SV's Budget (in layman terms)

[spawnjack01]

There's been alot of talk about SV's budget but for me it's just numbers with dollarsigns attached to it. Nothing I can relate to.

It's common knowledge that SV has a very little budget to play with these days. But could someone put it in perspective to other shows? For instance how big is the differance between SV and big shows like CSI, Criminal Minds or Lost. I know it's probably gigantic differences but it would be fun to know.
Even curious with a comparison with more similar shows like SN and Heroes.

 

[triplet]

There's been alot of talk about SV's budget but for me it's just numbers with dollarsigns attached to it. Nothing I can relate to.

It's common knowledge that SV has a very little budget to play with these days. But could someone put it in perspective to other shows? For instance how big is the differance between SV and big shows like CSI, Criminal Minds or Lost. I know it's probably gigantic differences but it would be fun to know.
Even curious with a comparison with more similar shows like SN and Heroes.

I don't know if anyone even knows the exact number.

At least, I've never seen a number, so if you've seen numbers, please share.

 

[RagingTempest]

Season 1-6's budget was around 3 mil per episode.

Season 7 got a budget cut and was around 1.5-2 mil per episode.

Season 8 got another cut and was little over a 1 mil per episode. Season 9 is about the same but with some extra money from one less cast member, the loss of 2 producers, no 5 episode arc for Kristin Kreuk etc.

I would think the big budget/big network shows like Lost and Heroes average about 3-5 mil per episode.

 

[triplet]

Season 1-6's budget was around 3 mil per episode.

Season 7 got a budget cut and was around 1.5-2 mil per episode.

Season 8 got another cut and was little over a 1 mil per episode. Season 9 is about the same but with some extra money from one less cast member, the loss of 2 producers, no 5 episode arc for Kristin Kreuk etc.

How do you know this?

Do you have a link to where the numbers were posted? It's not that I don't believe you, but I would like to know the source.

 

[RagingTempest]

How do you know this?

Do you have a link to where the numbers were posted? It's not that I don't believe you, but I would like to know the source.

It was posted by someone on imdb.com, sorry. Don't know if if it's true myself, but it sounds about right.

But I do remember one of the old writers like Steve Knight saying episodes like "Zod", Commencement" and "Arrival" were over budget and cost over 3 mil.

 

[Hush]

My thing with the budget is that if they just gave us some of what Heroes got in Season 1 the quality of this show would be fantastic. A better looking show only garners more ratings, not bad ones. At least I would think that this is the case.

 

[Asteroid-Man]

Yeah, I really feel the quality in terms of effects and a lack of commercial music is definitely noticeable now. I mean we used to get real music with from popular bands that fit the episode to end off episodes and that was cool cause we could potentially be exposed to some music we hadn't heard. I mean last episode we got a song, but it was from some new guy who's music is only available on iTunes and Amazon. Not to mention how much they've cut in terms of special effects (besides the odd episode here and there and the JLS episode) but seriously, look back at the episode where Clark jumps at the missile, or Zod or Brainiac, or Justice - the effects were still decent at best but the caliber of the effects right now I could generate - and I don't even have a job in that area!

 

[Johnny]

You can blame the CW for that. And I also think that except for a few times now and then, Smallville always had good effects. Because of the CW, we'll never again have effects like the slow-mo rain in the cemetery but they're far from terrible imo. Look at Checkmate


PS: Hey everyone, been lurking for a looong long time and now finally decided to be "in the middle of the action".

 

[KalKai]

Huh? Slow-mo rain is not the pinnacle of VFX or anything, if the script calls for it they'd do it, or any other slow-mo scene for that matter. So far they've done a fantastic job, from Kandor to Pandora, and I feel we've had lots of quality distributed throughout the entire season, apart from the odd episode here and there, but that's normal and to be expected.

Welcome.

 

[Webhead2006]

i thought season 8/9 was around 2-2.5mill per episode? As for the effects to me i think they still have some very good work with their slashed budget in the last few yrs. As for music i do say between seasons 1-6 with mark snow, and 7-9th with louis ferbe they have done some great musical scores for all the episodes. As for copyrighted songs, yea i totally miss having more of that in seasons 7-9th. I always thought the copyright songs fitted scenes very well at times. So it sucks when we did drop/lose it.

 

[Johnny]

Yeah, I agree. I guess that rain scene was probably one of my favourite moments in the show, that's why I pointed it out. I think they even had a featurette about it on the dvd for S2. As for the budget - I hope they don't cut it even more for next season.

 

[Webhead2006]

oh yea that rain scene was great, and i beleive they won an award for it too years ago. As for the slo mo scenes in checkmate, i personally thought they looked good(but at times i am sick of slo mo being used and all that). IT was just used more for dramatic effect, and probably the director/editor of the episode.

 

[Hush]

They should have been showing the action like that for years on Smallville, it felt like a big budget for such a simple effect. I mean I just watched a BSG episode like 10 mins ago and i know its a cable show but its the smae audience and the effects on that show are astonishing! Heroes was amazing too, beef the budget it up. Too make money you must spend money.

 

[Webhead2006]

yea it sucks they dont have bigger budget to work with. it would be great if they had the budget they had per episode as in the early seasons.

 

[Dizagaox]

Oh my days, the budget estimates above are WRONG WRONG WRONG.

The budget presumably stayed the same between Season 8 and 9, and that is around $2M to $2.5M per episode, of which the CW contributes around $700,000 per episode, and WB pay for the rest. (This was posted on Cinematography.com by camera crew when they discussed using and budgeting for HD video back in late 2008 sometime.)

The cost is low (for a series in its 9th season) due to expensive above-the-line talent (TW, AM, ED, Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders, etc.) taking reduced fees in return for a % of DVD/BR/international/syndication sales for the rest of their lives, and because of dodgy dealings between the CW and WB.

For example, JH and CF pay does not come out the show's budget. Instead, the CW owns their talent in return for a fixed annual income, and they are "loaned out" to the show for free.

Getting rid of two EPs and two cast members (who all came out of the budget) between S8 and S9 obviously freed up some $$$, which they've clearly spent on VFX.

 

[Mikelus]

My thing with the budget is that if they just gave us some of what Heroes got in Season 1 the quality of this show would be fantastic. A better looking show only garners more ratings, not bad ones. At least I would think that this is the case.

Most fans seem satisfied with the show effects. For such a limited budget, they do a pretty good job.

By the way, Heroes' SFX are not that good IMO.

 

[Hush]

I have a household of fans who would disagree, Heroes was/is miles above Smallville in regards to effects. I know its your opinion but I just cant see how you came to that conclusion.

 

[Mikelus]

^^ Heroes has a higher budget, still some SFX are not that spectacular despite having more money.

 

[Webhead2006]

well i thought for heroes they were pretty great with their effects, and all that.

 

[SV Fan]

I am not sure what SV's budget is, but I heard anywhere between 1.5-2.5M an episode. By comparison I think Hero's had a budget of 4M the first season(although I think that has gone down the past couple years)

Yeah, I really feel the quality in terms of effects and a lack of commercial music is definitely noticeable now. I mean we used to get real music with from popular bands that fit the episode to end off episodes and that was cool cause we could potentially be exposed to some music we hadn't heard.

I honestly never get how this works. You would think if you were a band/record company that you would be more then happy to get some free promotion for your music. I am always curious how much the show has to pay to play a piece of music.

On a personal note, I am not the biggest fan of the music in scenes myself(not that I hate it) because it feels like something a teenage drama does

 

[Asteroid-Man]

I am not sure what SV's budget is, but I heard anywhere between 1.5-2.5M an episode. By comparison I think Hero's had a budget of 4M the first season(although I think that has gone down the past couple years)



I honestly never get how this works. You would think if you were a band/record company that you would be more then happy to get some free promotion for your music. I am always curious how much the show has to pay to play a piece of music.

On a personal note, I am not the biggest fan of the music in scenes myself(not that I hate it) because it feels like something a teenage drama does

You realize what show you're watching right? Clark was a teenager from seasons 1-6. That "teenage drama"-like music at the end was one of the best parts of Smallville.

 

[SV Fan]

You realize what show you're watching right? Clark was a teenager from seasons 1-6. That "teenage drama"-like music at the end was one of the best parts of Smallville.

I know Smallville to a big extent was written like a Teenage Drama at times ala Dawson's Creek, doesn't mean I have to like that particular aspect of it. The whole song closing out the final scene of a show is one of those aspects I could live without personally.

 

[ZIPBAGS]

I still enjoy this scene from season 4..I cannot believe its been that long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAc7EbygoTI

Or very early on in the show...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlYRKg8FCd4

And while I can't find a clip. The episode where Clark stops a bus from killing a sleepless homeless man.

 

[SV Fan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlYRKg8FCd4

This sort of reminds me of a guy who started doing video reviews for all SV shows starting from the pilot. He recently just did X-ray

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUsVH6LOHxs

And while I can't find a clip. The episode where Clark stops a bus from killing a sleepless homeless man.

I know that was in Rogue but doing a quick search I can't find it on youtube myself.

 

[Webhead2006]

yea that scene from rouge was one of my favs, and best thing about rouge it was the first episode of season 1 that didnt feature kryptonite!!!!