how are soaps filmed? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dean Winchester · 01-14-2006, 07:54 PM

I have been watching DooL a lot lately and GH sometimes, but I was led to wondering something.

Are soaps filmed daily, or will they give the cast several days worth of script to film, since many times on shows, they'll stay in the same day for a week or two worth of episodes. Would each day, they just film the scenes for the days episode, or go ahead and film each vignette for the entire week, give or take?

spunkygirl · 01-14-2006, 08:37 PM

I think they tape daily. Not entirely sure. I know they have ALOT of dialogue to memorize in a short period of time(sometimes 100+ pages in a day)

James"Thunder"Early · 01-15-2006, 12:28 AM

They tape in on different days, not necessarily in a row.

bry · 01-16-2006, 08:00 PM

this won't answer your questions but it's neat.
the NBC tour was great.
we got to the soap part. the guide told us all kinds of nifty things. like showing us a huge place that held every single prop ever on the show. said each room was photographed in many directions and each prop met the camera shots. each prop was numbered and catalogued so that everytime a set was put in place, each prop would be easily accessed and found to be put in it's place.
they have a taylor on board to make all the clothes, which are stored.
the sets are replaced on the same stages. while outside the NBC studio, you could tell it was set up to be the place in rome at the time (back in '97 i think when bo was looking to find the drugged out billy). that same set was redecorated so we would not recognize it as salem place in it's regular guise.
i did see the girl that played jennifer then, she walked by our group and said hello to us. and i saw peter reckell as i peered into the studio.
that was the best part of the tour for me.
but the episodes are filmed about 3 weeks ahead of the tv broadcast.

JT · 01-17-2006, 06:41 PM

It should be noted that soaps are, and always have been, taped, not filmed. Not many shows are taped anymore, which is why soaps look so different. Back in the 70s, most of Norman Lear's shows were done up like the daytime soaps, so they all had the same look to them.

bry · 01-20-2006, 12:42 AM

i realize that to people in the technology know, the difference to 'taped' and 'filmed' is a difference. but to the majority of us, the use of either word is not incorrect because we do not know the difference.
i don't think that you are trying to correct me here but i am not sure. but either way, can you explain the difference to where it actually makes some sense? i've heard it before and i see no understanding in what i was told.

JT · 01-29-2006, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bry

i realize that to people in the technology know, the difference to 'taped' and 'filmed' is a difference. but to the majority of us, the use of either word is not incorrect because we do not know the difference.
i don't think that you are trying to correct me here but i am not sure. but either way, can you explain the difference to where it actually makes some sense? i've heard it before and i see no understanding in what i was told.

It's simple. Filmed shows are shot on film. Taped shows are shot on tape.

bry · 01-30-2006, 09:21 PM

you know, that's a smart ass response to a legitimate question. i can see now that you are just being as ass to correct me.
why not take your sorry attitude off your shoulders and be decent when people ask a question or make a statement. otherwise, if you can't do that you should keep your mouth shut. people come here for entertainment, not be treated like a 2 year old.
like i said, to those that don't now the difference, they don't know any better. if you're so smart, you could treat people well and share what you know to educate people.
is that too human for you?

Dean Winchester · 01-30-2006, 09:55 PM

ok, taped, filmed... whatever. That's not the question (and therefore the answer wasn't given). How are they shot? (okay, that's a nice term that goes for either film or video)

For example, the on-going DooL storyline set in the hospital after Zach's murder with Bo, Hope and Chelsea has been playing out over the past three or so weeks. Usually about 7-10 minutes of new episode footage a day (minus commercials and considering there's usually 3 or 4 other stories to share screentime with). Do they just go and tape those day by day or will they give the actors a weeks worth of what's coming up and then go ahead and knock several days of that storyline out in one day of taping and then edit everything around when it comes time to air?

JT · 02-01-2006, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bry

you know, that's a smart ass response to a legitimate question. i can see now that you are just being as ass to correct me.
why not take your sorry attitude off your shoulders and be decent when people ask a question or make a statement. otherwise, if you can't do that you should keep your mouth shut. people come here for entertainment, not be treated like a 2 year old.
like i said, to those that don't now the difference, they don't know any better. if you're so smart, you could treat people well and share what you know to educate people.
is that too human for you?

And you could tell my tone and attitude from what? The size and font of my words? I was trying to be informative and if you choose to believe otherwise, you shouldn't.

JT · 02-01-2006, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUNG UP!

ok, taped, filmed... whatever. That's not the question (and therefore the answer wasn't given). How are they shot? (okay, that's a nice term that goes for either film or video)

For example, the on-going DooL storyline set in the hospital after Zach's murder with Bo, Hope and Chelsea has been playing out over the past three or so weeks. Usually about 7-10 minutes of new episode footage a day (minus commercials and considering there's usually 3 or 4 other stories to share screentime with). Do they just go and tape those day by day or will they give the actors a weeks worth of what's coming up and then go ahead and knock several days of that storyline out in one day of taping and then edit everything around when it comes time to air?

I've always thought that they tape all of the scenes on a particular set at once and then the editing staff puts the episodes in sequence.

bry · 02-06-2006, 07:19 PM

my apologies then JT, if you were trying to be informative. the words you chose just sounded like i said.

Dean Winchester · 02-07-2006, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT

I've always thought that they tape all of the scenes on a particular set at once and then the editing staff puts the episodes in sequence.

yea, that does make sense... I was wondering why because one day, Kyle Brandt has one look and then the next time you see him, he's got a different haircut and more/less facial hair, and it made me wondering if they ended up taping a lot of it at once. Just look at how Bryan Dattillo's hair seemed to grow two inches almost overnight and suddenly his goatee was back.

I do kinda hate myself for not giving Days a chance when Jensen Ackles was there

spunkygirl · 02-07-2006, 03:22 PM

I know they tape about 3-4 weeks in advance too, so that's why one minute to the next their hair can look different and whatnot

I remember watching Days when Jensen was on their, he's a great actor

db108108 · 02-07-2006, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT

I've always thought that they tape all of the scenes on a particular set at once and then the editing staff puts the episodes in sequence.

That must be hell for the actors on Passions considering that one set scene can last for weeks.

01-14-2006, 07:54 PM	#1
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	how are soaps filmed? I have been watching DooL a lot lately and GH sometimes, but I was led to wondering something. Are soaps filmed daily, or will they give the cast several days worth of script to film, since many times on shows, they'll stay in the same day for a week or two worth of episodes. Would each day, they just film the scenes for the days episode, or go ahead and film each vignette for the entire week, give or take?

01-15-2006, 12:28 AM	#3
James"Thunder"Early Whoever's In New England Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 23, 2004 Location: The Apollo Posts: 7,087	They tape in on different days, not necessarily in a row.
	__________________ Esther Anderson: Get thee behind me, Satan, but I'm gon' get behind you, 'cause I'm gonna put my foot in your--- Peggy Mitchell: Get outta my pub! You better pray you get the last laugh, it's a kick in the teeth when you don't get it.

01-16-2006, 08:00 PM	#4
bry Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 21, 2003 Location: n.c. Posts: 819	this won't answer your questions but it's neat. the NBC tour was great. we got to the soap part. the guide told us all kinds of nifty things. like showing us a huge place that held every single prop ever on the show. said each room was photographed in many directions and each prop met the camera shots. each prop was numbered and catalogued so that everytime a set was put in place, each prop would be easily accessed and found to be put in it's place. they have a taylor on board to make all the clothes, which are stored. the sets are replaced on the same stages. while outside the NBC studio, you could tell it was set up to be the place in rome at the time (back in '97 i think when bo was looking to find the drugged out billy). that same set was redecorated so we would not recognize it as salem place in it's regular guise. i did see the girl that played jennifer then, she walked by our group and said hello to us. and i saw peter reckell as i peered into the studio. that was the best part of the tour for me. but the episodes are filmed about 3 weeks ahead of the tv broadcast.
	__________________ that's Y-A-T-E-S.

01-17-2006, 06:41 PM	#5
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,219	It should be noted that soaps are, and always have been, taped, not filmed. Not many shows are taped anymore, which is why soaps look so different. Back in the 70s, most of Norman Lear's shows were done up like the daytime soaps, so they all had the same look to them.
	__________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrEbJBFWIPk

01-14-2006, 08:37 PM	#2
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,557	I think they tape daily. Not entirely sure. I know they have ALOT of dialogue to memorize in a short period of time(sometimes 100+ pages in a day)

01-20-2006, 12:42 AM	#6
bry Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 21, 2003 Location: n.c. Posts: 819	i realize that to people in the technology know, the difference to 'taped' and 'filmed' is a difference. but to the majority of us, the use of either word is not incorrect because we do not know the difference. i don't think that you are trying to correct me here but i am not sure. but either way, can you explain the difference to where it actually makes some sense? i've heard it before and i see no understanding in what i was told.

01-30-2006, 09:21 PM	#8
bry Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 21, 2003 Location: n.c. Posts: 819	you know, that's a smart ass response to a legitimate question. i can see now that you are just being as ass to correct me. why not take your sorry attitude off your shoulders and be decent when people ask a question or make a statement. otherwise, if you can't do that you should keep your mouth shut. people come here for entertainment, not be treated like a 2 year old. like i said, to those that don't now the difference, they don't know any better. if you're so smart, you could treat people well and share what you know to educate people. is that too human for you?

01-30-2006, 09:55 PM	#9
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	ok, taped, filmed... whatever. That's not the question (and therefore the answer wasn't given). How are they shot? (okay, that's a nice term that goes for either film or video) For example, the on-going DooL storyline set in the hospital after Zach's murder with Bo, Hope and Chelsea has been playing out over the past three or so weeks. Usually about 7-10 minutes of new episode footage a day (minus commercials and considering there's usually 3 or 4 other stories to share screentime with). Do they just go and tape those day by day or will they give the actors a weeks worth of what's coming up and then go ahead and knock several days of that storyline out in one day of taping and then edit everything around when it comes time to air?

02-06-2006, 07:19 PM	#12
bry Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 21, 2003 Location: n.c. Posts: 819	my apologies then JT, if you were trying to be informative. the words you chose just sounded like i said.

02-07-2006, 03:22 PM	#14
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,557	I know they tape about 3-4 weeks in advance too, so that's why one minute to the next their hair can look different and whatnot I remember watching Days when Jensen was on their, he's a great actor