Kreisberg recalls replying, We just got our hands on this one!
Finding a new star seemed infinitely harder than casting his predecessor.
Enter Grant Gustin, whod had a breakout turn onGlee.
Gustins tactic was not to play Allen remotely as a tough hero.
I just tried to be a real guy and leave it at that, he says.
Let all the superhero stuff come later.
We literally have hundreds and hundreds of crazy ideas to draw from, Kreisberg says.
The trick is to convincingly show him sprinting around Central City without it looking cheesy.
(There are about 200 F/X shots in every episode.)
We have a whole floor of artists working around the clock.
(I start sweating pretty much as soon as we put it on, he says.)
Gustin often sprints on a treadmill (cranked up to 9.0) set against a greenscreen.
Its actually still too slow.
I have to overexaggerate my upper body like really speed up and not take normal steps, he says.
But Allens romantic life will develop more slowly especially his crush on Iris West (Candice Patton).
Likewise, producers will roll out the Flashs powers over time.
A few, such as racing up the side of a building, will be hit in early episodes.
The producers compare Allen to an athlete learning his limits; gradual discovery is part of the fun.
Still, dont expect them to wait too long.
I think we have to get to stuff faster probably than we otherwise would have, Kreisberg sighs.
Everybody is telling stories a lot faster on TV now.
Good thing this show has a hero who can keep up.Oct.
