economics of farscape

[zelbinion]

This had puzzled me for a while, so maybe someone else can answer it:

It has been said that it cost about 750,000 to produce one ep of farscape. There have been several 2-3 part shows that when timed out ran the length of a feature film. So lets say given inflation we'll call it 1 million for 45 minutes of production (avg. time per ep on dvd's) x 3 eps (2h 15m) = 3 million.

So why then would it cost 50 - 100 million to produce a big screen feature film????

Even if you throw in the cost of mass producing the copy, your still only talking around 5 mill.

[JrMissToughChick]

Because in feature films they have to do all the background (props, sets, extras, ect) for a tv show the backgrounds has been done so it costs less to make.

~JrMTC~

[zelbinion]

Yeah, but that does'nt tip the iceberg for 50 million.
I can't believe they spent 20-30 million building sets for S1 not knowing how long the show would last.
Plus we're talking about farscape, so the puppets were in storage (being dusted off now) and the sets ar being rebuilt, yet the price tag is still high.

I tend to think its more due to greed. The movie industry as a whole wants to be paid more for a Big screen film than a made for TV film. The CGI, sets, etc are the same regardless of where it airs.
Afterall, how many made for TV films cost 100 million

[BlackThorn]

I believe I recall DK mentioning that pre-production costs for Farscape would be around 17 million. Not sure if I'm remembering right or not, though.

[stlscape]

BT - my recollection was that DK said the episodes averaged $1.5 million (USD) per episode (half paid by Skiffy), so a 22 episode season would cost approximately $33 million. Of that, $13-$14 million was required before any filming started for pre-production costs (sets, props, contract payments, costuming, etc.)

There was some discussion of the cost for a theatrical release, as well. IIRC, DK said that it wasn't the actual cost for the film itself, but the advertising and distribution costs that drove the final total up so high (i.e. double or triple the cost of the film itself.)

[grinner]

you are fogetting the amount of Money that goes to the STARS of motion pictures. If you have 5 actors that get... what... 2 to 10 million... that is where a lot of the money goes.

[BlackThorn]

Originally posted by stlscape
BT - my recollection was that DK said the episodes averaged $1.5 million (USD) per episode (half paid by Skiffy), so a 22 episode season would cost approximately $33 million. Of that, $13-$14 million was required before any filming started for pre-production costs (sets, props, contract payments, costuming, etc.)

I knew the episode average. I was just talking about pre-production costs. But if I was wrong on the $17 million, and it is $13-$14 million, thanks.