Technical and story limitations in Star Trek: The Original Series and classic Doctor Who led to creative problem-solving.
Here’s how…
Technical boundaries can be stifling, but they can also force creativity.
Scenes were performed live on set, just as they would be in the theatre.
The entire episode had to be finished by 10pm, because thats when the BBC switched the lights off.
In the first episode,An Unearthly Child, there is only one edit in the entire 25 minutes.
Its Horatio Hornblower in space, and its all about the human condition.
The Hollywood hills stand in for alien landscapes.
The scene changes are not done with editing but with live switches between the cameras.
It must have been a nightmare in logistics.
The jump from outside to the inside is the cut.
Unlike film, you couldnt see the frames on video, so it was clever guesswork.
They get away with it, with a bit of a wobble.
Of course the budget limitation that had the most significant impact was on the TARDIS itself.
Originally the exterior was going to change every story to blend in with its new environment.
That proved too expensive and so the chameleon circuit jammed on as a 1960s police box.
No conflict between the regular cast?
How do you have a show with no conflict?
Creator Gene Rodenberrys high ideas could have been TV drama poison.
UnlikeWho,Star Trekwas obviously made in the USA on film and in colour.
There were some budgetary constraints on film usage, but nothing like constrictions placed on BBC productions.
Fix it in post?
Want another take of that scene?
But the biggest hurdle, arguably, was the almost suffocating lack of conflict.
All so theyre behaving out of character for a good reason.
Which is standard fare for science fiction, and theres nothing wrong with any of that.
But focusing on one monster/baddie/virus each episode meant it was the crew versus the intruder each time.
Its not really until D.C. FontanasJourney To Babelin season 2 that viewers got a noticeably strong A/B/C story.
Plus, Sarek needs major surgery and Spocks the only one with the matching blood key in.
The operation takes place while someone is shooting at the Enterprise.
Its a terrific episode with a cracking pace, and makes up for some of the slower paced offerings.
Fans know better than anyone that not every episode of Star Trek is a masterpiece.
To take another example:The Trouble with Tribblesis good, silly fun.
It contains two major meanwhile scenes, which are integral to the plot.
Costume designers covered toy dogs in fur to create some of the moving tribbles.
These toys made such a noise they had to fix it in post with the actors re-recording their lines.
Sometimes restrictions can tie things down so much that nothing gets off the ground.
Ebony McKenna is the award-winning author of the 4-part Young Adult series of novels Ondine.
Find out more at:ebonymckenna.com.
