The series is based on an idea by British writer Kelly Marcel.[5] Alex Graves signed on to direct the pilot.[6] Brannon Braga serves as showrunner.[7] Australia was chosen after producer Steven Spielberg vetoed Hawaii because he wanted a different filming location from his 1993 film Jurassic Park.[8] The two-hour pilot was filmed over 26 days in late November to December 2010.[5] It was shot in south-east Queensland, Australia, with locations in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Gold Coast Hinterland.[9][10] The shoot was plagued by torrential rain and additional material had to be shot in 2011, with a total estimated cost between $10 to $20 million to be amortized over the season.[8][11] More than 250 sets were constructed.[12] An episode takes eight to nine days to shoot, like most television dramas, but six weeks in post-production, twice the television average.[5] The average episode budget is about $4 million.[11] Fox Entertainment president Kevin Reilly stated, "This thing is going to be huge. It's going to take an enormous production commitment."[13]
In an unusual decision, Fox skipped ordering just a pilot, and instead immediately ordered thirteen episodes. This was partly due to financial reasons, as the large Australian sets are expensive to dismantle and rebuild. Despite this decision, the producers denied the production was over-budget, with Peter Rice explaining instead the show is "a very expensive... very ambitious television show". Kevin Reilly continued, "We're not in completely uncharted territory here. The start-up cost for the series is definitely on the high end. But it's not some bank-breaking series".[14] With only 10% of Cretaceous-era dinosaurs recorded in the fossil record, the producers decided to supplement the series with ones which might have existed; paleontologist Jack Horner was brought in to help create realistic creatures for the period and different from those of the Jurassic Park film franchise.[8]
In June 2010, the first cast member was announced – Jason O'Mara as Jim Shannon.[15] In late August, Allison Miller joined the cast.[16] In September, Deadline Hollywood reported that Stephen Lang signed on to play the role of Commander Taylor.[17] An executive producer, David Fury, left the series as a result of creative differences.[18] In September, Shelley Conn landed the female lead role.[19] In October, Mido Hamada was cast as a security head,[20] while Landon Liboiron, Naomi Scott, and Alana Mansour were cast as the three children.[21] In November, Christine Adams was cast as Mira.[22] In May 2011, Rod Hallett was added as a series regular.[23]
The cast and crew returned to Queensland, Australia on May 20, 2011 to continue production on the first season. Filming commenced on May 25, 2011.[24] With a long production process on the series,[12] it was announced that the first season would consist of thirteen episodes to finish airing in December 2011.[25]
[edit] Broadcast
In an unusual decision, Fox skipped ordering just a pilot, and instead immediately ordered thirteen episodes. This was partly due to financial reasons, as the large Australian sets are expensive to dismantle and rebuild. Despite this decision, the producers denied the production was over-budget, with Peter Rice explaining instead the show is "a very expensive... very ambitious television show". Kevin Reilly continued, "We're not in completely uncharted territory here. The start-up cost for the series is definitely on the high end. But it's not some bank-breaking series".[14] With only 10% of Cretaceous-era dinosaurs recorded in the fossil record, the producers decided to supplement the series with ones which might have existed; paleontologist Jack Horner was brought in to help create realistic creatures for the period and different from those of the Jurassic Park film franchise.[8]
In June 2010, the first cast member was announced – Jason O'Mara as Jim Shannon.[15] In late August, Allison Miller joined the cast.[16] In September, Deadline Hollywood reported that Stephen Lang signed on to play the role of Commander Taylor.[17] An executive producer, David Fury, left the series as a result of creative differences.[18] In September, Shelley Conn landed the female lead role.[19] In October, Mido Hamada was cast as a security head,[20] while Landon Liboiron, Naomi Scott, and Alana Mansour were cast as the three children.[21] In November, Christine Adams was cast as Mira.[22] In May 2011, Rod Hallett was added as a series regular.[23]
The cast and crew returned to Queensland, Australia on May 20, 2011 to continue production on the first season. Filming commenced on May 25, 2011.[24] With a long production process on the series,[12] it was announced that the first season would consist of thirteen episodes to finish airing in December 2011.[25]
[edit] Broadcast
