DWO caught up with YouTube video blog sensation and newly-appointed Doctor Who Confidential Reporter, Charlie McDonnell, regarding his latest projects, future prospects and his love for Doctor Who.
Some facts...You are the most subscribed YouTuber in the UK. You have over 70 Million video views. Youre in a band. You have your own album. And you've achieved all of this within the space of 3 years. At just 20 years old, you must be pretty proud of your fantastic achievements. Where would you like to be 3 years from now?
Well, first and foremost I'd definitely still like to be making videos for YouTube, though my style of video-making has changed a lot over the last three years so I don't really know what kind of stuff I'll be putting up in the future - I just know that I'll be doing it on YouTube! I love making stuff, so I have vague ambitions to work film and television in the future (whether that be in front of or behind of the camera) but only so long as I can have the kind of creative control that I'm used to getting on my YouTube channel. I've had free reign to do pretty much whatever I want recently because I've only had to answer to myself, so having decisions dictated to me my broadcasters and producers scares me a little, but it's still something that I'd love to try id I ever get the chance.
You're shortly going to be making a brief transition from YouTube to the BBC Red Button with a behind-the-scenes look at the 2010 Christmas Special. How did the opportunity come about, and what is it like having two of your passions rolled into one?
The videos are actually appearing on YouTube as well as the red button, so fortunately it's not too much of a transition for me! I
n fact the whole red button thing happened very last minute and wasn't something I really thought about - I was just trying to make videos for the internet as I would normally, but within the Doctor Who theme. I also had members of the Confidential team to work with too, a cameraman and video editors, but I still directed everything in the same way that I would my normal YouTube videos, just with more people to help. Being able to combine two things that I love though, video-making and Doctor Who, has just been a joy, and a great learning experience too.
Doctor Who... Lets talk some more about that! We've seen some glimpses of Doctor Who in your YouTube videos, and we know youre a big fan. Lets get down to basics though Charlie; Favourite Episode (Classic and New), Favourite Doctor, Favourite Companion and Favourite Monster / Villain?
New Series: my favourite episode is "Blink", and has been since the moment it was aired, I can't get enough of it. I loved all of The Moff's episodes from the era before he was the Show-runner really, but I think I love Blink for the way it managed to tell such a brilliant, engaging and frightening story on such a small budget - it's something that, as a wannabe indie-filmaker, I really admire. I haven't seen much of the classic series, only a few of the best ones, and out of those I'd probably have to say "Genesis of The Daleks". I still don't have a favourite Doctor, I've never been able to pick one, Rory is by far my all time favourite companion. And for favourite monster, the Daleks. They never used to be, but I gained a real a appreciation for them and the Dalek operators when I learnt how to operate one myself during my time on set. There will hopefully be a video of that in the future, though not one of the ones building up to the christmas special.
Have you ever ventured along to any of the Doctor Who conventions, and do you collect any of the merchandise?
Unfortunately I can't say that I ever have been to a Doctor Who convention, I have a much firmer place in the YouTube community so, whenever I can go to conventions of any kind, they're usually related to something YouTubey. I do however have a few bits of merchandise sitting on desks, in cupboards, one in my bathroom, and a TARDIS T-Shirt sitting in my draw. I'm not really one to collect things like that, but apparently I haven't managed to help picking up Doctor Who kink-kacks...
If offered, would you ever like a part in Doctor Who, and have you ever considered an acting career?
For almost my entire life, my dream was to become some kind of actor, but that ambition was shattered a couple of years ago when I realised that, truly, I just wasn't very good at it. I'd love a part in Doctor Who just for the sheer thrill of being on the show, but I think the chances of me actually being on it are pretty slim, simply because, for whatever role I could fit into, they'd probably be able to find someone better to cast than me! Maybe I'll be an extra or something, but for the moment, hanging out behind the scenes will do :)
Check Out more DWO interviews in the Interviews section of our Features area, here.
Check Out the CharlieIsSoCoolLike YouTube Channel, here.
[Source: Doctor Who Online]
