Stuart Humphryes

Stuart Humphryes

Stuart Humphryes AKA Babelcolour
Born (1969-12-10) 10 December 1969
Basingstoke, Hampshire, England
Residence London, England
Nationality English
Other names Babelcolour
Occupation Colourisation Artist
Years active 2005–present
Notable work The Mind of Evil
Website www.babelcolour.com

Stuart Humphryes (born 10 December 1969) is an English colourisation artist for print, film and television, chiefly known for his work colourising the British television series Doctor Who. He is widely known by his alias "Babelcolour", a public persona which was created in 2006 with the launch of his YouTube channel.

Film colourisation

The Daleks' Master Plan

In 2005 Humphryes collaborated with James Russell, one of the founder members of the Doctor Who Restoration Team, to colourise the surviving 35mm film from the 1965 Doctor Who serial The Daleks' Master Plan. This colourisation was incorporated into "The Dalek Tapes" documentary on the 2006 DVD release of Genesis of the Daleks.[1]

The Mind of Evil

In 2009 Humphryes and Russell reunited to assess the viability of re-colourising the 1971 Doctor Who serial The Mind of Evil which only existed in the BBC Archives as a monochrome film print. They collaborated to produce a one-minute test sequence of colourised shots from the episode which eventually led to the Doctor Who Restoration Team commissioning Humphryes in 2011 to recolourise the entire episode.[2][3] Between 2011–2013 Humphryes was the sole colourising artist working alongside the video restoration company SVS Resources[4] to complete the commercial colourisation of The Mind of Evil for the BBC's subsidiary 2 Entertain[5][6]

Screenings

Humphryes on stage at the British Film Institute

The newly colourised Mind of Evil was premiered at the British Film Institute on 10 March 2013.[7] Humphryes was in attendance to answer questions on stage about the re-colourisation process[8][9] The recolourised episodes also received a special screening, with a Q&A Restoration Panel, at Birmingham's annual Flatpack Film Festival on Saturday 30 March 2013[10] and at the Belfast Film Festival on Thursday 18 April 2013[11]

Clips and details of the serial's recolourisation were covered by a special feature on the BBC evening news on 12 June 2013[12]

Following the release of The Mind of Evil DVD in June 2013 the re-colourised version has become the broadcast default, being subsequently televised in the US on Retro TV on 15 October 2014[13] and KBTC Public Television on Saturday 23 January 2016.

Terror of the Zygons

In 2008 a collection of long-lost film prints from the 1975 Doctor Who serial Terror of the Zygons were returned to the BBC from the estate of the story's film editor Ian McKendrick, consisting of a cutting copy and dub track in mixed colour and monochrome formats.[14] Humphryes was consequently engaged by SVS Resources in February 2012 to recolourise the monochrome sections[15] so that the entire missing scene could be incorporated into the Director's Cut of Terror of the Zygons for DVD release the following year.[16][17] The work was performed on a tight deadline and consequently employed some shortcut techniques, including flat colour washes for certain elements such as clothing, which would not normally be employed by Humphryes.[18]

Colourisation process

Most commercial colourisation processes involve the use of either masks, layers or the segmentation method. The process used by Humphryes however, is unusual in that it does not employ these methods of separating colour to produce each key frame but instead each individual frame is colourised as a single completed image. A consequence of this means that although the finished product can achieve greater realism the work is very labour-intensive, with around 7000 fully colourised key frames required to produce 20 minutes of footage. This equates to an average of 1 in every 4 frames being fully colourised as key frames for PAL video. It consequently took Humphryes 18 months to recolourise key frames for 'The Mind of Evil' episode one[19]

In 2005 Humphryes colourised a series of Tele-snaps for issue 2 of "Nothing At The End of the Lane" – the magazine of Doctor Who Research and Restoration in which he was interviewed about his colourisation work.[20] He was invited to return to this publication in 2008 to colourise the cover of their omnibus reprint of issues 1 and 2.

In 2015 Humphryes colourised the cover of Mark Iveson's biographical reference book "Cursed Horror Stars", published by Telos Publishing[21]

Critical reception

Doctor Who Magazine stated "Stuart's work on colours is exceptionally good, especially with difficult areas like skin and hair and this sets a new benchmark for the colourisation of film recordings"[22]

He was commended for his colourisation work by the Doctor Who showrunner, head writer and producer Steven Moffat in 2015 who cited Humphryes as one of "the next generation of creatives"[23]

SFX Magazine praised Humphryes colourisation works, stating "The results are seriously impressive",[24] with Starburst Magazine considering his work "astonishing".[25] On-line reviews of his output have stated "The result is stunning... with skin tones looking particularly impressive" [Telly Tech], "Babel’s work is astonishing" [Immaterial]; "the depth and accuracy of colour application is superbly observed and as delicate as the brushstrokes of a Constable or a Rembrandt" [Eye of Horus]; "the results are really quite stunning.” [Chilled Monkey Brainz] and "Skin tones and hair colour is rarely done well, even by professional colourising companies, but Stuart seemed to have nailed it" [Home Cinema Choice][26]

His work on The Mind of Evil received commendations in reviews from Doctor Who Magazine,[27] Starburst Magazine,[28] the Radio Times,[29] Doctor Who Online,[30] DVD Talk,[31] Nerdist[32] and an array of on-line genre sites and blogs[33]

Humphryes has received critical acclaim from BBC America[34][35] SFX Magazine,[36] The Guardian,[37] the Official Doctor Who Magazine[38] the io9 website[39] and the Doctor Who Fan Club of Australia [40] with his contributions to Doctor Who and the field of colourisation being the subject of numerous interviews [41] and podcasts[42]

Other works

YouTube

Humphryes established The Babelcolour Channel on YouTube on 10 August 2006.[43] 71 videos are currently available [44] which have accrued 7.1 million views (as of June 2017).[45] Seventeen of his videos have featured as the monthly YouTube recommendation in the official Doctor Who Magazine.[46]. In June 2017 the BBC's After Show promoted the opening episode of his 'Almost Doctors' web series, referring to Humphryes as a "colourisation and compositing legend"[47].

His on-line video output has involved collaboration with the voice artists John Guillor, Jonathon Carley, Jake Dudman and Peter Walsh and the video FX artists Mert Karaca and Andrew Orton. Other credited contributors include the writers and media historians David J. Howe and Richard Bignell.[48]

The Ten Doctors

Between September 2009 and September 2015 Humphryes uploaded a four-part Web series entitled 'The Ten Doctors'. It was an unofficial Doctor Who drama incorporating re-edited archival material from TV shows and movies connected by newly recorded dialogue and special effects. Episode three was premièred at the 'Armada Con 23' Doctor Who Convention before its on-line release. The trailers and episodes have exceeded 950,000 views on YouTube. The web series has been analysed by TV Tropes[49] and recommended by SFX Magazine.[50] and the Doctor Who Fan Club of Australia.[51] Humphryes has been interviewed about the project a number of times, including the on-line magazine Theta Morbius Times (Issue 1; 2010) and Houston Press[52] with the opening episode being nominated as one of the 8 Most Amazing Fan Videos on YouTube by Digital Spy[53]

Published works

In 2012 Humphryes wrote a personal treatise on Doctor Who entitled 'Teatime and an Open Mind' which was published in the Doctor Who non-fiction book "You and Who" by Miwk Publishing.[54] The book's editor JR Southall wrote in Starburst Magazine, "That internet legend from YouTube, known usually as Babelcolour, submitted a much longer essay detailing how it was that watching Doctor Who as a child had informed the whole of his adult life, how it had made him a better person. It was an excellent piece of writing, and very important for a couple of reasons... it kind of gave the whole project a feeling of legitimacy. Now I could tell people that Stuart Humphryes had made a submission already, and even quote an extract from it as an example".[55]

Background information

Humphryes graduated from Suffolk College with a BA(Hons) degree in Design Communications. After 14 years with the British Red Cross he became a Local Government Officer[56]

In 1996 he appeared as a contestant in two episodes of the UK Gold TV quiz series 'Goldmaster'. His specialist subject was Doctor Who[57] His role as fallback contestant for BBC1's 1999 prime-time evening game show 'Whatever you Want' was reported in Doctor Who Magazine issue 276, which ran with a photograph of Humphryes in costume alongside the other on-screen contestants.[58]

Between 2006–2008 he produced work for the BabelFish Colourisation Website on kostamojen.com.[59] In 2012 he established his own colourisation website at babelcolour.com

In 2014 Humphryes assisted researchers of the BBC2 documentary series ‘The Secret History of My Family’, which was broadcast on Thursday 10 March 2016. Episode one chronicled the family and descendants of his 4 x Great-Grandfather Robert Gadbury, tracing their lineage from 1830s London to present-day Tasmania. Humphryes is second cousin (twice removed) to former Tasmanian premier Albert Ogilvie[60][61]

References

  1. ↑ BBC DVD "Doctor Who: Genesis of the Daleks". Catalogue Number BBCDVD1813. Release date 10 April 2006
  2. ↑ "DVD Restoration". Official Doctor Who Restoration Team Website. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "The Mind of Evil colourisation process". babelcolour.com. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  4. ↑ Doctor Who Magazine issue #488 August 2015. UK: Panini. Retrieved 15 February 2016
  5. ↑ "Paul Mount, Mind of Evil Review". Starburst Magazine. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  6. ↑ BBC DVD "Doctor Who: The Mind of Evil". Catalogue Number BBCDVD3269. Release date 3 June 2013
  7. ↑ "WHO's the Doctor?". BBC. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  8. ↑ "Mind of Evil at the BFI". Radio Times. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  9. ↑ Robert Fairclough, BFI Premiere. SFX Magazine Issue #234 April 2013. UK: Future plc. Retrieved 15 February 2016
  10. ↑ "Birmingham Film Festival Screening". flatpackfestival.org.uk. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  11. ↑ "Belfast Film Festival Screening". 18 April 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  12. ↑ "BBC South East Today". BBC News. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  13. ↑ "Retro TV to air The Mind of Evil in colour". Doctor Who News. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  14. ↑ Richard Bignell, "Recovery of the Zygons". Nothing At The End Of The Lane Magazine Issue 4
  15. ↑ "DVD Restoration". Official Doctor Who Restoration Team Website. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  16. ↑ "Terror of the Zygons DVD". babelcolour.com. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  17. ↑ BBC DVD "Doctor Who: Terror of the Zygons". Catalogue Number BBCDVD3482. Release date 30 September 2013
  18. ↑ "Terror of the Zygons DVD Review". kasterborous.com. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  19. ↑ "Colourisation Process". babelcolour.com. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  20. ↑ "Humphryes Interview 2005" (PDF). Nothing At The End Of The Lane Magazine Issue 2. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  21. ↑ 'Cursed Horror Stars', Mark Iveson Telos Publishing ISBN 978-1-84583-113-4 accessdate 25 January 2016
  22. ↑ Doctor Who Magazine Issue #461 July 2013. UK: Panini. Retrieved 23 March 2016
  23. ↑ Steven Moffat interview Doctor Who Magazine Issue #484 March 2015. UK: Panini. Retrieved 13 March 2016
  24. ↑ "SFX Magazine Summer SPECIAL EDITION 2013". Future plc. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  25. ↑ "Mind of Evil Review". Starburst Magazine. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  26. ↑ "reviews". Radio Times; DVD Talk; DVD Active; Starburst Magazine; Eye of Horus; Digital Fix Television; Nerdist; Kool TV; SFX Magazine; Kasterborous; Telly Tech; From The Archive; Doctor Who Online; Home Cinema Choice; Kare11.com; Immaterial; Blogtor Who. Confessions of a Neowhovian; Chilled Monkey Brainz. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  27. ↑ Doctor Who Magazine Issue #461 July 2013 and Issue #488 August 2015. UK: Panini. Retrieved 23 March 2016
  28. ↑ "Mind of Evil Review". Starburst Magazine. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  29. ↑ "Mind of Evil at the BFI". Radio Times. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  30. ↑ "Mind of Evil Review". Doctor Who Online. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  31. ↑ "Mind of Evil Review". dvdtalk.com. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  32. ↑ "Mind of Evil Review". nerdist.com. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  33. ↑ "Reviews". babelcolour.com. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  34. ↑ "Babelcolour Colourisations". BBC America. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  35. ↑ "Babelcolour video 'Doctor Who Every Story'". BBC America. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  36. ↑ SFX Magazine Issues #June 2008; #November 2009 and #March 2010. UK: Future plc. Retrieved 11 February 2016
  37. ↑ Dan Martin, "Doctor Who The Power of Three: 'The legendary Brigadier'". The Guardian Publication date 22 September 2012
  38. ↑ Doctor Who Magazine Issues #430 February 2011; #431 March 2011; #433 May 2011; #435 July 2011; #441 December 2011; #444 March 2012; #450 September 2012; #451 October 2012; #476 September 2014; #479 December 2014; #480 Winter 2014/15; #484 April 2015; #496 March 2016; #507 December 2016 and #509 March 2017. UK: Panini. Retrieved 18 March 2016
  39. ↑ "48 Years of Dr Who in 8 Minutes". io9. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  40. ↑ 'Babelcolour's Ten Doctors' review. Data Extract issue #231, AU: The Doctor Who Club of Australia (DWCA). Publication date June 2016
  41. ↑ "Interview Collection". Huston Press; Telly Tech; Time Warriors; Outpost Skaro; Regeneration Who; Nothing At The End Of The Lane and The Third Zone. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  42. ↑ "Podcast collection". Radiofreeskaro; Arrow of Time; Bridging The Rift; DWO Whocast and Tin Dog Podcast. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  43. ↑ "YouTube About Page". youtube.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  44. ↑ "Babelcolour Back Catalogue". babelcoloure.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  45. ↑ "YouTube statistics". socialblade.com. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  46. ↑ Doctor Who Magazine Issues #430; #431; #433; #435; #441; #444; #450; #451; #476; #479; #480; #484, #496, #507, #509, #512 and #513. UK: Panini. Retrieved 30 June 2017
  47. ↑ "BBC Fan Show". BBC. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  48. ↑ YouTube video credits. Babelcolour Channel. Retrieved 6 April 2016
  49. ↑ "The Ten Doctors". tvtropes.org. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  50. ↑ SFX Magazine Issues March 2010;. UK: Future plc.
  51. ↑ 'Babelcolour's Ten Doctors' review. Data Extract issue #231, AU: The Doctor Who Club of Australia (DWCA). Publication date June 2016
  52. ↑ "Babelcolour Brings Us The Ten Doctors". Houston Press. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  53. ↑ "8 of the most amazing fan videos on YouTube". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  54. ↑ 'You & Who' Miwk Publishing ISBN 978-1-908630-25-4
  55. ↑ "J. R. SOUTHALL 'You & Who'". Starburst Magazine. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  56. ↑ "Biographical Information". babelcolour.com. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  57. ↑ "Goldmaster Contestant". babelcolour.com. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  58. ↑ Gallifrey Guardian Doctor Who Magazine Issue #276 April 1999. UK: Panini. Retrieved 24 March 2016
  59. ↑ "Archived: BabelFish Colourisation Website". archive.org. Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  60. ↑ "Biographical Information". babelcolour.com. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  61. ↑ "'The Secret History Of My Family'". Radio Times. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
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