116 replies to this topic

[Trini Girl]

Behind the scenes discussion; sets, locations, special effects, wardrobe, make-up, and the like.

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I mainly started this because I wanted to comment on the animation in "LSD". I don't how many are familiar with the animation processin general, but 4 weeks (or 6, from another article) is a ridiculously short amount of time to put together something like that. I don't understand why they apparently waited until the last minute. I assume they had the idea for a while, and the main details of the scripts worked out beforehand, so why the delay?

I just think it could have been that much better if they had more time for production.

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Also, I'm surprised this show hasn't won more awards for effects and makeup. Lincoln's burn faces alone are Emmy-worthy. IMHO.

Edited by Trini Girl, Apr 27, 2011 @ 5:47 PM.

[Money Magnet]

I'm just always amazed how much time and effort goes into location shoots that can take up mere seconds of actual screentime.

[jophan]

On the subject of the animation, I'm surprised at how many people thought it was a money-saving move. It wouldn't surprise me if that turned out to be the most expensive episode of the season.

[DixieGirl]

There's a great article by the company that did the animation....I think the link was posted in the media thread. It was quite a complex process.

(at work, or I would try to dig it up and re-link)

[Trini Girl]

There's a great article by the company that did the animation....

Here it is.

[DixieGirl]

Thanks, Trini Girl, that's it exactly!

[PetraGooch]

On the subject of the animation, I'm surprised at how many people thought it was a money-saving move. It wouldn't surprise me if that turned out to be the most expensive episode of the season.

I figured it was part "Let's do something awesome and new!" and part the ability to stage scenes that would be impossible within their budget, like a giant tank assault, or a vision of crazy NYC in Olivia's mind. Also, I noticed both Peter and Walter died as animated characters, so no need for stunts.

[DixieGirl]

It was the "Brown Betty" / drug ep, LOL! We're hoping they do one every year!

[Selianth]

I assumed during the episode the main reason for the animation was so that they could get Leonard Nimoy to come and just do the voiceover in any convenient studio that he preferred, since he doesn't seem interested in appearing on camera/on location anymore. The scenes that didn't include William Bell at all (notably when Peter enters the house in Jacksonville) switched back to real-life.

[Trini Girl]

Fox put up a video with Property Master, Robert Smith, showing a closer look at some of the props for the show. It's really interesting that there's a typeface for the Observers; I going to have to try and track that down.

[Edit: Why do I even try to type at 1am?]

Edited by Trini Girl, Jul 4, 2011 @ 10:57 PM.

[Money Magnet]

Here's an interesting technical tidbit - seen on a cinematography forum-

For season 4 Fringe has dumped 35mm going all digital

Which means they are no longer shooting on 35mm film. It will be interesting to see if the "look" changes at all. Supernatural is now shot all digital, too.

Edited by Money Magnet, Aug 14, 2011 @ 6:48 PM.

[Gradle]

Is going to digital an economic move ?

[Money Magnet]

They didn't say. Possibly, but it seems as if this is the general trend in TV these days, to be less expensive.

I hope they don't skimp on music this season too :-(

[calguy2009]

Thanks I've been poring over set photos to see if they made the change. Apparently they're using the Arri Alexa camera a well-liked camera in the industry. It's sad to see film go but you can't fault the show for saving tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars per episode not to mention the faster turnaround times.

+1 on the music MM the score and arrangements are fantastic and really gives the show it's soul.

[DixieGirl]

I hope they continue to invest in the music. Didn't Chris Tilton comment on how rare it is to have a live orchestra? Between that and the songs they incorporate, the music really does become part of the story.

[Money Magnet]

I would hate if they had to cut down on the orchestra, but I'm bracing myself for that. Fringe was fine with less orchestra in the early going. They don't ever have to skimp on themes, because they already have so many. And they had so many different cues last season that they could probably re-use cues and it wouldn't be that noticeable.

I just hope Chris Tilton isn't distracted by working on Alcatraz too. (He worked on Undercovers last year, but that got cancelled)

[jenapen]

Apparently they're using the Arri Alexa camera a well-liked camera in the industry. It's sad to see film go but you can't fault the show for saving tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars per episode not to mention the faster turnaround times.

I don't really mind that they've gone digital especially as it will save them money. I'm glad they've gone for the Arri Alexa as I like it. I worked on a film that was shot a third RED and two thirds Arri Alexa (they wanted just the Arri Alexa but couldn't rent it for the whole shoot) and I definitely liked the Arri footage more when watching it on the monitor.

[DixieGirl]

I realize this might be viewed as sacrilege by some, but I hope they don't cut corners so much that it becomes a different show. I LIKE the high quality of the camera work, the incredible soundtrack, the location shoots, the special effects that really ARE special

And if it means that we know what model Ford/Lincoln every member of the Fringe team drives, and what the latest Sprint phone is because they're all using it... I think I can live with that.

[Money Magnet]

Here are some things that help cushion Fringe against budget cuts, if it makes you feel any better:

--They already make use of great talent who are unknown faces. All those memorable guest characters - not many of them were "name" stars or even names you'd recognize. Hopefully that will continue.

--As I mentioned uptopic, there is such a wealth of music to choose from that they have already recorded, even if they had to re-track in some cues it wouldn't hurt the show.

--The show already has an unforgettable interior set (the lab) that I could live with if we had to spend more time in there.

[Money Magnet]

Bad news for Vancouver's film and TV industry - they are getting rid of HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) which makes Vancouver more attractive for productions. Basically this is what has made it "Hollywood North."

http://blog.filmerz....s film industry

I don't know how this affects Fringe and established shows like it. Probably not well. Less new shows will go to Vancouver in the future. It's thought that this votedown of HST in British Columbia will have the effect of making Toronto a more appealing location. (Ironically, Toronto is where Fringe's pilot was shot.)

Edited by Money Magnet, Aug 26, 2011 @ 7:57 PM.

[calguy2009]

I think your confusing the HST with the refundable 33% BC PSTC(Production service tax credit) and the 17.5% federal Film or video production tax credit. Losing the HST is a blow, but it's significantly smaller in value to the film tax credits, and perhaps the film industry could lobby the government for a slightly high tax credit. Another plus is the HST is schedule to be replaced by March 31 2013 at the latest so theoretically Fringe could have finished it's 5th season (yeah I know) before they lose the benefit of the HST.

[oconnellaboo]

They could always come back to NY!! :-)

[Money Magnet]

I read that 14 film productions (not TV) have pulled out of Vancouver since HST went down.

[calguy2009]

Here's an interview with David Moxness one of the cinematographers behind Fringe.

http://magazine.crea...cinematographer

[DixieGirl]

Here's an interview with David Moxness one of the cinematographers behind Fringe.

Well, I didn't understand a lot of that, but he sounded enthusiastic and very into the show, and very happy to be a part of it. I keep getting the feeling that this is a pretty happy set.

[Money Magnet]

I forgot they switched to digital this year. I'll have to go back and re-watch the first episode to see if it "feels" different at all.

[lizw65]

Someone on another site was complaining pretty strongly about how he thought the season premiere looked "cheap" and their budget must have been slashed. Didn't see it myself, but maybe that was a result of going digital.

[Money Magnet]

Nah, he was probably disappointed with the new shapeshifters, whose special effects were more subtle. The episode didn't look any different at all.

[DixieGirl]

I didn't see any differences either, and I was a little curious if there would be a different "look" this season

[collectivesoul]

I didn't notice any diifference at all in quality of the production. It looks like to me, that if anything, there are going to be more effects this year.