Red Dwarf Remastered

"Red Dwarf Remastered" was an attempt in the mid-1990s to bring the first three series of TV comedy "Red Dwarf" up-to-date.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/news/2006/12/22/remasters-of-the-universe | title =Remasters of the Universe | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-28] A collaborative effort between BBC Worldwide and Grant Naylor Productions, it was hoped that remastered versions of the episodes would prove more appealing to broadcasters in international territories. Only Series I-III were remastered, although the BBC had commissioned for the remastering of Series IV and V. Doug Naylor decided to put the project on hold and wait for technology to catch up with their vision.cite video | people =Naylor, Doug | title ='Re-Dwarf' documentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset "Red Dwarf" disc | date =2007 ]

Changes

Some of the changes made for "Red Dwarf Remastered" included:
*Replacement opening credits for Series I, II and III. These retained the initial image of Lister painting the outside of "Red Dwarf", but featured a new attempt to realise the original intention to pull-out from a close-up of Lister to the entire ship in one uninterrupted shot. This was followed by a new fast-paced opening montage similar to those created for Series III to VIII.
*All new computer generated special effects of "Red Dwarf" flying through space. Whilst the original series simply featured "Red Dwarf" flying through unadorned starscapes, the Remastered version added backgrounds such as burning suns, icy moons and coloured nebulae. A model dust storm was recreated in CG, and in addition to the typically sedate movement "Red Dwarf" was shown, in appropriate scenes, racing through space.
*Additional post-production video effects. Including a malfunction effect being laid onto the hologram Rimmer in "Queeg", monitor displays, transitions and (in close-up) borders being altered or added. Most significantly the starscape outside the windows of the ship interiors was edited, where possible, to match the new special effects. Due to technical restrictions this was possible only when the camera was static.
*Most other model shots of crafts in space being likewise replaced with computer generated special effects. For the craft "Blue Midget", as with "Red Dwarf" itself, these modifications amounted to a complete redesign, and matched those that would appear in Series VIII. Minor changes to "Starbug" also reflected the ship's Series VII incarnation, with a smaller viewscreen and legs that would tilt backwards.
*Further computer generated additions and replacements. Including an extended sequence of the polymorph travelling through the "Red Dwarf" air ventilation system, a "time hole" journey to backwards Earth, and various shots of elevators in lift-shafts. Other minor CGI alterations include those laid over existing live-action scenes, such as a grey opening and closing 'hatch' being laid over what was, in the original scene, a flip-top bin.
*Additional bluescreen elements being applied to particular scenes, especially during the first episode "The End". These included skutters placed in the foreground of an early scene, and more attendees being added to the foreground of the McIntyre funeral scene.
*Replacement music and audio effects being applied to all scenes: the show in general was given a more detailed soundscape, a new stereo mix (replacing the original mono) with fully remastered foreground and background effects. The audience laughter track was similarly remixed and adjusted. Changes were specific as well as general: Rimmer's mother was re-voiced by a different actress in "Polymorph", for example; Rimmer was heard to crash into objects after falling through the Cat in "The End" (despite his holographic status); and in the same episode the Cat was supplemented with a hissing noise as he made himself "look big".
*All videotape work being given a full colour grade, and filmized.
*Cropping of the top and bottom of the original picture to leave a 14:9 "widescreen" picture. (Some versions only.)
*Occasional close-up scenes with Holly in Series I being re-filmed with actor Norman Lovett. New jokes with the character were also added to several episodes. Hattie Hayridge's performance in Series III remained the same as the original, however.
*Trimming of some scenes, such as the shortening of George McIntyre's speech in "The End", the removal of Cat's fantasy mermaid girlfriend and the "Black card/white card" discussions in the episode "Balance of Power". Performed partially for pace reasons, and sometimes due to dissatisfaction with the writing or performance quality.

Reaction

The changes received a mixed response from existing fans. Design changes, in particular to "Red Dwarf", were generally disliked, and the shift from models to CGI was not seen as an improvement.cite web | url =http://www.sci-fi-london.com/news/article/1195080035/3/red-dwarf-the-bodysnatcher-collection | title =Sci-Fi-London Film Festival - The Bodysnatcher Collection | publisher =www.sci-fi-london.com |accessdate =2008-01-28] There was an outcry at the changing of some dialogue, particularly with regards to the removal of certain popular sequences (such as the aforementioned "black card/white card" joke). Naylor, himself, stated that he was slightly disappointed with the results, as the technology required for the ambitious remastering wasn't available at the time.cite video | people =Naylor, Doug | title ='Re-Dwarf' documentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset disc 2 | date =2007 ]

Internationally, "Red Dwarf Remastered" was sold to Japan, South America and other countries with significant success - finding fresh audiences who were unaware of its remastered status. The availability of isolated audio tracks for language dubbing allowed the programme to reach more foreign-language broadcasters.

No further series were remastered after the initial three series. Most recent UK repeats and the DVD releases of the show have been of the original untreated versions, although appearances depend on a channel's individual archive - in early 2003 the remastered "Marooned" incongruously appeared during a repeat run of the series on UKTV Gold that otherwise consisted of the original versions; and they have also popped up from time to time on UKTV G2 in addition to Virgin Media's On Demand service. Despite this, the most recent series of "Red Dwarf" retains the CGI model of the ship created for the "Red Dwarf Remastered". This was acknowledged in Series VIII with dialogue about how the ship had changed shape, thus retaining series continuity.

Other remastering

For the release of the Series VII DVD, the first episode "Tikka to Ride" was remastered. This only consisted of replacing the original last-minute CGI effects from the original broadcast with up-to-date, 2005-standard CGI. The original version was also included on the DVD. The result was almost universally considered an improvement.

DVD releases

Non-UK releases

Remastered episodes have found their way onto DVD in continental Europe as the official series releases. Localised releases in Poland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg all contain the remastered episodes. The remastered episodes were also released in Japan in their shorter NHK broadcast edits featuring significant edits, different title and credit sequences and Japanese dubbing. The Japanese version of remastered pilot episode "The End" was included as a bonus feature on the English language DVD release of Series I.

The Bodysnatcher Collection

The remastered episodes of Series I–III were made available on DVD in the UK on 12 November 2007 as "The Bodysnatcher Collection". A 2008 release is planned for Australia. The box set includes all 18 episodes, alongside documentaries concerning the Remastering project and the making of the original Series I and II (as these were absent from the original DVD release of these series).cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/news/2007/11/09/the-bodysnatcher-collection | title =The Bodysnatcher collection | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-30] A text track is also included, detailing all changes between original and remastered versions.

The special features include what has been called the "original assembly" of the first episode of "Red Dwarf", plus a lost episode, known as "Bodysnatcher", which has been created in the same style as "Identity Within" for the Series VII DVD. The title for the box set has been announced as "The Bodysnatcher Collection" after this feature. The release also features commentary and interview contributions from Rob Grant, co-creator of "Red Dwarf", marking his first direct contribution to the DVD releases.

References