I wonder if it looks cheap on purpose

[thinker]

The past few episodes were uber-cheap. Looked like created by amateurs in sci-fi graphics.

The BBC may be trying to show 'we don't spend a lot' in a popular notion that there's a financial crisis; to not have people complaining their taxes go to show. It is after all a tax-based operation.

Sound production though is magnificent; graphics are only weak. The story is magnificent too.

 

[JoeZhang]

The past few episodes were uber-cheap. Looked like created by amateurs in sci-fi graphics.

The BBC may be trying to show 'we don't spend a lot' in a popular notion that there's a financial crisis; to not have people complaining their taxes go to show. It is after all a tax-based operation.

Sound production though is magnificent; graphics are only weak. The story is magnificent too.

Nonsense, they aren't going to kill a golden goose to make that point.

 

[Starkers]

I didn't think it looked cheap, thought the effects looked as good as always.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

The past few episodes were uber-cheap. Looked like created by amateurs in sci-fi graphics.

The only thing that's publicly been said about the budget for the specials, as far as I'm aware, is a comment RTD made in The Writer's Tale that the budget per special, in comparison to the budget per episode of the previous four seasons, would be "minuscule." They were more difficult to get more for, and they were more difficult to sell to overseas markets (which dried up another revenue stream).

I haven't seen "TEoT2" yet, but I don't think the specials have looked cheap by any means.

 

[USS KG5]

The past few episodes were uber-cheap. Looked like created by amateurs in sci-fi graphics.

The BBC may be trying to show 'we don't spend a lot' in a popular notion that there's a financial crisis; to not have people complaining their taxes go to show. It is after all a tax-based operation.

Sound production though is magnificent; graphics are only weak. The story is magnificent too.

I didn't think they looked cheap really.

That said it is amazing that anything that costs that much is still being made by a publicly funded organisation in Britain - financially we are in a lot of trouble.

 

[Starkers]

If the budget was dropped down then I'd guess they did fewer effects shots rather than do the same number at lesser quality.

 

[Davros]

The effects looks OK to me.

 

[Mark_Nguyen]

Agreed, they're just different than the American standard. Not higher or lower, just different.

And I find it odd that a show under budget cutbacks can still afford to ship cast, crew and a friggin' BUS to Dubai for a few desert scenes that should have been able to be reproduced in England without too much trouble. That, and the sheer scale of the multiple Master shots (sic) in the finale - nothing groundbreaking in either case, just the sheer magnitude of what they were doing to accomplish it.

Mark

 

[23skidoo]

I don't think the effects looked cheap at all. Superior to much of the product coming out of the US, in my opinion. Not that I give a damn, frankly. The show isn't about special effects. They could spend every episode in a quarry for all I care as long as the story is good and the acting strong.

Alex

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I haven't noticed any problem with the effects.

Wondering what they got away with spending on the exterior mockup of the season 5 TARDIS though. Thing looks like a fan-built job.

 

[Tom]

..or pulled Hartnell's old Tardis prop out of storage and repainted it.

 

[thinker]

this is ridiculous. ass kissing to the core

not only they are cheap, it is explicitly stated on the confidential they were short on budget.

pointless forum is pointless.

 

[Rarewolf]

I don't think they said that as such, just that they knew a helicopter would be out of the question as was a special morph for the Master's scheme, so found cheaper alternatives, but with the case of the helicopter I'd not noticed till they pointed it out to me.

Considering they are working in HD despite always saying that would cost too much I think they are doing wonders. Even Sarah Jane Adventures with a even smaller budget is Ok most of the time.

I'd bet the BBC get more out their money from the effects company for Doctor Who than they do any other show, a lot of them are fans who will go the extra mile.

That said it is amazing that anything that costs that much is still being made by a publicly funded organisation in Britain - financially we are in a lot of trouble.

BBC Worldwide co-finance the series, overseas and DVD sales do contribute a lot to the finances.

Even at it's lowest point the classic series was still generating more revenue than it cost to make.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

this is ridiculous. ass kissing to the core

Sorry, Charlie - there's no one's ass to kiss hereabouts. You think the producers haunt the forums or something?

not only they are cheap, it is explicitly stated on the confidential they were short on budget.

That's nice - doesn't mean that the effects look bad. That's an aesthetic evaluation; there is no argument here for you to prevail at.

 

[USS KG5]

That said it is amazing that anything that costs that much is still being made by a publicly funded organisation in Britain - financially we are in a lot of trouble.

BBC Worldwide co-finance the series, overseas and DVD sales do contribute a lot to the finances.

Even at it's lowest point the classic series was still generating more revenue than it cost to make.

I'm aware of these things - but still ITV had many popular, successful dramas (Hornblower, Foyle's War) cancelled purely due to cost, reality TV is far, far cheaper and returns an astonishing profit.

The danger with Who is the BBC gets ripped apart, and what is left cannot support Doctor Who, then you might even see a return to the horrific quality level it had in the 80s.

 

[wamdue]

I have to agree things did look cheap in Waters of Mars, & End of Time

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Actually, the Mars station sets - particularly the control room - were pretty amazing.

 

[Starkers]

^What he said.

I seriously didn't see a major drop in quality during The End of Time 1&2. I dunno, maybe I see story and character over effects, or maybe they did a really good job with what they had, I don't know.

 

[Mark_Nguyen]

IMO, the only place they look cheap is during stories set in the future. Almost NONE of the humans seen in those episodes are dressed in anything you can't find today. I realize it was a conscious decision, but dammit - in the future, they shouldn't be wearing 21st century blue jeans and t-shirts!

Mark

 

[USS KG5]

IMO, the only place they look cheap is during stories set in the future. Almost NONE of the humans seen in those episodes are dressed in anything you can't find today. I realize it was a conscious decision, but dammit - in the future, they shouldn't be wearing 21st century blue jeans and t-shirts!

Mark

Why would people stop wearing jeans?