Thursday, October 17, 2013

Michael Bay and Crew Attacked on Transformers 4 Set (Updated)

The final leg of principle photography for Transformers: Age of Extinction has begun in Hong Kong, China. Unfortunately, the first day did not go smoothly. Hong Kong newspaper, Sharp Daily, is reporting that three men attacked the crew for not receiving part of the rent fee for using the location the production was at. Seibertron's translation indicates the altercation ended up involving the three suspects, three policemen and Michael Bay. I can't say surprised Bay got involved as I suspect he has a trait that (good) bosses should have - he can berate his team but beware anyone else that does it. It ended with the three under arrest and no one injured.

I would not be surprised if the men thought they could trick the American crew into giving up more money but regardless if legit or not, it was a pretty stupid thing to do. Considering the Chinese media and government is paying close attention to production I suspect those three are about the have the communist equivalent of the wrath of god come down on them. Both the Chinese government and Hollywood are hoping to have more "cooperation agreements" on future productions but Hollywood studios are not going to be as willing if their cast and crew are going to be in danger.

Update: Michael Bay posted on his site about the incident, providing more details. Thanks to Feris O. for the heads-up. Meanwhile, Jeffrey Marshall provided an image of the "real" culprit.
Hi, it’s Michael.

Yes, the story is being passed around is not all true! Yes, some drugged up guys were being belligerent asses to my crew for hours in the morning of our first shoot day in Hong Kong. One guy rolled metal carts into some of my actors trying to shake us down for thousands of dollars to not play his loud music or hit us with bricks.

Every vendor where we shot got paid a fair price for our inconvenience, but he wanted four times that amount. I personally told this man and his friends to forget it we were not going to let him extort us. He didn’t like that answer. So an hour later he came by my crew as we were shooting, carrying a long air conditioner unit. He walked right up to me and tried to smack my face, but I ducked threw the air unit on the floor and pushed him away. That’s when the security jumped on him. But it took seven big guys to subdue him. It was like a Zombie in Brad Pitt’s movie World War Z—he lifted seven guys up and tried to bite them. He actually bit into one of the guards Nike shoe, insane. Thank god it was an Air Max, the bubble popped, but the toe was saved.

Then it took fifteen Hong Kong cops in riot gear to deal with these punks. In all, four guys were arrested for assaulting the officers.

After that, we had a great day shooting here in Hong Kong.

27 comments:

  1. That is pretty badass that Bay isn't afraid to jump in the mix when it comes to his crew

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  2. Hong Kong is not communist...

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  3. hong kong and china are two different countries.

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    1. lol HK is not a country. It has it's own political system but it is not its own country.

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    2. Government Customs agencies still consider HK a seperate entity from China.

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  4. Six Pipez
    "Dude... What the eff?????"

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  5. Could be a publicity stunt as well.

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    1. Indeed it is. But most people seem sheep enough to believe the silly Michael Bay story of a Bruce Lee clone attacking him with an air conditioner...

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  6. What is wrong with people these days, man, every transformers movie has had a problem

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  7. Hongkong became part of China when the UK ceased colonial rule years ago. It is most certainly communist now.

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    1. For your own information, I'm a foreigner living here and let me tell you that Hong Kong is not a communist place as you are saying...Hong Kong is a great place man...

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  8. No. James. Hong Kong is not communist. My god, how people are uninformed. You obviously have not been there

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    1. @Anonymous10/17/2013 12:47 PM: you are the one that clearly doesn't have a clue. Hong Kong is part of the chinese communist regime. There is no democracy in China and in Hong Kong.

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  9. read the letter from michael in his web page, explained everthing there. jajaja an air conditioner unit

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  10. Me Grimlock will stomp a mud hole in those three morons!!

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  11. Bayformer indeed

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  12. he should put himself in the movie as Bumblebay

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  13. The all seeing guardian

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  14. Ironhide44:
    An air conditioner Unit?! WTF?1 HAHAHA!

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  15. Bay is in good shape he will kick all yall asses.

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  16. Age of extinction cant wait for this movie hi nicole

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  17. It clearly is just marketing here. Anyone seriously believe that a bunch of Bruce Lee clones attacked Michael Bay and the security guards first didn't pay attention then couldn't stop the chinese Furies ?

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  18. Dudemus: I think they have the wrong guy, starscream had nothing to do with the altercation, why is he being hauled off by police...talk about rights violations...lol

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  19. Just in Dudemus, Starscream was arrested but later released due to lack of evidence. Was just announced on cnn. He was only there for picture and autogragh signings. Heard he's a really nice guy/robot. The kids loved him...hahaha!

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  20. of course its a publity stunt, notice how bay puts product placement in his explanation "Brad Pitt's movie World War Z"!? or "Nike Air Max"!?? and how that shoe saved a mans toe XD Mike has no space where he doesn't take advantage of showing off products!

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  21. http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-movie-toys-products-30/transformers-4-age-of-extinction-bumblebee-and-optimus-prime-dress-up-costumes-178618/ Costumes about AOE characters. Even some kind of glimpse from Bumblebee's robot form.

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