Film Stories magazine has announced its first ever movie project, Sylvester: Who’s The Real McCoy?, a film that sees the celebrated actor and former Doctor Who lead Sylvester McCoy telling his remarkable life story on screen.
The announcement was made over the weekend, as Sylvester celebrated his 80th birthday – a birthday he shares with fellow Who star Sophie Aldred.
The film is currently in post-production, and release details will be announced soon.
The actor explores his youth growing up in Dunoon, his training to be a priest, and how he made the jump from working in the city of London to a life of performance.
There are the adventures in the Ken Campbell Roadshow, his journeys around the world, and – of course – his life as the universe’s most famous Time Lord in Doctor Who, and his time in Middle Earth across The Hobbit movies.
Sylvester also candidly tells the story of losing his father just before he was born, his mother’s mental health battles, and growing up with family members in the absence of his parents.
The film, the first ever kind of memoir by the actor, is centred around a specially-filmed new interview and conversation with Sylvester, as well as materials from his personal archive. There is a sporting chance that the playing of spoons may be involved too.
Sylvester: Who’s The Real McCoy? is a Film Stories and Whynow production, executive produced by Sylvester McCoy and Clare Eden, produced and directed by Simon Brew.
The monthly Film Stories magazine was launched in November 2018, utilising a wide range of new writers, offering features on all sorts of films, big and small. They have also showcased a whole bunch of primarily British films on their covers, that weren’t getting covers anywhere else.
The Film Stories podcast, hosted by Simon Brew, looks to dig into the stories behind popular movies. From troubled productions, to rights issues, to difficulties with release to films nearly falling apart, the podcast looks at the stories that don’t always seem apparent when watching a movie!
• Film Stories is online at filmstories.co.uk | Follow Film Stories on Twitter here, and on Facebook here
• Buy Film Stories and Film Junior print magazines here
• Follow Sylvester McCoy on Twitter @4SylvesterMcCoy
• Follow Simon Brew on Twitter @simonbrew
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Digital Media, Doctor Who, downthetubes News, Film, Other Worlds, Television