Production GuideStoryboards
Alpha Child
Production GuideThese are some of the special effects storyboards for the episode Alpha Child. These were auctioned on 11 January 2025 and sold for £70. The full lot contains 14 storyboard pages, and the SFX script, dated 2nd July 1974. These images are from the auction lot, we don't have the complete set.
The SFX shots from the shooting script (19th June) are re-numbered here as slate numbers, which is a simple count of every SFX shot. Some are marked "stock", meaning footage from previous episodes will be re-used, while others are crossed and annotated with notes like direction ("L-R", left to right), simple sketch designs, and "Reshoot", indicating those shots were done at least twice. Main live action filming began 8th July.
2nd July, 1974
" ALPHA CHILD "
Scene 1
EXT. SPACE. SFX.
The Moon is drifting through space.
Scene 2
EXT. ALPHA. SFX. (ESTABLISHING SHOT - STOCK)
The whole of Moonbase Alpha.
Scene 11
EXT. SPACE. SFX.
In the space sky a distant green light begins to pulsate with
the beats becoming more and more rapid.
Scene 21
EXT. SPACE. SFX.
KOENIG'S P.O.V.
The green light twinkles somewhat closer to Alpha.
Scene 28
ON BIG SCREEN - SFX.
Out of the myriad stars of the space sky, the green light is
moving rapidly towards camera.
Scene 29
EXT. SPACE. SFX.
The green light materialises into a spaceship. We recognise it
as the same as the one JACKIE drew. At the top of it is a glass
dome with a bright green light.
Scene 31
EXT. ALPHA. SFX.
The spaceship approaches Alpha's extremity.
The script describes a glass dome on top of the spaceship, with the flashing green light. On the model, the light is on the underside (as most angles will show it from underneath).
