Revenge of the Fallen Props for Auction

If you have the money Profiles in History is auctioning props and collectibles related to Transformers and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Items for sale include the Hero Bumblebee robot (not sure if same as one used at the various premieres), the 1977 Camaro (Bumblebee) used in the first film, Jetfire's cane/landing gear, various NEST gear and weapons, Tomb of the Twelve pieces, stunt Matrix prop, actor costumes, Hero Wheelie RC truck, and more. The only caveat is the value of many of the props is measured in thousands of dollars. Even if you don't have the money, the images of the various props are interesting. Each piece includes an image, description and size and comes with a certificate of authenticity from Bay Films and Paramount Pictures.

Two ways to view the available pieces. Either click here, or go to the Profiles in History and type "Transformers" in the search field. Thanks to Scorpio for the link (via the Allspark).

More Transformers Concept Art

Below are links to more concept art created for Transformers and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen to go with previous posts. Found by Waveride.

Production Illustration - few ideas for the Nemesis and a Constructicon
Storyboards - Several sketches for Ratchet, Sideswipe and more.
Paul Ozzimo - Unable to enter the site but the slideshow on the home page shows some images.
James Clyne - Art from the first movie, might have posted before but can't hurt to see again.
Tim Flattery - 15 images from the artist that I believe are for the first movie.

Transformers: Prime Directive?

The new rumor going around is that the official title of the movie will be "Transformers: Prime Directive" rather then "Transformers: The Movie". Personally, I think the title will simply be "Transformers". Since this is the first movie, a subtitle is unnecessary and doesn't particularily help sell the movie and "The Movie" add on was only necessary back in 1985 as to make a clear distinction between the movie and the cartoon series that was still airing at the time. That distinction is no longer necessary.

This information on the title was apparently leaked by unconfirmed new cast member Glenn Morshower ("24"'s Agent Pierce). Not sure what his role is but probably one of the military roles, base commander or some such.

Another script review and location info

IESB.net has a script review on their site that is apparently several revisions beyond the one done by latinoreview.com.

- Confirmed that everything that LatinoReview described is correct and still in the draft they read
- Soundwave maybe replaced with Soundbyte on Air Force One
- Name aliases remain, too early to say if they remain
- Megatron is an alien jet rather then a real world device
- Megatron doesn't show up until about the 3rd act.
- The Megatron and Optimus Prime battles takes place in the Nevada desert rather then LA (probably to save money on CGI effects if true).
- "More Than Meets the Eye" is said more then a few times by characters rather then the one time it probably only needs.

More revisions to come I am sure.

Also click here for a little write up on a 10-day shooting schedule planned at Holloman Air Force Base for the movie.

Real Transformer Script Review?

LatinoReview.com has posted what is claimed to be the real Transformers movie script. In the review the writer provides some possibilities on the TF characters and his opinion of the opening Act of the movie. The guy seems excited and convinced of the validity of the script he saw. Don Murphy cryptically weighted in on his message board with the message "Rumors Rumors Everywhere and Not a Drop to Drink." Make of that what you will but it seems that Don uses these messages as a "maybe its true" response. Only time will tell.

The highlights of the review:
- Autobots: Optimus Prime, Jazz (some car), Ironhide (pickup truck), Ratchet (Ambulance), and Bumblebee (camaro rather then a bug).
- Decepticons: Megatron (form not indicated, my guess is a tank), Starscream (F-22 Raptor), Devastator (M-1 Abrams Tank), Monecrusher (mine clearing vehicle), Vortex (MH-53 Pav Special Ops Chopper), Skorponok (mechanical scorpion, ug), Brawl (police car, double agent me smell if true), and Soundwave (a boombox...in Air Force One).
- Story is TFs are after the object that imbues all life to Transformers. Nope not the Matrix. Its being called the Energon Cube. Yeah, I know, in the cartoons energon cubes are the TF equilvant of oil barrels. Actually this bit of info makes this review smell of truth. Its the kind of "fact" that I can see writers getting wrong or the powers-that-be demanding a different name since "Matrix" or "Matrix of Leadership" would be viewed as confusing the audience. Nevermind that kids got it just fine back in the 80s.
- The script opens one million years in the past, with a summary of the TF war and why want the energon cube and how it got to earth.
- It then jumps to 1897 with the discovery of a decepticon in artic ice.
- Then it jumps Qatar in the present just before the Decepticons attack a US base to download information about the 1897 discovery.
- The expected geeky but good guy gets the girl in the end triangle is Sam Witwick, Mikalela Barnes, and currently boyfriend Trent Demarco. Must rescuing of girl why bf acts life an idiot/coward shall insue I am sure. I know this stuff is practically rulebook #1 for action flicks but its still a little bit annoying to see over and over again. Maybe they will suprise us by not having the guy get the girl since in real life he probably wouldn't. Maybe tease it by having him meet a girl named Carly at the end as a wink to the fans that know a little bit to much about Transformers (heh).
- Sam's father is named Ron. I wonder if the nick Sparkplug will rear its head. Be curious to see if they figure out a way to work it in without it seeming silly. Probably best to not try. Anyway Ron, as a gift for his grades, gives Sam the money to buy his first car, which happens to be Bumblebee.
- Maggie Marconi and Glen Whittman work for a think tank called Rand Corporation.
- John Keller recruits Maggic to help with information from the Qatar attack.
- The script explains how TFs select their disguises.
- Also indication of a chase sequence and battles.

Any case read the review, use your judgement on validity. I am inclined to think the does have a script draft, just maybe not the finalized draft. The reason why is that so far much of the leaked information has turned out to be correct. Also when Don gets cryptic on rumors, it seems to be his way not confirming or denying the rumors. When someone does that, more often then not, there is a large element of truth to the story.

Transformer Budget Revisited

A post way back when (too lazy to look up) I guessed the budget for the live action Transformer movie to be at $75 million. Based on this article, that number is nuts and way to low. Apparently $200 million is the new norm for a blockbuster summer film. King Kong is estimated to cost $250 million, X-Men 3 $210 million, and Superman Returns $260 million. Mission Impossible III is estimated to be in the $150 range, something I wouldn't have thought based on what's on the screen (much is probably wasted on Cruise's payday).

How those numbers are compiled is not explained. Typically listed budgets include the cost to make the movie, not the cost to pre-develop a movie or the costs to promote it. Regardless, this indicates that Transformers is going to cost a lot more then one would have guessed at first. I am now thinking the cost of the film is going to fall in the $175 million range, most of it due to the special effects costs.

What would this mean for the film? Well, in part it means that the movie, by necessity of the budget, would have to focus on the human cast as much as possible (within reason). It would also have to focus more on the TFs in alt mode then robot mode. Its cheaper to have a real world yellow car in a scene then a moving CGI robot for instance. I also figure that they will do what they can to minimize the amount of time a TF is on screen with the human cast even if only in the background. I expect they will use the robot to human height ratio to an advantage (just a leg in the back, etc). The more they have to CGI, the higher the costs.

Now this isn't going to mean the movie will suck, it just means they have to be judicious on when to use the Transformers. On the plus side, this means that they can't drop 10 million for a single actor to do a voice or some other idiotic sum of money which at least gives the original voice actors a few percentage points advantage on getting the nods. On the minus...they will want at least a few A-list actors that may help fill seats on opening weekend because of costs. I am of the school that its not the actors but the story that fills seats. Word of mouth (with a healthy help of advertisement) is king. In Hollywood that opinion seems to be in the minority regardless of the last 2 plus years proving otherwise in the lack of power that an A or even B lister has.

Another minus is that Bay can continue his streak of pretending he is a sensitive artist by focusing too much the lives of his characters to the detriment of the story such as in Pearl Harbor, The Island, Armageddon and a few others. I think the only time he got the ratio right was The Rock. Its a hard balance to walk in action flicks, and its not one he or his editors have been navigating with success.

Hopefully though, I am once again off my rocker on most of this cause to be proved wrong would mean the film gets rave reviews, lots of repeat seats, the original actors for key characters, and the birth of a franchise.

"Their War. Our World." - Ton of TF info

Ain't It Cool News.com just posted a description of a sit down meet with Transformer director Michael Bay. All the below is early ideas and designs and therefore subject to change, but it does give some insight on where the movie might be going.

"... he is going to audition the original voice actors for the Autobots and Decepticons. He said it's no guarantee they'll get cast, but he's going to give them a listen. His main fear is that the actors have aged since the cartoon and that age may be noticeable in their voices."
- if 40 years had passed, legit concern but 20, naw no worries.

"The tagline was 'Their War. Our World.'"
- Not bad really

"...full support of the US Armed Forces"
- always good for things go boom movies

"...if the world ever had a giant robot problem how we see the Armed Forces deal with them in TRANSFORMERS is how we'd see them deal with them in real life."
- Sounds like lots of booming will happen.

"first film to be able to use the new fighter jet, the F-22." - Starscream?

"He showed me another robot, a Decepticon called Scorponok"
- Not a name that has come up before in rumors. Interesting choice since he was third or fourth wave toy, one of its mode was a 'city', well TF version of a city anyway.

"...first look at Optimus Prime...was seeing was him without his battle mask. ...still a Mac truck."
- Hey confirmation that Optimus is in it and honoring at least some of what makes him Optimus in form. Sounds like the mask will be used as it was in later incarnations. When he talks no mask and when fighting, has the mask. For those not sure what talking about if look at the toy, Optimus has a plate that covers where a mouth would be.

"Shia's character ends up with a banana yellow '70s looking car with lots of wear... and of course, that car is a Transformer."
- Bumblebee? But what yellow car. Hasbro couldn't make a Alternator toy for Bumblebee as a New Beetle because the company didn't want to associate with war toys. Of course, those kind of attitudes can change when the car could be front and center of a major hollywood movie. I wouldn't mind the yellow car being a beetle but at the same time I don't want VW to get rewarded for silly attitudes. We shall see I guess.

"It starts in the Antarctica with a man chipping away at a giant ice wall."
- Finds a robot hand, reminds me of the beginning of Dreamwaves Transformers mini-series. Not a knock because it makes logical sense. In a world mostly explored by humans, Antarctica is about the last place could hide giant dormant living robots and not have to spend precious time explaining it to the audience or setting up the discovering. With using the frozen poles, the setup is automatic and needs no explanation.

"We will actually see Cybertron"
- Ooh sweet. I hope they assign the CGI to a gooey TF fan who can add lots of goodies and textures to it. For them it would be a labor of love.

"From the animatics, the action seemed to be huge and what you'd want from a movie like this. Of course, Bay's fingerprints are all over them, even at this early stage of planning. I saw fights between fully transformed Autobots and Decepticons that had them plucking lamp posts out of the ground and smashing the other with the blocky concrete end, I saw them jumping all over each other, only to be shot back by an arm cannon, I saw mid-air transformations from a Jet into a robot as it collides a standing robot in downtown LA... "
- Sweet. If the studio has any sense, some of this stuff will get "leaked" to the internet to spend the next year being discussed and disected on sites such as youtube.com. More people talking, the better. When people talk, they get curious, when they get curious, the will buy tickets.

"The sequence has Optimus and a Decepticon speeding along a crowded freeway, the Decepticon's truck flipping over any vehicle in its way. Optimus is catching up to him and transforms as he gets close, keeping the tires on the ground and avoiding as many cars as he can. The transformation was everything Transformers geeks would want to see big. It was smooth and ended with Optimus crouching, the wheels still on the ground."
- Hopefully Optimus kicks butt in ways not seen since the animated movie.

The teaser trailer is being released 6/4/06. Shooting starts in May.
Full details here.

Human character rumors

AllSpark.com has posted from a source a list of some of the human character names that may show up in the movie:

We've gotten some very interesting casting information for an upcoming movie. Our source wishes to remain confidential. The following roles are being cast for a movie currently being referred to as "Prime Directive", to be directed by Michael Bay for Dreamworks. Also note that these character names may not be final.

Sam - teenage male, somewhat nerdy, but ultimately heroic.
Miguela Barns - teenage female, Sam's love interest.
Cpt William Lennicks - 30s male, leader of the military.
Maggie - female, really hot, really smart, works as a codebreaker for the government.
John Kellar - 50's/60's male, US Secretary of State.
Glen Whitman - 20's male, technogeek, comic relief.

We've also been told that Shia LaBeouf has been cast in the role of Sam. With the recent rumour regarding Shia LeBeouf's casting in another Michael Bay film, draw your own conclusions (think "Blue Harvest").

---
The credibilty of any rumor should always be in doubt but a post on Don Murphy's board where he states "Miguela is not a name in the script nor is Lennicks- this guy spells like TurdTurdTurdTurdTurdTurdTurd/Pavel," lends it some credibility. Not exactly a straight up denial, indicating at least some of the info is correct.

Since this listed characters are a generic action flick cast so that lends it a degree of credibility. You have the usual young smart guy who taps his heroic side, with girlfriend that in real world wouldn't give him the time of day, the thirty something not couple that becomes couple in the end one of which is the muscle and the other the brain. Finally you have the male comedy relief (never female for some reason). You would be hard pressed to not find such ingredients in any action film.

As always time will tell.

May 22, 2006

May 22, 2006

Thats all the post says. The assumption is that is the first day of principle photography for the film. Its the official start date for the film, not including the months of pre-prep.

Transformers has the Greenlight

It is official as posted over at the Don Murphy's message boards (the pic is a flashing greenlight). What this means is that the movie has the full weight and backing of Dreamworks etc executives. Technically its no guarantee that a final product since the studio can still pull the plug anytime they fancy to do so. However, a greenlight combined with a budget of at least $75million but more likely $100 million, its pretty much a gaurantee that the movie will be made.

Now just need news on what the story is about, casting, special effects, characters, and lots more.

TF Budget Decided

As reported by TF producer Don Murphy, on his site the budget for the movie has been decided. No amount indicated but it wouldn't suprise me if its in the 75 million dollar range. What this mainly indicates is that the movie is more likely to happen as the dollars tend to be the biggest sticking point in getting movies made. The next hurdle is probably casting. Some say screenplay but this is a popcorn movie, so as long as a few things go boom, the execs will be happy.

On the plus size the more they have to save for effects the less they can spend on huge stars whose salary is usually above and beyond what they are worth. For those holding hope for at least some of the orginial voice actors...well don't hold your breath but at least there is still hope.

More Non-News

As reported here, its seems that TF movie producer Don Murphy has provided another FYI. Update sounds rather dramatic based on the info provided. To sum, basically the script is still being finalized, filming sites still being toured, budgets being discussed but lower the better, casting is being debated but nothing decided (Don likes Cullen (Optimus Prime) and Welker (Megatron) but what he likes and who will be cast are world's apart. Based on how all these things go down could determine whether or not the film could go forward. For all the talk, their is no greenlight on this film until the first shooting day (and even then) you can't assume a film will be made.

ILM Transformers Test Footage

Thanks to Super_Megatron over at tfw2005 boards he found what appears to be test footage for a CGI transforming car next to a human created by Industrial Light and Magic. Its not bad, all thats missing is the transforming noises.

The thread is here.
The footage is here. (Quicktime)

I recommend to those out there that are able to set up mirror sites as I am sure Industrial Light and Magic and the producers will try to stop the footage as soon as it shows up on their radar. Why? Beats me, seems like good, free publicity but who knows.

As for what this means for the cast of characters...well we know some will be cars :P, but no finalized list has been released.

Design and location scouting has begun

According to a post on TF movie producer Don Murphy's forum, design and location scouting has begun. What does this mean to mean and you? Nada. Yeah Paramount just absorbed Dreamworks but that usually doesn't effect on going projects...yet. Basically this is a good sign that a script is almost done and the movie is still go.

Transformers in USA Today

USA Today had a little write-up on the rising return of the 80s with toys, comics and movies. Its an interesting read.