By Stig Editor 
🔥 ‘Smallville’ Co-Showrunner Kelly Souders Warns TV Producers: “Stop Giving Notes When Everyone’s Gone Home!” – Bold Advice at Seriencamp
At the recent Seriencamp TV festival in Germany, Smallville co-showrunner Kelly Souders delivered a no-nonsense message to producers everywhere: respect your team’s time especially when the day is done.
During a candid panel session at the festival, Souders drew applause and nods of agreement when she said, “Don’t give notes when everybody’s gone home.” Her comment wasn’t just a throwaway line it was a powerful critique of how the television industry sometimes undervalues the work-life balance of its creative teams.
Souders, who helped shape the hit superhero drama Smallville, explained that late-night notes not only lead to burnout but can also harm the overall quality of storytelling.
> “People do better work when they’re respected,” she said. “There’s a difference between being thorough and being thoughtless.”
She emphasized that effective communication should happen during working hours, not as a last-minute email at 11 p.m. when writers and editors are trying to rest or be with their families.
A Call for Culture Change in TV Production
Souders’ words resonated with creatives in the room especially those who’ve experienced the exhausting grind of rewrites, endless revisions, and unclear direction. Her message was part of a larger conversation at Seriencamp around mental health, sustainability in showrunning, and how to protect the creative spark in high-pressure environments.
> “If you want better work,” she added, “create a better environment.”
The comment adds to a growing chorus of industry voices advocating for healthier, more humane working conditions behind the scenes of our favorite shows.
A Veteran Voice with Impact
Kelly Souders isn’t just any showrunner she’s been behind beloved series like Smallville, The Hot Zone, and Genius. Her insight carries weight, especially in an industry slowly waking up to the importance of writer and crew wellness.
Her advice at Seriencamp serves as a reminder that storytelling doesn’t thrive in chaos it thrives in collaboration, clarity, and mutual respect.