Transformers 2 Comment From Don Murphy

Don Murphy has provided a little insight on why there has been no official announcement of Transformers 2 from Paramount and Dreamworks. Its a foregone conclusion that a sequel will happen but the official greenlight and therefore the greenbacks that follow, has yet to be given.

From Don Murphy's message boards:

--- Thanks to those of you who saw SHOOT ‘EM UP and loved it. It seems that if people saw it they did indeed love it. I will always be most proud of it because it was the first Montford/Murphy credit of many and because it is a film that slipped under the radar and should not exist. People shooting at babies and hiring lactating hookers. Subversive. For those commenting on the box office, just note that we showed up on very few screens comparatively and New Line seems to have been unable to make people that aware of the film. Our hope is, since no new action film arrives for over a month, that we’ll have some staying power. But who the hell knows. It’s a great film and all you can do as producers is TRY to make great films. I’m proud of my partner Susan, of Rick who also produced the film and of Michael Davis who is just amazing. If you haven’t seen it, check it out.

--- For those of you most anxious about TRANSFORMERS 2, the silence you hear is primarily because people are fretting about a presumed strike in June 2008. Will it happen? I don’t know- does the public care about strikes anymore in this day and age? What do rich people have to strike about anyway? I don’t have any side here ( you hear about the writers and the Producers but that actually means the STUDIOS) I just think stopping work is kind of pointless. But since no one wants to be filming IF a strike happens, everything needs to be done filming by the end of May 2008. So this is affecting the lack of news about Transformers 2 at least for now. Stay tuned.

I included the Shoot Em Up bit cause I found it to be a very entertaining over-the-top escape movie. I recommend seeing it if you haven't.

As for the strike, this is referring to a writers strike that may occur in Hollywood if negotiations between the Writer's Guild and the various studios fails to work out an agreement when the current one expires in May 2008. A strike would stop the production of scripts therefore no movies and television shows to put to air. As a result of the probably strikes, most studios are banking movies and only greenlighting movies that will be complete before the deadline. The reason for that is odds are the actors and directors will also support the strikes by not necessarily striking but not by making things easier either since their own contracts will be up soon and any "progress" the writers make will be a benefit for them later on.

What is the strike about? The usual - money. In this case, the writers want a larger slice of the both in first runs (TV, theatres) and later runs in DVD sales, rentals and online purchases of movie and television productions. The studios, of course, would rather not give them this money.

Personally my sympathy falls on the studios. Yeah big business and all, but its real simple to me - They put up the risk, they should therefore benefit from the rewards. They pay to get the movies we enjoy made. Where do you think the $200 million for Transformers came from ($150 for film + $50 marketing). It didn't come from the actors, directors, or writers. They where paid by the studio for their work. The studios invested the money. They should get the profit. If those other groups want a piece of the profits, they should play a part in the investment, ie paying out some of that $200 million cost of the film.

The actors, the writers, producers, etc, they got paid for what they put in. Their risk, and therefore their reward should be the same - their paychecks. If the movie succeeds, they often benefit in the form of bonuses, backend deals and the like. If it fails, they shrug it off and move on. The studio though loses. Often a lot. See Bruce Almighty. Its cost $150 + marketing to make, only make around 60 million. That's over $100 million they lost on the gamble. Did the actors have to pay back their fee for the failed movie? The writer? The producers? The director? Of course not. They invested their time and got paid for it.

What really annoys me is they want sympathy from john q average. I have said it before and will say it again, I really wish Hollywood business was the way the real world business worked because then all of us would be rich. Imagine if on the team that developed the iPod and iPhone. In real world business, they got paid for services rendered. Apple owners their work and benefits from it. The team probably got a bonus and a pat on the back. In Hollywood business though, they would get 5% of every iPod, accessory, and song sold for the device. If later the tech is used in other devices, they would get a percentage of that. If 20 years later, the tech popped up again on something, they would get money for that too even if had nothing to do with it. They would be stinking filthy rich if the real world business followed Hollywood business. What if you get paid a percentage of every burger flipped, report filed, program built, and so forth? I think we would all love that.

In Hollywood though, the creation is its own entity that doesn't recognize it exists because someone with deep pockets allowed it to exist. Instead its perceived was only the efforts of the writers, directors and actors that cause it to exist at all and make money. This idea also ignores that nowadays probably the most important ingredients of equal stature if not greater are the set people, makeup, various effects crews, and the other legions that get a film done right. Transformers might not have been as good without the director and actors, but it would have failed no matter what if those other crews where not equally on the ball.

The whole strike thing just bugs me because its sold as a gesture of nobility when really its pure greed. The Guilds decry studio greed while themselves are doing the same thing. At least the studio is putting up the risk. When actors, directors, and writers start doing more then just taking a paycheck for services rendered, say actually themselves writing checks that get films made, then I really don't want to hear about unfair it is that their lack of investment isn't getting them more money. Real simple, share in the risk, then can share in the reward, until then its a bunch of noise that is summarized as "give me more".

As for Transformers 2, it sounds like no official announcement will be made until an agreement is reach between the studios and the Writer's Guild. If a strike takes place, that could be awhile to. On the plus, once its annouced, to make up for lost ground and lost money, things will probably move forward very quickly.

Michael Bay Message

In a message from Michael Bay over at his forums, he talks about the hard work of doing Transformers, especially the robots. He always talks about the influence or rather the lack of influence that Tom DeSanto and Don Murphy had on the movie. The original post is here, or was rather as it seemed to have been pulled.

Update: Pulled text of post by request. Decided to out of fairness to respect the request.
Another update: It appears based on recent mentions of the Wrap Poem and posting of Bay's message on another site (Defamer) that if it becomes news I will repost the text.

Luckily someone over at Seibertron.com had already grabbed the entire message. This is the Hollywood behind the scene stuff I like, the politics and intrigue that goes on cause the public face is shiny happy people and with the money and egos involved there is no way that is the truth. Thanks to Chad for the info over at the blog forums.

The message:

The movie is over.

Wow that was a hard one, but I must tell you it was so much fun. The most difficult actors I’ve ever worked with, besides Bruce Willis, are Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. They took every single one of my days for a year. But they are well worth the work. I’ve just traveled 36,000 miles around the world (in two weeks) and had the most amazing premiere at the Taormina film festival in an ancient, Greek-built theatre that existed well before the birth of Christ. I loved seeing the reactions to the film from so many different cultures. This movie really travels around the world. I’m so excited for everyone to see it. Thanks to all you that supported me on this film.

Just so I set the story straight, my budget started a $145 Million it crept to $150 and some change – I’m very proud of that – the fact that we are half the cost of all these other summer blockbusters. I see people doubt that out on the net, but anyone want to challenge me I’ll put a ten thousand dollar bet down on the table right now.

Even when the studio tried to ship me out to Canada or shoot down with Aussies - I looked but I knew we were dead up there. I needed my crew that I have been loyal to for years, they are the best in the world. Besides I believe American movies that portray America, should be made in America. I cut my fee 30% so I could make this at home. I knew this was right for the movie so I asked the other producers to join – Ian and Lorenzo did, and the two others (that came attached to the project) Tom Desanto and Don Murphy did not. That was my introduction to them – they did not want any part of their fee going to make a better movie. Things like that don’t usually sit well with me.

Now that the movie is done I get strange questions from the press. Like “how did Tom control the set”? What? “ How did Tom and Don control you?” What the fuck. “How was it working with Tom and Don who knew Transformers so well?” “We heard Tom wrote the story – he had a 90 page treatment, right?” Okay stop. Let me take you back in time. Tom and Don are very nice guys, but let’s get some facts straight.

Tom had one creative meeting with me for one hour and ten minutes to be exact about a year ago. He told he was the über fan boy and was going to protect me from the minefields. The type of minefields on the Net like “Damn you Michael Bay” “You wrecked my childhood Michael Bay” and other various web death threats I received. Tom proceeded to tell me how much he had problems with the robot designs and script issues. I realized he was worlds apart in my vision. I said thank you very much, and then showed him my office door - I never really spoke to him again other then to mutter hello. He would occasionally come to the set with guests like it was some theme park. I never spoke creatively with Don. I read his notes kind of trashing the script and making me and the writers feel like a big shit pile. But during production Don was nice to me, he knew I was not going to talk creative with him.

One day not too long ago, the writers of our movie Alex and Bob called me in a panic saying all of a sudden after the movie was almost finished in post that Tom was applying for writer's or story credit. I was appalled because neither the writer’s nor I ever saw any treatment. Well, he applied for credit, but the Writer’s Guild shot him down, denied him.

But what made my blood curl was something that was on the Net with Tom at the Saturn awards on IESB.net where they interviewed him about the movie – a movie I might add he had not seen yet. He acted very much like he did. Check it out as he vamps through the questions, and how Hugo put his “thumb print on it”. Give me a break the guy was lying through his teeth - he had seen nada, nothing until the press screening.

So that’s the real truth, I had to say it, cause I'm tired of answering these questions.

What these guys did do was stuck with a ‘silly toy movie’ and pushed it around town and kept the faith after everyone turned them down, always with the hope that maybe someone somewhere would make it. Now I commend them on that. Hats off to them, but trying to taking creative credit in the press let me just say it – irks me. Too many credits are given to too many people who had nothing to do with the movie. Hell even investment bankers with not the slightest idea of how to make a movie all of a sudden are big producers in town.

I guess that’s how it goes in Hollywood.

Bay

Update: I re-added the message because this letter is indication of a problem between Bay and Don Murphy and Tom DeSanto that ultimately removed those two form the Transformers II as producers.

Fan Event In Hollywood, CA

FYI for those out in California from the producer of Bay's Touch (hilarious fan film)in regards to a fan event for the first screen of Transformers:

My name is Justin, producer of Bay's Touch

We are planning a great fan event at Arclight Cinemas in Hollywood, CA on Monday July 2. Producer Tom DeSanto will be greeting the fans, and bringing some of his TF friends along to say hi. Live Music, a TF costume contest, TF trivia contest, and appearance by Stan Bush are also in the works.

Please help get the word out: Arclight Cinemas Hollywood is the place to be on opening night! http://www.arclightcinemas.com

Cheers,
Justin Sewell
Slave Boy Films

DeSanto For Dinobots In Transformers 2

Tom DeSanto is a "huge Grimlock lover" and thinks it would be good to introduce the Dinobots and Constructicons in the sequel.

From the Movieblog post:
“It is really gratifying that as an old school Transformers fan and after almost six years of work the movie is just over a month away from live action big screen immortality. Like X-Men and Battlestar Galactica this is a project I have wanted to see made since I was a kid. As a huge Grimlock lover myself there was just no room in the first movie for the Dinobots, we had to focus on the original Transformers with Optimus Prime and Megatron. But if the box office allows us to make a sequel, the door is open to a lot of the Transformers universe. I have a very cool idea on how to intro the Dinobots and Constructicons. How cool would that movie be?”

Nothing to complain about in that statement. Not sure how a "realistic" version of the Dinobots could be done but all for the trying. As for the Constructicons, just the idea of a photo-realistic, 10000+ movie parts merging of 5 Transformers into an uber-former just sounds like loads of fun. Hate to be the CGI guy that has to build that...but the viewing would be fun.
(source)

Another (non) Update Regarding Welker as Megatron

Don Murphy provided an updated on his message board about his movie projects including Shoot Em Up, Faces of Death and few others.

For the one we care about, Transformers, he posts:

--- ITEM!- TRANSFORMERS- The cut screened for the studio last week. I am up in the rain so I missed it. The studio is excited. This blockbuster continues to show just HOW big it will be. You will believe a robot from space can kick ass. Here are the answers to all the questions I get on this one-

---------- No decision from Michael about Welker yet. Honestly I don't know how that is going to turn out. I know that I am on the record as wanting Frank. I know that the fans have made it clear that it must be Frank. I don't think it would be ludicrous to have him. But it is Michael's call.

---------- No I won't be with Skorponok at the Vegas ShowWest. It will be fun to hear about what a great idea he thought Transfomers was since he wasn't involved with it from the beginning. I don't know if anyone noticed a previous interview I did, but let's repeat it- EVERY studio passed on this movie. EVERY STUDIO. Only after that happened did all of a sudden interest reappear. The only people who KNEW this was going to be huge were Tom Desanto and that guy with the goofy picture above. Believe it as you hear about history being rewritten. Or ask Skorpy about it yourself. In the meantime Shia will be there too. He is a GREAT GREAT guy. Hi Five him for me if you are there.

-----------Yes there will be another trailer with more details. Probably at the start of the summer season. But you can watch the one we have a few more times if you want to. It is still on line.

Thanks for everything Stooges.
Hang tight!

So new trailer is coming, I am thinking (hoping) with Spider-Man 3. Sadly I think they dropped the ball on the second trailer as I get the impression it was seen by a very few in actual movie theatres. Netizens are more informed then the average movie goer, but its the average movie goer that allows movies to make the megabucks that equal sequel so theatre eyeballs are more important then online eyeballs (for now anyway). 300 is proof of that (go see if haven't).

As for the pic above, that is Peter Cullen (Optimus Prime) and Frank Welker (Megatron) together. So now you see the men behind the voices of the TFs you grew up on. The pic is from Shia LaBeouf's MySpace page. I like the Teenage Ninja Turtles in the background but no hint is given on context but I would guess a recording studio office (only offices have plants in corners). Maybe together for Transformers post production recordings perhaps? I guess time will tell.

Tranformers Movie Bay, Gibson and DeSanto Interviews

IESB.net took advantage of the General Motors Oscar Party to score some video interviews with Transformers Director Michael Bay, Producer Tom DeSanto, and star Tyrese Gibson.

The main piece of information of note is that Bay indicated that the announcement for the voice of Megatron and the casting in general. Bay said it "is getting down to the wire...some of [the cast] will be unknowns because we tweak them out alot." By tweak I think adding, warping, whatever to make the voices more otherworldly. The sound effects are being done by the same folks that did Peter Jackson's King Kong.

Adding fuel to the speculation is an insider for the site indicated that Welker was cast in the movie, but not as Megatron, something that 71 year old Welker didn't confirm or deny on his official website, "As of this moment, to my knowledge, they have not cast Megatron and I am still very much in the running."

Tom DeSanto was asked if rumor regarding if Tom Kenny was voicing Starscream in the movie. Tom will be Starscream for the upcoming animated series "Transformers: Heroes", but Tom DeSanto didn't confirm or deny the rumor. DeSanto was very pleased with fan reaction to the footage shown at Toyfair. Future reveal plans include possibly Wondercon and ShoWest. In regards to Welker and Megatron "plans are inching forward....think fans will be happy." Slightly out of context but basically the idea is still wide open for Welker to reprise his role. In unrelated TF news, DeSanto also said working on a City of Heroes movie and adapting the Splitting Infinity book. The cartoon will be its own universe, set in the future that isn't related to the movie.

Tyrese didn't add any new info, just warned to summer movie competition to steer clear as "Transformers will take over the summer" and that there is no forward movement on the Luke Cage movie.

Click name below for video of each interview:
Michael Bay - Director
Tom DeSanto - Producer
Tyrese Gibson - Master Sgt. Epps

Revised Trailer Online

Don Murphy has posted this cryptic message over on his message boards:

Fan Influence

You guys got a major, but subtle alteration made to the trailer ALREADY.

Chills and Cheers are Guaranteed.

Tomorrow morning on the Official Site.

Be there.

I will link to it as soon as I can.

What does he mean? Go to the site, click to enter the site, notice the nice CGI Cybertron, then go to the trailer section. A nice little bit has been added at the end.

Don Murphy's Final Post of '06

Don Murphy once again provided an update on his various plans including Transformers. The main points of note is the official confirmation of the December 20th online arrival of the trailer, the first cut of the film will be completed next year, ILM is doing its thing and the push continues to get Welker on board. With the first cuts of the film arriving, that means the film as written, shot and designed, including the TFs, is pretty much a lock and now its just a matter of tweaking and completing. This sound simple but its still going to be months for the film is done with all the effects completed, voices recorded, and so forth.

The post:

HEAD STOOGE: The Last Sunday Post of 06, Now On Saturday
Come gather ye Stooges and Hear a New Tale....

This will likely be the last posting of 2006. I am basically gonna miss Christmas this year, since Susan and I are knee deep in WHILE SHE WAS OUT, prepping in Vancouver for a February shoot. We hope to go right from that into FACES OF DEATH, and then who knows what next year will bring. (WE 3 ? Yes Please!) If it is a year like 2006, then please, more, more!

SHOOT-EM-UP is now tentatively scheduled for September 7, 2007. The film is amazing, exciting and funny as shit. Can't wait to show you the new trailer.

The TRANSFORMERS trailer comes out December 20th online. I'm not going to hype it. If it doesn't silence the haters, nothing will. The reality is that this film comes out July 4th, 2007, and the producers and the studio are already talking sequel. We know what we have is an exciting and amazing summer blockbuster.

The Don Murphy Message Board was set up by a fan of mine to discuss my movies. Soon, certainly by the new year, there will be a banner on top of the page advising that Transformers discussion should be moved to www.transformersmovie.com . I mean, you can post whatever you want wherever you want I guess, except there is no point anymore. The film is shot. The first director's cut comes in next week. ILM is rendering the film. We all think that the film kicks ass. But, no matter what you post, it isn't changing. All the polls in the world no longer make a difference. It seems to make more sense to discuss the movie on the movie site.

I know that from the beginning of this board, I have done my utmost best to make the fan base as happy as I possibly could. You guys demanded Cullen and despite resistance from some quarters he is in there. I feel Welker will hopefully come in there as well. There were things you wanted that frankly made no sense in a live action movie. And there were things I could not deliver, because I was only one voice among many. I think the board served its purpose and along the way created a community and for that I am most grateful.

I hope you'll all have a great Holiday Season and be good to one another out there. Make the internet a little less hatefilled. Enjoy movies that look good. Enjoy your families and take care, and hang tight, Stooges, hang tight.

We 3 was an excellent 3 part comic series from Grant Morrison about government created cybernetically enhanced cat, dog and rabbit that escape and discover the world for the first time with mixed results. If filmed close to as written, could be good but Murphy's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen leaves me wary. Murphy has excellent taste in properties, its the constant "re-imagining" of an already proven concept that is the headscratcher. Anyway still plenty of TF news to be leaked for next year including the voice casting and the final designs of all the robots. Also probably around late April early May will be the final trailer for the film to begin the push for July 4th dominance over Die Hard 3.

Don Murphy Responds to Leaked Picture

To say the least Don Murphy is angry about the leaked Skorponok image that Ain't It Cool News posted (and now has removed). In post on his forums titled "Harry Knowles Should Be Imprisoned", he makes clear he feels a law was broken:

Seriously, he should.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/30809

Now, under the provisions of the Digital Millenium Copyright act, his loser Ain't It Shit site, has to take down any copyright violations that he is notified about immediately. This is under the Safe Harbor provision. It is how You Tube currently defends itself (I say currently because the movie and tv industry will soon cripple YouTube). However, Harry acknowledges in the very posting that he knows he is violating the law, that the picture is protected, but he posts it anyway, also knowing that it will spread all over the internet (already within minutes one of the talkback rodents has "mirrored" the image). Thus, he has violated the law of the United States knowingly and willfully. Maybe no prison could contain his whole body, but at the least he should be held liable for enough in damages that Aint It Shit closes down and their constant illegal behavior, from reviewing stolen scripts to posting reviews from private test screenings held up as wrong and harmful and illegal. I've asked the studio to investigate. Stay Tuned.

I have a feeling that what Don Murphy wants to happen and what will happen are two different things. For one, the various copyright acts are not as straight forward or clear cut as Don Murphy pretends them to be. Most of the previous "victories" in the past have more to do with the defendants not having money to pay a legion of lawyers then having the law on their sides. Its why most sites will pull pictures when asked to as its really not worth the cost of a fight. The future fight over You Tube may just be what sets precedents in cases like these as it would be the first time the big boys (RIAA etc) have gone after a company that has the money to fight back (whether they have the will though is unknown).

Another factor that Don hasn't considered in his anger is that the movie studios use AICN as much as the site uses them. How else do you explain the access they get to movies? The free DVDs, previews, interviews, trips and so forth. For all the hatred Don has for the site, the marketing department clearly has love for them and makes use of the site frequently. The various sneak peaks that AICN news has had in regards to the Transformers is proof of that.

Also, alot of the "leaks" on movies is much like in the political arena. Its usually planned by the "offended" party as a trial balloon to see what the reaction is. In this case its possible the leak was to see if the response was negative or positive and to help create buzz for a forth coming trailer that in all likelihood will include images of Skorponok as that phase of the filming was completed first so the necessary CGI work would be the farthest along. Don may not have approved of the leak but that doesn't necessarily mean the many people in the chain of command of the studio system didn't.

Even if in this case its an unauthorized leak, AICN is used too often as a marketing tool by the studios to allow a single producer with a clear vendetta to take any action against a site. A "leak" on AICN is basically printing money in free advertisement and any marketing and business student can tell you the value in that.

Don Murphy Update

Don Murphy has provided an update on his forum, basically saying post-production work continues. No mention on when the next trailer is coming. Later he rants about various sites printing rumors and what not as news. He has a point, news and rumor are two different things but where the line is sometimes hard to determine. For example, theoretically the released images of the Bumbleebee, Megatron and so forth could be "rumors" since most are unconfirmed by members of the movie...yet clearly these are real designs (but subject to change) therefore it is news. In the end, its up to site editor and the readers to filter they can and hope they are right most of the time.

Anyway the part that matters for this site:

So what is up on Transformers? The film is being edited. The film is being sculpted. The CG is being rendered. Basically- the film is becoming the film. Nothing real exciting there. Everyone always gets excited about the shooting of a film but the film really becomes what it is going to be during post production. That is where it is for the time being. Nothing much to tell there.

I started talking with some people to see what is going on with something I am looking forward to- the MAKING OF deluxe hardcover book. Full of behind the scenes photos and artwork and stuff. Nothing to be announced yet but everything feeling good.

We tested SHOOT ‘EM UP agayne this week. Lots of positive reviews on AINTITSHIT News. This is a kickass film. Can’t wait for you all to see it.

Also, as Diabetes linked a few weeks ago, MIGHTY FINE the clothing company is gonna do some great shirts for the film. They have offered to make a special one for the fans. I know it will have GIANT FUCKING ROBOTS are coming, and probably some Jolin artwork, Will let you know how to get one- for free!- when I have more info.

That’s the end of the post 85% of you want to read.

Hang Tight Stooges, Hang Tight.

Update from Don Murphy

Transformers Producer Don Murphy posted another missive on his forums Sunday. No real news is reported except to confirm wrap of shooting and that the leaked Megatron design is not confirmed as final:

The Sunday Posting

In Which I Ramble

You know- no one from the production ever confirmed anything that was leaked to Ain’t It Shit News. So it may have been actual photos or it may not have been. The bad poet Diabetes has reported on here that Megatron’s head will be changed. From what? Did we ever release an official pic of Megs? No sir we didn’t. I CAN tell you that Megs’ head will not look like he did in the leaked pics. This was done solely because of the leader of Seibertron.com’s delicate work on the process. He is so revered throughout fandom, Hollywood and the world that we decided to make the change. It was NOT because we were trying to make the fans happy. NO SIREE.

Last week Susan and I went to the party for the premiere of TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE- THE BEGINNING which Michael Bay Executive Produced. They held it at what used to be the coolest, best restaurant in Southern California, Le Deux. Susan and I loved the quiet French Courtyard and the tasty food. It closed close to three years ago. The new place is owned by Ashton Kutcher. I think HE got punked. It is now a nightclubbery shithole with frozen pizza and overpriced liquor. That’s the trend in the world today. Great place turns to shithole with shocking regularity.

The wrap part was on Wednesday for Transformers and it was nice to see the cast and crew together for one last time. It was held at yet ANOTHER Hollywood club, and Michael was there feeling pretty good, Shia was there with his pals and everyone had a nice time. I’m really looking forward to the next trailer- the haters will be silenced once and for all.

I’ve got two cool news stories about NEW films that should pop this week. I hope you guys are well. We’ve been having fun with this experiment and it will only continue to be interesting.

Hang tight Stooges, Hang Tight!

The first paragraph regarding Megatron's head, is referring to a poem by Diabetes (see below) regarding a re-design of Megatron's head spearheaded by Murphy. Odd little poem, worth reading, but considering its been known for a while that none of the leaked pictures have been confirmed as final design, I am not suprised that some tweaks are in the works.

The poem:
Congrats to Whiny Murph
He hasn't staked his turf
But on Wed nite there was
A wrap party becuz
And what did young me find
But a good source to unwind
And I learned that Meg's head is changin'
And it's Murphy did the arranging!

Good work. Now do the rest of our bidding.

I am Hollywood Diabetes and I am a lineman for the county

With reply from don Murphy:
Hey Rhyming Simon---- don't reveal shit till I say it is so

(source)

Producer Tom DeSanto Interview on Transformers

IESB.net has landed another video interview with the makers of Transformers. This time its with Producer Tom Desanto (who also produced the X-Men Trilogy).

The highlights:
- Filming almost finished, still have some days to do in Alaska (probably for the discovery of Megatron by Sam Witwicky's ancestor). Once Alaska shoots finish, shooting will be completed (unless pick-ups later).
- Leaked designs are not final, still being worked on but producers have heard the complaints (as many Don Murphy posts have indicated).
- Final designs will be tweaked up to the movie release date, but I say before then, maybe as early as the New York Toy Fair in February as Hasbro has to have em ready for production and marketing.
- Megatron will have an Earth form. Design unreleased but speculation is a jet.
- Frank Welker is still in the running as the voice of Megatron with many proponents involved with the film pushing for him.

The complete video is here.

(source)

On a completely unrelated note, this weekend was good for me in the Transformers toy department (if costly). Masterpiece Starscream arrived and he is amazing. Its a must have for any fan. In addition, for whatever reason, Fry's Electronics is one of the first retail outlets in the entire country to get the Transformers Classic line. You pay a little extra for getting them early but they are sweet toys that will remind anyone of their G1 counterparts so worth looking out for.

A Transformer Wrap Poem

Diabetes over at the Don Murphy forums has posted a rather odd poem marking the wrap of principle photography on Transformers. If your not a fan of the movie then the poem is probably for you. In short, its blames Director Michael Bay for bad decisions and Dreamworks Head of Production Adam Goodman for giving Bay total control, resulting in making a movie that is "still loads of crap." An example would be indications that Bay has final say on all casting decisions.

While the film script I read and Bay's recent history isn't exactly a confidence lifter, I have hopes he will tap his "The Rock" past and create a kick-butt movie and abandon his attempts to prove what an artist he is when trying to explore the human condition. That isn't his thing and he needs to quit trying to make it so. Any case, I still have hope for the film. There may be more to the poem but it seems a bit insider for my understanding so if people have a clue, please share.

The poem:

The film is a wrap?
Wow how about that!
It’s still loads of crap.
And the Stooges swallow this pap?

Murphy and Desanto lead the cheerleader charge
While Skorponok takes credit by and large.
The fact is today
There is nothing okay
The content of the film’s not fit for a barge.

Let your sugary friend answer the clamor
All you sweet kiddles want in on the drama?
The trouble beginning to end
Is named A-D-A-M Goodman

New studio head Snider
Decided him to fire
But then in a Hail Mary pass
Goodman kissed the right piece of ass

“Do not fire me, no do not please”
The chubby young Goodman said on his knees
I can do something you don’t want to do
I can control Michael Bay just for you.

New studio head Snider
Knew he’s a liar
But decided to stay out of the mess
“Sure Mr. Chubwon, you control Bay-san
And keep this boy’s movie shit off my dress”

Then dumb Mr. Goodman
As only a dunce can
Proceeded to hide in the sand
For the first time in history
It was a complete mystery
How one director had ALL of the power!!!!!!

The film is what it is and that’s all that it is
Most trufans will want to take a long whiz
And though valiant and Brave Tom Ian and Don slaved
Fact is Goodman gave the keys to the Kingdom to Bayed.

If you hate the dumb story
And realize the characters are a worry
And wonder how Bay could screwup so bad
Remember the missive that Sugarboy brought you
It wasn’t just Michael but Goodman too!

Thanks Shan for the link.

No Ark Appearance?

Based on a leaked script and unconfirmed rumors, its looks like the Ark, the ship that brought the Transformers to Earth, is not apart of the movie continuity. As one of the script writers Roberto Orci asked "One of the questions we always had about the ark: Why would aliens who moonlight as vehicles need other vehicles to travel inside?"

I could come up with many of reasons. One being that interstellar travel isn't really apart of the Transformers capabilities. Another is power and speed. Bigger ship, bigger weapons, faster the travel, usually things that those at war like to have. Finally, the original ark was both a home, base, repair bay and recharging station. Even robots need that.

Final reason is it would explain that annoying hole in the script of why Megatron gets iced in the 1800s but the rest of the Transformers don't go looking until the 100+ years later. The Ark crash landed and everyone was in stasis. Nice, neat and would make a pretty nifty opening pre-credits.

I am sure fans could come up with dozens of practical and not so practical reasons for the use of a spaceship by transforming sentient robots from another world. Have at it in the comments.
(source)

Producers Tom and Don Video Interview

IESB.net has a two part video interview with Transformers producers Tom DeSanto (on left) and Don Murphy (on right). Both are apparently huge comics books and movies fans with both owning 10,000+ comics (me to but want to sell mine) and apparently thousands of DVDs (hmmm I bet the surround sound is sweet). Gives them geek creds at least. Very very wealthy geeks. Ah the things I would buy. Anyway, back to the videos.

Tidbits of note:- Transformer rights where purchased in May 2003 from Hasbro.
- Most of the studio exec pitched too at the time where to old to understand or know Transformers but at second pass they indicated that maybe hit the slightly younger demographic execs to show that the interest is there (how giant transforming robots laying the smackdown using current FX tech wouldn't be popular is beyond me).
- Tom believes that Transformers is character driven sci-fi with a great mythology (yet oddly they use very little of said mythology, maybe future sequels?).
- "The fans trust you guys."
- "...Surprised and pleased about how passionate the fans are. ...There is a solid fan base that Tom and I and the film makers are trying to service and keep happy. At the same time there is a mistake to think there is a universality in that fan base." I still say we are hearing from the vocal minority when it comes to complaints and most know that the cartoons are just not worth copying. They are filtered through childhood eyes, but when see em as adults, they suck to be blunt.
- Apparently an early script had Arcee in it. News to me anyway.
- "At the end of the day you have to stay true to the heart and soul of what Transformers are." Basically, all said and done, the goal isn't to copy the cartoons.
- The voice of Prime was decided because at the point in the film making process where a decision needed to made to move forward. They are not at that point with Megatron, but Frank Welker has been auditioned for the role and his name is being discussed. He's still in the running for the role. Ultimately, the decision on casting is Michael Bay's, not the producers.
- Soundtrack decisions are still in the very early phase.
- Tom challenges fans to bring non-TF lovers to see the movie and make them a convert.
- Don asks fans to hold their opinion until they see a 3-D CGI polished moving Transformers.
- The end of the interview was about future projects including the PG-13 animated Teen Titans (no relation to the Cartoon Network version).

The article, video part 1 and part 2.

Don Murphy's Weekly Post

Don Murphy posted his weekly random thoughts on Transformers and fandom in general. Suffice it to say, he probably isn't going to make any friends with it.

Weekly POsting- Brought to yo by the NUmber 10 and the Letter "C"
So – a busy week- what have we learned? Here’s ten thoughts, questions and observations from the week.

- Preliminary, not final, two dimensional designs for Megatron and Starscream’s head get “leaked” bringing on a horde of fan haters
- A small percentage of the fanbase are not very good readers. They take last week’s plea to reserve judgment until they actually see a Transformer move in a trailer or clip as a brush off. Many of the same fans just learned to walk erect this past week as well it turns out.
- Big visit to the set by the fan community this week. Lots of interviews with lots of different people, not just me. Let’s see what the fans think after these start coming out.
- Found out about a secret attack site by Covenant. At least we know what he’s made of now.
- Bowspearer visited the cornfield and made a triumphant return. God I like that guy’s pluck.
- People have emailed me for posting at AINTITSHIT news. As anyone here knows, I hate that inaccurate rumor site. I was wronged years ago by Harry. While I now think Moriarty is a stand-up guy he is barely involved with the site. Therefore, be advised I would never be caught dead at AIS. And you shouldn’t be either. These are the people who continue to leak stolen, copyrighted early images from the film. No honor, no pride.
- In the midst of all the haters, one hater promoted and pushed himself far and wide to get some much needed attention. We stood up to his piss and vinegar. He spread his campaign across many sites. We decided to delete the battle as we were giving him what he wanted- attention.
- As I said in the interview yesterday…people want Welker. They want the Transformers noise and the song. They hate Starscream’s head. They hate the flames on Prime. They don’t love Megatron. While far from a consensus, I get the complaints. I am sure that others on the team get the complaints. If not, I will make sure they get them.
- We changed the look and shape of the board. Now it is even more of a free for all. Everybody- PILE ON GRIMBOT!!!!
- To the real fans both here and at Seiberton, Allspark, TFW, Tfans- EVERYWHERE. Thanks for your feedback and your intelligent suggestions. They are being heard above the hate that a few newbies insist on spewing.

Hang Tight Stooges, Hang Tight.

As far as what blog or board he is talking about with a hater, I have no idea what he is talking. While I understand as a producer, Don hates Ain't It Cool News, as a fan I am glad its there. As for the set visits, already some have hit the web and will be posting on them as find them. Mostly I will just summarize what, if any, new information they reveal and leave the reading of them up to you.

Update: Here is the link on the story of the blogger that apparently set off Don Murphy. Kreon posted about how he felt that the movie shared very little with the source material beyond giant robots and didn't appreciate being talked down to by Don. That got the attention of many, as the 200+ responses showed. Don Murphy then replied to it, basically calling the guy a desperate attention seeking loser, only with many more words. Kreon then replied to it here and here, with Don making one last dig in the above. Not sure why this person, among the gigantic amount of noise being made right now, became the focus of Don Murphy's anger, but only Don can explain.

Personal Message from Don Murphy

Transformers producer Don Murphy has posted a personal message on his forums. The main thrust of the message is patience. With all the reveals from this weekend, the cast list, toy designs, alt mode pictures, well the ire of the Transformers fan base has been heard (but I say just a vocal minority has been heard).

Hey there Stooges---

There’s a lot of good stuff to tell you about showing SHOOT-EM-UP to the studio and them loving it… about another project that looks like it will happen… about something I so desperately wanted to do in 2002 but got wronged by a friend, and now the karma turns. Like I say there is a lot of good stuff to tell you.

But let’s talk Transformers shall we? There has been a lot of leaks of photos, scripts, tidbits both true and false. Roberto and Alex spoke on a webcast this week. Lots of things coming out which are costing people their jobs. Good stuff, bad stuff.

But you know what? You haven’t actually SEEN a damn thing yet.

Now the negative ninnies out there, the people like Bowspearer who just live in a cesspool of hatred, will say “We’ve seen enough. This isn’t my Transformers.” To those people who are so old school and stuck in their ways I say the following- Go away. Seriously. We don’t need you here. You hate and you haven’t SEEN a damn thing yet.

Oh sure, Prime doesn’t look EXACTLY like he did in the cartoon. The Autobots are only five. The Decepticons don’t have Soundwave. There are complaints out the wazoo. Well you know what?

I have complaints too. There are things I wanted in this film which are not going to be in there. But I know what some of you know- filmmaking is not a democracy. Hell, Adam Goodman is in charge of production at Dreamworks. He’s the guy who BOUGHT this film. He is working day and night to get this ready for July 07. There are things I know he wishes were in the film. But they aren’t. You’ve talked online here to Brian Goldner. He owns the property but everything is not EXACTLY as he wishes. Tom Desanto is the most devoted producer out there- I know there are things he wishes were in there. You saw that Alex and Bob didn’t get everything they wanted. And Michael Bay, who spends 16 hour days shooting this mega-film? Michael Bay who sets up every shot himself and oversees to the point of operating the camera at times? He’s made a zillion compromises to get a great film he can be happy with.

No, filmmaking is a series of happy accidents. When Tom and I shopped this project around every studio passed, including Dreamworks and Paramount. When those two studios and others came around, we ended up with Dreamworks because Steven Spielberg and Adam Goodman (and creative VPS John Fox and Marc Haimes) knew that this was a BIG cool idea for a franchise. Hell, those guys wanted it in cinemas THIS summer. It’s now 07 because everyone wants to get it right. No one is trying to make anything but a great film here.

When I say you haven’t SEEN anything, think about it. You’ve seen a toy mold. A truck still. A Bumblebee model with a guy underneath it.

You haven’t SEEN Bumblebee transform. You haven’t SEEN Optimus walk or Megatron awaken. You’ve seen sketches, designs and stills. Most of you get it when Brian Goldner says “We are doing something here that has never been done.” He’s right. The technology is there to make a LIVE ACTION Transformers film. To make several of them. But this is not a cartoon. There are cartoons already. Hasbro is making more. This is something new and different. LIVE ACTION robots.

So you negative ninnies- I’d like you to give us a break. And if you don’t, I’d like you to go away for a while. Seriously. Come back in six months. Wait until you SEE something that Michael and ILM and all of us have done. Not some leaked bullshit from some coward. Wait till you SEE the magic that I believe will be Transformers the Live Action Movie. Then if you don’t like what you see, hate away. Till then, I challenge you to be a grown up and reserve judgment. Even the majority who seem to like what you see have a right to hate later on.

We’re trying to do this right- to appeal to the fans and the rest of the world. Cullen is hired. Welker is going through the process. Other things are being reviewed and considered.

There will always be someone who wants to hate. That’s so easy.

But I challenge the haters to wait until they SEE a Transformer in Live Action.

And the rest of you, most of you, thanks for the many suggestions and kind words. It continues to be a surprising and fun ride.

Hang Tight Stooges, Hang Tight.

I have to agree with Murphy (and no not kissing butt cause frankly why bother) on this one. Patience is the watchword. Its simply to early in the process to have all this hatred. Look at X-Men, Superman, Spider-Man, Lord of the Rings, well the list goes on. The more the fans seem to think they know what is best, the more we seem to be wrong.

I personally like what I have been seeing so far and I was not just come lately fan. I have a collection of G1 on up toys that would make many green with envy. I also have the original DVD collection of the G1 Transformers cartoons and the movie. Trust me, they are not nearly as good as you remember them to be. Go back and watch them with the eyes of an adult. The very LAST thing you want them to do is copy the cartoon and those designs. If did that, then it might as well be the Brady Bunch, why waste the effort if you can just pretend its 1984 and basically make the movie a joke.

All involved are in this weird delicate balance where on ooriginalof the pendulum swing is orginial cartoons and its universe. Lots of great ideas in there. Lots of bad ones to. On the other end of the pendulum swing you have this massive "re-imagining" of crappy worthy proportions (say Miami Vice or Batman and Robin). The goal is the middle of the swing. You take the idea of the orginial that work (real world objects that change to robots at war with each other lead by Optimus Prime and Megatron) but add a modern beat to it (current objects, sharper, deadlier, realistic designs) with what I hope is an entertaining story. So far I have faith that this is being done.

Now to the movie folks I add this, don't assume the vocal minority speaks for the majority. Also, as the Snakes on the Planes (and Serenity) box office showed, the internet does not a success make (anymore then a $20 million a movie star does). The hype machine of the internet is maturing and eventially it will become all that us netizens hope, but that age has not yet arrived. You still have to satisfy John Couch Potato and trying to listen to all of us fandom suggestions is a sure way to fail in that goal. No one being told that but I say again mimicing the 80s cartoon would be an insane mistake.

In the end, thanks for your diligence, I all appreciate the input we are allowed and I hope the vocal minority doesn't cost us that peak we are currently enjoying in the movie making process of this movie. I just want the best damn movie talent and money can buy and from what I have seen, it seems we might just be getting. Us fans just need to have patience to see what unfolds and the movie folks need to have patience with our passion.

- Updated link back to original source of message, Don Murphy's message board. Note to self, tfans.com not fans of sourcing.

Don Murphy on Casting Peter Cullen

Transformers producer Don Murphy has once again shared some of his viewpoints on Transformers the movie over on his forum. Most interesting bit (for me anyway) is "I got to spend the early part of the week with a lifesize, gigantic Megatron which was surreal and so cool you’re all jealous." Yep I am jealous.

and then the Cullen thing. As you all know when we started this grand experiment two years ago, Cullen and Welker were the ONLY Thing you gave me any consensus on. I’m serious, because I read everything you write, no matter how shitty. And if someone suggested something, half of you would shout it down. And the ONLY thing you overwhelmingly agreed on was that Prime should sound like Prime and Megatron should sound like Megatron. Which makes sense, especially since both actors are alive and well. So I pushed your agenda. As some of you know, that was not an easy one. My own partner advocated celebrity voices. Then I showed him the results of your guys’ input and he immediately joined the bandwagon. Ian Bryce came to the show well in to the process and saw the results and supported immediately. John Rogers needed no prodding god bless his pointed head. One or two Dreamworks executives also supported from relatively early on. The interesting thing is that the director never gave an opinion any way. He had a lot of us telling him that there was no choice, really, the fans had spoken. But he had Skorponok and a lot of people at Dreamworks and Paramount FIGHTING actively not to do it. The forces of Cullen kept the push going. Several weeks he came in and auditioned, which was all anyone could ask the director to do. Then he came back for a meeting. And now, Optimus Prime has his voice back. And there is much rejoicing.

before you negativists start asking wotup with Welker, hey we are all working on it. Fact is I was told he was harder to arrange audition time with and his schedule--- hell I don’t know. No one wants Cullen without Welker. I will not say that the director has made the decision because he hasn’t.

My gut tells me that Michael Bay weighs every decision QUITE STRONGLY. You have to remember that. HE finally okayed Cullen once HE was convinced. And should Welker happen, as I know everyone hopes, it will happen when he can make the decision. Which, quite frankly, is not an urgent decision to make at this moment.

The entire post is worth reading, click here. Does this mean when it was reported that Peter Cullen auditioned for the role and Don Murphy said "don't put words in my mouth", he was covering up this reveal for comic-con? If so, bravo man. Good play.

Movie Budget Apparently $140 Million

A bonus of Don Murphy's post on pic posting is that the budget of the Transformers movie has been revealed when he stated "If it were my $140 million."

That is a lot less then my estimation of $200 then $175 million. Shan repeatedly said in various post comments said it was $145 so he was the closest of I saw anywhere. He gets the "No Prize" award for that.

That size budget is actually fairly low by today's standards for summer movies which seem to hover in the $200 million mark. Then again, since this film has so far avoided the highly priced (and in my opinion highly overpaid) "A-list" actors that usually populate those films, they probably saved $30 million or so. Well at least for now since the voices haven't been cast yet but I would assume an actor doesn't get the usual rate for spending a day or two in an ADR room. This also indicate that use of the Transformers will be done very carefully to get maximum bang for the buck as any scene that so much as shows a TF finger has high CGI costs associated with it.

Don Murphy on Website Pics

Don Murphy the other day decided to add his 2 cents into the court of public opinion regarding the recent spate of Transformers pictures, such as the Bumblebees one, that has been hitting the internet these last few weeks over on his website forum.

What is So Hard To Understand?
Listen
If it were entirely up to me
If it were my $140 million
I'd say go crazy, find secret images and do whatever you want.
I'd even let the criminals trying to profit off out work at transformerthemovie (who tried to sell us the url a year ago) do whatever they want.

Because DON MURPHY (me) believes that fans make shit happen.

I was such a fan of Star Trek in the 1970s that I SUBSCRIBED to fondly forgotten fanzines like THE HALKAN COUNCIL and MENAGERIE.

I've read comics since DEFENDERS #8 at summer camp.

I am a fan who smartly has been able to turn what he loves into a film career.

Fine. Good for me. Who cares.

The problem when something like TF comes about is that you have a lot of other cooks involved.

You have Tom Desanto, a terrific guy, who refused to see the wisdom of the voice actors.

You have Lorenzo DB who jumps on to films and talks about the glory days when he ran a studio and made TWISTER.

You have Michael Bay, a majorly talented director who we were lucky to get, who is a total perfectionist.

You have Dreamworks execs like Marc Haimes and John Fox who sheperded this with me for two plus years.

You have Adam Goodman the president of production, the person who got Steven and Michael on board.

And hell, you have Steven, the most successful filmmaker EVER who wanted this movie more than anything and made it happen/

That's a lot of people.

And we aren't mentioning the dozens internally at Dreamworks or Paramount or those MAKING the film.

Or Ian who watches the cash or John, Roberto and Alex who wrote the thing... Or the dozens at Hasbro who own this behemoth.... etc

And if ANY of these people want to keep a lid on the trailer till Monday...
If ANY of them want to keep photos that they own off the web...
If ANY of these people want to stop some Welsh people from profiting from their images

Is it not their right?

Well, it is.

The people at TONS of sites have been hearing from DW over every leak.
People have been fired.
People have been sued.
That site WILL come down.

This is NOT anti- fans.

This is PRO MOVIE.

Again, if Chokass or any of the Tools from that site want to pay the $140 m plus then I say great, you run the show.

Otherwise, obey the law.

I don't have interests in being the guy who has to deal with the asshole fans.

There are just too many good guys out there who I have met through this board.

On their msg board that suck site comments on my behavior as if THEY DESERVE POLITENESS for behavior that has ruined my freaking day because of all the calls I had to deal with from legal etc.

They aren't fans. Fans don't advertise.

In fact- wait for it- TFW2005 and ALLSPARK and SEIBERTRON - they are run by fans. I met the TFW guy after FIGHTING with the guy and the ill will disappeared in FIVE seconds- because we were both fans and just wanted fans to be happy.

So what the hell am I banging on about-

Hate me, hate Michael, hate whatever the hell you want.

But break the law, someone is gonna call me. Someone is gonna smack you.

And you deserve it.

To sum it up, he is saying don't post unauthorized pics, the work being depicted is not sure yours to make money off of. He personally doesn't care but understands why others do, so stop it. He has a point on that, I definitely see where the others are coming from.

Having said that, it doesn't really change anything. Sorry but on all these sites devoted to sharing and releasing information about movies, entertainment, Transformers, etc, their mandate is information. A picture from the movie is information. Failure to share it fails in their mandate which in turns fails the readers of the sites. Its basically a rock and a hard place. For every site that tries to maintain the "trust" with the studio there are going to be a dozen that doesn't. Keep in mind this trust with the studio is a one way street, which is fine, but it means there is no obligation to listen to them or follow their orders.

This is saying its not "right" just explaining the way things are, like it or not. Its more welcome to the real world, rather then the la-la world of Hollywood where money and how people get it follows its own strange set of business rules.

I am curious to any lawyers out there, how do sharing pictures like this break the law? Its seems like Don et al are on very legal shaky ground claiming that posting a pic is in violation of the law. Also am I wrong, but wouldn't any case they bring be a civil, not criminal case?

Of course all that is moot since the justice system is less about the law and what is "right" and more about who has the means and the money to get what they want. In this case the studio does and the average site owner doesn't so I think most, include myself, will continue to do as instructed when we receive the notice to pull something from a site.

Until then, all I can say is I will try to continue to post information as I get it, pics and all. I will link to sources when I have them as its only fair and I hope I get reciprocated on that. I still want information and any pics you stumble across as it seems of late I find out about only after the studio has done their thing to get the info pulled.

I am looking forward to next year, I want this movie to succeed beyond all expectations as it means we can look forward to the birth of a franchise and all the fun in toys and media (and money for some) that entails. On that, I think all of us, the studio, movie producers, site runners, fans and so forth all share in common.