Page 1 of 1

Questions about the production of Twin Peaks

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 7:39 pm
by Qyle Cooper
I was wondering what were the filming dates for the first and second season?

What was the budget of the show?

Re: Questions about the production of Twin Peaks

Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 3:25 pm
by jameseric
The DVD's might have this info in the commentaries. NetFlix has the first versions of the series.
Also, IMDB, Wrapped In Plastic, Lynch On Lynch.

Re: Questions about the production of Twin Peaks

Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:49 pm
by Audrey Horne
I can look up some of my shooting schedules. I believe the pilot was brought in under five million.

The first season began shooting at the end of August 1989 and finished in December.

Second season began shooting the end of July 1990 through March 1991.

I'll try to get specific dates. And see if I can find an average budget and average salary per castmember. I imagine Mclachlan, Otkean, Laurie and Chen had higher pays then the rest -at least for the first season.

Re: Questions about the production of Twin Peaks

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:38 am
by Murray
I remember at the time hearing the average budget was $1 million per episode (excluding the pilot).

Re: Questions about the production of Twin Peaks

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:56 am
by Audrey Horne
I found an blurb in one of my old cuttings that said after the pilot was viewed, ABC greenlit the show and they had a budget of one million for the first seven episodes.

I'll keep looking though. I imagine after the show became a hit and was renewed the budget would either stay there or increase. I don't know if that also includes salary pay. Probably went up. I don't know if one million was the average cost of a show back in that timeframe (L.A.Law; thirtysomething etc)

Re: Questions about the production of Twin Peaks

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:01 am
by Evenreven
Frost speaks of a "skeletal production staff" and filming all seven episodes in 49 days. I don't know how accurate this is. But if 49 days is to be believed, that's significantly less than other ABC shows from the same era. I'm pretty sure every Dynasty episode (which was cancelled that same year) spent 15 days filming each episode (although I don't have the source handy), and if Frost called the crew skeletal, I would assume that TP's first season was more low-key than Hill Street Blues too (which Frost would know all about).