Budget Question

[Catman]

So you want to see Clark using his powers for regular joe things? Um...why? Because they'd be cool to see?

Sure, but not for important episodes but for fillers. Let's face it those filler episodes are pretty useless most of the time. They could atleast make it more interesting with Clark doing stuff like that. Why not?

Think about it. Would you rather see a filler episode with Chloe being possessed by a venegeful ghost or an episode with Clark doing some cool stuff like that?

 

[Gold Samurai]

So you want to see Clark using his powers for regular joe things? Um...why? Because they'd be cool to see?

yeah lets see clark super spin to get dressed and bump chloes car into a tight parallel parking spot

 

[Eddie Brock]

Sure, but not for important episodes but for fillers. Let's face it those filler episodes are pretty useless most of the time. They could atleast make it more interesting with Clark doing stuff like that. Why not?

Think about it. Would you rather see a filler episode with Chloe being possessed by a venegeful ghost or an episode with Clark doing some cool stuff like that?

no amount of superpower could save episodes that involve exploding babies

 

[AgentPat]

Hehehe, nice.

There's quite a few scenes of Clark using his abilities to do ordinary type chores, such as setting fence posts in Perry...

Making toast in Lineage...

And heating hot chocolate in Unsafe...

But they have to be careful not to overdue that stuff. As entertaining as it is, Clark doesn't abuse his powers for personal gain, so the writers need to keep a lid on excess. They kind of touched on that aspect a little in Run, when Bart suggested Clark use his powers for fun things, like going to the beach in Miami, or a theater in Los Angeles.

 

[avidreader]

I think too, because Clark was so intimately involved with Lana in Season 5, we didnt get to see him do alot of those day to day things because she was around.

 

[Catman]

Clark doesn't abuse his powers for personal gain.

True, but Clark is still young and making A LOT of mistakes. I think its perfectly normal for him to use his powers for personal gain then realize he's made some mistakes by doing that. An episode where Clark learns that he shouldn't use his power for personal gain is more interesting than some of the filler episodes we've gotten.

 

[AFan 2]

They have stopped doing the little touches like that on the show, they have become vary rare. Some of the Fun with Lois and Clark was watching him get away with using his powers as Clark Kent, and then explaining them away in some silly way.

Also I would not mind seeing Clark do some chores at Superspeed, it would show that Clark still has normal things to do.

However Smallville does miss opportunities with his powers for example at the end of season 5 when Lional show Chole and Clark the room with all the writings he had done, Chole takes all the papers and scans them too look for recuring paterns(like she has software that can do that) Why didnt they just have Clark Sift through all the papers at speed and find them himself, that would have been cooler to watch me thinks.

 

[AgentPat]

True, but Clark is still young and making A LOT of mistakes. I think its perfectly normal for him to use his powers for personal gain then realize he's made some mistakes by doing that. An episode where Clark learns that he shouldn't use his power for personal gain is more interesting than some of the filler episodes we've gotten.

Personally, I think they give him enough foibles. There's a whole contingent of fans out there that argue they can't see SV's version of Clark becoming Superman as it is. No need to give them any more fuel for that fire. 'Sides, Clark already sees what abuse of power does in every episode, starting with Lex and ending with just about every FOTW he encounters. The writers actually made a point out of Clark questioning if "Meteor Freak = bad person" in Extinction.

Of the many defining characteristics that set Clark/Superman apart from everybody else, its his higher morality. It prevents him from abusing abilities that only he possesses for his own gain. It's the difference between using a telescope to watch the goings-on on the porch of your neighbor's house verses using X-Ray vision to look through her walls. Things like toasting bread or boiling water are minor enough to be amusing and not morally abhorrent.

 

[NHawk19]

True, but Clark is still young and making A LOT of mistakes. I think its perfectly normal for him to use his powers for personal gain then realize he's made some mistakes by doing that. An episode where Clark learns that he shouldn't use his power for personal gain is more interesting than some of the filler episodes we've gotten.

He's had fun with the X-ray power in "personal" ways when he first found out.

 

[spawnjack01]

Why the hell shouldn't he use his powers for "personal gain"? It's who he is. The powers are a part of him. As long as it doesn't harm anyone or breaking the law doing so (like stealing) there's no harm to it. On the contrary, it makes him more aware of his powers limits.

Only using, say his heatvision, for stuff like melting speading bullets shot towards someone (Heat), while he could just catch it in his palm, that's irresponsible.
How could using his powers to do every-day things hurt his morality?

 

[AgentPat]

How could using his powers to do every-day things hurt his morality?

I never said it did. I said when he uses them for personal *gain*. "Personal gain" isn't necessarily stealing. It's the moral issues, such as using his abilities to give him an advantage playing sports, or using his x-ray vision to invade people's privacy. These are the things that set him apart from everybody else. But he's not beyond using his abilities for frivolous chores (boiling water) or taking a run down to Miami. Such activities don't affect the lives of other people, directly or indirectly.

 

[spawnjack01]

I never said it did. I said when he uses them for personal *gain*. "Personal gain" isn't necessarily stealing. It's the moral issues, such as using his abilities to give him an advantage playing sports, or using his x-ray vision to invade people's privacy. These are the things that set him apart from everybody else. But he's not beyond using his abilities for frivolous chores (boiling water) or taking a run down to Miami. Such activities don't affect the lives of other people, directly or indirectly.

But they crossed that line themself long time ago, ever since he started playing football and x-raying everything as soon as he suspects something not to his likings are going on. It's using his powers for frivolous chores that they show too little of.

 

[AgentPat]

But they crossed that line themself long time ago, ever since he started playing football and x-raying everything as soon as he suspects something not to his likings are going on. It's using his powers for frivolous chores that they show too little of.

There was a long story arc in the 4th season where Clark learns about the sports issue. In the end, he chose to pursue other things. As far as X-raying things he's suspicious of, that's part of his crime-fighting instincts. While I agree there ARE issues to be made with that kind of invasion of privacy, he's not doing it for his own pleasure, interest or personal gain.

 

[NHawk19]

There was a long story arc in the 4th season where Clark learns about the sports issue. In the end, he chose to pursue other things. As far as X-raying things he's suspicious of, that's part of his crime-fighting instincts. While I agree there ARE issues to be made with that kind of invasion of privacy, he's not doing it for his own pleasure, interest or personal gain.

*cough*girlslockerroom*cough*

Though to be fair he hadn't fully learned to control it then.

 

[AgentPat]

*cough*girlslockerroom*cough*

Though to be fair he hadn't fully learned to control it then.

Even more than that - he had no clue what was going on. Later in Duplicity, he admitted to Pete that he did it "just once."

Clark learned quick, however. At the end of X-Ray, when he saw Whitney hugging Lana through the wall, he asked Martha, "Mom, if you could see anything, what would you do?" She said, "learn to close my eyes."

Clark was fourteen when he learned this lesson in life.

 

[RakuMon]

I also have a budget question that has nothing to do with Clark doing chores.

Often times, the producers cite the budget as a reason for wrapping up plot points in stand alone episodes. Take season five for example: some fans say that they wish the events of Arrival should have been dealt with over a series of episodes rather than in only the premiere. I've heard a few rumblings like that about Zod as well.

So here's my question: why does the budget keep the producers from doing more serialized episodes? If they could spread the effects budget and filming over a series of episodes, wouldn't that actually allow them to stretch their budget a little further?

I bring this up because a lot of times, I feel the money used in "filler episodes" (to do FOTW FX work, hiring one-off guest actors, etc.) could be better utilized in other areas. So, instead of blowing a significant amount of cash on casting some local actress and developing her superpower effects and backstory, that money could be used to punch up what they already have.

Anyone with experience producing television have any answers?

 

[Eddie Brock]

this is why Red K Clark and i would get along
he uses X-Ray to look at Chloe's arse

 

[thebigtree95]

So here's my question: why does the budget keep the producers from doing more serialized episodes? If they could spread the effects budget and filming over a series of episodes, wouldn't that actually allow them to stretch their budget a little further?

I think it's less the budget concerns, and more a decision the producers made based on the audience of the network. I think they feel 2 or 3 part stories don't really work ratings wise.

As much as I'd like 2 or 3 parters, audiences tend to not tune in if they know they have missed one of them.

 

[dark_b]

Heroes is in the first season and has more action(more effects) than SV that is in the 6 season.at least that is what i see.
is it the budget or what?

 

[jr24tw]

Of course it is Budget reasons. I don't know why anyone is arguing the fact. SDK answered that a lot of times in his blog already. Smallville gets a certain amount of money for a season. They can stretch it here and there but the money has to come from somewhere. So they have filler episodes that need less budget. IMO that's the only reason we even get filler episodes. Less SFX which undoubtly costs the most.

Nevermind the fact that CW is a lot smaller network than WB was. Also Smallville has been getting less sponsors each year. They already had to let go of staff in Season 3 (and I think AlMiles admitted it was to get more money. Now SDK is leaving. Does anyone really think it is because he wants to? I don't.

 

[dark_b]

so why does heroes have more money ? i didnt get it.

 

[Ultimate_Superman]

Thats bull if SV is as much of a money maker as some have said then they should have a bigger budget. I mean look at Heroes they made Peter and his brother fly at least 3 to 4 times this season and they didn't do it Matrix style like SV did. SV has access to the sets of Superman Returns if they wanted to use them so they could save money if they wanted they just dont.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

so why does heroes have more money ? i didnt get it.

More effects in one season than Smallville has in 6?? Not quite.

Heroes is on a major network which is in more homes so it can get more viewers and charge higher rates to advertise which lets the show have a bigger budget.

that being said, I think for the most part the SFX on Heroes are really mediocre. Their flights that they've done havent looked anywhere near as good as when Clark flew in the Season 4 premiere.

Thats bull if SV is as much of a money maker as some have said then they should have a bigger budget.

No, thats not how it works. It's all economies of scale my friend. The show is very profitable for WB, however it doesnt mean because it makes money that they'll just go ahead and dump more into it. The show wont be any more profitable by putting more SFX into it, so why spend the extra cash?

I mean look at Heroes they made Peter and his brother fly at least 3 to 4 times this season and they didn't do it Matrix style like SV did.

the flying effects on Heroes are nothing great. They look very TV-ish as well. When Clark flew in the Season 4 premiere it looked 100 times better than when emo Peter Petrelli flew the other night.

SV has access to the sets of Superman Returns if they wanted to use them so they could save money if they wanted they just dont.

umm yeah, the SR sets were in Australia. How did the show have "access" to them?

 

[triplet]

Okay, why would they want the sets from SR? They're in Australia... How does that help anyone?

I think what happens is that they get use more money for the bigger episodes, like the season preems and the season finales, than they do for the rest of the season in general. They can't take a season opener like Zod to more than one episode because they have to pull back and pay less for other episodes so they can pay more for that first one.

So, sometimes they have Clark use his x-ray vision without using the effect, which is outrageously expensive, because of that.... Who cares?

I think the reason that Heroes seems to have more money is because they're on a bigger network. If Smallville had landed on NBC, I'm not sure it would have survived this long, but they probably would have bigger budgets.

 

[KalKai]

so why does heroes have more money ?

Because it's on a bigger network?

I mean look at Heroes they made Peter and his brother fly at least 3 to 4 times this season and they didn't do it Matrix style like SV did.

I've seen Nathan's flight, it doesn't even come close to Kal-El's flight in Crusade (which was done 2-3 years go), all they show you is a sonic boom and a black dot in the sky, that's not what I wanna see. The only good thing about that flight was the landing.