The TV Zone

Big week in soapland. On Friday, CBS’ “Guiding Light” goes to a new production model of shooting on-location and in more realistic four-walled sets with handheld cameras, trying to freshen the look of the uber-traditional daytime drama genre.

And this Thursday afternoon at 3, ABC’s “General Hospital” starts climaxing its big Text Message Killer story by employing movie-like special effects to portray victims dangling from rooftops and cars plunging off bridges.

“GH” dabbled in these effects in its late-night SOAPnet spinoff “Night Shift,” and now the green-screen/CGI process makes its way to daytime. If it flies with producers and viewers, the low-budget soaps would be able to stretch their production dollars without costly night/location shoots or crashes/explosions.

“GH” is well-positioned to take advantage of Hollywood effects, since it shoots in a sprawling old movie studio there. (“All My Children” and “One Life to Live” work in cramped Manhattan stages.) Helping create the Text Message Killer climax (running over at least the next three episodes) was Stargate Digital, a visual effects company that also works on such high-profile projects as “Heroes,” “ER” and “Nightmares and Dreamscapes.” Stargate also creates "Ugly Betty's" Manhattan and Queens exterior “location” shots on Hollywood soundstages. (Look real, don’t they?)

See “GH” before and after examples below.

And if you catch their work on “GH” this week, let us know what you think.