Where you can see the cost cutting moves..

[ZIPBAGS]

I have made mention of this in some other threads. But, one cost cutting move by the production staff you can see is location shooting. If you go back over the seasons and watch the location shots of Metropolis. They were filmed in Vancouver. So you really felt like you were in a city. Now, because the budget has been cut and it's probably too expensive to do location shooting. You see the same backlot street sets.
I understand its an economic issue. It just sometimes takes me out of the scene.

 

[Prison Mike]

I honestly didn't see the difference. I thought they were still shooting in Vancouver.

 

[RakuMon]

They are, but like Zipbags said, they're shooting on backlots instead of on location in the city. Compare exterior Metropolis shots from episodes like "Run" or "Exile" to any of the exterior shots these last couple seasons and you can tell. Metropolis looks like a soundstage than an actual city. It doesn't help that they use the same street corner for every scene either.

 

[zerohour films]

Agreed it is very noticable. In the past that is one thing I always really liked about the show (the location shooting). It made things feel more like a film and gave reality to stories.

Now it has more of a Buffy look to it (obvious backlots/sound stage) in the city scenes.

But I guess as long as those cuts allow them to keep the special effects up then it's ok.

I do really miss the old look though.

 

[ZIPBAGS]

Rakumon, It's funny you mentioned "Run". That is the episode I was thinking about also. From the scene in the intersection where Pa Kent almost gets hit by a car. To the part at a misc warehouse where Bart tries to sell the map and is attacked. You can easily tell the back lot. Since at the end of one of the blocks you always see a giant wall.

 

[Zorex]

Yeah, it is kind of disappointing to see the same street, the same corner of Metropolis almost every week, but... they gotta do what they gotta do, I suppose...

 

[boog_spin]

yeh i thought the last scene at the coffee place on last nights episode was fairly obvious...just looked odd

 

[Spirited Away]

Those of you that hate the Metropolis back lot, just wait until the finale:

Spoiler

I think it'll be the battlefield for Doomsday vs. Clark, the Justice League, the Legion and/or Supergirl. In other words, it'll be destroyed.

 

[Webhead2006]

Yea it sucks this season their budget has been slashed so much for music/location shooting and many other reasons. Sucks the CW is not in good finicial stablity right now. Then plus they figure giving what money they have to 90210/GG/etc.... shows is a better move then giving smallville more show budget. It sucks smallville is the highest rated shows on the network and its the one that is the most screwed over show.