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The day that Weatherfield died?


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Old 03-09-2004, 18:29
Benc533
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When did the life begin to drain out of the streets of Weatherfield?

I’m posting this thread because since I’ve been “between education”, (I’m waiting to go to University) I’ve really started to get into “Classic” Coronation Street on Granada Plus. Episodes from November 1993 are currently being shown and there is such difference between the Weatherfield of the early 90s and the Weatherfield of today.

There are a range of “opening scenes” which feature cars and buses driving up and down a busy Rosamund Street, children walking to school, cars parked on Coronation Street itself, other people going about their daily business – all making Weatherfield, and more importantly Coronation Street, a realistic looking place in the centre of a busy town.

Yet today, what do we get? Les Batterby’s taxi driving around randomly, we rarely see cars on the Street unless they are required for a scene, and the only extras seem to be drafted in to either gawp at “big” scenes or do rather daft things like ride a bike around for the whole episode! (like on Wednesday).

I know that the budget for the Street dried up in the late 90s, which saw the demise of Bettabuy/Firman’s/Freshco, but is that continuing today, or can the gang at Granada simply not be bothered to make Weatherfield look as realistic as it used to be?

People probably won’t even be bothered about things like this, but I think that the small touches, things like cars and more “realistic” extras are just as important as the storylines.
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Old 03-09-2004, 19:01
torreviejalads
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I totally agree with you about the 'dumbing down' of these street extras. Other soaps do it much, just look at Easstenders and everything that goes on around the market. Just the other week there was a shot of Victoria Strret, and right at the end was 2 market stalls with a couple of things hanging up - and that was basically it. Eastenders wouldn't have that.
I'm not sure if this is the reason, but in the 90's Granada stored a lot of there sets and cars in a large warehouse just off Ordsall Lane, at the back of Granada. Anyway, one night a blaze broke out and destroyed this whole building and most of the contents.
Now whether this is the reason, Granada just couldn't be ar*ed spending money money on ITV's biggest money spinner. But you'd have thought they'd have had them insured.
Just a thought.
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Old 03-09-2004, 19:09
Benc533
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Originally Posted by torreviejalads
I totally agree with you about the 'dumbing down' of these street extras. Other soaps do it much, just look at Easstenders and everything that goes on around the market. Just the other week there was a shot of Victoria Strret, and right at the end was 2 market stalls with a couple of things hanging up - and that was basically it. Eastenders wouldn't have that.
I'm not sure if this is the reason, but in the 90's Granada stored a lot of there sets and cars in a large warehouse just off Ordsall Lane, at the back of Granada. Anyway, one night a blaze broke out and destroyed this whole building and most of the contents.
Now whether this is the reason, Granada just couldn't be ar*ed spending money money on ITV's biggest money spinner. But you'd have thought they'd have had them insured.
Just a thought.
Yeah, the Victoria Street market was pointless, just like the Roasamund Street viaduct - the justification is that they allows scenes to be filmed up Rosamund or Victoria Street. I can only imagine that it was there to "disguise" the fact that Victoria Street ends there, when in fact it is much longer than the set allows. They may as well just not bother in future.

Granada seem to be very tight fisted as far as money is concerned, they spend very little on the Street, and hearing that about the fire does not suprise me one bit.

It's a shame that there are very few "real" touches on the show at the moment.
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Old 03-09-2004, 19:22
torreviejalads
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And just look at the extras who get served in The Kabin or Devs. They're just there to look pretty (ish) and nod there heads at whatever Rita or Dev says to them. Spend a bit more on a talking extra - it's worth it Granada.
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Old 03-09-2004, 19:29
Benc533
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Originally Posted by torreviejalads
And just look at the extras who get served in The Kabin or Devs. They're just there to look pretty (ish) and nod there heads at whatever Rita or Dev says to them. Spend a bit more on a talking extra - it's worth it Granada.
Yes, I remember the days when Mavis would chunter on to Mrs Bickerstaff from Crimea Street who'd just popped in to pay her papers (Or something along those lines).

The same thing goes for the Rovers, and don't evenget me started on the extras that witness any major scenes on the Street.
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Old 03-09-2004, 19:30
torreviejalads
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Go on, go on, go on, go on.

Remember Bill Tarmey (Jack Duckworth) started life as an extra on the strret.
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Old 03-09-2004, 19:34
Benc533
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Originally Posted by torreviejalads
Go on, go on, go on, go on.
I've said it all before, the one that really got me was Eileen and Gail's "fight night".

The only busybody out being nosey was Norris....now Vera lives right next door to Eileen and I can't believe that she'd miss out on a chance to watch a spectacle like that, and also the person we'd all expect to be first out on her doorstep - Blanche - was nowhere to be seen.

Sally & Kevin made a good effort at being nosey, and Fred and Our Kid were caught in the crossfire.

On top of those characters, were 4 or 5 other stupid extras just stood there - rather than paying the extras to look gormless and stand there, couldn't they draft in the "real" cast, they're getting paid enough after all, even just to stand there (like they did in the old days!).
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Old 03-09-2004, 19:34
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There has been much emphasis on quantity rather than quality since the time you refer to.
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Old 03-09-2004, 19:37
Benc533
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Originally Posted by torreviejalads
Go on, go on, go on, go on.

Remember Bill Tarmey (Jack Duckworth) started life as an extra on the strret.
Yeah

It was him who dropped the Rovers bar-flap onto Ernie Bishop's fingers, thus ruining Rita's come-back at the Gatsby.
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Old 03-09-2004, 21:29
Safra
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I don't really notice any of that so it doesn't really bother me. Apart from the fight-night like you said as i expected other members of the cast to be there. But thats the only time i've really noticed.
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Old 03-09-2004, 21:51
jelly04
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Originally Posted by Benc533
When did the life begin to drain out of the streets of Weatherfield?

I’m posting this thread because since I’ve been “between education”, (I’m waiting to go to University) I’ve really started to get into “Classic” Coronation Street on Granada Plus. Episodes from November 1993 are currently being shown and there is such difference between the Weatherfield of the early 90s and the Weatherfield of today.

There are a range of “opening scenes” which feature cars and buses driving up and down a busy Rosamund Street, children walking to school, cars parked on Coronation Street itself, other people going about their daily business – all making Weatherfield, and more importantly Coronation Street, a realistic looking place in the centre of a busy town.

Yet today, what do we get? Les Batterby’s taxi driving around randomly, we rarely see cars on the Street unless they are required for a scene, and the only extras seem to be drafted in to either gawp at “big” scenes or do rather daft things like ride a bike around for the whole episode! (like on Wednesday).

I know that the budget for the Street dried up in the late 90s, which saw the demise of Bettabuy/Firman’s/Freshco, but is that continuing today, or can the gang at Granada simply not be bothered to make Weatherfield look as realistic as it used to be?

People probably won’t even be bothered about things like this, but I think that the small touches, things like cars and more “realistic” extras are just as important as the storylines.
u obviously have way too much time on ur hands! if u dont like it fork out the money urself if this pointless small thing bothers u so
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Old 03-09-2004, 21:53
jelly04
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no offence! sorry if that sounded offencing what i said above
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Old 03-09-2004, 21:58
Benc533
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Everything you say sounds offensive jelly04.

Does it never occur to you that people might actually enjoy things to do with soaps?

I'm sick of your pointless prattlings calling everyone "sad" or saying that they have "too much time on their hands", either make a contribution or don't say anything in future!
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Old 03-09-2004, 22:14
PedroB
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The budget didn't dry up - it was stretched at least two ways
1) to increase the number of episodes per week.
2) to fund higher fees for some of the cast - just like footballers and other celebrities, the key players can demand much more money these days.
But surely the most important thing in any continuing drama is not whether we see buses on Rosamund Street, but the quality of the story lines and scripts - ask the millions who have deserted EE in recent months!
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Old 03-09-2004, 22:20
jelly04
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Originally Posted by PedroB
The budget didn't dry up - it was stretched at least two ways
1) to increase the number of episodes per week.
2) to fund higher fees for some of the cast - just like footballers and other celebrities, the key players can demand much more money these days.
But surely the most important thing in any continuing drama is not whether we see buses on Rosamund Street, but the quality of the story lines and scripts - ask the millions who have deserted EE in recent months!

exactly well said! pedro
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Old 03-09-2004, 22:31
Benc533
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Originally Posted by PedroB
The budget didn't dry up - it was stretched at least two ways
1) to increase the number of episodes per week.
2) to fund higher fees for some of the cast - just like footballers and other celebrities, the key players can demand much more money these days.
But surely the most important thing in any continuing drama is not whether we see buses on Rosamund Street, but the quality of the story lines and scripts - ask the millions who have deserted EE in recent months!
Yes but Coronation Street has been doing well with quality storylines and writing, I was just pointing out that things aren't like they used to be in the early 1990s.

Then again, I feel that "setting the scene" is almost as important as the writing and acting - there's not one single element that goes into making a soap opera, it's an effort from many different people working to ensure that the show maintains its high standards. In all frankness, those standards have somewhat slipped since the 90s as far as "the background" is concerned.
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Old 03-09-2004, 22:39
jelly04
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Originally Posted by Benc533
Yes but Coronation Street has been doing well with quality storylines and writing, I was just pointing out that things aren't like they used to be in the early 1990s.

Then again, I feel that "setting the scene" is almost as important as the writing and acting - there's not one single element that goes into making a soap opera, it's an effort from many different people working to ensure that the show maintains its high standards. In all frankness, those standards have somewhat slipped since the 90s as far as "the background" is concerned.
yes but at the end of the day it is only your own single opinion and thts all that matters
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Old 03-09-2004, 22:39
Benc533
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Originally Posted by jelly04
yes but at the end of the day it is only your own single opinion and thts all that matters
OK then.......
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Old 03-09-2004, 22:41
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Originally Posted by Benc533
When did the life begin to drain out of the streets of Weatherfield?

I’m posting this thread because since I’ve been “between education”, (I’m waiting to go to University) I’ve really started to get into “Classic” Coronation Street on Granada Plus. Episodes from November 1993 are currently being shown and there is such difference between the Weatherfield of the early 90s and the Weatherfield of today.

There are a range of “opening scenes” which feature cars and buses driving up and down a busy Rosamund Street, children walking to school, cars parked on Coronation Street itself, other people going about their daily business – all making Weatherfield, and more importantly Coronation Street, a realistic looking place in the centre of a busy town.

Yet today, what do we get? Les Batterby’s taxi driving around randomly, we rarely see cars on the Street unless they are required for a scene, and the only extras seem to be drafted in to either gawp at “big” scenes or do rather daft things like ride a bike around for the whole episode! (like on Wednesday).

I know that the budget for the Street dried up in the late 90s, which saw the demise of Bettabuy/Firman’s/Freshco, but is that continuing today, or can the gang at Granada simply not be bothered to make Weatherfield look as realistic as it used to be?

People probably won’t even be bothered about things like this, but I think that the small touches, things like cars and more “realistic” extras are just as important as the storylines.
I accept what you're saying; but I have to say that I'm not actually interested in NSEs...
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Old 03-09-2004, 22:44
Benc533
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Originally Posted by Byronic-Hero
I accept what you're saying; but I have to say that I'm not actually interested in NSEs...
Fair enough, I guess someone has to be interested in them...
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Old 03-09-2004, 22:46
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Originally Posted by Benc533
Fair enough, I guess someone has to be interested in them...

But I do take your point because that aspect of the show HAS definitely changed.
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Old 04-09-2004, 12:07
Dink5582
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I have been off work recently and also been watching Classic Corrie and I understand what you mean, the whole show appears to have a different feel to it but if I remember rightly isn't this the time when Eastenders started taking its lead over Corrie which could be why it has change so much as Corrie is certainly the better of the two now.

Rob
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Old 04-09-2004, 12:11
Benc533
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Originally Posted by Dink5582
I have been off work recently and also been watching Classic Corrie and I understand what you mean, the whole show appears to have a different feel to it but if I remember rightly isn't this the time when Eastenders started taking its lead over Corrie which could be why it has change so much as Corrie is certainly the better of the two now.

Rob
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Yeah the early 90s were definitely the years when the Street started to founder under the strength of EastEnders, but I still don't see why no one at Granada seems to be bothered about the more realistic touches...IMO it could make the show just that bit better. Afterall, Coronation Street should always aim to maintain the highest standards and it does that with writing and acting in most cases, so why not just push that extra bit of money into making the Street exceptional?

EastEnders looks far more realistic with the market etc, whereas Coronation Street is rather, dead.
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Old 04-09-2004, 12:15
Dink5582
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Originally Posted by Benc533
Yeah the early 90s were definitely the years when the Street started to founder under the strength of EastEnders, but I still don't see why no one at Granada seems to be bothered about the more realistic touches...IMO it could make the show just that bit better. Afterall, Coronation Street should always aim to maintain the highest standards and it does that with writing and acting in most cases, so why not just push that extra bit of money into making the Street exceptional?

EastEnders looks far more realistic with the market etc, whereas Coronation Street is rather, dead.

I do agree, when you look at how it was it does look more realistic then than it does now and the fact that there is a factory, garage, shops and a few houses means there would be a fair bit of traffic I would think but they probably just don't have time for that now incase there is a stupid mistake and they need to re-shoot it is all down to too many episodes being shown in my opinion.

Rob
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Old 04-09-2004, 12:19
Benc533
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Originally Posted by Dink5582
I do agree, when you look at how it was it does look more realistic then than it does now and the fact that there is a factory, garage, shops and a few houses means there would be a fair bit of traffic I would think but they probably just don't have time for that now incase there is a stupid mistake and they need to re-shoot it is all down to too many episodes being shown in my opinion.

Rob
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That's a good point about number of episodes, the amount of effort put into re-shooting must take up a lot of time.

I still prefer the Weatherfield of the early 90s
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