journalists, film festival directors, buyers

Twitter:

https://mobile.twitter.com/docwhoami

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/doctorwhoami/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/docwhoami/

Hashtags used:

#doctorwhoami