DVD Review: ‘Who’s Changing: An Adventure in Time With Fans’

Doctor Who has fans around the world and has had them since it first began 50 years ago. Who’s Changing, a new documentary from Capital City Entertainment, talks about the experience of Doctor Who fandom with many actors from the series, as well as script editors, writers, and comic book creators and artists.

Among the actors from the series who are interviewed are Louise Jameson (Leela), Sophie Aldred (Ace), Simon Fisher-Becker (Dorium Maldovar), Neve McIntosh (Madame Vastra), Catrin Stewart (Jenny Flint), Caitlin Blackwood (young Amelia Pond), and Dan Starkey (Commander Strax.)

The fans who talk about their feelings and adventures include the founders of the original Doctor Who Appreciation Society and those who attended the first Doctor Who convention, as well as attendees at a number of conventions that took place in 2013. There is also a great deal of vintage footage featuring the various early Doctors and companions at conventions, as well as footage of the most recent incarnations interacting with fans.

The film also considers the changes that have taken place in fandom over the years, from mainly male to about equally male and female, with an influx of teenagers and young kids at the conventions. It also covers the extreme popularity of cosplay, where fans make their own costumes and dress up as the Doctor and other favorite characters. There’s also crossplay, where females dress as male characters (especially the Doctor) and males less commonly dress as female characters.

While this review is based on a promotional copy that did not include the DVD extras, the press release states that there are over 80 minutes of additional interviews included in the bonus material.

As a person who annually attends and covers a Doctor Who convention every year (TimeGate in Atlanta) and a fan for many years, this reporter can confidently state that Doctor Who fans love to hear about the show from anyone who was ever involved in it, view endless footage about the show and the Doctor, and listen to and discuss the Doctor at every opportunity. For this reason, every fan will love Who’s Changing: An Adventure in Time With Fans, a documentary which treats the fans with respect. It will be available for purchase on January 27, 2014.