Production Supernatural (season 1)

1 production

1.1 writing
1.2 influences popular culture
1.3 filming
1.4 music
1.5 effects

production
writing

the first season s mythology follows sam , dean s search missing father. series creator eric kripke summarized storyline merely find dad , deemed simple , emotional , , clean . however, found self-enclosed episodes—independent stories attain closure @ end of each episode , add little overarching storylines—to hit , miss . because first ten episodes consist of self-enclosed stories, series mythology not begin until eleventh episode, scarecrow . episode introduces demon meg masters, executive producer kim manners felt desperately needed . though uncertain @ direction take character, writers intended meg antagonist winchesters throughout story arc. series mythology further expands addition of demon-killing colt handgun near season s end, lending modern american western theme producers going for.

although weekly adversaries winchesters based on urban legends, writers tried put own spin on stories each of episodes. example, kripke combined well-known urban legend of vanishing hitchhiker mexican legend of la llorona give spirit more motivation , characterization in pilot. episode hook man , however, borrowed 3 or 4 elements numerous variations of hook man legend. figure escaped mental patient in traditional myth, writers decided purposes of show make him ghost of hook-handed killer. added poltergeist element having him attached conflicting emotions of guest star—she wears cross made melted hook. rather focus on modern interpretations, kripke , co-executive producer john shiban decided supernatural s vampires stem more original legends. vampires given retractable fangs—these inspired rowed teeth of sharks—as no aversion sunlight or crucifix. kripke added fact vampires become weak if given blood of dead man.

other aspects grew out of basic concepts or ideas. episode skin , writer shiban felt shapeshifting villain had change 1 of lead characters. character chosen dean, , writers decided not clear name of attempted murder @ end of episode. though @ first feared having 1 of main characters wanted man later ruin show, writers felt great layer add , opening new potential storylines , characters. dean s reputation addressed again in benders , , catches him in second , third seasons. element influence future episodes came in hook man when writers milbauer , burton realized shotguns shoot salt, weakness spirits. kripke deemed perfect combination of occult element , brought folkloric repellent of evil blue-collar aspect of shotguns . episode asylum later established iron weapon against ghosts. faith , on other hand, stemmed question of whether wrong heal people of illnesses @ cost of lives of strangers. kripke noted, [layla s] great girl , deserves live, , stranger don t know die... , maybe s worth it. reapers not in original script of episode, added later give writers chance create scary sequences , explain faith healer s ability. because writers found traditional of reaper—hooded , carrying sickle—to cheesy, made him appear shriveled old man ever imagine .

although villain of episode hell house has supernatural origins, basis of story came situation writer trey callaway had child; , friends created fake murder scene in abandoned barn , convinced friends killings occurred there. children go there scare each other, 1 girl running away , breaking leg after believing saw attacking ghost. human antagonists of benders , however, devoid of supernatural elements. shiban made decision not surprise audience, have winchesters face had never encountered before. nightmare , tucker tried write character max sympathetic, , had difficulties in deciding how end episode. writers decided have him kill himself prevent him doing more harm.

starting off on series, kripke excluded vampires due affiliation buffy vampire slayer. wanted supernatural have own identity, became more comfortable on time. writers intended vampire-episode dead man s blood self-enclosed episode, kripke s introduction of colt tied final 2 episodes of season. addition pleased writers of penultimate episode salvation because colt gave brothers way fight meg , provided reason kill winchesters friends. gamble , tucker crafted latter storyline because felt kripke allow inclusion if died. when writers not come winchesters doing while meg on loose, split episode 2 stories; john go after meg while brothers protect family azazel. tucker felt opened emotional stuff guys , brought themes of show , tied season nice big bow . similarly, kripke believed revelation of john being possessed azazel in devil s trap had be, completed 2 main storylines of season—finding father , tracking down demon—at same time, had them find both characters in 1 body.

influences popular culture

while supernatural , urban legends inspired many episodes, storyline aspects influenced popular culture. inspiration wendigo s appearance in wendigo came creature featured in music video aphex twin song come daddy . human features added design due wendigo s human origins, , creature given ability mimic human voices create creepy effect . however, kripke not pleased final appearance of wendigo, deeming him gollum s tall, gangly cousin . because of this, creature not seen throughout of episode. shapeshifting scenes in episode skin , kripke chose base transformation on of american werewolf in london, using prosthetics , makeup rather computer-generated imagery. ring s samara influenced titular villain in bloody mary , though kripke felt ended looking similar character due grisly appearance , use of speed ramping create time-manipulation effect. visual effects supervisor ivan hayden, on other hand, believes more of homage.

filming

though pilot shot in los angeles, principal filming rest of season took place in vancouver, british columbia. local sites served shooting locations, of dead in water taking place @ buntzen lake , climax of wendigo occurring in britannia beach mine. likewise, riverview hospital functioned mental institution in asylum . though production has recycled sets other television series— benders made use of previously-built western town, while warehouse-loft set of shadow originated series tru calling—most episodes require construction of new sets due constant change of setting. production team, however, created reusable standing sets in form of motel rooms frequented winchesters. each episode presents different theme disguise motel-room set s repeated use, different colors, bedspreads, , curtains being used. episode provenance , instance, displayed disco-themed motel room.

music

the synthesized orchestral score of season composed christopher lennertz , jay gruska. pair try base music on visuals of each episode, third of each episode s score being newly written supernatural legend. example, off-angle shots in dead in water accompanied repetitive , discordant notes. well, spoken words such water , die followed lower pitch because lennertz felt created gurgly water sound. electric cello , woodwinds helped create big emotional tone in episode home , lennertz feeling final cue became cinematic musical moment . fit in episode s ambiance in asylum , gruska made music subtle; lennertz felt creepy-crawly snake sneaking along ground . conversely, lennertz matched theme of traveling evangelists in faith using small 76-key piano damaged , out of tune. attached small items such coins , paper clips keys create rattling noise, making piano seem old , crappy . lennertz played bluesy gospel music during sermon scenes involving reapers. because felt there snake-oil salesman vibe episode, included armenian duduk due association snake charming. score of hell house , on other hand, had lighter tone coincide episode s humor. example, music scenes involving professional ghost hunters used percussion instruments mimic mission: impossible theme.

however, recurring characters have musical themes attached them. pilot episode, lennertz used piano solo discordant notes , reverberations create nasty -sounding echo effect scenes involving mary , jessica s deaths @ hands of demon azazel. lennertz returns in nightmare , including when sam realizes connection shares demon , max. episode dead in water first use kripke feels winchester emotion , involves sorrowful , reverberating piano notes on top of strings. plays when brothers make connections other characters. well, there variants of guitar line used humorous brothers theme in many episodes, including pilot , hell house , when brothers having fun. gruska writing meg masters theme scarecrow , lennertz reused music in shadow took scary notch imply viewers both more important , more devilish other creatures in episode. penultimate episode salvation , lennertz incorporated musical elements used throughout season.

in addition score, series makes use of rock songs, being selected kripke s private collection. among many bands featured in first season ac/dc, blue Öyster cult, creedence clearwater revival, lynyrd skynyrd, , bad company. rock songs featured in road far montages @ beginning of select episodes recap previous events. first done episode salvation , in entire season recapped kansas carry on wayward son , subsequent episode—the season finale—using triumph s fight fight .

effects

while intended vengeful spirit s attack done physical special effects in dead in water , cgi found more practical.

to depict supernatural aspects of show, series makes use of visual, special, , make-up effects, stuntwork. while various companies contracted los angeles-based production of pilot episode, subsequent episodes being filmed in vancouver required new crew hired. company entity fx performed visual effects pilot episode, ivan hayden taking on visual effects supervisor rest of season. crew required design of external airplane shots in phantom traveler scratch using computer-generated imagery (cgi). well, created time-manipulation effect titular villain in bloody mary altering capture frame rate of camera. randy shymkiw acted special effects supervisor, , department found episode asylum quite challenge because 1 scene has vengeful spirit collapse dust. made casts of character s torso , hands, , had find perfect mixture in order have casts remain solid disintegrate when needed.

the visual , special effects departments overlap, such in mary winchester s death scene in pilot episode. because character pinned ceiling , burned death, actress samantha smith required lie on floor 2 propane pipes spouting fire approximately 5 feet away on either side. actual burning of character, papier-mâché body ignited on fake ceiling. when burning of titular creature in episode wendigo not sufficient using special effects, wire-frame mannequin wrapped in steel wool burned, scene being composited original footage draw out wendigo s death. make appear hook man invisible scrapes hook along wall 1 of scenes in hook man , wire placed inside plaster walls , pulled out; wire later digitally removed in post-production. in episode bugs , cast had sealed in small area hundreds of bees, , stung despite wearing special costumes cuffs sewn sleeves , pants. however, bees did not show on camera, of them appear in final version added cgi.

in addition digital effects, series features stuntwork. lou bollo took on stunt coordinator after pilot episode, , big scenes involved actors, though stunt doubles used moments. final lake scene in dead in water , in dean must save boy after pulled underwater vengeful spirit, jensen ackles had hold onto young actor pulled down ten feet water divers. actor portraying vengeful spirit had wear wetsuit under costume due extended period of time required spend in lake. ackles , jared padalecki performed of fight scene featured in skin , , took 4 hours learn fight choreography. however, stunt doubles brought in scenes in thrown bookshelves , through coffee table. episode shadow , rather filming @ exterior location scene of meg masters being thrown out of window street below, decided not depict impact, instead having winchesters down @ body after landing. thus, filming of allowed take place in studio using body double.

throughout filming, various scenes make use of 3 effects departments. scenes involving floating, fiery spirit of mary winchester in home , small , slim stuntman wearing fire suit lit on fire , raised air on wires. spirit s transition mary s normal form, smith stood in front of black background wind blowing onto her, , 2 scenes later combined in post-production. many aspects went filming crash scene in season finale devil s trap . interior scenes used in first moments of impala being hit, jeffrey dean morgan, padalecki, , ackles required sit in car, in front of blue screen. sheet of lexan placed close passenger-side window protected actors window shattered, , @ same time, cannons beneath frame blew out pieces of rubber glass give appearance window exploded onto them. scenes of actual crash, car , truck cabled winch, , driven toward 1 another. intention cannon launch impala air @ collision point, causing car barrel roll truck drives away. however, car became stuck in truck s bumper, forcing cannon fail , truck go out of control. truck began jackknife, stuntman driving saved flipping. mistake ended being beneficial scene, kripke , director manners found pretty real .