Joe
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Obsessive Paranoid Boob
"Gypsies are filthy people! We shall speak of zem no more!" *spits* -Ilona Costa Bianchi[Mo0:0]
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Post by Joe on May 17, 2009 8:08:06 GMT -5
It didn't bug me at first, but after Dollhouse was renewed, articles kept popping up saying that the second season will have an extremely low budget. Maybe even lower than some cable shows. I'm worried by this low budget they keep talking about.
How do you think they're gonna do it? Cut out characters? Not leave the Dollhouse? I don't even wanna think about any other potential ideas. What do you guys think?
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Post by hitnrun017 on May 17, 2009 10:34:15 GMT -5
As long as no characters are cut, I think this will actually be good for the show. We know Joss made Epitaph One with half the budget of a regular episode, and everything that is being said about it is highly positive. And while big action and effects are nice, and they'll obviously still be there, it might mean that there is more time spent on the stories and the characters, and that's what really makes good television. I can't wait to see Epitaph One if the feel of the episode is what Season 2 will be like. Lowering the budget could make Dollhouse very special.
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Post by Rebecca on May 17, 2009 10:47:59 GMT -5
I definitely agree that a low budget =/= low quality, and I don't think the effects have been driving this show. The entire season had a decent amount of effects, but it was the writing that changed mid-point for the show's betterment.
I'd also like to add that having a low budget will make any ROI FOX has on the show all the higher (i.e., will make the show more valuable, and will most likely translate into more seasons), and with the way streaming video advertising is going, I have great optimism that shows like Dollhouse which draw a great internet audience will only become more valuable and will eventually define the next generation of television media advertising.
Because FOX is obviously not looking at Nielsen ratings, the only bad news I can see for Dollhouse is if the streaming numbers drop.
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Joe
Wise-cracking Sidekick
Obsessive Paranoid Boob
"Gypsies are filthy people! We shall speak of zem no more!" *spits* -Ilona Costa Bianchi[Mo0:0]
Posts: 2,786
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Post by Joe on May 17, 2009 11:07:40 GMT -5
You guys keep mentioning these "special effects" that went over the course of season 1 but I don't remember any big ones. Can anyone point them out to me?
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Post by AndrewCrossett on May 17, 2009 11:15:28 GMT -5
Apart from the fact that they filmed exterior scenes on location in LA, I can't figure out what they were spending so much money on. The show isn't supernatural or "hard" science fiction (with spaceships and whatnot), so the special effects were fairly minimal. That cast shouldn't be very expensive. There were no A-list guest stars. The set was pretty expensive, but that was a one-time thing.
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Post by dragonweaver on May 17, 2009 11:16:38 GMT -5
Many things can qualify as Special Effects. Motorcycle crashes, slow-mo bullets & arrows, houses burning down, explosions, etc...
It's amazing how much little things can add up in expense. Personally I'm not worried about the decreased funding. If anyone can work with a low budget it's Joss Whedon.
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Post by Midnight Butterfly on May 17, 2009 11:56:05 GMT -5
Considering that Mellie/November is gone, that is one less actor to pay.
There are lots of more dolls and I am guessing that they will be introduced in season two.
This means that they can use new actors/actresses on the scene and wouldnt have to pay as much money as well known actors.
I also read that there is going to be another big bad meaning that Alpha will be out of the loop for a while so they wont have to pay Alan as much.
Eliza is pretty into the sho and I think that she would take a lower pay check.
Other than this they will most likely build cheaper sets (which im sure can be easily done).
Probably wont show the chair as much as they will cut down on special effects.
I believe that the show can still be done on a low budget. Joss is a wizard. An besides, Joss wouldnt even do a season two if he thought for one second that the low budget was going to make it crap ;D
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Post by Midnight Butterfly on May 17, 2009 12:33:23 GMT -5
Mellie/November/Madeline isn't necessarily gone. I know. But considering they are now on a low budget I think it is unlikely that they will bring her back, although I hope they do. |
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Post by Rebecca on May 17, 2009 13:03:37 GMT -5
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Post by henzINNIT on May 17, 2009 14:18:23 GMT -5
My guess is episodes which feature Echo going on odd missions will all but disappear. A lot of money probably went on 1-off characters and locations.
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Joe
Wise-cracking Sidekick
Obsessive Paranoid Boob
"Gypsies are filthy people! We shall speak of zem no more!" *spits* -Ilona Costa Bianchi[Mo0:0]
Posts: 2,786
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Post by Joe on May 17, 2009 14:40:16 GMT -5
My guess is episodes which feature Echo going on odd missions will all but disappear. A lot of money probably went on 1-off characters and locations. I like that idea! I didn't like the engagement-of-the-week episodes that much anyway! |
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Post by Tyler Austin "tiewashere" on May 17, 2009 16:46:04 GMT -5
Engagement of the week episodes are the only problem with the show so if they are gone, I am all for the change.
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Post by Midnight Butterfly on May 17, 2009 16:51:55 GMT -5
Engagement of the week episodes are the only problem with the show so if they are gone, I am all for the change. I agree that they were the problem but I think they will have them back. Most of the engagement a week episodes where done while FOX had most of the control and they also got most viewers. The fact that the show was getting more viewers in the FOX episodes than the Joss ones I think FOX are going to take back most of the control on season two and do more engagement a week episodes  |
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Joe
Wise-cracking Sidekick
Obsessive Paranoid Boob
"Gypsies are filthy people! We shall speak of zem no more!" *spits* -Ilona Costa Bianchi[Mo0:0]
Posts: 2,786
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Post by Joe on May 17, 2009 17:09:33 GMT -5
Engagement of the week episodes are the only problem with the show so if they are gone, I am all for the change. I agree that they were the problem but I think they will have them back. Most of the engagement a week episodes where done while FOX had most of the control and they also got most viewers. The fact that the show was getting more viewers in the FOX episodes than the Joss ones I think FOX are going to take back most of the control on season two and do more engagement a week episodes This is not true. The episodes that had more views were the ones that were led in by TSCC and not Prison Break. The Sarah Connor Chronicles was a better lead-in for Dollhouse than Prison Break was. That's why it seems this way. Also, there have been many geek-related movies released on Friday's when the later episodes were released. That took views off as well. It made no difference, though, overall. DVR/Hulu views were higher in the later episodes than they were in the earlier. It all evens out. |
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Post by Rebecca on May 17, 2009 17:11:34 GMT -5
Engagement of the week episodes are the only problem with the show so if they are gone, I am all for the change. I agree that they were the problem but I think they will have them back. Most of the engagement a week episodes where done while FOX had most of the control and they also got most viewers. The fact that the show was getting more viewers in the FOX episodes than the Joss ones I think FOX are going to take back most of the control on season two and do more engagement a week episodes That very well may be true, but it got better reviews with the later episodes where Joss was in control (I love that positive reviews weren't congruent with decent ratings.) Anywhos, the "shift in creative direction" could be mean one of three things: it's going back to FOX control with engagement of the week, Joss stays in control with brilliant serial writing, or something else entirely that we haven't seen yet. I really wanna know what they meant by that. |
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Post by Midnight Butterfly on May 17, 2009 17:13:13 GMT -5
Dont bite my head off lol. Was only saying what I thought. Personally me hopes Joss has contorol  |
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Post by henzINNIT on May 17, 2009 17:14:17 GMT -5
I think the shift implies a new dynamic, so not a return to the earlier format. I bet Joss will be heavily involved in that change, in fact it's probably set in place by the finale and episode 13.
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Post by hitnrun017 on May 17, 2009 17:15:26 GMT -5
Engagement of the week episodes are the only problem with the show so if they are gone, I am all for the change. I agree that they were the problem but I think they will have them back. Most of the engagement a week episodes where done while FOX had most of the control and they also got most viewers. The fact that the show was getting more viewers in the FOX episodes than the Joss ones I think FOX are going to take back most of the control on season two and do more engagement a week episodes Meh, I don't think so. The reason why those episodes did ok was because they were the first episodes of the series... they are also the reason why Dollhouse lost 50% of its viewers. FOX obviously knows the later episodes are better and they've had meetings with Joss about what Season 2 will be like, so I wouldn't be surprised if FOX mostly backs off, especially because of the budget thing. |
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Post by Rebecca on May 17, 2009 17:17:01 GMT -5
Perhaps the budget thing is a sign they will let Joss have more creative control. Oh geez, I do hope so.
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Post by hitnrun017 on May 17, 2009 17:24:01 GMT -5
Perhaps the budget thing is a sign they will let Joss have more creative control. Oh geez, I do hope so. That's what I'm really hoping for. Maybe the less FOX spends, the less FOX cares. Again, thank you FOX.  But I cannot wait to see Epitaph One. It seems like that's the way the show will continue since they screened the episode while making the decision. |
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