Metropolis only has one street!!

[Legs]

What gets filmed at the WB studios in Burbank ?
I went on a studio tour there a couple of years ago and there was no mention of Smallville

[Firebunny]

As far as I know, the only scenes they have shot outside of Canada are the Christopher Reeve scenes. Those were shot in New York to accomodate him.

[i luv tom welling]

Special effects are done in LA, otherwise they make do with what BC has to offer :)

[red-K glory]

there was also the ending scene in Commencement where Clark is standing in the snow. I think they filmed on an actual snowy location, Alaska or something like that probably.

[angelfire east]

Originally posted by red-K glory
there was also the ending scene in Commencement where Clark is standing in the snow. I think they filmed on an actual snowy location, Alaska or something like that probably.

actually that scene was shot in BC too:) It was shot at Whistler, a huge ski place, very poplar. It's a really nice place (I bought my first bike when I was there when I was really young). It's not that far away from Van City.

If you have no idea where that is the winter games are going to be there. I don't know when but I do know millions of dollars are being wasted so they can be there. Because you know there's nothing in BC that could use millions of dollars more then Whistler for the winter games :rolleyes: :mad: :rolleyes:

[xrayvision]

Does anyone know what the actual # of the highway & actual name of the bridge are seen behind Luthorcorp? You can see the highway & bridge in episodes like Tempest (beginning), Mortal, and I think in Jitters. I would love to drive on them when I eventually make it out to BC. I want to check out Seattle, BC, and a bunch of other spots within the next few years.

That is an awesome location for Luthorcorp.

[connorkent]

I think its brilliant that the action has shifted to Metropolis, and in no way is this a criticism because I understand budget constraints, but Is it me or does all the action in Metropolis seem to take place on one street corner? Surely the Producers could use location filming to create a bit more diversity, after all they had a variety of outside locations when the show was based in Smallville . Thoughts people

[roccanater]

I don't know. I never thought of it. I'll have to rewatch some episodes to see what you are talking about.

[espn_justin]

I think that it is funny they keep using the same road, I hadn't noticed until you brought it up. And don't call me Shirley

[Dizagaox]

I noticed it too, however we're meant to assume it's downtown and right next to all the big skyscrapers.

I think the producers prefer using the studio lot because they can control most of it, and are right next to the rest of the studio, unlike location shooting in Vancouver which requires a 1 hour commute.

[stenochick]

Well, having lived and worked in the heart of four major cities (Newark, Manhattan, Chicago, and Atlanta), I can say that in the downtown business areas, streets tend to run parallel to each other and look the same, especially at night.

I'm aware of the same Metropolis street being used because I saw photos of the set they were building.

I think if they take that same set and just dress it week to week with different store fronts, they could totally get away with it. Perhaps that is what they are doing. I have not been keeping track of the storefronts.

I compare Metropolis to Manhattan and many of the streets there look exactly the same, just with different storefronts (although the Gap and Starbucks are on every block:lol: ).

[Dizagaox]

They do shake the set dressing up each episode. It's just the road stays exactly the same, so it doesn't exactly work 100% that well.

[josue_can]

I noticed it, But I understand. Lois and Clark did the same thing. Maybe when he starts flying it will be easier to have the large crane that will hold him set up in that confined area (city block). Here's to hoping.

[sunflowercyn]

I think the producers prefer using the studio lot because they can control most of it, and are right next to the rest of the studio, unlike location shooting in Vancouver which requires a 1 hour commute.IMO...that depends on the time of day....I'd say 30min:\

Something to think about...

On any given day in Vancouver there are between 20-30 productions filming but of course not all of them are on location but are in studios. Vancouver's urban core is not very large compared to other cities and when you have a large number of productions all vying for specific neighborhoods it can cause traffic chaos and neighborhood stress. Productions bring alot of actor/makeup trailers, trucks, semis, equipment and support staff and catering to on location shoots and they are there for hours setting up and then filming. They also usually have police on staff to direct traffic as well. I used to live there and on my way to school or work it wasn't uncommon to see film crews out and about ALOT. Vancouver is very accomodating to film crews and the same goes for crews but the city also works closely with productions when granting permits so that neighborhoods don't feel constantly invaded.

Smallville this year we have seen is doing ALOT of urban downtown stories so that would require them every week setting up shop on local streets. With other productions wanting to use the same areas they would not get the guarantee to shoot in their 1st choice spots. That's why they have built a couple of streets on their backlot.

To learn more about shooting in Vancouver here is a website:

http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/filmandevents/filmoffice/locations.htm

[SnowBird]

That's very interesting sunflowercyn. Thanks for the info...I have said before that it doesn't bother me that the same street is shown. Something did come to mind about seeing the same street over and over. Maybe some remember "Gunsmoke" and the same street and town was shown for many years with Matt Dillon having his shoot outs. Or, how about "Little House on the Prairie." I don't think anything changed about the main street and town in the many years it was filming. I wonder if people got tired of seeing the same buildings and streets, or did they just accept it as a part of their beloved TV show. The TV audiences have gotten very spoiled in modern times...The one thing I do miss is the farm with the Kent house and loft. I know we see it sometimes but it doen't have the feel of a working farm. I'm a city girl turned into a country girl on the farm so that may be the reason I miss it. I don't like the city much but I do like the secondary street in Metropolis even if it is the same street over and over. The same street and buildings worked for Gunsmoke and Little House which were long running shows. Maybe if people adjust, the Metropolis set will work for Smallville fans as well.

[roccanater]

Yeah, I did not realize that but it does appear to.

[Routh]

I very much agree with the thread starter (it's the #1 thing ruining the show for me right now), but this should be moved to another forum. :)

[myankskent]

Aren't they also starting construction on the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver? I thought that I read somewhere that the football stadium that Clark went to in "Recruit" is being refurbished to house the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. Maybe if there is a lot of construction going on, that could also be why the Smallville crew is not shooting a lot over there these days.

I think that they should just change around the stores a bit, to make it look different. Also, it would be nice if they could extend the buildings a bit to make them look taller, even if they have to use pictures of buildings to do it, like how they show the city of Metropolis through the window of the LuthorCorp set and on the Ace of Clubs balcony. Those aren't effects shots, they're big screens that show a picture of the city, and they use different ones for night and day scenes.

[psyko69]

They built a Metropolis set. They don't generally do street shoots in Vancouver anymore. There are set pics somewhere on this board.

It is basically a one street set, this is why it looks so similar.

[pink_ninja]

Lol i never noticed this!
So thats why they look so similar.

[Routh]

I'm really surprised at the amount of people who never noticed. It is just so distractingly glaring every week. The same pharmacy, jewelry store, bend around the corner... It's just horrible. It seems like a smaller town than Smallville. The "buildings" are also really, really short, so all of the actors look like dolls on an undersized playset.

Metropolis deserves better. Like when Jonathan and Clark are walking before Jonathan is saved by Bart in Run? Or Chloe and Clark at the beginning of Fade? Or Linda Lake running in the teaser of Hydro? *That's* Metropolis.

[myankskent]

Metropolis deserves better. Like when Jonathan and Clark are walking before Jonathan is saved by Bart in Run? Or Chloe and Clark at the beginning of Fade? Or Linda Lake running in the teaser of Hydro? *That's* Metropolis.

Agreed. I guess it's just too much money to film in Vancouver all of the time and perhaps by using this set, TPTB are thinking that they will be able to show more effects with Doomsday later on this season. I'm just glad that they filmed on location again for the phantom zone and didn't cheapen it, especially since we know what it's supposed to look like from "Zod".

[Routh]

I'm just glad that they filmed on location again for the phantom zone and didn't cheapen it, especially since we know what it's supposed to look like from "Zod".

I wasn't too surprised about this, actually. The sandpit they go to doesn't have other films/shows vying heavily for it, and it's probably much cheaper to shut down the activity in a sandpit than it is to shut down the activity of downtown Vancouver. :P

[myankskent]

I wasn't too surprised about this, actually. The sandpit they go to doesn't have other films/shows vying heavily for it, and it's probably much cheaper to shut down the activity in a sandpit than it is to shut down the activity of downtown Vancouver. :P

:lol: Very true. But still, I don't see as many scenes on this show taking place outside anymore, even in forest areas where they don't have to shut down activity like in Vancouver.

[Darkcook]

OMG, other people noticed that too^^ I find it fun, but it's not annoying me. :)

[Mattchew]

having been to most of the filmong locations on smallville twice i can sfal;ey say the reason behind it is money and control, it takes weeks to get permission on a real street, and all the choas it causes also.

i have lost of pictures of the set i will upload for my smallville trip 2 thread tnight if i can, and you can see behind the scnees of the street there using at the mo the thearter, the pharmacey etc all the buildings around them :D

[kaam]

^ It would be nice to see pics of the sets.

[Mattchew]

they have 2 studios aswell found that out back in sept when i was there the 2nd time lol

got pics of all the old stuff like the fotress and the caves ill post pics asap

[beresford_st]

one of the things i hate that has changed with this show is that they never film on location anymore. they used to all the time. there are spots all over vancouver (and cloverdale) that were used for the show and now it's just the one street. when they filmed on location in vancouver you got the feeling that they were in a real city, that metropolis and smallville were real places. the show doesn't feel real anymore. does that make sense?

[beresford_st]

Does anyone know what the actual # of the highway & actual name of the bridge are seen behind Luthorcorp? You can see the highway & bridge in episodes like Tempest (beginning), Mortal, and I think in Jitters. I would love to drive on them when I eventually make it out to BC. I want to check out Seattle, BC, and a bunch of other spots within the next few years.

That is an awesome location for Luthorcorp.

i guess i'm a little late to this thread. but it's the alex fraser bridge.

[Ericsson-1]

Hi,

I was wondering about the shooting location where the motropolisscenes are filmed.
does anybody know the studios where that is?
is there a thread already?


My problem is, since the middle of season 7 or the beginning of season 8 I guess, they started using this small street-set, from a varity of angles to shoot almost all the metropolis outdoor city action. but in the end it's always the same small and curved street with some backstreets and u can totally see that everytime, like the last scene of s08e19 when Loise talks to redblueblur in the phonecell. or the huge bus-explosion, or during the intro even, when clark rushes through to catch loise.
it's absolutly anoying, cuz it pops up im my mind in every single scene from the street, just to know: okay, this is the set again, it's no random place in a huge city, like the story is supposed to be sold. now they're saveing some money again...
does somebody know what I mean??

I browsed through some old episodes from earlier seasons, and there u can see real locations somewhere in a real city

is there such thread already?
please tell me ;)

thx

[xrayvision]

That's the Smallville studio set in Vancouver. I think that same area is where Kal was seen just after the bank robbery scene in Exile when he had that smile on his face. You can see Vancouver's Skytrain passing by in the background as it has several times during the series.

[HeroesUnlimited]

They also use that road in Smallville (where Clark catches the car in front of Chloe) a lot. I've seen it in SEVERAL episodes, and not just in Smallville. I'm pretty sure that was the site where Jonathan was picked up in Suspect (drunk in his truck) and I think we also see that same stretch of road when Lex and Lana are driving through Metropolis (when he's being followed). And again when Lex delivers Dominick (in his trunk) back to Lionel.

[Supsfan]

How about the bridge. I remember it from Kara and Legion. I also think they used it many other episodes.

As for the Set, I don't know why they don't try make deals with other shows shooting in the BC area to use there sets sometimes