Cost-Cutting in Season Two

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bat-rss
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Cost-Cutting in Season Two

Post by bat-rss »

We at TO THE BATPOLES podcast are developing an episode on evidence of cost-cutting during season two. An obvious one is the change in how the "POW!" "SOCK!" fight sounds were shown on the screen.

This is not an easy topic to research outside of simply watching all of season two and trying to spot trends. Do any of you have any observations on season two cost-cutting evidence?
"I'm half-demented with whimsical outrage!"
-- The Joker, in a line cut from "The Joker's Epitaph"
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Ben Bentley
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Re: Cost-Cutting in Season Two

Post by Ben Bentley »

If you're looking for the visual "in episode" evidence, i'd say that a department by department approach would be a fairly comprehensive way to do it. Post-production (as you mentioned), Art Department and music are a great place to start.

Episode budgets and cost summaries from Dozier's archive are of course quite literally the money-meeting-mouth way to go about quantifying the actual savings being made.
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bat-rss
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Re: Cost-Cutting in Season Two

Post by bat-rss »

Ben Bentley wrote: Sat Nov 27, 2021 8:55 am
Episode budgets and cost summaries from Dozier's archive are of course quite literally the money-meeting-mouth way to go about quantifying the actual savings being made.
Of course! (Slaps forehead) I believe we have a lot of those that you or others have sent us. Will have to look those up. Thanks.
"I'm half-demented with whimsical outrage!"
-- The Joker, in a line cut from "The Joker's Epitaph"
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bat-rss
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Re: Cost-Cutting in Season Two

Post by bat-rss »

Er, well, I thought I had some, but I can't seem to locate much budget info in my files...
bat-rss wrote: Sun Nov 28, 2021 4:28 am
Ben Bentley wrote: Sat Nov 27, 2021 8:55 am
Episode budgets and cost summaries from Dozier's archive are of course quite literally the money-meeting-mouth way to go about quantifying the actual savings being made.
Of course! (Slaps forehead) I believe we have a lot of those that you or others have sent us. Will have to look those up. Thanks.
"I'm half-demented with whimsical outrage!"
-- The Joker, in a line cut from "The Joker's Epitaph"
Commodore Schmidlapp
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Re: Cost-Cutting in Season Two

Post by Commodore Schmidlapp »

I recall it more in Season Three, but wouldn't be surprised if this also occurred in Season Two, especially later - having secondary henchmen never speak so they only had to be paid as extras.

One obvious example is Surf's Up, in which the one Joker henchman never utters a word, despite fair amount of screen time.
eewdoc
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Re: Cost-Cutting in Season Two

Post by eewdoc »

They spoke when the surfboards Batman and Robin were in were about to explode.
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Therin of Andor
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Re: Cost-Cutting in Season Two

Post by Therin of Andor »

We start seeing some wardrobe sharing.

One of Blaze's distinctive first season outfits...

Image
Blaze from her False Face episodes by Ian McLean, on Flickr

goes to Okie Annie in the second season.

Image
Okie Annie wears Blaze costume by Ian McLean, on Flickr

Things go further downhill by Season Three. Dr Cassandra's pink and orange outfit was seen on two previous molls, Octavia and Josie, and on a clothing rack as set dressing. Josie even wears the Cassandra's future earrings and tights in another ensemble, Rocket O'Rourke debut's Cassandra's orange ring, and Undine the cane fish purse (later painted orange).

And Ma Parker's distinctive green and blue dress is given to Lola Lasagne.
"Holy nostalgia, Batman!"
Therin of Andor

(aka Ian McLean, from Sydney, Australia)
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