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Michael Bay and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley On The Set Of Transformers 3

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-07-29T09:24:36-04:00

Transformers Director Michael Bay and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley on the set of Transformers 3 in Chicago, Il, originally uploaded by Nelson Lauren for Michael Bay Dot Com.

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Michael Bay's Decepticons Attack Chicago

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-07-28T19:49:28-04:00

Chicago's Transformers Business Experience

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-07-27T12:59:20-04:00

From explosions and gunbattles on Wacker Drive to parachutists plummeting from Trump Tower and celebrity sightings on Michigan Avenue, the "Transformers 3" film shoot provided plenty of free entertainment in downtown Chicago last week.

It also has caused more disruption than any previous movie filmed in the city — snarling commutes, clogging sidewalks, distracting office workers and cutting off retailers from foot traffic.

So is it worth it?

Steve Shern, general manager of Hotel 71 on Wacker, says yes: "We've been sold out each of the past seven nights," largely due to "Transformers." The hotel, located on the block where battle scenes were filmed last week, peddled "Transformers"-themed packages that included screenings of the first two installments and promises of some live action out the front door.

Next door, Bella Bacino's restaurant closed down for most customers Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, serving only those with previous reservations and Hotel 71 guests. But co-owner Linda Bacin says film crew members "filled the bar for a couple of nights. Michael Bay came in, ate pizza, said 'thank you,' tipped appropriately."

She says film company Paramount Pictures has agreed to reimburse her for lost business. She hasn't yet calculated the total.

THE LOCAL ANGLE

Figuring the overall financial impact on Chicago is trickier. Movie productions hire local workers, buy from local companies and generate publicity for the city. They also collect tax credits from the state and interrupt the normal flow of downtown commerce.

Paramount says "Transformers" will bring in $20 million and 200 jobs; Betsy Steinberg of the Illinois Film Office says the job number will be closer to 400.

So far, "Transformers" has hired 184 locals as production assistants and 27 Illinois National Guard members to play soldiers, a spokeswoman for the movie says.

"We try to hire as many local crew members as possible, but we did run into the issue that a lot of crews here were already working on other projects," she says, including a Ron Howard-directed comedy starring Vince Vaughn that's been shooting in the city since the end of May.

The caliber of those jobs, which range from a few days of on-set work to months of set-building, has been debated. An experienced camera operator can earn more than $900 a day, while low-level production assistants make about $100 to $200 a day.

"Even though some of these camera crews might be working 16-hour days for six weeks and then not working for a month, they're still taking home enough to support their families," says Tom Fletcher, an executive at Chicago-based Fletcher Camera & Lenses, which rents camera equipment to film crews.

Location scouts for the movie struck deals with local business owners such as Ms. Bacin, promising to compensate them for lost business and damage caused by the filming. Damage appears to have been minimal: Bella Bacino's lost a few patio chairs and a carpet ruined by debris. An explosion blew out a window in the business offices of Crain's Chicago Business, which overlooks one of the film sites. No one was injured.

The Ron Howard movie, tentatively titled "What You Don't Know," has actually spent "significantly more" here than "Transformers," Ms. Steinberg says. The movie didn't release a local spending estimate, but its overall budget is $79 million. It will shoot for more than three months in Chicago, compared with six weeks for "Transformers."

Chicago Film Office chief Rich Moskal says the city won't bear any of the costs of shooting "Transformers." The studio pays for all security personnel (including about 15 off-duty police officers and firefighters hired at $30 per hour) and cleanup expenses. A spokeswoman at the Chicago Transit Authority says the rerouting of 27 buses to accommodate filming has had no financial impact on the agency.

TAX INCENTIVES

According to the Illinois Film Office, movie studios spent $476 million in Illinois from 2005 to 2008. The state returned $39 million under a tax credit program enacted in 2004 to help Illinois compete for Hollywood productions.

Some 42 states offer film tax credits, often more generous than Illinois'. Here, the 30% credit applies only to spending with local companies and wages for Illinois residents up to $100,000 each.

Michigan offers a 40% rebate with no residency requirement. That tax break applies to the huge salaries for non-Michigan-based actors, directors and producers. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm estimates the state will pay $155 million in tax credits to the film industry in 2010, causing some state officials to question the value of the program.

Experts say tax credits can be worthwhile if they help a state establish a permanent local film industry. Illinois is third behind California and New York in terms of having a strong local crew presence, says Cornell University professor Susan Christopherson, who studies film tax credits.

"Chicago might be able to make a go of the film credits because it does have a strong production presence related to advertising," Ms. Christopherson says. "But in other states, you have to ask why you're giving subsidies to movie workers coming in from other places."

Source: Crain's Chicago Business

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Shooting For The Edit on Wacker Drive

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-07-27T11:07:24-04:00

Nelson here...

The joy of being Focus Puller on that first scene with Bay operating camera!

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The Chicago Tribune Talks to Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-07-27T10:01:25-04:00

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Transformers Director Michael Bay, by Nelson Lauren for Michael Bay Dot Com.

Michael Bay talks 'Transformers 3' on set in Chicago

As Mayor Richard Daley stood on Michigan Avenue in shock after watching a series of explosions go off on the set of "Transformers 3" July 17, director Michael Bay — no stranger to things that go "boom" — stood next to the wide-eyed mayor and laughed.

"His face was funny to watch," Bay recalled during a break from filming on Wabash Avenue and Wacker Drive Sunday afternoon. "He was in shock, like ‘That didn't hurt anybody? It looked very dangerous.'"

Bay has built a career on making action scenes look dangerous, and, in the case of the Michigan shoot, destructive. The usually photogenic street looked like it had been hit by a natural disaster when Bay brought "Transformers 3" there from July 16-18, with junkyard-bound cars and charred, fake chunks of cement scattered around the area.

The 45-year-old director and his production team began talking about Chicago as a potential location for the "Transformers" sequel in late October/early November. They liked that it was new territory for Bay and had a "wide" structure. ("We can show off the city more and have spectacular attacks that we couldn't have in cities that are more canyon-like," said producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura). The tax incentives offered by the city didn't hurt either, they said.

A scout was sent to Chicago immediately, and by December, Bay and company were meeting with Daley. During the mayor's visit to the Michigan Avenue set, Bay reminded him of a past conversation the two had.

"I told him, ‘Remember how I told you I was going to make your city beautiful? Well, I kind of lied,' " Bay said. "But it will look beautiful in the movie. It's in the third act."

Filming in Chicago began on LaSalle Street July 10 and is expected to continue in the city through August 23. Plot details have been scarce — "I don't say much," Bay said — but it has been reported that the film deals with the Transformers' role in the space race between the U.S. and Russia.

On Sunday afternoon, Bay filmed actors Shia LaBeouf and Patrick Dempsey on top of a pile of what appeared to be building remnants. Bay stood on the pile of rubble with the film stars and yelled "More smoke" as he motioned up with his hands.

"He is very much in command of what he wants to do and how he wants to do it," di Bonaventura said of Bay. "He's a little more intense on set — I mean, he has a lot of people — but he's a fun guy to be around. Even in middle of a take, he has a joke."

As busy as he is with the robots in disguise (between takes, Bay ate off of a plate sitting on a monitor), he has taken notice of the spectators standing behind barricades downtown. He said the large crowds have been the biggest surprise of the Chicago shoot and added that he enjoys hearing them cheer after an action-packed stunt.

"I look at other movies, and there's not that," Bay said. "I heard one director complain that nobody ever comes to see their movie. Maybe it's the (Transformers) franchise. It has a lot of fans and is kind of a big spectacle.

"We had someone here Skype-ing — they were holding their laptop out the window — with a camera on us," said Bay, pointing at a floor of the Hotel Monaco high above South Water Kitchen. "Women were flashing us as well. Chicago has been amazingly receptive."

Um, you're welcome?

Fewer than three weeks into the shoot, the crew already has filmed car chases on LaSalle Street, fireballs on Michigan and gunfire-heavy battle scenes on Wacker.

According to producer Ian Bryce, the most nerve-wracking stunts to film were the basejumping and skydiving scenes.

"Having guys jump off helicopters and (Willis Tower and Trump Tower) is very unusual," Bryce said. "We've done a lot of stuff, but we haven't had that. That's a little scary and unnerving. But logistically and aesthetically, it went great."

Bryce felt the Chicago shoot is "definitely the most complicated shutdown we've tried to orchestrate," which is why he said he was grateful things have run so smoothly and accident-free — for the most part.

"I got hit by gigantic, gigantic piece of foam," said Bay, laughing, as his cast waited for his signal to start the next scene. "It fired too late and wacked me in the head while I operated a camera. It gave me a neck ache for three days."

The interview ended on that anecdote and Bay, not one to waste time, was back to work before the tape recorder stopped.

"OK guys," Bay shouted. "Let's go."

Source: Chicago Tribune

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On the Transformers 3 Set with Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-07-26T09:58:15-04:00

ABC7 Chicago Interviews Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-07-26T09:39:23-04:00

The "Transformers 3" movie production was extremely busy over the weekend as the third installment of the science-fiction franchise took over the center of Chicago.

ABC7 Chicago headed out Sunday evening to catch up with the director, Michael Bay, who was busy making movie magic.

An apocalyptic Chicago figures intensely in the secret script of Transformers 3. The destruction of Wabash and Wacker is integral to the final scene where Bay's middle America takes a beating but survives, in line with his grandfather's advice on success.

"He said, 'If you can sell to Middle America, that is where the heartland is, and my movies really gear toward that,'" said Bay. "They are big around the world, but really they are every patriotic, and they've just got a lot of that Americana."

Blow by blow, this most American of sets was 'transformed' throughout a weekend that cost the producers nearly $400,000. Producer Lorenzo di Boneventura, whose "Salt" with actress Angelina Jolie is now in theatres, says he loves filming in Chicago.

"As you can see, a lot of people are cheering us after this thing, and you know what, it gives us energy to feed off the crowd," the producer said.

When asked if he could write that into the script at all, Lorenzo di Boneventura said, "No, no...Chicago is taking a pounding right about now. So, nobody would be standing around looking. They would be fleeing for their lives."

As the crowds screamed for the movie stars, including Grey's Anatomy's Patrick Dempsey, the man behind the viewfinder would work until sundown milking everything he can from the set.

"The skyline, it is just a magnificent looking city, in terms of how it is open. And you compare it to New York City, where you have to get away on a helicopter to really see what it looks like because you are in a corridor, whereas this it is open; it is beautiful," said Bay.

Transformers 3 is employing 3,500 people throughout the production, including copious Chicago specialists in the crew, on the animation team and providing services.

"Let me tell you, I have shot around the world. I've shot in a lot of famous cities, and I have had the most fun shooting in this city because the town is so into it," Bay said.

Filming will carry on in Chicago for another month before heading off to Detroit.

The producers say Transformers 3 will end up costing north of $200 million -- with $20 million or so flowing into Chicago.

Click to see the video.

Source: ABC 7

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Michael Bay Using the iPad 3G

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-07-25T09:54:30-04:00

Nelson here... a while ago I told you about Michael showing me some animatics on his iPad 3G. Here's a photo of him showing Patrick Dempsey's stunt double on the set of Transformers 3 on Michigan Ave. Click here to view a larger version.

Michael Bay using the iPad 3G on the set of Transformers 3 (view larger). Photo courtesy of Colin Hinkle.

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Michael Bay's Thoughts on Chicago

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-07-22T17:58:40-04:00

Trump Tower in Chicago, Il from the Transformers 3 set, originally uploaded by Nelson Lauren for Michael Bay Dot Com.

From the Chicago Suntimes:

''The city's been unbelievably amazing -- from Mayor Daley all the way down to each and every police officer helping us out,'' said Bay. ''We don't want to inconvenience people too much, so we've been working hard to play ball with the fire department and the police.''

Pointing toward Lake Michigan, he said, ''You go over to Michigan Avenue -- right there by the Wrigley Building ... and you look back this way [pointing west along the Chicago River] and it's the most beautiful skyline in the world. ... The reason it's so interesting is -- unlike New York, where you've got to get far away in a helicopter to make it interesting -- Chicago has so many interesting bits of architecture, you can capture very close up.''

Transformers 3 Chicago Set Photos

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-07-20T11:40:13-04:00

Chicago, Meet Optimus Prime & Bayhem

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-07-11T21:16:00-04:00

365

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-06-30T17:50:53-04:00

Michael Bay to Film TF3 at the Milwaukee Art Museum

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-06-18T12:29:05-04:00

Photo by Orlando Argueta

From OnMilwaukee:

Rumors have abounded recently and now it's official. Director Michael Bay and producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Ian Bryce are bringing a cast and crew -- about 150 all told -- to film a scene from the new "Transformers 3" at the Milwaukee Art Museum on July 12.

"We're really excited to showcase the Art Museum in what will be one of the most anticipated blockbuster films for next summer," said Milwaukee Art Museum Director Dan Keegan.

"Logistical planning for the film began last November, and the cooperation between the city, the county and the private sector has been tremendous."

"All factors considered, including salaries, hotels, food, fuel and miscellaneous equipment, supplies and rentals could pump more than $1 million into the local economy during its very limited shooting window. That does not include the incalculable positive image visibility for the city when the film is released in July 2011," said Paul .

Wanna be an extra? Click here.

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Transformers 3 to Bring $20 million & 200 Jobs to Chicago; Mayor Daley Welcomes 'Bayhem' of Transformers Movie

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-06-17T10:01:14-04:00

From the Chicago Sun-TImes:

“Transformers 3” — the sci-fi action thriller filming in Chicago this summer — will pump $20 million into the local economy and create 200 jobs, including ten internships for inner-city students, Mayor Daley said today.

“Transformers 3” is certain to include even more scenes of death and destruction on the streets of Chicago.

“You’re gonna see a little bit of mayhem. You know, I mean it wouldn’t be ‘Transformers’ without it,” Di Bonaventura said.

“Hopefully, it’ll be fun. What we find is, people really end up enjoying the spectacle of what we’re doing.”

From the Chicago Tribune:

When asked about the potential for “mayhem,” Daley said it was being created in the name of art with all manner of safety precautions. He also asked “everyone for our understanding” when the filming leads to “street closures or other potential problems.”

Daley said the film and TV industry “is a growing part of our economic development strategy . . . because movies and TV shows made in and about Chicago showcase our city to the world, create excitement about it and create jobs for our residents.”

Di Bonaventura said they were still selecting specific sites to film, but would “be shooting a lot in downtown.”

The jobs generated by the Transformers project will include 10 internships for South and West side high school students.

Bay, Transformers 3, and Shockwave

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-06-10T18:51:05-04:00

From USAToday:

"I'll take some of the criticism," says Bay, standing at a set built to resemble a dilapidated nuclear reactor. "It was very hard to put (the sequel) together that quickly after the writers' strike (of 2007-08)."

Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura says the rush strained the plot: "We tried to do too many things in the second movie, which didn't give enough time in any one of them. We were constantly jumping to the next piece of information, the next place."

Bay is not one for mea culpas, but he says he can do better. "This one really builds to a final crescendo. It's not three multiple endings," the director says.

Bay calls the second film's villain, The Fallen, "kind of a (expletive) character." The new movie's foe is certain to make fans of the original '80s incarnation smile: Shockwave, the robot cyclops-turned-laser-cannon, who became dictator of their home world of Cybertron after the other Autobots and Decepticons journeyed to Earth.

"One thing we're getting rid of is what I call the dorky comedy," Bay adds. So the twins, the two bumbling, slang-spewing robots? "They're basically gone," he says, though John Turturro returns for comic relief.

Plot details are under wraps, but it delves into the space race between the U.S.S.R. and the USA, suggesting there was a hidden Transformers role in it all that remains one of the planet's most dangerous secrets. "The movie is more of a mystery," Bay says. "It ties in what we know as history growing up as kids with what really happened."

Bay hints that there may be a lot of that. "As a trilogy, it really ends," he says. "It could be rebooted again, but I think it has a really killer ending."

Bad Boys on Blu-ray

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-05-28T07:54:05-04:00

Pre-order your copy now at Amazon.com.

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Armageddon Now on Blu-ray

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-04-27T09:19:48-04:00

Get it now at Amazon.com.

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Michael Bay Meets TV

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-04-15T06:24:46-04:00

Director Michael Bay is making his first entry into unscripted television, teaming with "Top Chef" producers Magical Elves to produce "One Way Out."

In the series, contestants from all walks of life are pitted against each other in extreme competitions in hostile new environments. Bay, the bombastic director of "Transformers," "Armageddon" and other hits, promises "a game with no rules" that "remains true to the filmmaker's signature style."

“For my first television project I wanted to do something that had never been done before, and I believe that 'One Way Out' accomplishes that,” Bay said. “Combining unique twists, death-defying challenges, and stunning visuals, we are reinventing the genre, showing just how far people will go when they are stripped of their bare necessities and forced to do whatever it takes to survive.”

Source: THR

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Regarding Rosemary's Baby...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-04-09T09:17:18-04:00

Nelson here...

There have been recent rumors made up for the sake of generating news. One of them being that Michael Bay's production company is remaking "Rosemary's Baby" and/or "The Birds."

Michael has addressed the rumors in the forums:

"No just a bad rumor. Not true at all. The same can be said for the Birds - we never considered that remake for Platinum Dunes."

Michael Bay on 3D

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-03-23T22:12:53-04:00

From Deadline via the LA Times:

I shoot complicated stuff, I put real elements into action scenes and honestly, I am not sold right now on the conversion process.... Right now, it looks like fake 3-D, with layers that are very apparent. You go to the screening room, you are hoping to be thrilled, and you're thinking, huh, this kind of sucks. People can say what they want about my movies, but they are technically precise, and if this isn't going to be excellent, I don't want to do it. And it is my choice.... I'm used to having the A-team working on my films, and I'm going to hand it over to the D-team, have it shipped to India and hope for the best? This conversion process is always going to be inferior to shooting in real 3-D. Studios might be willing to sacrifice the look and use the gimmick to make $3 more a ticket, but I'm not.

Transformers 3 Update From Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-03-22T06:40:07-04:00

Hey, it's been a long time since I've posted. Just been a little busy.

Transformers 3 has been going very well. We are going to shoot in LA, Chicago, Washington DC, Florida, Texas, Africa, Moscow, and China. On the talent front, we just locked in Frances McDormand and John Malkovich. Both amazing actors I've always wanted to work with. We also just got Ken Jeong, he is the super funny actor stuck in the trunk from “Hangover” and the Doctor from “Knocked Up.”

We start shooting pre-shoots in about one month.

I also was at a Ferrari charity event this week raising money for a hospital being built by Ferrari in Haiti. I announced that night the newest Autobot to join Transformers: the Ferrari 458 Italia.

I also want to thank everyone on this site that donated to the Make -A-Wish charity. We raised $20,000 which I will personally be matching. This is a great charity where they make wishes come true for kids who are very ill. We have had many Kids from Make-A-Wish visit us on our Transformers sets and this time we will be posting video of their visits on Transformers 3.

Michael Bay

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Michael Bay Acknowledged For His Long-standing Friendship With Ferrari

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-03-20T11:37:04-04:00

From the Ferrari web site:

Los Angeles, March 19 - Ferrari has raised $601,000 for relief efforts in Haiti by the CMMB (Catholic Medical Mission Board) and the William J. Clinton Foundation. At a gala event held last night, Ferrari, the world’s leading luxury brand, auctioned the first Ferrari 458 Italia to arrive in the United States for $530,000. Party was hosted by Piero Ferrari, Deputy Chairman, Amedeo Felisa, worldwide CEO of the company, and Marco Mattiacci, the newly appointed North America CEO.

Director and Ferrari collector Michael Bay was acknowledged for his long-standing friendship with the company.

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New Nightmare On Elm Street Trailer

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-03-08T10:32:28-05:00

The Sound of Transformers "Revenge of the Fallen"

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-02-28T08:04:08-05:00

TF3D

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-02-26T13:29:17-05:00

Nelson here...

Last night Bay appeared on Starz’s In The House” and had some things to say about TF

Pain & Gain or TF3:

"The true story is we went to Vegas to celebrate ['Revenge of the Fallen'] crossing the $400 million mark domestic. I said I'm excited to do my small little movie. They said, well we're here to talk about that. I've become friends with these guys that run Paramount and they [told me,] 'We're going to get fired if we don't have a 2011 franchise,' so I'm like you can't let these guys down. "The economy's been so rough, it's kind of important. When you say yes to movie like this you automatically give 3000 people jobs. 1000 for the toys. 2000 for the filmmaking. I'm going to put [the small film] on hold and do it right after ['Transformers 3']."

On TF3:

"You can't just rehash the old," he explained. "We're adding a lot of new elements. We're adding new characters. We're adding a lot of twists."

On TF3 & 3D:

"It's a process we're testing with some 'Transformers' scenes," he said. "How successful it is with my movie in terms of a lot of real stuff coming out of the frame, real dirt, real complicated little particles coming towards the lens, because hopefully that process will work. I've seen some tests that look great on other movies. I just want to see how it looks on my footage."

Source: MTV

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Chicago & Moscow Here We Come!

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-02-25T17:28:27-05:00

Nelson here...

Spoke with Michael today and got some little info on TF3: there will be big action sequences shot in Chicago and Moscow this time around.

Also, Mike will match the amount raised by the TF2 DVD/Blu-ray sales for the Make A Wish Foundation.

Stay tuned.

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Michael Bay on Encore's "In the House"

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-02-24T20:05:07-05:00

Nelson here...

Michael will be featured on Encore’s “In the House” with Peter Gruber and Peter Bart on February 25. Check your local TV listings.

Click on the image below to view Michael Bay’s interview featured on “In The House.”

Source: Starz

Thanks to Andrea R.

Source: M&C

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Happy Birthday Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-02-17T08:15:28-05:00

Nelson here....

On behalf of all fans I would like to wish Michael a happy birthday!

To wish him a happy birthday, do so here.

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Michael Bay's Super Bowl Charity Party Raises More Than $200,000

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-02-11T23:17:36-05:00

The 2nd annual Big Game Big Give invitation-only fundraiser benefiting The Giving Back Fund raised more than $200,000 for charity on Super Saturday, the night before Super Bowl in Miami.

With the help of host Transformers director Michael Bay, and his beautiful waterfront estate as its backdrop, over 350 celebrities, athletes and business leaders united for philanthropy. The spectacular event was produced by MMG, an event-marketing agency based in Miami and New York, and was voted the number one Super Bowl party on ESPN’s party report.

The elite crowd toasted Michael Bay alongside The Giving Back Fund’s Founder and President, Marc Pollick, while enjoying a pairing menu created by Jonathan Eismann’s Pacific Time restaurant and Dewar’s Signature cocktails. Guests included:

Adam Sandler (Grown Ups)
Adam Goodman (President, Paramount Pictures)
Alan Dershowitz (Renowned Attorney)
Amobi Okoye (Houston Texans)
Amaury Nolasco (Prison Break)
Brad Penny (St Louis Cardinals)
AnnaLynne McCord (90210)
Brandon Fields (Miami Dolphins)
Beau Flynn (Producer)
Calais Campbell (Arizona Cardinals)
Chace Crawford (Gossip Girls)
Dan Carpenter (Miami Dolphins)
Chris Rock (Grown Ups)
Duane Brown (Houston Texans)
David Spade (Grown Ups)
David Robb (CEO, Utopia)
Ed Razek (CEO, Victoria’s Secret)
Ed Westwick (Gossip Girls)
Jim Gray (Sportscaster)
Ken Brenner (CEO, LegacyDirect)
Gavin Degraw (Musician)
Ken Dorsey (NFL Legend)
Jessica Szohr (Gossip Girls)
La’Roi Glover (NFL Legend)
Jim Palotta (co-owner,Boston Celtics)
Sam Madison (NFL Legend)
Joanna Krupa (Supermodel)
Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals)
Karina Smirnoff (Dancing With The Stars)
Marcus Allen (NFL Legend)
Katie Cassidy (90210)
Mark Sanchez (New York Jets)
Kellan Lutz (Twilight)
Marvin Jones (NFL Legend)
Kevin James (Grown Ups)
Mitch Richmond (NBA Legend)
Leigh Steinberg (Sports Agent)
Phillip Buchanon (Detroit Lions)
Michael Bay (Director)
Rita LeBlanc (New Orleans Saints, VP, Owner)
Ryan Steelberg (CEO, BAT)
Rob Moore (Chairman, Paramount Pictures)
Trevor Donovan (90120)
Sabby Piscitelli (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Source: GivingBack.Org

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'Revenge of The Fallen' Nominated for Best Sound Mixing

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-02-02T15:57:17-05:00

Nelson here...

The Oscar Nominations were announced this morning in which ‘Revenge of The Fallen’ got a nomination for Best Sound Mixing.

Congrats to Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Geoffrey Patterson, and the whole team.

Photos courtesy of Greg P. Russell.

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Vanity Fair Lists Hollywood's Top Moneymakers

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-01-28T08:56:00-05:00

Nelson here...

Congrats to Michael. He takes the #1 spot on Vanity Fair’s Top Moneymakers.

Michael Bay, director and producer of the blockbuster Transformers series, beat mogul Steven Spielberg to top Vanity Fair's inaugural list of Hollywood's Top 40 Moneymakers, which the magazine releases on Tuesday. Bay pulled in $125 million last year, according to the magazine, ahead of Spielberg ($85 million), action director Roland Emmerich ($70 million), Avatar auteur James Cameron ($50 million), and Todd Phillips, producer of The Hangover ($44 million). The magazine limits its list to film-industry creatives: producers, directors, and stars.

Source: Vanity Fair

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TF3 Update & Haiti

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-02-26T14:24:00-05:00

Hello everyone,

Busy scouting - Chicago, Detroit, and Washington D.C. for Transformers last week. Things are going well. The script is feeling very different from the other two. I ended my scout down in Miami this weekend to load my plane with 14 Florida Surgeons, specialists in various fields and flew them down to Haiti. We then returned with a planeload of a team of exhausted Miami Fire rescue. It is proving very difficult for these volunteers to get back home.

They say the news hardly gives the true scope of what really happened. They really feel about 500,000 probably died. One of the worst stories I heard from people down there - because of the huge lack of education in Haiti – when the earthquake struck – everyone ran inside buildings most likely to their graves. The state of Florida is really pulling their weight in this massive effort. Here some pics:

Michael

Miami Rescue down in Haiti for a week, coming home.

Rescue Team coming home

4500x blocking a Russian transport plane that looks old

Trauma Surgeon

Nationally known eye surgeon

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A Day With Michael Bay in Tokyo

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-01-20T14:20:04-05:00

Part 1

Part 2

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Bay on Transformers 3

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2010-01-15T13:24:38-05:00

From the LATimes blog:

“There will be a nice crescendo ending,” Bay said. “It gets much more into the robot character. The last time you kind of met a few of the robots; this time you’re gonna get a much cooler landscape.”

Revenge of The Fallen Top DVD of 2009

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-12-31T14:45:13-05:00

Nelson here...

ROTF was the best selling DVD/Blu-ray of 2009.

May you have a Happy New Year!

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Our Stimulus Package

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-12-16T08:03:16-05:00

Update: thanks to all who replied. As of this moment we are no longer are taking any more applications.

*************

Nelson here...

We are looking for the best Pre-viz animators to help build the team for Transformers 3. Maya expertise is a must.

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Victoria's Secret "A Thousand Fantasies"

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-12-09T15:52:45-05:00

Soundtrack: Merchant of Death by Ramin Djawadi

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Revenge of Fallen: Biggest-Selling Blu-ray Disc Release and Top-Selling DVD of 2009

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-10-29T08:10:22-04:00

As expected, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," the year's No. 1 movie, gave the home entertainment business a badly needed boost last week, selling and renting as though it was still the halcyon days of the early 2000s, when consumer spending on DVD was going up by the double digits year after year.

The Paramount Home Entertainment release hit stores Oct. 20 and within a week had become the top-selling home entertainment release of the year, with first-week sales of 7.5 million units, according to Home Media Magazine market research.

The sequel also became the biggest-selling Blu-ray Disc release of 2009, with first-week sales of 1.2 million units.

"Transformers" also takes the cake for day one sales, having moved 2 million discs its first day in stores, 500,000 of them on the high-definition Blu-ray Disc format.

"It's certainly an encouraging sign for the business," said veteran industry analyst Tom Adams. He added that the strong Blu-ray Disc sales count is particularly good news "because if the business is going to turn around it's going to be because Blu-ray starts performing, and this is certainly an indicator that Blu-ray is starting to play its role and help stabilize the business."

"Transformers" easily debuted at No. 1 on all three charts: the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert sales chart, Home Media Magazine's rental chart, and the Nielsen VideoScan Blu-ray Disc sales chart.

Source: THR

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Update on Autographed DVDs/Blu-rays

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-10-29T07:04:36-04:00

Nelson here...

Just a little update on the autographed DVD/Blu-rays. We have begun shipping the first batches of orders. As noted on the order page, please allow 2 to 3 after October 20th to receive confirmation that your order has shipped. Orders wil be shipped in the order of the date they were placed.

I apologize for your wait and thank you for your patience.

Michael Bay's in-theatre promo for LA Times

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-10-21T08:33:00-04:00

Nelson here...

This has been playing in LA theaters since summer of 2008, and I've been looking for it online since then. Thanks to Andrea for the link.

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Transformers Revenge of The Fallen DVD/Blu-ray Sales

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-10-20T21:53:00-04:00

Nelson here...

I've been getting emails from LA, Chicago, NYC, and Houston of people going to their local reatilers to only being told that they ran out of TF2 DVDs and Blu-rays. It's insane!!

I've also received unconfirmed reports that about 4 miliion copies of TF2 were sold today.

I will keep you posted!

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Michael Drives the Pace Car at NASCAR

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-10-17T22:19:31-04:00

From thatsracin.com:

Director Michael Bay was at Lowe’s Motor Speedway Saturday and wheeled a pace car as part of the campaign to promote the DVD release of his latest movie, "Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen."

Bay, who has directed both of the immensely popular Transformer movies said he was working on a third installment in the series. It will not be about NASCAR, though it will include some serious machines.

Two race cars – Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 and Ryan Newman’s No. 39 – had special paint schemes promoting the movie Saturday night. It’s not as if the movie needed much promotion, having earned more than $830 million – more than even Jimmie Johnson – this year.

Bay said it was his first direct exposure to NASCAR since he was a youngster.

“They asked me to drive the pace car,” Bay said. “It’s a long way to go to drive a pace car 45 miles an hour, but it is pretty exciting when you have 43 drivers behind you.

“A lot of my movies have dealt with fast cars so I’ve been around them. It’s interesting to come see it and spend a full day here.”

Bay got some track time early Saturday, getting comfortable in the pace car. He said he hit approximately 100 mph in one lap, but NASCAR required him to keep it at 45 during the pace laps.

Bay said he will have devoted five years of his life to the Transformer movies when he completes the third installment.

Asked if he has a racing movie in his future, Bay was non-committal.

“Racing movies are tough to do,” he said. “Sports movies are tough to do. It’s like the team has to lose and then it has to win.”

Michael Bay drives the pace car prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on October 17, 2009 in Concord, North Carolina.

Transformers Revenge of the Fallen (DVD behind the scenes)

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-10-07T17:43:26-04:00

Platinum Dunes + Paramount

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-10-07T16:24:32-04:00

From Variety:

Paramount Pictures has signed a first-look producing deal with Platinum Dunes, the genre division run by Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form.

While Bay is well established at the studio on the high end with the "Transformers" franchise, Platinum Dunes puts him and his partners in position to be the go-to guys for low-budget fright fare.

"We offer a valuable service to the studio, especially with all this turmoil going on in the business right now, in that we do things cheaply, and we've had a lot of success with it," Bay told Daily Variety. "Through the first two 'Transformers' films, I've gotten to know the studio very well, and I've got a good rhythm with them. I'm excited about this."

The pact marks the first term deal given by Adam Goodman since he became president of the Paramount Pictures Film Group.

"What makes us so excited to have Platinum Dunes here at Paramount is how Michael, Brad and Andrew carved out an important niche for themselves over the past few years," Goodman said. "They have consistently created excitingly commercial movies that have proven to be a formidable force at the box office. We look forward to a long and productive partnership with them."

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Transformers 3: July 1st, 2011

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-10-01T09:41:18-04:00

Well its official: We have a great Transformers 3 story. The release date is now July 1st 2011. Not 2012.

Today is Day One. This morning started with an ILM meeting for five hours in San Francisco. Currently I'm flying with writer Ehren Kruger to Rhode Island to talk to Hasbro about new characters.

P.S. Megan Fox, welcome back. I promise no alien robots will harm you in any way during the production of this motion picture. Please consult your Physician when working under my direction because some side effects can occur, such as mild dizziness, intense nausea, suicidal tendencies, depression, minor chest hair growth, random internal hemorrhaging and inability to sleep. As some directors may be hazardous to your health, please consult your Doctor to determine if this is right for you.

Pain and Gain is right after shooting of Trans 3.

Michael

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A Nightmare on Elm Street Poster

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-09-28T21:08:48-04:00

A Nightmare on Elm Street Teaser

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-09-28T21:12:46-04:00

Update: Transformers 1 & 2 on Blu-ray signed by Michael Bay and Tyrese Gibson

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-09-24T21:29:58-04:00

Nelson here...

We've now added a Transformers Blu-ray combo. You can pre-order Transformers 1 & 2 on Blu-ray, both movies signed by both Michael Bay and Tyrese Gibson.

As always proceeds with be going to the Make a Wish Foundation.

Click here to order.

Note: for those of you that have already placed Blu-ray orders, I will contact you by email in the next few days regarding your interest in upgrading.

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Autographed 'Revenge of The Fallen' DVD & Blu-ray

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-09-23T11:55:07-04:00

Nelson here...

I am please to announce that we will be pre-selling copies of "Revenge of The Fallen" autographed by Michael Bay. Michael will be signing the 2-disc Special Editions on both DVD and Blu-ray for charity. Proceeds will be going to the Make A Wish Foundation.

We will take orders up until October 16th.

Click here to order.

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Transformers 3, Pain & Gain, Bad Boys 3

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-09-13T20:30:03-04:00

Nelson here...

I spoke to Michael today and he had a little update on his future projects:

He will be meeting later this week with Steven Spielberg, and Ehren Kruger to discuss ideas for Transformers 3. By the end of the week he should have an idea if Transformers 3 will hit your local cineplex in the summer of 2011 or 2012.
In the meantime "Pain & Gain" is looking very possible as is...
...Bad Boys 3. Either film coming to a theater near you before or after Transformers 3.

The Crew Letter

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-09-12T23:32:47-04:00

I don’t condone the crew letter to Megan. And I don’t condone Megan’s outlandish quotes. But her crazy quips are part of her crazy charm. The fact of the matter I still love working with her, and I know we still get along. I even expect more crazy quotes from her on Transformers 3.

Michael

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Transforming editors into collaborators

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-09-11T13:35:52-04:00

Revenge of The Box Office

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-09-07T22:38:11-04:00

Nelson here...

Revenge of the Fallen has now crossed the $400 million mark at the box office and $830 million worldwide. Many thanks to all the fans!

Also, Variety reports:

The long Labor Day weekend saw decent traffic at the multiplex, ending a record-breaking summer at the domestic B.O. that saw a number of titles overperform. Summer revenues topped out at an estimated $4.31 billion through Monday, up 4% over summer 2007, the previous recordholder at $4.16 billion. Admissions were essentially even with summer 2008. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and "Up" topped the summer chart.

Michael Bay and ROTF nominated for the 2009 Scream Awards

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-09-03T16:22:16-04:00

Michael and Revege of The fallen have been nominated for this years Scream 2009 Awards. Click here to vote.

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Revenge of The Fallen DVD/Blu-ray: October 20th

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-08-20T10:56:21-04:00

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- With more action and more thrills, TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen captivated audiences to earn over $820 million at the box office and become the #1 movie of the year in North America and throughout the world. The latest spectacular adventure in the wildly popular TRANSFORMERS franchise will make its highly-anticipated DVD and Blu-ray debut on October 20, 2009 in immersive, two-disc Special Editions, as well as on a single disc DVD, from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures in association with Hasbro; distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment. The eagerly-awaited home entertainment premiere will be accompanied by one of the division's biggest marketing campaigns ever, generating awareness and excitement of galactic proportions.

From director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg, in association with Hasbro, TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen delivers non-stop action and fun in an all-new adventure that the whole family can enjoy. Featuring out-of-this-world heroes in the form of the mighty AUTOBOTS and a malevolent and powerful villain known as THE FALLEN, the film boasts some of the most sensational--and complex--visual effects in film history set against the backdrop of spectacular locations around the world. In addition to audience favorites OPTIMUS PRIME and BUMBLEBEE, the film's human stars have returned to help save the world including Shia LaBeouf (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull), Megan Fox (How to Lose Friends & Alienate People), Josh Duhamel ("Las Vegas"), Tyrese Gibson (Four Brothers) and John Turturro (The Good Shepherd).

The TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen two-disc Blu-ray and DVD feature over three hours of in-depth, immersive special features that let viewers further explore the world of the legendary ROBOTS IN DISGUISE. Among the engrossing content is a multi-chapter documentary, including interviews with the cast and crew, that chronicles the entire making of the film from development and design to filming in locations around the globe, working with the U.S. military, creating the groundbreaking visual effects and putting it all together to produce the biggest film of the year. The discs also include an all-access featurette following renowned director Michael Bay through an entire day, a comprehensive exploration of the "confidential files" on a dozen of the TRANSFORMERS characters featured in the film, multi-angle breakdowns of some of the most sensational action sequences and much, much more.

The Blu-ray and two-disc DVD packages also will feature augmented reality technology that will allow owners to interact with a holographic image of OPTIMUS PRIME utilizing their webcams and a special website. Fans will be asked to piece together the Matrix of Leadership to bring OPTIMUS PRIME back to life, help repair his armor and calibrate his weapons by actually controlling his aim during target practice.

As an added bonus, the Blu-ray will include an exclusive interactive feature that gives viewers the ability to customize their own robot characters and get a glimpse at a rogue robot. Out of all the available permutations, one will unlock an exclusive interview with Michael Bay about his plans for the next adventure.

Two-Disc Special Edition DVD & Blu-ray:

The TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen two-disc Special Edition DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround with English, French and Spanish subtitles. The Blu-ray will be presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital with English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese subtitles. The disc breakdown is as follows:

Disc 1:

Commentary by Michael Bay, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman

Disc 2:

The Human Factor: Exacting Revenge of the Fallen--This multi-chapter documentary chronicles the entire creation of the film and includes interviews with the cast and crew:
Seeds of Vengeance - Development and Design - After the overwhelming success of 2007's Transformers, how do the filmmakers top themselves for the sequel?
Domestic Destruction - Production: United States - Michael Bay believes in going big: Big action and big explosions. Cast and crew are pushed to the limit as they traverse the U.S. from New Mexico to Pennsylvania.
Joint Operations - Production: Military - No other filmmaker in the world enjoys the kind of military access and cooperation Michael Bay has. Here we see just how efficient our armed forces are and the awe and respect shown by the cast.
Wonders of the World - Production: Middle East - You can't really reproduce Egypt anywhere but Egypt so off we go to Giza and Luxor.
Start Making Sense - Editing - In order to turn over the massive amount of film as quickly as possible to VFX, four editors work tirelessly in a unique tag-team approach to shape the film.
Under the Gun - Visual Effects - Revenge of the Fallen features the most complicated VFX in film history. So complicated in fact that the filmmakers were unsure they would make the deadline. The DEVASTATOR VFX alone required 83% of ILM's total render farm capacity.
Running the Gauntlet - Post-Production and Release - Working seven days a week, Michael Bay and company usher the film through sound design, Digital Intermediate color-timing and a globe-trotting whirlwind of premieres.
A Day with Bay: Tokyo--An intimate and fun all-access journey with Michael Bay as he travels to Tokyo, Japan for the world premiere of the biggest film of the year.
25 Years of TRANSFORMERS--Access an all-new featurette celebrating a monumental milestone for one of Hasbro's most successful and popular franchises.
NEST: Transformer Data-Hub--Explore conceptual artwork created by the production for 12 of the most popular AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS from the film.
Deconstructing Visual Bayhem with Commentary by Pre-Vis Supervisor Steve Yamamoto-- A series of multi-angle pre-visualization sequences allowing viewers to learn how some of the film's most spectacular scenes were created with an introduction by Michael Bay.
Extended Scenes
Music Video: Linkin Park's "New Divide"

BLU-RAY EXCLUSIVE:

The ALLSPARK Experiment--Viewers get their chance to unleash the power of the recently recovered ALLSPARK shard on Earth vehicles. Begin by selecting and customizing a vehicle with a selection of parts and accessories. Then apply the ALLSPARK to this creation and watch what happens. Applying the ALLSPARK to certain custom combinations enables four new robot characters with special powers. If viewers discover all four, they unlock a fifth vehicle, which reveals a top secret message about the future of the TRANSFORMERS movie franchise.

NEST: Transformer Data-Hub--A database of some of the TRANSFORMERS characters that appear in the new film, offering users access to each robot's confidential file including:
Innovative 3D spin galleries of each robot
A timeline for each TRANSFORMERS character charting its origins, back story and design evolution from toys to animated series to comics and finally feature films
Giant Effing Movie - A very personal look at the making of the movie.
The Matrix of Marketing--An archive of the film's promotional media including trailers, posters and television spots.

Victoria's Secret Behind the Scenes

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-08-19T10:41:43-04:00

Nelson here...

Below you can view some photos of the recent behind the scenes shoot of Michael’s new Victoria’s Secret ads.

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The Top Ten of All Time

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-07-25T16:27:41-04:00

Nelson here...

In he next few days Revenge of the Fallen will surpass Spiderman 2 and LOTR: Return of the King and place itself into the domestic top 10 highest grossing films of all time. Sweet revenge indeed.

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Boom Goes The Dynamite: Transformers 2 Tops the Box Office for 2nd Week

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-07-06T13:22:02-04:00

Updated studio estimates Monday made it pretty clear who was No. 1 in the photo-finish race for boxoffice supremacy this weekend, with Paramount's "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" topping the domestic pack with $42.4 million.

Final official data from Nielsen EDI will be released midday Monday. But morning updates from various studios consistently showed Fox's "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" in second place with less than $42 million in Friday-Sunday boxoffice. On Sunday, both Par and Fox estimated their pics had taken in a chart-topping $42.5 million in boxoffice over the three-day Fourth of July frame.

Sunday estimates showed the "Transformers" sequel toting a $293.5 million cume for its first 12 days in domestic release.

Source: THR

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TF Revenge of the Fallen becomes highest grosser of 2009

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-07-04T18:58:07-04:00

Nelson here...

Revenge of the Fallen becomes highest grosser of 2009 in less than 2 weeks. Don’t wipe your eyes, you read right.

“According to estimates from Box Office Mojo, the blockbuster grossed $17.8 million on Friday, edging past Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs' $17 million for the top spot the second day in a row...With a ten-day total of $268.7 million, director Michael Bay can now stake his claim to making the highest grossing film of the year.”

Source: EW

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Happy 4th of July

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-07-04T14:27:29-04:00

We wish you a happy and safe 4th of July!

To everyone else, we thank you for visiting Michael Bay dot com!

"Four"

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-07-01T08:07:47-04:00

DreamWorks is firming up a deal to preemptively acquire screen rights to "I Am Number Four," the first of a six-book science fiction deal that has "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" director Michael Bay aboard to produce and possibly direct. DreamWorks is working on a high six-figure deal, sources said.

The real surprise in the deal, though, is the identity of one of the two authors. Though WME began shopping the book Thursday under a pseudonym, sources said one of the writers is James Frey, best known for writing "A Million Little Pieces." Neither the agency nor the studio would confirm.

The deal puts Bay right back in business with DreamWorks, Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider. It is expected that Spielberg will be active in a behind-the-scenes capacity, similar to the godfather role he has played in the "Transformers" franchise. The sale comes as "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" takes a run at the record books this weekend, after setting records on its first two days in theaters.

Source: Variety

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Shooting at the Pyramids of Giza

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-30T09:31:24-04:00

By Anthony Breznican, USA TODAY

LOS ANGELES — Throughout history, great leaders have stood in marvel at the foot of the pyramids of Giza —Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte. Now it's Optimus Prime's turn.

Moviegoers who helped Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen earn $200.1 million in its opening five days, just short of record-holder The Dark Knight, know the computer-effects-heavy film plays a lot of tricks on the eye. One thing they're seeing for real are the pyramids, because director Michael Bay was determined to shoot the shapeshifting-robot finale on the surface of the ancient structures.

"The studio was saying: 'You can't do that, you can't go there. It's dangerous. A-lah-lah-lah-lah,' " Bay said recently as sound editors tweaked the roar and grind of robot carnage as the battle in question played out on a giant theater screen before them.

"They always try to discourage an American crew from going to a Muslim country. "But that's kind of flawed, because when I went on a scout, it's very different than people perceive in the news. It's a great place, and people are very friendly there.

"I almost put it in my contract that I'm not doing this movie if I don't shoot in Egypt. I finally got their word: 'OK, you can shoot there.' "

That wasn't the last piece of red tape to be cut through. Though the producers had contracted with Henry Kissinger's consulting firm to negotiate access more than a year in advance, the permit they had been promised wasn't ready when Bay and Co. finally arrived.

"My producer was panicking because they said 'Yes, you're approved,' and we had went through their state department, prime minister, the major generals ... everything. They kept saying 'It's OK, it's OK.' But then you get there, and it's not OK when the police surround your trucks," Bay says. "No one wants to take responsibility for anything. No one wants to say, 'Yeah.' "

Some voted to go home, even with millions of dollars on the line, Bay says. "But I said, 'We are going to shoot on those (expletive) pyramids!' Somehow, by the grace of God, there was a loophole." They reached out to the head of the nation's ancient cultural heritage, who gave them the green light.

"Dr. (Zahi) Hawass, who controls all the antiquities in Egypt, he can say whatever goes," Bay says. "So we were finally invited in to shoot, literally, on the pyramids."

In the final cut, much of that scene is dominated by CG-animated alien robots, including Devastator — the new villain made out of seven individual robots who hide in the form of construction equipment. But the flesh-and-blood actors also got to romp on the pyramids.

Bay himself stood on a high ledge filming scenes with actor John Turturro (reprising his role as the blowhard former government agent who's a Transformers expert). "We're 30 rows up, and it's just neat. Pictures don't do justice to it, but on this movie, you get the scale of what the pyramid really is because John's right there," Bay says.

The filmmaker says it was overwhelming for both of them, a feeling that struck a few days later when they were in Jordan shooting atop a mountainside-carved temple in the ancient city of Petra. "(Turturro) was looking at Petra, and it was the morning of, just setting up, and he had a tear in his eye. I was like 'What's going on?' " Bay recalls. "He said, 'You never get to do this. I was at the pyramids just the other day, and now I'm here. You just never get to do this.' "

That was the final problem: an awestruck crew.

"I actually had to yell once: 'Anyone pulls out a (expletive) video camera again, you're going home!' We were shooting on top of this palace right next to the pyramids. The sun has just dropped, and you've got literally 15 minutes of light — one chance, and you've got to get the scene. You have to be ready to knock it out. But the crew is there with the video cameras, posing and taking photos, because it's a once-in-a-lifetime place. I was like, 'Guys! This is my time now!' " he says, laughing.

"It was the end of the show, and it was funny," he says, shrugging. "We barely made it."

Source: USAToday

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A Little Something From the Heart

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-29T21:23:53-04:00

Nelson here...

For haters and critics, here’s a little something from me to you: my sympathy goes out to you guys.

Maybe next time we could have a $20,000 contest for the crankiest and most hateful review. And if you make it personal, I might throw in a bottle of Cristal.

TF2: More that meets the critic's eyes

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-29T21:25:37-04:00

Pic takes $200.1 million from domestic box office

By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK

The 'Transformers' sequel pulled in $390.4 million worldwide over 5 days.

Aside from its whopping five-day domestic tally -- the second highest of all time -- Paramount's "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" broke records in several countries overseas, leading to a massive $390.4 million worldwide opening through Sunday, one of the best global launches ever.

Official weekend numbers released Monday morning showed "Transformers 2" grossing $200.1 million domestically--slightly less than the $201.2 million estimated on Sunday--over the course of its five-day opening. That easily eclipsed the $152.4 million earned by "Spider-Man 2," which previously held the five-day record for a Wednesday launch.

And "Transformers 2" came within shouting distance of the best five-day gross of all time: $203.8 million for WB's "The Dark Knight."

Overseas, the action tentpole grossed $166.1 million as it opened day and date in virtually every territory (pic opened the weekend before in the U.K. and Japan). Official tally was ahead of the Sunday estimate of $162 million.

Either way, "Transformers 2" scored the second best international opening of all time, after "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" ($216.3 million), "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" ($193 million) and "Spider-Man 3" ($164.9 million).

The sequel's foreign cume was $190.3 million when factoring in the $24.1 million earned the previous weekend in the U.K. and Japan.

Source: Variety

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TF2 exit polls

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-29T07:02:16-04:00

Paramount's national exit polling revealed several notable facts. While the first "Transformers" film, released in 2007, skewed 60-40 toward men over women, the split in the new film was more even at 54% male, 46% female. More than 90% of those surveyed said the new movie was as good as or better than the first film. About 67% of moviegoers polled said the film was "excellent," an even better score than that generated by Paramount's "Star Trek," one of the year's best-reviewed movies.

Source: LATimes

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Revenge of the Fallen Day 3: $36.7 million

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-27T13:45:31-04:00

From Variety:

Paramount-DreamWorks' action-sequel "Transformers: The Revenge of the Fallen" continued to dominate the box office Friday raking in $36.7 million and raising its running domestic cume to $125.9 million over three days.

While "Revenge of the Fallen" is heading for a five-day worldwide B.O. record, box office observers have estimated that its domestic haul over the same frame could be north of $190 million. "Dark Knight" holds the five-day opening domestic B.O. record with $203.8 million. Directed by Michael Bay who also helmed the first "Transformers," "Revenge of the Fallen" is currently playing at 4,234 theaters, 169 of which are Imax.

From THR:

'Transformers' on track to reach $200 million

Something has transformed "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" into a boxoffice monster.

Michael Bay's action sequel -- co-produced by DreamWorks and Hasbro, and distributed by Paramount -- rung up an estimated $36.7 million on Friday. That shaped a three-day cume of $126 million to give the Shia LaBeouf-Megan Fox starrer more than a shot at mounting a $200 million-plus debut through Sunday.

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Above The Line: An interview with Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-26T21:53:49-04:00

By: Mike Fleming

As Michael Bay’s “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” chases box office records after grossing $60.6 million on opening day, the filmmaker took time out to talk with BFD about the business of blockbusters, the impact of piracy, and the virtues of sharing risk with studios.

BFD: How do you spend opening night?

Bay: I always go to Mr. Chow’s for dinner with my producers, studio and marketing execs, my agents and lawyers. We get our first numbers there and then we hit the theaters. You’ve got to go there. And hope you see happy, smiling faces walking out. Last night, I tried to sneak in the side, but somebody noticed me and then they’re lining up for pictures. At the Arclight, somebody yelled “speech!” and I found myself talking to 900 people.

BFD: Salary deferrals have become commonplace, but not when you made “Pearl Harbor.” You made more money, but said, “Never again.”

Bay: Well, that was because of the way it came about. You work on the movie for nine months and then right before you shoot Joe Roth says, “Mike, I’m going to take away your fee.” It didn’t feel good.

BFD: So you deferred on “Transformers” and the sequel, and the L. A. Times predicts you might make more than any director on a movie. How do you feel about these deals, which are becoming the new economics of Hollywood moviemaking?

Bay: Okay. I run my sets and my pictures tight and we came in $4 million under budget. There is so much waste in this business, directors who have big shows like this one, who keep a second unit for the entire time. We were able to make this for $194 million, instead of the $230-270 million that the average sequel of this nature seems to cost. I work with one of the best crews in the world, we work efficient 12-hour days. We don’t build $3 million sets and then the director walks in and says, “Fuck it, I’m not going to use that set.” The stories I hear from my crew members, of waste on other pictures, of directors shooting a six- or eight-hour day, it’s just staggering. Some directors will look a studio executive in the eye and say, “Sure I’ll come in at this budget,” and then they behave like terrorists. By then, you’re committed and screwed. The thing that “Pearl Harbor” taught me was you’ve got to become a partner with the studio and deferring makes you more invested in that. I think it’s important and I think you need to be honest with your partner.

BFD: You have final cut as director and producer, but that’s also going by the wayside. What leverage does it give you?

Bay: It’s a club you hide behind your back but you hope you never have to use. Final cut for some can be a defense mechanism and for others an extortion mechanism. I am not one of those people who hold out my final cut; I think that’s ridiculous. I can think of examples where it allowed me to put some comic moments in these films. The studios have always been very good with me and never demand I take anything out. They suggest, sometimes I say no and then we see if the whole audience laughs and I was right. You need more laughter in the summertime. Literally, I was told we shouldn’t have talking robots in the first film. But you’ve got to be able to listen to your audience and to producers who look at your movie and bounce things around with you. That’s the Don Simpson-Jerry Bruckheimer dynamic and any director needs those people because you are just too close to it. I still feel if I could have had two more weeks on “Transformers,” I could fix a lot of stuff. But I ran out of time. My philosophy on final cut is you protect the movie at all costs. At studios, you deal with people who have their own agendas and you have to keep this agenda-free and all about the movie and the experience.

BFD: Days before the release of your film, Paramount restructured its film group. How did that impact you and what does it mean going forward on the next film?

Bay: It doesn’t affect anything, really. Paramount has literally said, “Here’s your budget, see you later.” It’s staggering, really, but they trust me to come in on budget. I don’t ask for money when I’m shooting and stay on course. I’ve never even given them dailies. I’d assemble real rough cut scenes, sizzle reels, cut to music, so they can enjoy it and get what the movie is.

BFD: Three days before shooting, Sony scrapped “Moneyball” after Steven Soderbergh threw a curveball to Amy Pascal and turned in a rewrite that veered from the movie she was willing to finance. On “Transformers,” do you feel an unspoken agreement to the studio to deliver the film exactly as they expect since they aren’t watching dailies?

Bay: I can only compare it to the first movie. The hardest thing for a director trying to set up a franchise is establishing tone. I wanted it to be edgy enough to be cool for older kids but accessible to kids and moms and I wanted it to be funny. We did a lot of improv and I hired funny actors who could do that. Steven [Spielberg] called me up and said, “Mike, you’re shooting a lot of stuff that’s not in the script.” I said, “Steven, some of it is going to suck, but some of it will be gems in the movie.” That’s how I work. I will say it made them nervous until they saw the final result, how much the audience liked it and the tone that it set for the franchise.

BFD: What’s one of those gems?

Bay: A perfect example came in the first movie, the masturbation thing. There was one line of dialogue that hinted about it in a roundabout way. But Julie White is a wonderful theater actress and Kevin Dunn and Shia, we were able to make that scene into something. I shoot fast enough that I was able to devote several hours to having fun with that scene and make more than what was on the page. I try to shoot at efficient clip so I can allow myself time to work with the actors and experiment.

BFD: Much was made of a memo you sent to Paramount fearing that “Transformers” wasn’t registering as an event film because of the marketing. How do you feel now?

Bay: Thankful, because they did a great job. At the time, they were so focused on "Star Trek" and I was like, “Hey, we’re the four-quadrant movie just sitting out here. I need a little attention here.” It’s good to put people on notice. They have a talented group at Paramount, they did a fantastic job. They took the email very seriously, and we had a big meeting, not only domestic but foreign. A lot of people were brought in and it all really came together in a huge way.

BFD: You gambled on both “Transformers” films and “Pearl Harbor.” If you found another franchise, could you see yourself going a step further and bypassing the studio as financier?

Bay: I will always do these films with a studio, because it’s good for you when the studio has skin in the game when they’re releasing a big picture for you. But maybe it’s going to be half of the skin in the game next time, and the rest will be independent financing. I’m absolutely thinking along those lines right now, because studios don’t have as much money and they’re spreading it around to take as many swings at the plate as they can. Absolutely, I want to get into that.

Download (Photo by Jaimie Trueblood)

BFD: Considering your development on this movie was interrupted by the writer’s strike and you risked being shut down any moment by shooting after the expiration of the SAG contract, what was the hardest thing about making “Transformers: The Fallen?”

Bay: That could have been the hardest thing. With an impending strike, we had 12 pages of a treatment. I worked very closely with the writers, great collaborators, who suddenly went on strike. I said, “We’re going to start prepping this movie at full force, scout places I think are going to be in this movie and try and put this together as best we could.” There might be an actor’s strike, but I told the studio we’re going to shoot this on June 2, come hell or high water. We took a gamble that the writers would come back from the strike in time and we just made it. At one point, we were the only movie shooting in the country. But I had to gamble. I have a loyal crew and my job gives 2,000 to 2,500 people jobs. It was scary because so many people were out of work and you hear your crew say, “Wow, I might have to move out of my house.” You feel responsible.

BFD: Considering that all guild contracts will expire in 2011 and Paramount and DreamWorks want the third film in 2011 or 2012, how does the likelihood of more labor trouble influence the next film?

Bay: I’ll be honest, I need to take a break. I need to do something different and get away from robots for a bit. I think it will be better for the franchise to give some space. But I don’t think you can play for the strike. That was the problem last time. There was fear and all the studios were playing for a strike that never happened. I felt in my heart that the strike would never happen because I saw where the country was going and felt, how can you strike in a time like this? Look, the next one’s going to get made when it gets made, no matter what. If we have to shut down, we shut down.

BFD: You make the kind of pictures that studios want. How long will this serve your own creative ambitions as a filmmaker?

Bay: That’s the issue. I fear for the business, the way it’s contracting. I like all kinds of movies and dramas seem to be hurting right now, along with small independents. I have projects in those areas and it’s frightening. There should be a place for my type of movies and a place for the ones Steven Soderbergh makes. I’m worried the economy is going to make it only one type and that’s going to be really boring.

BFD: Dramas are being put in turnaround after films like “State of Play” were pricey failures. What’s the answer?

Bay: I always start with a question. How do you get someone to commit to leaving their house and going to the theater, when they’ve got all this stuff on the internet, and social networks. That’s why these event movies are working in this climate. I don’t know the answer, but sometimes I hear about movies they’re making and say, “How is that going to get someone out of the house?” I’ve got some small projects and several big stars are talking about working with me. But I have to focus on one thing and move on. I cannot have nine balls in the air, which Steven does so well.

BFD: What has been the biggest benefit of being in Spielberg’s orbit?

Bay: The benefit of being in both Steven and Jerry Bruckheimer’s orbit is they are such sage advisors. They’ve taught me so much about the business and been supportive as they allowed me to do my thing. It’s fascinating for me to remember being a kid and seeing “Top Gun” and saying, “I’ve got to do this,” and seeing “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and saying, “I’ve got to do this.” Now, those two guys are like my big brothers. You could see on that email how I invoked Jerry.

BFD: Dramas are hurting. What else do you fear about this business?

Bay: Piracy. It’s going to be the death. I look in the eyes of these interviewers. There was one of them, maybe in Norway, and this guy looks me in the eye and says, “Don’t you think piracy is about sharing?” I say, no, it’s about stealing. They really believe they are sharing, and it is like really lightning fire. Somehow, the studios are going to have to get dirty and fight back.

BFD: How?

Bay: If you wanted to get dirty, you can get dirty. You can implant things in their systems. You can get nasty. This stealing is growing on a worldwide level, very quickly. It’s exploding. This is my biggest concern and it’s something we’re not really addressing effectively. In several years, it’s really going to hurt us. Not the theater experience, but the ancillaries.

BFD: Is it creating the DVD shortfalls that have studios changing the way they make deals?

Bay: Some of that is just posturing, trying to fake everyone out and make better deals for the studios. “Transformers” is going to sell plenty of DVDs. But the idea that these pirates can somehow get a print that’s a good copy, that’s where payola starts and where the crime world can get into it.

Source: Variety

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Michael Bay at the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-26T20:54:57-04:00

WSJ interviews Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-26T12:15:29-04:00

This coming weekend could make Hollywood history for Michael Bay, the movie director behind the big-budget epics “Armageddon” and “Pearl Harbor.” His latest release, the $200 million action-adventure movie “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” is poised to possibly become the biggest opening in Hollywood history, with estimates that it could gross more than $200 million by Sunday’s end—rivaling the record-shattering totals for last summer’s “The Dark Knight.” But the 44-year-old director, who has a predilection for massive budgets and pyrotechnic explosions, has already set his sights on a radically new goal: making an art film.

The Wall Street Journal: This film features even more talking robots—based on the Hasbro toy line—than the first “Transformers.” Why add in more robots rather than humans?

Mr. Bay: That’s what fans wanted. The first film was really about us setting up the situation, and this movie is about us discovering what we could do better with that situation, how to make this most out of these special effects and these characters.

Did Hasbro force you to conform the aesthetics of the robots to match the style of its toy line? Did you have to make any compromises on characters for the sake of promoting Hasbro’s stable of pre-existing Transformers characters?

Not at all. I told [Hasbro] that I was going to do my own thing, and they really let me go off on the designs. They gave me carte blanche—it was pretty phenomenal. But I still listened to people who were in that world when they asked things like, ‘Can we make Optimus’s ears a little longer so he appears more in character?’ That’s easy to do. And a lot of the artists and people that we hired were fans of Transformers growing up, so having so many fans working on my crew really kept me on point. There are things that I invented—the creaky geriatric robot that is always grumpy, for example, or the little wheelie guy, he’s not in the Hasbro lore. But kids love that stuff—this little guy as a pet on a chain. They gravitate towards it.

Did you add testicles to the robots, too?

No, those are construction balls.

Uh-huh. So, now that you’ve finished the sequel of “Transformers,” are you ready to direct the third installment of the franchise?

I just want to take some time off. It’s been almost three years that I’ve devoted myself entirely to this world of robots. At some point, enough is enough—and I literally carried this movie on my back. I only finished it in the last week. It was a tough movie for me to finish—especially with the writers strike, the possible SAG strike. At one point, we were the only union movie in America shooting—Hollywood was so messed up from those two events.

So you don’t want to do another sequel?

I don’t know who [would] want to take on my shoes with this franchise. We might just take a year down.

What’s next for you, then?

I’ve been talking to some big actors right now about something that is totally different. A small dark comedy, a true story, with actors just acting, no effects. I’m done with effects movies for now. When you do a movie like “Transformers,” it can feel like you’re doing three movies at once—which is tiring.

It’s interesting that you want to focus on acting. Megan Fox, one of the leads in “Transformers” has criticized your films for being special-effects-driven and not offering so many acting opportunities. Do you agree?

Well, that’s Megan Fox for you. She says some very ridiculous things because she’s 23 years old and she still has a lot of growing to do. You roll your eyes when you see statements like that and think, “Okay Megan, you can do whatever you want. I got it.” But I 100% disagree with her. Nick Cage wasn’t a big actor when I cast him, nor was Ben Affleck before I put him in “Armageddon.” Shia LaBeouf wasn’t a big movie star before he did “Transformers”—and then he exploded. Not to mention Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, from “Bad Boys.” Nobody in the world knew about Megan Fox until I found her and put her in “Transformers.” I like to think that I’ve had some luck in building actors’ careers with my films.

With all the recent emphasis on 3D and technology in movies, do you think we’ll see some directors emerge out of the special effects houses?

Mr. Bay: People have come before from the special effects houses and have not done well. People can come from anywhere—but its really about telling stories. Either you’re born to do this or you’re not.

Speaking of effects, What about 3-D? Are you a fan? Will we watch the third “Transformers” movie in three dimensions?

I prefer the flat screen. I’m not jumping to do 3-D at all—it’s a pain in the neck to shoot it and I actually like the flat image. I’ve heard that some people can’t even see 3-D and, moreover, that a major side effect of watching it is feeling exhausted. Can you imagine how you’d feel watching one of my movies in 3-D?

You really shot all those scenes [in ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”] at the real pyramids?

One of the things that I pride myself on is that in situations where people say, “You can’t do that,” somehow I am always able to pull it off. I did it with “Pearl Harbor” and I did it with “Armageddon,” with the space shuttle, and luckily [Secretary General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities] Dr. Zahi Hawass, who runs the pyramids, was a fan of the first “Transformers”—so he let us film there, even though we’re the first film to do so in 30 years.

Those pyramids get pretty beat up in the film. Did they crumble during the filming?

The destruction is all effects. We were very, very careful. We didn’t break anything.

Source: WSJ

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M&M's behind the scenes with Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-26T11:44:45-04:00

Here are behind the scenes video’s of Michael M&M ads.

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Revenge of the Fallen has a $27 million Thursday

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-26T14:02:45-04:00

Paramount's "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" is on its way to scoring one of the top five-day openings of all time at the worldwide box office.

The film's opening-day bow of $60.6 million from 4,234 runs at the domestic box office was the best ever for a Wednesday release and the second best of all time after that of "The Dark Knight" ($67.2 million).

Early estimates for Thursday show "Transformers 2" grossing another $27 million, bringing the two-day domestic cume to a bfo $87 million.

Overseas, sequel's cume through Wednesday was a whopping $59 million from 11,500 locations in 58 territories Wednesday, putting the worldwide tally at a hefty $146.6 million.

Foreign total includes early grosses from the U.K. and Japan, where the film opened over the weekend. "Revenge of the Fallen" opened day and date virtually everywhere else on Wednesday. Pic hasn't opened in India or Italy.

"This is the best opening number I can ever remember. It shows there is a huge fanbase for the movie. The audience loves the movie," Paramount prexy of international distribution Andrew Cripps said.

Directed by Michael Bay, the "Transformers" sequel has drawn poor reviews in the U.S., but that doesn't seem to be slowing down theater traffic, with out-of-school kids primed for an action tentpole.

Source: Variety

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First Day

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-25T11:45:39-04:00

The 400 critics around the globe spoke. Then fans around the world spoke.

Transformers made $60.6 million dollars in the United States for a total of around $100 million from the world on opening day! One of the biggest single days in movie history.

Then never seem to understand that I make movies for people to take a ride and escape.

To all the Transformer Fans - Thank You

Michael

http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5378

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'Transformers' scores $60.6 mil on day 1

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-25T11:15:47-04:00

Paramount's DreamWorks-produced action sequel "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" – screened for a receptive group of European exhibs at the Cinema Expo confab here earlier this week – rung up $60.6 million in its first day in domestic release.

Par released the early estimate of first-day boxoffice Thursday morning. The figure included more than $16 million from midnight Wednesday performances, as the 2 ½-hour, Michael Bay-helmed pic -- in which Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox reprise topliner roles -- seems well positioned to hit its projected $150 million-plus in opening-frame boxoffice through Sunday.’

Source: THR

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Revenge of the Fallen Midnight Showing: $16 million

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-24T14:42:23-04:00

Nelson here...

TF2 made $16 million in just on the midnight showings alone.

Only The Dark Knight and Star Wars Ep. 3 have done such but they did it on a Thursday plus had the benefit opening earlier in the day.

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The Day of Revenge Has Arrived

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-24T06:53:48-04:00

Nelson here...

The day has arrived. I’ll be seeing later today.

For now, discuss the movie here. And if you wish, you can also rate the movie at this link.

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Michael Bay can blow up ILM computers too...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-23T18:34:56-04:00

Nelson here..

If there’s someone that can make computers go beyond their maximum (or at least try), it’s Michael.

Visual-effects supervisor Scott Farrar was in charge of turning Industrial Light & Magic's computers up to 11 to create the new characters and told reporters that the sequel features 40 new characters. That and the increased resolution of the characters for new IMAX footage nearly exhausted ILM's render farms: After one hard night of rendering computer-generated footage, some of the hardware actually exploded.

Read the complete article at Sci-Fi Wire.

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Michael Bay on set

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-23T18:21:41-04:00

Download hi-res here.

Download hi-res here.

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Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Score & Soundtrack now available at iTunes.

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-23T10:57:53-04:00

Click here to buy the Revenge of the Fallen score at iTunes.

Click here to buy the Revenge of the Fallen soundtrack at iTunes.

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Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Selling Out

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-23T08:46:35-04:00

Hundreds of tomorrow night’s midnight show times for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (debuting June 24 at 12:01 a.m.) are already sold out across the country. A few facts from Fandango below:

Sold-out midnight show times (on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning) can be found all across the U.S.A., in cities such as New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Albuquerque, Denver, Houston, Nashville, Orlando, Colorado Springs, Tulsa, Fresno and Buford, Georgia.
Exhibitors are continuing to add 3:45 a.m. or 4:00 a.m. show times on Wednesday morning to meet the fan demand.
Currently, the film is selling twice as many tickets on Fandango as the original Transformers sold at the same point in that film’s sales cycle (two days before release date).
The movie currently represents 87% of today’s ticket sales
And as we noted yesterday, TF 2 showings at 500+ theaters in China are sold out 1.5 weeks in advanced.

The Last One

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-22T23:38:57-04:00

Tidbits & TF invades China

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-22T18:06:40-04:00

Nelson here...

Spoke to Mike a while ago, here are some tidbits.

He hasn’t read any reviews (good or bad ones) or viewed at the Rotten Tomatoes meter.
He will be having a TF2 premiere for the Pentagon later this week at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Imax.
He will the visit Walter Reed Medical Center and visit our vets and troops.
On a side note, the forest scene with four bots fighting was shot in New Mexico. I feel dumb not knowing NM has lush forests.
And last but not least, 500+ theaters in Shanghai are sold out 1.5 weeks in advance for TF2. Click here to see Chinese TF fans show their Bumblebee love. (mirror and more photos)

Note from Michael

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-22T14:08:32-04:00

Back from Moscow. Fresh from a visit to the former KGB, with second in command. He told me in his office I'm one of 10 American's, one being a President, to ever be allowed inside what is now called the FSB. The only reason was he heard I was in town and he is a fan of my films.

Last night with my crew I saw the IMAX version. Once you get used to the giant format and your eyes adjust, it's an awesome experience. I have been waiting until the film was final to judge, and I'm really pleased. You have to make a point to see it this way - It could be the very best way to see Transformers.

C'mon guys critics? Give me a break. Do you all have short term memory? They killed the first one, and it still became a world-wide smash. I made this for the you, the audience!

Michael

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Transformers opens big in Japan & the UK

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-21T18:14:13-04:00

Transformers 2 opened spectacularly in their world debuts in the UK and Japan, grossing a total of $20 mil from 846 locations. The Michael Bay directed film was a clear #1 in both territories, with the UK’s opening total of $14.1 mil from 517 locations outperforming rival comic book sequel Spider-Man 2 by 18%, the original Transformers movie by 71% and coming within 3% of the Dark Knight weekend total. In Japan, the film’s gross of $5.8mn from 329 locations was 64% ahead of The Dark Knight, and only 13% behind Transformers which had the advantage of opening in summer school holidays.

The franchise’s eagerly awaited second instalment opens across most of the rest of the world next week on Wednesday June 24th.

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President Obama to Michael Bay "You're a big-ass director"

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-19T23:07:18-04:00

Crew screenings

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-19T16:55:27-04:00

Nelson here...

In regards to some reports that Michael Bay is not having screenings for his crew, Michael says the following:

“They seem to want to know about my crew screenings. Not sure why the press is interested? We had 2500 crew members from many parts of the US and some in the Middle East and London. We have an IMAX crew screening Sunday night. We have an ILM screening Monday night and Paramount invited some of my key crew members to the LA premiere. I think Tuesday we are putting together a crew screening which is being planned at Paramount. Thursday we have an IMAX screening in Washington for the Pentagon people involved in the film. And we have one set up in Jordan. BTW the press is not invited.”

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NYTimes: No One Tells Michael Bay What To Do. (Except Maybe His Mother.)

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-19T13:44:00-04:00

By DAVE ITZKOFF

In its review of “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” The Guardian calls its director, Michael Bay, “that prince of unsubtlety, royal rejecter of nuance and regal repudiator of light-and-shade,” and declares the film to be “another of his mega-decibel action headbangers.” Somewhere, we imagine Mr. Bay is smiling.

Over a career that includes the action movies “Bad Boys,” “The Rock,” “Armageddon” and the $700 million blockbuster “Transformers,” Mr. Bay has consistently confounded critics (and the occasional audience member), earning a place for himself in the immortal lyric from “Team America: World Police”: “I miss you more than Michael Bay missed the mark / when he made ‘Pearl Harbor.’”

None of which has stopped Mr. Bay from continuing to orchestrate colossal explosions on screen and at the box office. And he seems poised to do it again in his “Transformers” sequel (opening on Wednesday), which returns to the war between heroic Autobots like Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, and villainous Decepticons like Megatron.

In a feature in this weekend’s Arts & Leisure section, Mr. Bay talks about how he was persuaded to direct the “Transformers” films through the efforts of Hasbro, the toy company that makes the shape-shifting action figures. For a closer look at Mr. Bay’s essential Bay-ness, we offer these additional excerpts from our conversation with him, in which the director talks about his work on “Transformers” and his toughest critic: Mom.

Was it Steven Spielberg who first approached you about “Transformers”?
Yeah, literally, I was in my edit room and he said, I’d like you to direct “Transformers.” And I knew what it was, but instantly I thought, this sounds lame. I’m like, “O.K., great, great, great.” And I hung up the phone. And I’m like, “That sounds like a dumb idea.” It’s a true story. And that’s actually what a lot of studios thought. So I just went to Hasbro, and they told me, “We’re going to put you through Transformers school.” I go there, and they have this big conference table. They have like 20 people in the meeting, they’re all staring at me. And there’s one guy with these Transformer toys there, and he’s the folder- and un-folder-upper of Transformers toys. But behind them, I kept seeing these Japanese anime shots, and they were dark and moody. And I’ve always liked Japanese anime. It kind of hit me in the room, because I had read about Transformers and I was more interested in the lore of it. I couldn’t stomach the cartoons or anything like that.

It didn’t concern you that you were about to make a movie about a toy?
Here’s the thing: I don’t consider this a toy. It’s not. To me, it’s the farthest thing from it. It was about the mythology, and that there was a story here. The mythology is really deep, it goes 25 years back. And what I liked was, the code of the warrior. Optimus Prime had a lot of samurai things to him. I’m thinking, if I make this very real, and do something very real in terms of effects, then that might be very interesting. It was always about the boy and the car. And that was what Steven said, and I always liked that concept. It’s such a seminal moment in a kid’s life. That’s your sense of freedom and whatnot. There was just this image of a boy hiding this alien robot in his garage or his house or his backyard that just stuck with me. I’m thinking, O.K., that’s the heart and soul of the movie, for the first one. From there we kind of branched out.

So it was the narrative already contained in the toys that drew you in?
Right. But the thing was, you would think I would watch the movies and the cartoons. I couldn’t. I would get 10 minutes into the movie and I wanted to just shoot myself. O.K., I’m dead serious. And all these people on the Internet saying, “Michael Bay, you wrecked my childhood and blah blah blah.” I’m like, Are you kidding me? Your childhood couldn’t have been that great, watching those cartoons. [laughs] You’re remembering something a lot sweeter than it really was.

I realize it’s deeply uncool to admit this, but were there any toys you loved growing up?
I loved playing with toy soldiers. But I had just missed that window when the toy came out, when it wasn’t cool for me to play with dolls. And robots.

What kind of story were you trying to tell in the first “Transformers” film?
Literally, I wanted to see if this movie could even work. Early on we did this Scorponok sequence, to make it more real and vicious and dangerous, and to make these things more lethal. All my friends, when I’m doing movies, my buddies are like, “Are you kidding me? You’re doing that movie? What is that?” Everyone was saying that and I felt like such a jerk. I’m like, “Oh, my God, this is so risky.” I kept thinking: I can make this real. I can make you believe that they are actually here. I remember showing people a few images, we finally rendered them, with the Scorponok’s images and people instantly go, “I get it now.”

Isn’t that hurtful? You get picked on enough by critics – your friends ridicule your movies, too?
My friends keep me humble, which is good. These are guys that like to rag on you. You know what I mean? [laughs] What was shocking about “Transformers” was that, like, my mom – who will tell me, “I hate your movie” – “I loved this movie” – “That movie’s [expletive]” – “‘Bad Boys,’ they say too many swears.” I’ve cut [expletive] out many times for her. [laughs] She’s a very honest woman. And she goes, “I loved this movie. A little too much battle at the end, but I just loved that Bumblebee.”

Having proven that you could depict the robots on screen, how did you approach a “Transformers” sequel?
Instantly I was just thinking of ideas for what it could be. And then [screenwriters] Bob [Orci] and Alex [Kurtzman] had some ideas, and we loved the idea of now going to college, which is another marker in your life. And Ehren Kruger, another writer, had a really big movie idea. So we kind of spitballed ideas, and simultaneously I had a big art department, so we started drawing ideas and coming up with robots, stuff that hasn’t been invented by Hasbro. That was great about Hasbro. I said to them, “I’m going to do this my own way. I’ll vet it through you guys, but you’ve got to understand, I’m going to do a lot of stuff my way. And the toys are going to change. We’re going to make improvements on this stuff.”

What would be an example of a robot you modified?
Optimus Prime, we changed him a lot. We changed his facial stuff, the type of truck he was, the paint colors, the flames, which I got a lot of flak for. When we did the 3-D sculpting on a computer at ILM, 30 people are looking and I said, “This doesn’t look like Optimus Prime. Look at my drawing here, I want this drawing.” All of a sudden, this Japanese guy who barely speaks a lick of English – it’s the funniest meeting you’ve ever seen – he yells, in the meeting, “That is a insult to the Japanese people! That is not Optimus Prime! I want to do Optimus Prime!” Like, O.K. So he made some improvements. It’s interesting how so many people are attached to making one robot.

And you created other characters that weren’t established in the toys, the comics or the animation?
We wanted to get into the deeper lore of it. At one point, I’d already been shooting the movie, and we were doing this scene in space. And I asked these Hasbro experts on Transformers, I said, “So, how are Transformers born?” And they kind of – dead pause. “I don’t know.” “What do you mean, you don’t know? Isn’t that one of the first things you figure out?” [laughs] So I created how they’re born.

How are they born?
They’re in a special sac. They’re called hatchlings. It’s quite nice.

You’re helping to design all these nice new toys for Hasbro. Do you get a percentage of the toys they sell that are based on your designs?
Well, I’m not allowed to say. But things that come from my mind are now becoming toys. But it gets touched by all these artists. There was a woman on the Hollywood Foreign Press tour, and she goes, “Michael, don’t you ever want to do a movie that’s more artistic?” I knew what she meant, but there was a poster of Bumblebee behind me, and I said, “There’s something to be done with a movie in the south of France, whatever, at a winery or a vineyard. But when you look at Bumblebee behind you, it took so many artists so much time. This is something that doesn’t exist in our world. And it has emotions now.” That’s a whole skill. So it is art in its own way. The thing that Ridley Scott always says, and I totally concur with him, his favorite thing to do as a director is to create a new world. That’s just what I love to do.

But you find some artistic fulfillment in making these movies?
Absolutely. We were shooting in Salt, Jordan, and these kids all surrounded Bumblebee. And they were saying, “Bumblebee.” They knew. It’s another world and they know this character, they know this car. It’s pretty interesting when you see it through kids’ eyes.

Do you need to go off and do something completely different before you come back for “Transformers 3”?
Yes, I definitely need some distance and I definitely need to do another movie in between. It’s got to be something – not with a lot of digital effects. Because it takes so much time. I’ve got a lot of different possibilities, from dark comedy to something more serious. But I’m definitely trying to take some time off. The level of animation was so intense on this movie, compared to the last movie. I tell people it’s like making two movies. You shoot a live action movie and then you do the animation movie. Which goes on forever. Optimus Prime doesn’t just show up. It’s painstaking how you make him act. But now it’s, like, summertime, I guess. I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself.

Source: NYTimes

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'Transformers' blasts back: Another Michael Bay direct hit

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-19T10:51:54-04:00

USAToday reports on the behind the scenes of Transformers Revenge of the Fallen:

There's a race to finish before sunset, but a craft services worker shows up with a pickup full of fresh pizzas. He is swarmed by the crew, until Bay hops off a golf cart he is steering and hollers: "Get those (expletive) pizzas the (expletive) out of here!"

Click here to read the entire article.

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Bay not quitting Transformers

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-18T20:27:24-04:00

Nelson here... in response to reports that Michael is done and wants nothing to do with Transformers, Michael says:

Hah, love press how they spin. Never said it - just wanted a vacation is more to the point. And no I don't read the good or the bad reviews.

Read it here.

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Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Desktops

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-18T12:14:35-04:00

Download TF2 wallpapers for your desktop.

Download.

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Michael Bay on Film Weekly Podcast

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-18T07:01:06-04:00

Source: The Guardian

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Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Fun Facts

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-17T16:07:17-04:00

Robots

14 robots last time, 46 robots this time (ILM only)
If you had all the gold ever mined in the history of man, you could build a little more than half of Devastator.
Optimus Prime will be life size on IMAX screens in many forest fight shots.
Devastator’s hand is traveling 390 miles per hour when he punches the pyramid.
The pyramid destruction simulation was 8 times bigger than the old rigid simulation all-time record holder at ILM.
All robot parts laid out end to end would stretch from one side of California to the other, about 180 miles
Devastator’s parts stacked tip to tip would be as tall as 58 empire state buildings.
If all the texture maps on the show were printed on 1 square yard sheets, they would cover 13 football fields.

Disk space

TF1 took 20 Terabytes of disk space. Trans2 took 145 Terabytes. Seven times bigger!
145 terabytes would fill 35,000 DVDs. Stacked one on top of the other without storage cases, they would be 145 feet tall.

Rendering times

If you rendered the entire movie on a modern home PC, you would have had to start the renders 16,000 years ago (when cave paintings like the Hall of Bulls were being made) to finish for this year’s premiere!
A single imax shot in the movie (df250) would have taken almost 3 years to render on a top of the line home PC running nonstop.
IMAX frame render times: As high as 72 hours per frame!

Imax

Optimus Prime will be life size on IMAX screens in many forest fight shots.
Imax frames take about 6 times longer than anamorphic to render.
IMAX frame render times: As high as 72 hours per frame!

ILM screen time

ILM Screen Time is about 51 minutes.

Devastator

Devastator is as tall as a 10 story building.
Devastator has more than 10 times the number of individual parts found in an average car.
Laid out end to end, Devastator’s parts would be almost 14 miles long.

Devastator totals

Number of geom pieces: 52632
The total number of polygons: 11,716,127
The total length of all pieces: 73090 feet
The total length of all pieces: 13.84 miles

Latest Transformers Revenge of the Fallen ads

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-17T15:31:51-04:00

Bay into the Guinness Book of Records

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-17T13:22:20-04:00

Nelson here...

According to the New Zealand Herald, Michael Bay has made it into the Guinness Book of World Records:

So ambitious are some of the scenes, that Bay has made it into the Guinness Book of Records for the biggest explosion on film with actors present. That shot was filmed in New Mexico.

Also form the article:

But the real star of the movie is director Michael Bay. Endowed with the swagger of a rock star, his reputation for grandiosity precedes him. Nonetheless, he is always entertaining in person, and boasts a resume that includes The Rock, Pearl Harbor, Bad Boys, and Armageddon, evidence of his penchant for blowing things up bigger and louder than anyone else. In short, to borrow from Spinal Tap, Bay turns the action up to 11.

In regard to filming on the Pyramids of Giza:

Outside of the US, the movie was shot in Paris, Jordan, and Cairo. "I take you to places that have never been shot in a movie. The top of Petra has never been put on film, period. King Abdullah II let us take 36 helicopter loads of military men up there. We were able to use a crane, so we take the viewer on aerial shots of the pyramid that even National Geographic never got permission to do," he says. "They've all tried," he says again, making his point. "When John Turturro was filming on the pyramid, he had a tear in his eye. I said, 'Why are you crying? What's going on?' He said, 'You just don't get to do this in movies. You don't get to shoot in a place that's 4000 years old."' So, how was the big shot from Hollywood able to convince Middle Eastern royalty to let him have his way? "Because I'm a smooth talker," he jokes. "No, seriously, the Prince and the King of Jordan were big fans of Transformers. That helped."

And security issues:

Security in the Middle East is obviously an issue, and consequently, arrangements for the cast had to be made. But according to Fox, it was Bay who required more security than any of the film's stars. "When we landed in Jordan or Egypt, Shia and I shared one car with the driver who was also the security guard. Michael's car was flanked by six other security vehicles to make sure he got to the hotel safely," she says. Now you can see why he's regarded as a rock star. Fox adds, "It was like they were driving the president."

Source: New Zealand Herald

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Michael Bay: 'Obama likes my movies'

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-17T07:20:21-04:00

From Digital Spy:

The filmmaker told journalists at the press conference for Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen that he included Obama in the movie because of a brief meeting with the President.

Bay said: "The Obama thing? I met him in an airport where he was carrying his bag by himself and we talked about movies and apparently he likes my movies. So I figured we'll just put him in."

The director joked that he was able to include the up-to-date reference because he had only completed making the film last Wednesday.

Source: Digital Spy

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From Russia With Love

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-16T21:40:36-04:00

Michael Bay on the red carpet at the Transformers Revenge of the Fallen premiere.

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More New TV Ads

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-16T21:14:35-04:00

Transformers Revenge of the Fallen clip

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-15T23:01:50-04:00

Transformers Revenge of the Fallen London Premiere

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-15T16:43:48-04:00

Michael Bay color grades across the Pacific

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-15T13:57:21-04:00

SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- In an unprecedented post production collaboration, Company 3 recently conducted a unique transcontinental color grading session between its Santa Monica facility and Digital Garden, its Virtual Outpost location in Tokyo, for the new film Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

As Company 3 Founder/DI Colorist Stefan Sonnenfeld graded visual effects shots and other media in a DI Theatre in Santa Monica, Michael Bay, the film's director who was in Japan for the film's world premiere, was able to monitor the color grading work without any delay or color difference on a calibrated, high-resolution monitor -- and give feedback to Sonnenfeld via a video conferencing system.

"We've consistently taken the lead in developing new creative, technical and logistical options to better serve our clients," said Sonnenfeld. "The filmmakers we work with have incredibly busy schedules and we're committed to helping them accomplish their work in the most efficient and convenient way possible."

Although Company 3 frequently employs its proprietary remote collaboration technology for post production services on commercials, this marked the first time this technology was leveraged in Japan for a major feature film project with remote monitoring at 2K resolution. During the 90-minute session, Sonnenfeld graded more than a dozen visual effects shots which will be incorporated into the film for its U.S. release, as well as a series of television spots that premiered the following night during the national telecast of the NBA Finals.

"There was a lot riding on this remote session and Company 3 really came through -- they knocked it out of the park," said Mark Graziano, Senior Vice President of Post Production for DreamWorks, the producers of the film. "We got so much accomplished in a couple of hours -- enough in one session for Michael Bay to sign off on launching domestic negatives that would service the bulk of the domestic release."

"To watch Michael Bay in Japan and Stefan Sonnenfeld in L.A. work together through a high-end digital link was truly amazing," added Andrew Williams, VP of Marketing for Paramount Pictures. "It was almost like the Pacific Ocean disappeared and they were sitting right next to one another working seamlessly on the last few shots of the film. A true step forward on the digital technology front and a real treat for the few of us that got to watch it happen."

Digital Garden, the Tokyo facility receiving the remote color grading session, has collaborated with Company 3 on several commercial projects, but the monitoring requirements for a feature film are of a different order of magnitude and required special preparation. Several weeks prior to the session, Company 3 performed quality control sessions to assess the project's feasibility. Company 3 Engineer Rick Girardi then traveled to Japan to fine tune the calibration of the high resolution monitor.

Despite the complexities of the technology, the session proceeded very much as it would have had Bay and Sonnenfeld been in the same room. "Michael and I have worked on many projects together and have an excellent rapport," Sonnenfeld said. "The technology not only made it possible for us to work without being in the same physical space, it did so without getting in the way of the creative process."

Source: PRNewswire

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Michael Bay on the red carpet in Berlin

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-14T20:09:48-04:00

Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Berlin Premiere

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-14T19:50:03-04:00

View more photos of the Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Berlin Premiere.

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Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Seeing Ticket Sales Surge at Fandango

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-12T17:35:01-04:00

LOS ANGELES, June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- With less than two weeks to go before its June 24 release date, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is already seeing brisk ticket sales on Fandango, the nation's leading moviegoer destination. Currently, the film represents 21% of ticket sales on Fandango (as of June 11 at 9 am PT).

According to an ongoing Fandango survey of moviegoers planning to see Transformers 2:

81% of respondents say Megan Fox is the one star they're most excited to see in the new movie.
76% say they are fans of director Michael Bay.
72% say the IMAX presentation of Transformers 2 will be an important part of their moviegoing experience.
71% of respondents are 18-34 years old; 68% are male.

"Fans are already scooping up tickets for Transformers 2's opening week showtimes, especially for the IMAX screens," says Ted Hong, Chief Marketing Officer for Fandango. "The movie is garnering some great Internet buzz, and filmgoers are clearly ready for another action-packed summer popcorn movie. With Transformers 2, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Ice Age 3, Public Enemies, Bruno, G.I. Joe and other highly-anticipated movies opening within a few weeks of each other, it looks like a banner year for the movies."

Source: Fandango

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Bay accepts TF Honor in Japan

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-12T08:32:10-04:00

Nelson here...

Koujin Ohno–who is credited with inventing Transformers as we now know them–gave Michael an Optmus Prime statue to show his appreciation with what Michael has done for the franchise.

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New Revenge of the Fallen TV Spots

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-12T08:33:58-04:00

TF RoTF Japan Premiere Video Extended

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-10T17:07:38-04:00

Click on the image below to see more of the TF2 Japanese premiere.

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Bay and Co. invade Seoul

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-09T16:53:36-04:00

Click here to view more photos of the Seoul premiere.

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Optimus Prime tells Harry Potter to wait his turn

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-09T09:37:26-04:00

Nelson here...

Potter fans will have to wait their turn two extra weeks after the Half-Blood Prince premieres at the local cineplexes to see it on Imax. Why? Because Optimus Prime and company will be basking in the 4 week exclusive Imax limelight.

Fom the Hollywood Reporter:

It appears investors might have noticed Monday that "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" won't arrive at Imax venues until two weeks after the film opens on regular screens.

Shares of Imax dropped 4% on Monday to $7.31 after a Wall Street analyst said the delay "should negatively impact Imax boxoffice results."

"Prince" opens wide July 14. Although it opens on two Imax screens that day -- one in New York and one in Los Angeles -- it won't get the wide Imax treatment until July 29.

The two-week delay is fallout from the decision by Warner Bros. to push "Potter" from its originally scheduled November 2008 opening. The new July opening overlaps with Imax's monthlong window dedicated to Paramount's "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."

Still, "Potter" contains 12 minutes of 3-D footage that moviegoers can experience only through Imax, so that could cushion the blow, Merriman Curhan Ford analyst Eric Wold said.

"There will obviously be some consumers that choose to wait for the Imax version with its 3-D scenes or will choose to see it for a second time, but we no not believe this will be enough to offset the negative impact from the move," he said.

Source: THR

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On the set with Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-08T20:49:36-04:00

International Press Tour

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-08T16:02:00-04:00

Nelson here....

Michael and crew will be on an international press tour that will take them to about nine countries in the next two weeks. Here is a shot of them eating at Nobu in Tokyo.

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Revenge of the Fallen Japan Premiere Video

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-08T15:10:43-04:00

Revenge of the Fallen Japan Premiere Photos

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-08T10:21:28-04:00

View high-res photo

View high-res photo

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Michael Bay update: Imax version "longer cut and more robot fighting"

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-07T22:14:56-04:00

Hey everyone,

In Japan today. After a month and half seven days a week most days going till midnight me and my crew have just about finished Transformers. I have never seen such a level of dedication from every crew member in a movie before.

Even today after the press in Japan and right before the premiere tonight, I have to sneak out to a digital house to approve the last few effect shots.

It has been a long hard road, but really fun one to travel. What you will notice that is strikingly different than Transformers 1, is the level of animation detail. The robot characters (42 in all), you really can feel empathy for them. What is also very different is the sheer scale of the movie. We have been very tight holding back much of the best imagery in commercials and trailers.

The way to see this movie is on IMAX. Never before has there been 4k rendered character animation shot on full IMAX 70 mm film. This is a first and the results are stunning. You will see Optimus Prime in a few shots where he is actually perfectly to scale on the IMAX 50 foot tall screens.

For IMAX, I created a slightly longer cut with more robot fighting. Four scenes were shot on IMAX cameras so the screen will fill the full IMAX screen for these scenes.

Haters beware.

Michael

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Michael Bay: Making Movies, Enemies and Money

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-04T15:52:12-04:00

Dorothy Pomerantz, 06.22.09, 12:00 AM ET

At the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, the sun can burn your skin in a quarter of an hour. The film crew of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, who have turned this unearthly landscape into a partially destroyed Egyptian village, are covered head to toe in floppy hats, long-sleeved shirts and boots to protect themselves. But not director Michael Bay. He leaps around the set like a little kid, in a short-sleeved Polo shirt.

"Fire in the hole!" An explosion goes off next to a crumbling house. Bay grins approvingly and darts to some fake rocks where stars Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox are cowering in the face of yet another attack by robots from outer space. Over the course of the day Bay will film 63 shots, three times as many as on most sets. "I hear stories about directors waiting eight hours to shoot," says Bay. "How can your game plan be so screwed up? If I ran a studio, I'd fire your ass."

As well known for his blowups on the set as he is for explosions on the screen, Bay has made his share of enemies. One actor who worked as an extra on Pearl Harbor recalls how Bay accused another actor of thinking the attack on Pearl Harbor was funny when someone laughed after hours of sitting for a take. An executive says Bay got so enraged at an extra on the set of Transformers that he made him stand in a corner. Actress Kate Beckinsale told reporters Bay made her feel ugly on the set of Pearl Harbor. (Not true, says Bay. He asked her to work out more.) Bay is known for sometimes clashing with stars on the set, such as Bruce Willis in the 1998 film Armageddon. "He has a tendency to try to be a director and change actors' lines," says Bay. "I don't think Bruce liked that I had a pair of balls." He takes a similarly defensive stand toward the critics who have called his films "vile," "brain dead" and "pandering."

But audiences love him. Bay's seven movies have pulled in $2.6 billion at the box office, putting him in the same league with James Cameron ($3 billion, including Titanic, the highest-grossing film ever, at $1.8 billion). That means something at a time when the movie business is going through its own action thriller, as studios run low on capital and people stop buying DVDs. (Although theaters keep half of ticket sales, the gross amount is a good proxy for the movie owner's total revenue, which includes DVDs and other money streams.)

Bay brings his movies in on time and on budget, a rarity in Hollywood. Because his pay is largely based on the film's profits (usually one-third of the take after the studio recoups its production and advertising costs), he's got plenty of incentive to rein in expenses. "Michael makes me look good because he counts every penny," says Jerry Bruckheimer, who has produced five of Bay's films.

The new Transformers movie (the second full-length feature in the series) cost $195 million to make. But Bay estimates it would have cost $10 million more if he hadn't partnered with General Motors and the U.S. military to get free cars, helicopters and battleships. By keeping the budget (relatively) low on the first Transformers flick, in 2007, he was able to increase his share of the movie's $708 million worldwide gross, earning $80 million from the film. So what if those product placements make his movies look like long commercials? "People say it's whoring out, but it's not," says Bay, 44. "Advertising is in our lives. It's unavoidable. To think you can't have it in a movie isn't real life."

One of his first jobs out of school (he majored in film and English at Wesleyan University) was directing commercials. By the time he was 26 Bay had created ads for Coke, Levi's and Budweiser and a memorable Chevy ad showing a new line of cars being released into the wild. He learned everything on the job--rigging lights, focusing a lens, ordering around big egos like the professional athletes he shot in his Nike ads.

Bruckheimer offered Bay his first directing job in 1994 on Bad Boys, a movie about two Miami cops chasing drug thieves. A great break, except the script was so bad that Bruckheimer's partner, Don Simpson, threatened to take their names off the movie before the first shot. Bay sat down with his stars, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, and hammered out some bits to make the movie funnier and started shooting. "We had no support from the studio," says Bay in his airy Santa Monica office. "I wanted to make it exciting enough that it would make its money back." In one of the last scenes, Smith was supposed to punch out the bad guy. But the day of the shoot was rained out, and there wasn't enough money to bring back the crew. So Bay put up $25,000 of his $125,000 fee to shoot the scene. The movie, made for $20 million or so, went on to bring in $140 million at the box office globally.

"I didn't get points on that," says Bay, referring to the chunk of the profits big players get from a movie. "I had to beg to even get my [$25,000] back." The experience made Bay smarter about negotiating deals. He took fees on his next two films, The Rock and Armageddon, but by 2000 he decided he wanted to be more than a director for hire and insisted on part ownership. For Pearl Harbor, a $140 million (production cost) movie, he declined upfront pay in favor of a 50% split of what remained after the studio recouped production and advertising costs. The film grossed $450 million; Bay pocketed $40 million. He leaned on the military, saving untold millions by using World War II-era aircraft carriers and battleships.

On the Transformers set in New Mexico, a handful of military personnel stand by at all times to help Bay strategize his attack scenes. "We need to see a commitment from the filmmaker that it's going to look real," says Lieutenant Colonel Gregory Bishop, the U.S. Army's entertainment liaison. "Fighting alien robots isn't realistic, but if we did fight alien robots, this is the way we'd do it." Bay's deal: free tanks, Humvees and rocket launchers as long as they're being used in training exercises. If soldiers are training on an Apache helicopter, Bay can film it for free. Because the Transformer robots turn into cars, Bay was also able to get freebies from GM--as he had earlier, when the auto company contributed flood-damaged cars for Bad Boys. "I gave them glorious deaths," says the director.

Bay has developed an equally strong relationship with Hasbro, the maker of Transformer toys. At first Bay wasn't sure about the idea: Would it be live action? Animation? What about fans who were sure to criticize every little decision? He was convinced by a trip to Hasbro headquarters in Rhode Island, where he was educated in the complicated mythology of the battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons. "He had this idea that everything is more than meets the eye," says Brian Goldner, Hasbro's chief executive. "You could look at almost any vehicle and believe there's a sentient being under there." Bay certainly believed the payback. His deal with Hasbro is second only to that of George Lucas, who gets an estimated 15% royalty on all Star Wars figures. Bay gets an estimated 8% on Transformer toys tied to movies.

He has also brought his common touch to small horror movies and, soon, videogames. In 2003 he launched Platinum Dunes, a production company that specializes in revamping 1970s classics like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Amityville Horror. Bay hires young directors, who make the films for under $20 million each. Most earn back their budgets on opening weekend. As the producer, Bay gets an average 8% of the studio's net on each film.

Then there's Digital Domain, a visual-effects house started by James Cameron that Bay bought in 2007 with his business partner, John Textor. The company had fallen on hard times because of executive infighting, so they were able to pick it up for $35 million. Textor hired several effects wizards from George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic with the idea of producing superrealistic videogames. Digital Domain broke new ground last year with the Oscar-winning special effects in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Bay sees a day when videogames will be stored on servers, instead of played on home consoles, to offer theater-quality visual effects. "The game companies want directors to work for them, but they don't want to pay them," he complains. "We want to make it more like a movie studio--where everyone gets a piece of the action." That's how to get more action.

Source: Forbes

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Revenge of the Fallen Wallpaper

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-03T21:08:34-04:00

Nelson here...

Here are wallpapers for your computer courtesy of the LG Nest site.

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"Fate" TV Spot

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-03T15:17:31-04:00

Transformers gets finished today or Wednesday

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-06-01T16:27:16-04:00

"Destiny" TV Spot

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-05-31T23:33:17-04:00

Small, small, small update (MTV Movie Awards)

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-05-31T22:39:07-04:00

Nelson here...

Just spoke to Bay... he left the MTV Awards immediately after presenting and is headed to work at the soundstage to finish mixing the audio. He's been working 7 days a week up until 12am finishing the movie. It's gonna be down to the wire. He also indicated that the demand for theater prints of this movie is insane.

He also wanted me to let you guys know he will start posting soon as time becomes available.

Transformers Soundtrack

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-05-28T13:00:53-04:00

Burbank, CA - Warner Bros. Records will release the soundtrack to the hotly anticipated feature film Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on June 23rd — the day before the film, the sequel to the 2007 Oscar-nominated summer blockbuster Transformers , hits theaters nationwide.

The film's director and executive producer Michael Bay asked Warner Bros. Records' multiplatinum rock band Linkin Park to provide the sonic backdrop to the live-action robot fantasy film. Not only did the band write and record the film's theme song, entitled "New Divide," specifically for the soundtrack, they were also asked by Bay, Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer, and award-winning composer Steve Jablonsky to contribute to the score. "New Divide" is currently available for purchase on iTunes.

Transfomers: Revenge of the Fallen: The Album also features music from Green Day (who contribute "21 Guns" — a song from their new album 21st Century Breakdown), Taking Back Sunday, The Used , The All-American Rejects, Cavo, The Fray, Staind, Nickelback, Cheap Trick and more.
In addition to the original soundtrack, Warner Bros will be releasing Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: The Score, which will also be released on June 23rd.

The track listing for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: The Album is as follows:

1. Linkin Park "New Divide"
2. Green Day "21 Guns"
3. Cavo "Let It Go"
4. Taking Back Sunday "Capital M-E"
5. The Fray "Never Say Never"
6. Nickelback "Burn It To The Ground"
7. The Used "Burning Down The House"
8. Theory Of A Deadman "Not Meant To Be"
9. The All-American Rejects "Real World"
10. Hoobastank "Don't Think I Love"
11. Staind "This Is It"
12. Avenged Sevenfold "Almost Easy"
13. Cheap Trick "Transformers™ The Fallen Remix"

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Transformers Revenge of the Fallen to premiere in the US at The LA FIlm Festival

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-05-28T09:06:38-04:00

The Los Angeles Film Festival will host the U.S. premiere for DreamWorks and Paramount's "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" on June 22, two days before the theatrical release.

Film Independent, which made the announcement Wednesday, said the sequel will screen at the Village, Bruin and Avco theaters. The org noted that the fest served a similar role two years ago, when it hosted the L.A. preem for "Transformers," drawing more than 4,500 guests to five theaters in Westwood.

The festival also announced that tickets to the premiere of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," directed by Michael Bay and starring Shia LaBeouf, can be obtained by purchasing a pass to the fest.

The L.A. festival runs June 18-28, with screenings of more than 70 features, 70 shorts and 50 music videos.

Source: Variety

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Hasbro's Press Kit Winner

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-05-26T07:12:20-04:00

Nelson here...

This was a tough one. So many obscure Transformers from so many TF Universes. There were some obscure ones that were mentioned several times as favorites, but the one Transformer that got mentioned the least (I mean, only once) was....

...Divebomb.

Therefore the contest winner is E. L. Charles.

Thanks to all who participated.

The Amityville Horror opens April 15

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2005-04-12T21:12:31-04:00

The Amityville Horror opens April 15, check it out.

The Island International Teaser Trailer

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2005-04-12T21:11:29-04:00

The Island International Teaser Trailer

The Island Teaser trailer

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2005-03-17T21:03:39-05:00

Check out the new teaser!

Bay Gave Life to The Island

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2005-03-08T21:02:00-05:00

Bay Gave Life To The Island

From Scifi.com

Walter F. Parkes, who is producing Michael Bay's upcoming SF movie The Island, told SCI FI Wire that the director brought his signature action to the project, which started as a spec script about human cloning by Caspian Tredwell-Owen. "Well, I think two things happened in development," Parkes said in an interview during a break in filming on the movie's set in Downey, Calif. "Absolutely ... there is that signature big [action] set piece in the middle of the movie now. Not that the movie didn't call for that. This was, at its heart, a story about characters who are on the run. So it makes
sense. But there were also many other issues of the story that we had to change."

The Island stars Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson as human clones raised in a completely secure environment who discover the truth of their existence and attempt to flee, pursued in various ways by armed representatives of the company that created them.

Parks said that Bay also introduced a provocative question: Who has the right to survive, the clone or the original human? "The question arises, does the clone have as much [right] to the life out there?" Parkes said. Ultimately, Alias writers Alex Kurtzman-Counter and Roberto Orci will also receive screenplay credit on The Island.

It was DreamWorks honcho Steven Spielberg who brought Bay onto the project. "For this scale project, there is really a small list of directors, because they have to deal with action, and they have to really be able to create worlds, and those are two things that Michael's ... shown [he has the] ability to do," Parkes said, referring to Bay's movies, which include Pearl Harbor and Armageddon. "The other thing about Michael is, unlike a lot of modern directors, he's an expert in physical effects, as opposed to [computer-generated] effects. His CG work is great, but what's amazing about Michael Bay is what he can actually create that will be photographed by a
camera lens." The Island opens July 22.

Click here to see a behind-the-scenes clip.

The Island begins principal photography

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2004-10-25T21:00:25-04:00

Principal photography started on Bay's 6th film on Sunday, October 24 with a whopping 63 setups. Filming along Bay is DP Mauro Fiore (Training Day, Tears of The Sun, Driven).

The Island, etched with Bay's visual style, will interlace action scenes with the scenario of cloning and a man (Ewan McGregor) who goes on the run after he discovers that he is actually a "harvested being", and is being kept along with others in a utopian facility. The film features the world 18 years into the future, but grounded in present reality.

With a cast that includes Ewan McGregor, Scarlet Johansson, Djimon Hounsou, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Steve Buscemi, The Island will be one great cinematic adventure coming to theaters Jully 22, 2005.

Zoom, Zoom

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2004-08-12T20:58:35-04:00

Zoom-Zoom Showroom: Mazda Launches Full-Line Product Campaign

Thursday August 12, 7:02 am ET

Michael Bay directed ads to break during Olympics

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Designed to highlight the "emotion of motion" that encompasses its Zoom-Zoom philosophy, Mazda has unveiled an integrated full-line advertising campaign that will break during NBC's coverage of the 2004 Olympic Games from Athens, Greece. The campaign will focus on Mazda's expansive showroom that features 10 phenomenal vehicles. The full vehicle line is Mazda's most impressive to date, having won more than 130 industry and consumer awards world-wide, and offers something for every driver yearning to add a little Zoom-Zoom to their driving experience.

"Since the launch of the Zoom-Zoom philosophy in the summer of 2000, Mazda has been building toward a campaign of this magnitude," said Robert Davis, senior vice president, marketing and product development for Mazda North American Operations. "This campaign will build awareness that the strength of Mazda's showroom now matches our slogan, offering 10 unique vehicles all equipped with the soul of a sports car."

The full-line campaign has three major initiatives, including a broadcast and cinema component, print ads and an integrated promotion with Conde Nast. The broadcast and cinema component was directed by renowned motion picture director Michael Bay, who directed blockbuster action movies "The Rock," "Pearl Harbor" and "Bad Boys 2."

In broadcast commercials, actors experience various forms of Zoom-Zoom, from hang gliding and rappelling to hitching a ride on a bellman's luggage cart, demonstrating that Mazda realizes there can be Zoom-Zoom in everything we do. This emotion of motion is evident in every vehicle Mazda makes.

Source: Mazda North American Operations

Exclusive Audi ad and then some

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2004-06-16T20:58:07-04:00

You've asked for them, we've got 'em. Among them, Michael's critically acclaimed "Audi: The Right Decision" featuring Dustin Hoffman. Until now, this ad has been shown in Europe. Now, michaelbay.com is the first site to feature it.

We've also also added some classic ads, among them: "Baby & Cat," "Toy Store," and the redigitized "Aaron Burr." Also, new ones making their debut: "Released in the Wild," "Mars Rover" and "Murphy's Law." And of course, the Victoria's Secret ads.

To enjoy these ads, be sure to have the latest Quicktime version and a good video card. Click here to view the ads.

Updates

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2004-04-17T20:57:05-04:00

Michael's latest ad, made for Audi GmbH, is receiving critical acclaim in Europe. It will not be aired in North American TV, but we'll see what we can do.

Michael is planning to produce "The Amityville Horror" this summer.

Concept artist have begun work on "The Island." Ongoing meetings between Dreamworks executives, Steven Spielberg, and Michael have turned out very good.

Michael is also setup to produce a thriller for Universal/Focus. Also in the works is a prequel for "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" at New Line, and "Pain & Gain" for Paramount.

A script that Michael is ramping up to produce for New Line is a true story about an American version of Pablo Escobar. This is a story about a high school kid who moved billions of dollars and drugs from over 13 countries until the US authorities caught up with him. All this happened while he lived in the perfect family and was recruited to play professional baseball. He started when he was 15 and no one knew about it.

Wesleyan College, Michael's alma mater, will be receiving donated funds from Michael for their new film buildings.

Little something

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2004-01-02T20:55:03-05:00

Some late news.

Back in October 2003 the DGA (Directors Guild of America) won the Gold Award at the 2003 national Folio Editorial Excellence Awards. The prestigious Editorial Excellence Awards are unique in that publishing professionals judge magazines on how well they achieve their editorial mission. More than 700 national publications competed in different categories.

The Gold Award was given to the DGA for its Summer 2001 issue.

Look who's on the cover...

Click the above image to read the 2001 DGA article on Michael Bay.

New "Car Carrier" ad

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2004-01-31T20:53:45-05:00

Click the image below to view Michael Bay's new 2-minute Chevy "Car Carrier' TV ad.

Bay rolls out new 60-second GM ad on 12-31

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2003-12-21T20:51:52-05:00

A New Campaign From Chevrolet

By ELLEN PILIGAN

Detroit - With 10 new vehicles coming to the market over the next 20 months, Chevrolet knew its advertising would have to depart significantly from what had been done in the recent past. There would need to be less attention paid to lifestyle and feeling good and more to its new cars and trucks.

So on New Year's Eve, Chevrolet will introduce a multimillion-dollar campaign, with the tagline "An American Revolution," that intends to make the vehicles the stars. The campaign is significant because it covers both cars and trucks under one umbrella. Before this, Chevrolet ran a truck campaign, "Like a Rock," and a car campaign, "We'll Be There."

Developed by Chevrolet's longtime agency, Campbell-Ewald, a unit of the Interpublic Group of Companies, under the leadership of its chief creative officer, Bill Ludwig, the effort will be Chevrolet's first full-vehicle-line campaign since the "Heartbeat of America" in the mid-1980's.

It was, according to Gary L. Cowger, president of General Motors North America, a critical crossroads for the automotive company.

"Do we stay the course with the way we go to market or do we break with the status quo in our advertising?" he asked.
Executives chose innovation, he said. "With 10 new products, if not now, when?" he said. "This is more than just an advertising message. 'An American Revolution' is a state of mind, an attitude. It's a commitment to break the rules if you have to in order to get the best results. It describes Chevy's culture."

The company will introduce "Car Carrier" - an ad directed by the feature film director Michael Bay ("Bad Boys II," "Pearl Harbor," "Armageddon") - as the sole advertiser on "Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve" with six 60-second spots. The newlyweds, Jessica Simpson and Nicholas Lachey, hosts of the Los Angeles portion of the show, will arrive in an SSR, Chevrolet's new pickup roadster.
In addition, five 60-second spots will be shown during MTV's "New Year's Eve Pajama Party," and there will be spots on the David Letterman and Jay Leno late-night talk shows, along with two electronic billboard ads in Times Square.
"We wanted to be where the action was," said Kim Kosak, Chevrolet director for advertising. "And if you're going to pick New Year's Eve as your launch date, you better be in Times Square."

There was also a challenge with 10 vehicle introductions. "I don't know if it's ever been done," Ms. Kosak said. "I think it's unprecedented."

The 10 vehicles are the Malibu Maxx, Aveo, SSR pickup roadster, Colorado pickup truck, 2005 Equinox crossover, Cobalt premium small car, Corvette C6, Uplander, HHR crossover and the new Impala.

Every vehicle introduction will bear the "American Revolution" theme but with different taglines and different tones. "Aveo and Colorado are more youthful, Malibu Maxx is more sophisticated and SSR is a little bit more ruckus," Ms. Kosak said. "You have to find that balance of cohesion but individuality for the individual products."

Beginning today, the outdoor board campaign begins in 34 major markets on about 250 boards across the country featuring a yellow SSR.

The "Car Carrier" ad, which was unveiled yesterday, will run exclusively until Jan. 12, when individual vehicle spots will begin. The spot will also run nationwide in movie theaters beginning Jan. 1 and will appear for that day only on Yahoo.
"Car Carrier" has the feel of an action film. It begins with scenes of the new Corvette intercut with a car carrier to a remix of "Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf. The Corvette loads itself up the ramp of the car carrier as other new vehicles including the Colorado and SSR come into the picture from various settings.

They each take a turn making an entrance, the SSR dramatically backing its way on. At the end, a classic Chevrolet rolls up beside the car carrier with the six new vehicles. "It's a nod to the heritage," Ms. Kosak said. "Just a little nod because it's not looking back, it's about looking forward."

Ads that will begin after Jan. 12 include "Soap," featuring the SSR, "truly the poster child for 'acceptable rebellion,' " Ms. Kosak said. The ad was inspired by experiences of people who drove the vehicle early on, she said. "They'd go into a town and people would go, 'Holy Cow,' and you'd literally be swarmed at a gas station. The challenge was to capture that awe."

For the Colorado, whose message is that "it's the biggest, baddest truck in its class with plenty of room, but with attitude and a smile," Ms. Kosak said, the ad "My Man," one of four, features five young men riding in the truck blasting "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" by Shania Twain.
One man becomes caught up with the song - not to the appreciation of his buddies. The punch line is, "If you're ever uncomfortable in the new Chevy Colorado crew cab, it won't be because of lack of space."

Malibu Maxx's campaign will run in January with "Chain Reaction." The spot shows a handoff from one buyer group to another, using the different features that work for that customer, beginning with a woman in workout clothes at a gas station who hands off the car to some guys in a band heading to an airport. Flight attendants take it next to unwind at a beach and a family gets in and takes it to a mountain, where fly fishermen get in.

Despite the new umbrella campaign, "Like a Rock" is not going away. "That's been very successful for us," Ms. Kosak said, adding that it will be dedicated exclusively to Silverado, which she said had an older market than the Colorado. "Colorado is much more youthful. It's play first, enjoying the ride."

The biggest challenge in coming up with the campaign? "It's a daunting task to find something that can bear everything from an Aveo to an SSR," Ms. Kosak said. "That's why we needed to have individual expressions. You can't cookie-cutter Chevrolet. It's too big."

Bay to receive DVD Pioneer Award

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2003-12-01T20:50:14-05:00

DVD kudos will flow to Bay Dec. 9
By SCOTT HETTRICK

Michael Bay will be presented with the Pioneer Award by Jerry Bruckheimer Tuesday at the 2003 DVD Exclusive Awards.

Kudos will be presented at the annual event at the Wiltern LG Theater, hosted by Jenny McCarthy and produced for TV by Dick Clark Prods. Broadcast debuts on FX at 8 p.m. Dec. 9 in the first of several runs on the cabler.

Bay has pioneered the concept of video diaries on the sets of his productions, from the DVD Exclusive Award-nominated "Pearl Harbor" through "Bad Boys 2"; the latter is being released on homevid Dec. 9.

He also was one of the few filmmakers to go outside the studio system to work with the Criterion Collection in producing special editions of his films such as "The Rock" and "Armageddon" for laserdisc and DVD.

Previous DVD Exclusive Pioneer Award recipients have been Quentin Tarantino and Louis Feola.

Bruckheimer, whose DVD releases in 2003 include "Kangaroo Jack," "CSI" and this week's "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," produced Bay's films noted above as well as his "Bad Boys."

Among other special awards recipients, filmmaker Kevin Smith will present the creative achievement award to comicbook legend Stan Lee, and John Ratzenberger will present the Studio Innovation Award to Pixar Animation Studios directors Andrew Stanton ("Finding Nemo") and Peter Docter ("Monsters, Inc.").

"American Pie" series producers Chris Moore, Craig Perry, Chris Bender and Adam Herz and series stars Nikki Schieler Ziering and Thomas Ian Nicholas will receive the Comedy Franchise Award from "Animal House" stars Stephen Furst and Martha Smith.

Roger Daltrey will appear as part of a salute to music programming on DVD.

Sleight-of-hand artist Ricky Jay will perform at the theater as part of the post-show party and reception at the conclusion of the taping of the awards, produced by Daily Variety sister publication DVD Exclusive.

Meeting Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 1999-09-06T20:03:11-04:00

While in Los Angeles, I got the chance to meet Michael at BayFilms. Click here to read about it and see some pictures.

Michael talks Pearl Harbor

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 1999-09-08T19:58:11-04:00

HONOLULU, Hawaii - Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay will begin filming an epic big-budget drama set around the Pearl Harbor bombing here early next year.

Bay, who directed the 1998 blockbuster 'Armageddon' and 'The Rock,' and Bruckheimer, who produced the films, head the production team for the $100 million-plus 'character-driven love story' tentatively titled 'Tennessee' under Disney's Touchstone moniker (Daily Variety, June 25). Randall Wallace, who won a screenwriting Oscar for 'Braveheart,' is the scribe.

The picture, which looks to be the second most-expensive ever produced in Hawaii (after 'Waterworld'), will spend plenty on spectacular special effects, including a re-creation of the bombing, Bay said. "You will see what happened at Pearl Harbor like you have never seen it in any other movie," Bay promised. "Our goal is to stage the event with the utmost realism."

Hackman, Paltrow sought

No stars have been signed, but Bay said he's after Oscar winners Gene Hackman to play President Franklin Roosevelt and Gwyneth Paltrow for the romantic lead of a Navy nurse.

The story centers on two brothers caught up in the events that drew the United States into World War II. One of the siblings enlists with the U.S. Air Force, and the other flies for the RAF. Both brothers get involved with the same woman. The story begins several months before the Pearl Harbor bombing.

"Tennessee is the film's temporary title and has been a code name for the production for several months, Bay said. The film may be called "Pearl Harbor, he said. The code name was used to keep the project secret, Bay said. (Writer Wallace is from Tennessee.)

Avoiding copycats

"We didn't want the same thing to happen with this film that happened to us with 'Armageddon,' said Bay. When word got out about "Armageddon, another studio rushed a similar themed film, "Deep Impact, into production.

"I want this to be the movie about Pearl Harbor by which all other such films are measured, he said. " 'Tora Tora Tora' was more of a documentary. And all of these other (Pearl Harbor) films glorified war; there were no characters to latch onto.

This summer, Bay scouted Oahu for locations in a helicopter with his production designer and visual effect supervisor. Since June, Bay and Wallace have interviewed veterans of the Pearl Harbor attack, and the production's special effects staff started its research.

World tour

Bay expects the film to require 130 shooting days - the same as "Armageddon - including time in England, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Baja, Mexico, at the "tank set used for the film "Titanic. The Baja set is ideal for some of the film's planned large special effects, specifically the sinking of the USS Oklahoma.

Bay plans to use many live explosions rather than just computer-generated ones, he said. He also plans to "take real ships and twist them up through the air.

Most of the Hawaii filming will be done at Oahu military bases, including Hickham, Wheeler, Schofield and Pearl Harbor. The production team has met with military officials on the mainland and expect approval, as the film depicts "such an American historical event.

The production company has not selected a production base, but Bay said he really liked Ford Island in Pearl Harbor. The Hawaii Film Studio is currently being used by two production companies, one of which produces the television series "Baywatch Hawaii.

Pearl Harbor

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 1999-10-12T19:56:47-04:00

"Corona's Coming Attractions" has posted on their site some info on "Pearl Harbor" that you can read here. I'm not putting the site's credibility down (they have been known to give accurate in the past), but in regards to the latest news (posted October 14, 1999) on the budget, casting, etc...it's partially inaccurate, so don't worry.

Anyways, the movie is still scheduled to come out on Christmas 2000. The start of principal photography might be pushed back a month.

VFX update

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 1999-11-18T19:51:25-05:00

It's been a while since I posted something significant. I've moved from Massachussetts to California, and I'm in the process of getting settled. Well, one of the dilemas in bringing Tennessee to the screen will be getting all the visual effects done in time for its Christmas 2000 release. Got this from the Hollywood Reporter:

Visual effects have become a hot spot in the ongoing battle to get Michael Bay's World War II epic "Tennessee" green-lighted. The sizable effects job -- easily 300 shots, insiders say -- was originally to have gone to Dream Quest Images, which made sense because Disney, the studio producing "Tennessee," owns Dream Quest, and two of the company's top effects supervisors -- Richard Hoover and Hoyt Yeatman -- have long-established relationships with Bay, with whom they worked on "Armageddon" and "The Rock."

Because of the high volume of work and fairly tight turnaround, it was decided the work would be split between two shops, and Industrial Light & Magic entered the mix. However, in an effort to lower production costs, it was decided that it would be more efficient to have one shop do the work. "It's always more expensive to work with multiple facilities, because you're carrying the overhead for both in your budget," a source on the production said.

At one point, ILM reportedly had the job locked up. The San Francisco-based firm did spectacular World War II work for "Saving Private Ryan" and has a battalion of Oscars, all of which appealed to Bay, who is intent on making "Tennessee" a "prestige" production.

But an eleventh-hour rally by the artists formerly known as Dream Quest, recently rechristened by Disney as the Secret Lab, has put the dark horse back in the running. "They're just not giving up," said an insider at Jerry Bruckheimer Films, which is posting "Gone in 60 Seconds" with Secret Lab and has done five other films with DQI. "They sent over a new reel, which absolutely floored us." On the other hand, "ILM really wants the job," one insider said. "Michael is a filmmaker they believe in."

It remains to be seen how much Disney believes in him. Despite the combined track records of Bay and Bruckheimer, there is considerable nail-biting over "Tennesse's" big budget and whether it will set sail.

One thing is certain. If "Tennessee" does get made, it will be shot at Fox Baja Studios, with whom the producers are negotiating. "For a film like this, you wouldn't want to shoot anywhere else," the production source said of the state-of-the-art facility, which boasts the premier tanks for water work. A Secret Lab spokeswoman said the process is ongoing, and it is too premature to comment. ILM declined to comment on the status of its bid.

Disney opens fire on 'Pearl Harbor': $145 mil

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 1999-11-19T19:50:21-05:00

Ok, Disney has given Michael the greenlight on doing Tennessee! Read more about it below

By Chris Gennusa

The Walt Disney Co. has said yes to the most expensive live-action film ever greenlit, Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay's $145 million "Pearl Harbor" (a k a "Tennessee") written by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Randall Wallace ("Braveheart").

While other pictures -- most notably 20th Century Fox and Paramount's $200 million opus "Titanic" and Warner Bros.' "Wild Wild West" -- have cost more, no movie has been given the go-ahead with such a lofty price tag. (Fox committed to "Titanic" when the film was expected to cost a mere $90 million-$100 million.)

The previous watermark was Bay and Bruckheimer's "Armageddon," which Disney greenlit at a budget of $135 million. The decision to move forward on "Pearl Harbor" follows weeks of negotiations among Disney, producer Bruckheimer and director Bay, who both made financial concessions to get the picture made.

Under terms of the greenlight, neither Bruckheimer nor Bay will receive their regular first-dollar gross deal, and their back-end participation will be far less than on previous pictures. They will also be held responsible for budgetary overages. The project's expense stems from Bay's wish to re-create fully the early-morning bombing of the Hawaiian naval base that pulled the United States into World War II.

Because the money is being spent on production, sources said the picture will be made without A-list star salaries and instead rely on the internationally known Bruckheimer-Bay brand. It is expected that lesser-known actors will be cast, unless top stars are willing to work for scale.

Last month, a second-unit production crew began work on "Pearl Harbor," even though Disney Studios chairman Joe Roth had not given the drama an official thumbs up. Weeks later, second-unit production stopped, and word came that the filmmakers were trying to shave the budget by reworking the script.

Some pegged the original budget at $200 million. As of last week, sources said the budget was $153 million-$154 million, but it was understood that the studio wanted it trimmed to $140 million. Interestingly, during the studio's negotiations with the filmmakers, the project began showing up on Disney news releases as a done deal.

Disney has entered into "split rights" deals with other studios, but the studio is committed to financing "Pearl Harbor" on its own, sources said. Disney will likely approach foreign financing entities about investing in the project, but producing-financing firm Spyglass Entertainment (a Disney-based equity partner) has not yet been approached.

"Pearl Harbor" (a working title) begins months before the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese bombing of the Pearl Harbor U.S. naval base in Hawaii and focuses on a pair of brothers who fall in love with the same woman. One brother remains on American soil in the U.S. Air Force, while the other goes overseas to fight in the United Kingdom.

Bay initially called the project "Tennessee," apparently a code name. Sources said he did not want to repeat the situation in which he found himself with "Armageddon." When word of that project leaked, DreamWorks and Paramount immediately put the similarly themed "Deep Impact" into production, causing a well-publicized race to the screen.

The commitment to "Pearl Harbor" marks a leap of faith for Disney as the company has been making cutbacks across the board.

With Disney stock hovering at $23-$29 per share for most of the year, company chairman and CEO Michael Eisner recently took the unusual step of holding a conference with shareholders to propose ways to boost profits and lift the stock price. In addition to making staff and budgetary cutbacks, he announced that the company will make a large percentage of its animated classics permanently available on video for the first time.

Disney has long attempted to keep budgets down, a company mantra since a famous memo was issued by Jeffrey Katzenberg in which the then-studio chief proclaimed the benefits of lower budgets following the relatively disappointing performance of "Dick Tracy."

Bruckheimer and Bay, who have long-term deals at Disney, have collaborated on such films as "Armageddon" and "The Rock." Separately, Bruckheimer (with late partner Don Simpson) has made such top money earners as "Flashdance," "Top Gun" and "Crimson Tide."

. . .

You can read an article on Bay and Tennessee at http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com. I had the pleasure of meeting Harry Knowles of AICN in Santa Monica. He was cool. We talked a little about Michael and the usual reaction critics and film snobs. Harry is one of the few "film geeks" that actually enjoys Michael's work.

MSN...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 1999-11-23T19:45:10-05:00

No major news today. I did get an e-mail telling me how msn.com describes this site :

"Very flashy tribute to the director of such films as 'Armageddon' and 'The Rock' features video clips, a bio, a filmography, and a chat room."

Hey not bad eh? I'll share something with you guys & girls today. Remember when I met Michael at his office? Well, one of the things that I mentioned to him is that I get a lot of "fucking, angry e-mails" from people who hate Bay's work (most of them envious people). And then told him how much "commotion" his name causes when an article appears on AICN. And he asked very puzzled: "Why?" I simply answered: "I dunno. I guess they don't like you or your work." He then told me that the world would be a better place if these people would worry more about the things happening in Turkey (remember, this conversation took place August 31 of this year) than worrying about his movies. Anyway, I just thought I'd share this with you.

'Pearl' Jam / A big-spending director gets the green light from frugal Disney

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 1999-11-24T19:43:51-05:00

Michael is featured in an article on the Hollywood Reporter chosing him as "Person of the Week." Before reading it, I would like to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Take care.

'Pearl' Jam / A big-spending director gets the green light from frugal Disney

By Stephen Galloway

No one has ever accused Michael Bay of lacking chutzpah. But when the thirtysomething director's new movie, tentatively titled "Pearl Harbor," got the green light last week, a great many pundits had their breath taken away.

The reason: "Pearl" is going into production with an officially sanctioned $145 million budget. That's $10 million more than Bay's last flick, "Armageddon," hitherto the costliest movie ever to be greenlit.

True, other films have cost more. "Titanic" springs to mind, at $200 million-plus. And let's not forget "Waterworld" and "Wild Wild West" and "Lethal Weapon 4" and ... the list goes on.

But the difference between these pictures and "Pearl Harbor" was that they ended up costing so much; at the time they were initiated, their budgets were just a fraction of their final cost. Indeed, "Titanic" was expected to sail in at around $90 million-$100 million, until a few minor seafaring snafus got in the way.

"Pearl Harbor" is an anomaly at a time when Hollywood has been struggling to cut costs. Other major movies, from the Arnold Schwarzenegger starrer "I Am Legend" to the Robin Williams vehicle "Bicentennial Man," have been killed or were put on temporary hold because their budgets topped the now-verboten $100 million mark.

And Disney, in particular, has been budget-conscious since its struggling stock price led company chairman Michael Eisner to mandate widespread cuts and a hiring freeze.

But maybe that cost-cutting is about to start loosening up. Disney has been flush with one of the best boxoffice runs in motion picture history. After halving the number of films it makes, down to around 15 live actioners a year, it has continued to ride a boxoffice tsunami, emphasizing a deft mix of family films and "event" releases. This year it will easily cruise in at No. 1. And, with the "Pearl Harbor" project, it is betting on two proven commodities: the blockbustering Jerry Bruckheimer and his occasional stablemate Bay, who together have hit home runs not only with "Armageddon" but also with "The Rock."

Hollywood can afford to take a few risks. Still, future greenlighters may also remember the lessons 20th Century Fox has learned. In the wake of "Titanic," budgets have been slashed at the studio. And if Bay had gone ahead and made his next picture for Fox, as planned, it wouldn't have been the $145 million "Pearl Harbor" but an altogether more modest affair: the $10 million "Phone Booth."

ILM

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 1999-12-07T19:42:21-05:00

Just some little news today. ILM (Industrial Light & Magic) will be doing the visual effects for Pearl Harbor. And Jerry Bruckheimer has his web site on standby mode. Go to www.jbfilms.com.

Commercial Interest

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 1999-12-24T19:41:17-05:00

Went back in to the archives of "Bay material" and picked up a small story the Hollywood Reporter did on John Schwartzman. In the article he talks about working with Michael on "Armageddon." You can read it here.

Happy Holidays

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 1999-12-24T19:40:27-05:00

I would like to wish everyone that visits this site a Merry Christmas. Hope you can enjoy the holidays wherever you are. To those in Venezuela and Russia, you will be in our prayers, may God be with you.

And to all those who have in some way contributed to this site (with your emails, news, pictures, etc), we only hope that by this time next year we'll all be watching Micheal Bay's "Pearl Harbor."

Did Eisner Bomb Pearl Harbor?

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-01-13T19:39:55-05:00

Got this from the IMDB:

Did Eisner Bomb Pearl Harbor?

Joe Roth's exit as Walt Disney Studios chief may have followed a clash with Michael Eisner over Roth's decision last November to greenlight a $145-million budget for Pearl Harbor the Wall Street Journal indicated today (Thursday), citing people familiar with the matter. Reports at the time the go-ahead was announced said that producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Michael Bay had been engaged in lengthy negotiations with Roth and had finally agreed to financial concessions including a downsized back-end participation and accountability for any budget overages. Nevertheless, nearly two months after the deals with Bruckheimer and Bay were struck, Eisner has yet to clear the film, the WSJ said. (Today's Daily Variety said that Eisner told it that Pearl Harbor (2000) has not been greenlighted.) Moreover, it added, Disney's strategic planning department, which ordinarily is engaged in handling business ventures for the company, has been directed to scrutinize the film's budget, the highest ever authorized for any film.

Bombs Away

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-01-14T19:37:38-05:00

Nelson here... Sorry for the downtime. I was notified by my webhosting company that one of their servers went down. And guess what? It just *happened* to be the one this site is hosted on. This crap happens one more time, I'll be...

Anyway, on with the news. Since Joe Roth's departure from Disney, rumors regarindg Bay's "Pearl Harbor" have begun to spread. Reel.com's Jeffrey Wells wrote an article about "Pearl Harbor" and all the stuff going on. Personally, I believe some of it (the casting parts), and the other stoff is a bunch of crap. It seems that if this movie gets made, it will be opening summer 2001. If you want to read the article, click here to read it.. Below, you can read some excerpts:

Bombs Away

"In less than four months, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Michael Bay will probably begin rolling film on Pearl Harbor „ the biggest, splashiest, most expensive World War II film ever made. The budget is starting at $145 million, and will almost certainly come in higher when all is said and done. Movies like this always do. Which is where the "probably" comes in. In the wake of Disney chairman Joe Roth's announced resignation Wednesday, Disney chairman/CEO Michael Eisner is rattling his saber and telling The Wall Street Journal and Variety that Pearl Harbor hasn't been greenlit. But this is probably just posturing meant to assuage the financial community. I'd say the odds favoring a Pearl Harbor "go" at this stage are roughly 80-20..."

"...I've been told Ed Burns (Saving Private Ryan), Jim Caviezel (The Thin Red Line) and Wes Bentley (American Beauty) „ three very intense, au courant young actors „ are top contenders for the two male lead roles, flyboys Rafe McCawley and Danny Walker. Burns is said to be a particular favorite to play McCawley; the similar-looking Caviezel and Bentley (dark hair, intense eyes) are said to be competing for the Walker role. Felicity's Scott Speedman is also said to be in the running for one of the male roles. Gwyneth Paltrow is being sought out to play Evelyn, the romantic female lead..." I know Bruckheimer is looking to cast Gene Hackman as President Franklin Roosevelt, but I'm told Hackman is waiting for a script rewrite before committing..."

"...When this budget-buster from Disney finally opens in the summer of 2001, to put it another way, will it play like a cross between Titanic and Saving Private Ryan, which Bay is said to be aiming for..."

"...Reached by phone, Bruckheimer declined comment on most of the matters discussed here. He confirmed the projected April start date and said the location filming schedule calls for Pearl Harbor, Los Angeles, Fox Baja, Texas, and then England, in that order..."

The Fate of Michael Bay's PEARL HARBOR in trouble'

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-01-17T19:36:39-05:00

Got this from Harry Knowles at AICN:

"The truth is... Pearl Harbor (aka TENNESSEE) is still set to begin shooting in Hawaii on April 10th. Michael Bay and crew are currently in the midst of meeting with a wide array of actors and actresses, and it's looking like some casting is almost ready to go forward. They will be shooting in Hawaii for 6 weeks, before moving production to Baja, California for additional shooting. Recently Michael Bay was in Texas taking a look at an old Aircraft Carrier, and the film is being made. So, while Roth MAY have very well left Disney over some heated discussion with Eisner, (Which I Do Not Know), whatever happened between Eisner and Roth... It seems it will have NO effect upon the film or the film's future."

'Pearl Harbor' Moving Forward?

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-01-25T19:35:51-05:00

Got this The Insider at Cinescape:

The last the Insider heard there were negative rumblings about the fate of Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer's Pearl Harbor project. Things appear to have changed for the better, though there may have been some compromising as well.

First, according to Variety columnist Michael Fleming, in order for Disney to give a final okay for the project, Bruckheimer and Bay had to cut the budget of their blockbuster down from the previously announced $145M. The figure is said to now be sitting in the $130M range. Still, even though this tightens things for everyone, it has allowed the team to move forward with potential casting of the film pending the greenlight from Disney.

The columnist repeats recent rumors suggesting that the most prominent actors Michael Bay is eying to take on the film's two male lead roles are currently Wes Bentley (American Beauty) and Jim Caviezel (The Thin Red Line). In addition, Charlize Theron (Cider House Rules), as opposed to Gwyneth Paltrow, is now the name being tossed around for the female lead. Other names currently floating through the rumor mill for the film's leads include Ed Burns, Keri Russell and Scott Speedman. No matter who takes the parts, early word from Bay and Bruckheimer suggested that those actors might have to work for scale to keep the budget down, though one would imagine that there would also be a back end deal as well.

Beyond the casting, Bruckheimer is said to have sought out government assistance for the impending film. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the producer met with Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen and Secretary of the Navy Richard J. Danzig to gain the aid of the government in the making of the film. Word has it that both have pledged their support to the project.

Pearl Harbor Script updates

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-01-26T19:32:33-05:00

Got two tidbits today. The first is from Harry at AICN, and the other one is from the Hollywood Reporter.

Warning: there are a couple spoilers below.

Harry looks at the first real draft of Randall Wallace's screenplay for Michael Bay's PEARL HARBOR

Hey there folks at large, though I am writing this I guess there may be some doubt as to whether or not you'll actually be able to read it. Sigh.... Today I do have something rather interesting for ya. You see... You've perhaps seen a couple of looks at Michael Bay's PEARL HARBOR script. I can remember at least one look over at Dark Horizons. BUT... that was actually a review of a draft in progress. What does that mean?

Well, you see a screenwriter often times will write and get through with a draft... but not be satisfied with it, so he'll go back, rework it, and when he or she is finished and happy.. then they'll send it out to their director, producer, studio... whatever the case may be.

The draft of PEARL HARBOR (aka TENNESSEE) that had been hitting the script circles of the world, was actually an unfinished, incomplete draft of Randall Wallace's that was never turned in to either Bay, Bruckheimer or the Mouse House. Wallace's assistant was fired and that was that.

But as a result... We've never had a review of an accepted draft of this gigantic project... that is... till now.

Through trickery and tomfoolery, I have managed to obtain a 1/13/2000 draft by Randall Wallace of his original screenplay, which is now titled... PEARL HARBOR. Now, in yesterday's Hollywood Reporter They mentioned that there are casting discussions and possibilities of having Charlize Theron, Wes Bentley, Ed Burns, Keri Russell, Scott Speedman, James Caviezel and Gene Hackman talking about roles in this film.

Also, Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer have been in discussions with the Department of Defense, The Pentagon and the Navy to secure complete cooperation in bringing this film about. You see... This isn't a very cheap movie. Believe me. This script is a huge film.

The film is not just about PEARL HARBOR. It's far larger and ambitious than that. It isn't a remake of TORA! TORA! TORA! or FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. The film also covers what it was like to be a part of the Americans that volunteered to be a part of the British formed Eagle Squadron... which was formed of mainly American volunteers that went early to fight the Germans during the early days of the BATTLE OF BRITAIN. It includes behind the scenes details from both the American side and the Japanese side... From FDR to Hirohito... It deals with what happened that fateful day on Pearl Harbor... and then How we Americans reacted. And... if you've ever seen the excellent movie, THIRTY SECONDS OVER TOKYO... you'll know.

This is by far... the most textured and real script that Michael Bay has had in his hands thus far. Having said that... there are still a couple of small tidbits here and there that need tweaking. Mainly having to do with the one night meeting of Evelyn and Rafe.

Well... perhaps I need to set this all up better than I have thus far...

The film starts off with the following paragraph...

'As in every dramatic reconstruction, actual characters and events have been combined and shaped for clarity; but the events are factual, and we have made every effort to capture the truth of what happened, drawing not only from the best historical works, but from the personal accounts of many who saw these events through their own eyes, and shaped them with their courage.'

It then opens in Tennessee in 1926, with two plays playing like they are in a biplane fighting off an unseen imaginary enemy. Their plane nothing more than an old shell of a bi-plane propped up on crates. The boys are Rafe and Danny.

A pair of wide eyed kids. Innocent. War was this strange heroic venture that all 'Men' took part in. Basically the film is really about this loss of innocence. This sense of invincibility that comes with youth. They are the best of friends. They type that when one can't read so well... the other helps with the homework, while the other teaches the other how to fly.

Rafe is the hungrier of the two. Itching to do his duty. He volunteers for the Eagle Squadron to fight the Germans, thus splitting the two friends up. On his night before shipping out to England, Rafe meets Evelyn... a nurse... My only problem in this entire 116 page script is in her character.

They have one night to fall in love, before their romance takes the form of war torn love letters. As their 'night' currently consists... it's mainly an adventurous romp. With their dialogue mainly consisting idle chatter. For me, the best single night dialogue driven love affair came from Kim Krizan and Richard Linklater's BEFORE SUNRISE... and the film desperately needs a realistic soulmate meeting here at the beginning. It isn't terrible... it just isn't.... IT yet.

However, as soon as Rafe ships out... MAN... this movie flies. Randall Wallace's script is filled with all the right moments. You can feel the kindling catching fire 'round the world. You begin to see why the Japanese had to do, what it is they did. You see why the Americans didn't believe that the Japanese were going to attack Pearl Harbor.

What I love about this script is the fact that these are not the, 'EVIL NIPPONESE' or the 'YELLOW PERIL' as they have so often been portrayed in film. In fact... perhaps the best line in the entire film belongs to Yamamoto himself...

Yamamoto has outlined the plan to fill the radio airwaves with false movements and attack plans to confuse the Americans, and the resulting clutter would be indecipherable.

Genda comments to him, 'Brilliant, Admiral.'

To which Yamamoto retorts, 'A brilliant man would find a way not to fight a war.'

And I love that this is coming from the 'insidious enemy'.

Later still, when Danny shoots down a Jap Zero that was going to kill men floating in the water after a ship had been destroyed, he says exasperated to another pilot through the radio, 'They're even shootin' guys floating in the water' To which the other pilot says, 'It's a war, Danny. Wake up.' This sense of things is wonderful to me. I love the sense of innocence and fairplay that gets crushed by war. First in Rafe in the Battle of Britain... then in Danny at Pearl Harbor.

War is not a beautiful thing.

Another thing I really love about this script is this. You know how Michael Bay likes to show, what many of his... ummm... critics like to call... Kodak Moments? You know... like the kid running with the Space Shuttle, with a dilapidated mural of Kennedy is on a building in the background in ARMAGEDDON?

Well here... On the morning of December 7th... His little montage sequences are again applied. But here.. instead of it being just random 'Hallmark Highlights' they're based upon insights from survivors of PEARL HARBOR... Sort of... their little highlighted memories... their Polaroids of a terrible moment. And when we revisit these flashes throughout the ordeal... we see whether or not these people live or die. Whether they lose some one or an arm or two. As a result... these moments are real.

What I like about Evelyn is that she has a sense of purpose in the script. She isn't just some dumb broad. She has to perform a billion decisions as the victims of Pearl Harbor come in like a flood of torn flesh and broken bones. She's forced to choose who will receive treatment... and who will have to die.

She isn't just helpless staring at the men who are getting the job done. And when I called up Bay Pictures about a problem with her character near the end of the script where she is turned into that type of character... It seems that they are at work on this next draft to strengthen her even more.

Yeah... she's a woman in love... surrounded by tragedy. But she's also a nurse. And she has work to do. A place to bury her sorrows by comforting and saving others from their own.

As the script read, it's already a very large epic film. If they end up fixing a couple of character things and that opening romance... then the film will really really be the homerun that everyone at Disney, Bruckheimer and Bay pictures want from this. It's funny. Robogeek was a tremendous fan of ARMAGEDDON, but even he was a bit scared of the 'popcorning' of history that Michael Bay could have brought to the film. Well... at least here in this draft of the screenplay by Randall Wallace... that is not the case.

They don't play up the Japanese or the Germans as ultimate evil bastards. Even the heroes in the film... they are just regular joes that did their jobs in a very irregular time. I can see why SPYGLASS is chomping at the bit to get this film from DISNEY if Eisner were to chicken out on it. I'll continue to follow this film all the way through production, as it is the largest WWII movie that I've been around to see being made. And I just hope they nail it. The events that they are bringing to life are times so a part of historic memory that they need to be treated with the sense of fairness that Randall Wallace has given them.

Fox Baja to serve spell as port of 'Pearl Harbor'

(Wed., Jan. 26, 2000) By John Watling

MEXICO CITY -- "Pearl Harbor," Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay's mega-budgeted production, has found its shooting ports. More than a year after shooting wrapped on the most recent full-length feature filmed at the Fox Baja facility, the studio is gearing up to host Disney's megabudgeted "Pearl Harbor."

Sources said a few weeks of shooting will take place at the Baja facility, while most of the film will be shot in Los Angeles, as well as in Hawaii and Texas. An April 10 date is being eyed for the start of principal photography in Hawaii.

Bruckheimer is producing and Michael Bay is directing "Pearl Harbor," which is now in preproduction in Los Angeles. Fox Baja manager Charlie Aronsen is expecting the production to arrive at his facility in March to begin preparing for shooting there.

"We are extremely happy to have 'Pearl Harbor' here," Aronsen said.

The Fox Baja facility first hit headlines with news that "Titanic" was to film there in 1996. Recently, the northern Mexico facility has attracted some television production, namely "The Expendables" for USA Network. But the facility has had trouble attracting feature productions since 'Big Blue' finished shooting in December 1998.

Aronsen said the difficulties have nothing to do with the quality of the facility. "We can shoot anything here," he said. "It is all about the lack of incentives for filming in Mexico."

The number of foreign productions shooting in Mexico has declined sharply in recent years as other countries including Canada, Australia and Ireland have increased the incentives for foreign productions to film there, while Mexico has done nothing to attract foreign productions.

Mega-budgeted WWII epic finally gets its greenlight

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-01-27T19:29:26-05:00

By CHARLES LYONS, January 27, 2000

After months and months of budget scrutiny and talent talks culminating in the tension of the last two weeks, Disney has greenlit - at a budget of $130 million-$135 million - the WWII epic "Pearl Harbor," with Michael Bay directing and Jerry Bruckheimer producing from a script by Randall Wallace ("Braveheart").

A few legal issues were still being ironed out Wednesday evening, but the film is on track to begin production in April or May for release around Memorial Day, 2001. Disney will finance the filmâs entire budget, making "Pearl Harbor" one of the most expensive films ever at the greenlight stage. The studio will control worldwide distribution, though it is a distinct possibility that Disney could later lay off a large percentage of the budget on Spyglass, its foreign partner on such films as "The Sixth Sense."

Estimates are that Disney could recoup as much as 40% of that budget in exchange for Spyglass stronghold territories Germany, Spain, Italy and France. Spyglass, run by Roger Birnbaum and Gary Barber, has offered to finance the entire film, a scenario that Walt Disney chairman-CEO Michael Eisner and Walt Disney Studios chairman Peter Schneider have resisted while making the decision. The greenlight ends the high-profile jockeying between the studio and Bay and Bruckheimer. That duo gave up their upfront fees and delaying gross participation until the studio reached breakeven - and thought they had gotten a greenlight on a $145 million budget from studio chief Joe Roth and Eisner. That changed when Roth exited the studio this month when his contract expired. Suddenly, Eisner and his new lieutenant Schneider had second thoughts, and spent the last two weeks in a tense negotiation with Bruckheimer and Bay to shave an extra $10 million off the filmâs negative cost.

One source said Bruckheimer and Bay’s waiving of upfront and gross could make a difference of $40 million to $50 million for the studio. That’s a significant chunk of change, and a significant move for the duo. Casting will begin in earnest, with the early favorites being "American Beauty" star Wes Bentley, "Thin Red Line" star Jim Caviezel and Charlize Theron will be offered the lead roles (Daily Variety, Jan. 25) in a storyline about two fighter pilot pals from Tennessee who fall in love with the same nurse.

ILM

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-01-31T19:28:40-05:00

Got this from vfxpro.com:

Industrial Light & Magic confirms that it has secured the visual effects duties for Michael Bay's upcoming Pearl Harbor epic whose possible title is "Tennessee". Walt Disney Studios gave the project the green light after extensive previsualization by Disney's The Secret Lab. An ILM spokesperson said that the company is thrilled to be involved in a film of such scale.

Pearl Harbor score & casting

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-02-04T19:27:34-05:00

AICN has reported that Cuba Gooding Jr will have a small part on "Pearl Harbor." And to those of you asking if there are any composers attached to "Pearl Harbor," I will let you know as soon as I get some info. Personally, I think Treveor Rabin did a wonderful job with "Armageddon," and Hans Zimmer did a cool job with "The Rock." Maybe they should have both!

Gooding is all decked out for 'Pearl Harbor'

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-02-05T19:26:04-05:00

Cuba Gooding Jr. just can't escape the Navy.

In the first casting for Disney's "Pearl Harbor," Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr. -- who next stars in Fox 2000's "Navy Diver" -- is in final negotiations to come aboard the Jerry Bruckheimer/Michael Bay megabudgeted project.

The project has also garnered the interest of Kevin Costner, who is due to begin shooting the indie pic "3,000 Miles to Graceland" next month. The actor was expected to segue into Mandalay Pictures' "Beyond Borders" for director Oliver Stone. However, "Borders" co-star Catherine Zeta-Jones fell out of the project last month, and the producers have not yet secured a female lead, thus pushing back the planned start date.

The Bruckheimer-produced "Pearl Harbor" will be directed by Bay from a script by Randall Wallace ("Braveheart"). The project will go before the cameras in April or May and shoot for about six months.

With "Harbor" proceeding full steam ahead, Gooding will take the smaller but pivotal role of the ship's Dorie Miller, a mess attendant third class who was serving on the U.S.S. West Virginia when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Like many sailors in the segregated U.S. Navy of World War II, Miller was assigned to kitchen duty. Navy archives say the powerfully built Texan was collecting laundry when the Sunday morning attack began.

Historical accounts show that two bombs hit the West Virginia deck, and the battleship suffered below-deck flooding as her crew endured five torpedo hits to the port side. During this, Miller carried wounded sailors to safety, helped the ship's fatally wounded captain and then fired an anti-aircraft machine gun at Japanese planes for some 15 minutes until the gun's ammunition was spent and abandon ship orders were given.

Surviving the attack, Miller's unbridled courage earned him the Navy Cross in 1942. The war hero died in 1943 when the escort carrier he was serving on was torpedoed during the U.S. invasion of the Gilbert Islands. In 1973, a Navy frigate was named the U.S.S. Miller.

Gooding Jr., repped by CAA, won a best supporting actor Oscar for his role in "Jerry Maguire."

(Hollywood Reporter)

Pearl Bucks

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-02-07T19:24:29-05:00

There's an article in this week's Entertainment Weekly regarding a general overview of the negotiations and casting notes. Click here to read it.

Brad Pitt eying Pearl Harbor

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-02-09T19:23:41-05:00

The HollywoodReporter says the following regarding Brad Pitt:

"...He's also eying "Pearl Harbor...'The Mexican' is likely to be Pitt's first project of the millennium. However, that all could change if Pitt goes aboard "Pearl Harbor" for Jerry Bruckheimer and director Michael Bay.

Bombs Away Bombs Away Charlize Theron says no to ''Pearl Harbor'' -- The actress explains why she's passing up a star-making role in Disney's high-priced epic 'SWEET' TALK Theron will star in the smaller ''November'' instead of the big-budget ''Harbor'' by Craig Seymour Industry buzz had it that Charlize Theron would likely become a female lead in ''Pearl Harbor,'' Disney's WWII epic whose $135 million preshooting budget makes it the most expensive film ever greenlit. But the increasingly hot Theron, who next stars opposite Ben Affleck in John Frankheimer's ''Reindeer Games'' (opening Feb. 25), tells EW Online that she's passing on the project. Instead she'll join Keanu Reeves in a remake of the '68 romantic drama ''Sweet November,'' which starts shooting at the same time as ''Harbor.'' ''Whomever is in it [''Harbor''] will probably become a huge star and the movie will do extremely well,'' says Theron. ''But I know I'm here [in my career] because I've always made decisions based on what felt right to me and what felt challenging to me.'' Theron denies that her choice was influenced by the negative hype surrounding ''Harbor'''s initial price tag, which dwarfs the greenlighted budgets of both ''Titanic'' (less than $100 million) and ''Waterworld ($65 million). ''I made my decision based on the character in 'Sweet November,''' she says. (We can see why: In the original version, Sandy Dennis plays a woman who takes a new lover every month.) So while ''Pearl Harbor'' still has ''Armageddon'' director Michael Bay at the helm, and lots of stunt people, pyrotechnics, and ''Titanic'''s water tank to re-create the infamous Dec. 7, 1941, attack, it's now short one soon-to-be A-list actress. But, then again, with a $135 million budget the producers can surely afford a new one. RenŽe Zellweger, perhaps?

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-02-11T19:21:57-05:00

My suspicions have been confirmed...Charlize Theron won't play nurse. EW has reported she decided to pass on this project. Why? My opinion? She either didn't like the money or her character in the plot. Then again, this is the same woman who came out in "Mighty Joe Young," and "The Astronaut's Wife" Am I missing something here??? Anyway, got this from EW online:

Bombs Away

Charlize Theron says no to ''Pearl Harbor'' -- The actress explains why she's passing up a star-making role in Disney's high-priced epic 'SWEET' TALK Theron will star in the smaller ''November'' instead of the big-budget ''Harbor''

by Craig Seymour

Industry buzz had it that Charlize Theron would likely become a female lead in ''Pearl Harbor,'' Disney's WWII epic whose $135 million preshooting budget makes it the most expensive film ever greenlit. But the increasingly hot Theron, who next stars opposite Ben Affleck in John Frankheimer's ''Reindeer Games'' (opening Feb. 25), tells EW Online that she's passing on the project. Instead she'll join Keanu Reeves in a remake of the '68 romantic drama ''Sweet November,'' which starts shooting at the same time as ''Harbor.'' ''Whomever is in it [''Harbor''] will probably become a huge star and the movie will do extremely well,'' says Theron. ''But I know I'm here [in my career] because I've always made decisions based on what felt right to me and what felt challenging to me.''

Theron denies that her choice was influenced by the negative hype surrounding ''Harbor'''s initial price tag, which dwarfs the greenlighted budgets of both ''Titanic'' (less than $100 million) and ''Waterworld ($65 million). ''I made my decision based on the character in 'Sweet November,''' she says. (We can see why: In the original version, Sandy Dennis plays a woman who takes a new lover every month.) So while ''Pearl Harbor'' still has ''Armageddon'' director Michael Bay at the helm, and lots of stunt people, pyrotechnics, and ''Titanic'''s water tank to re-create the infamous Dec. 7, 1941, attack, it's now short one soon-to-be A-list actress. But, then again, with a $135 million budget the producers can surely afford a new one. RenŽe Zellweger, perhaps?

Happy Birthday Mike

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-02-17T19:21:21-05:00

Happy Birthday Michael! Enjoy it where ever you are.

Stuff

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-03-03T19:20:31-05:00

Thank you to all those who sent a birthday email to Michael. He actually was very pleased and got a kick out of it.

Well, there might be a possibility that that Michael could be reunited with one of the stars of "Armageddon" for the up and coming "Pear Harbor." Hollywoodreporter mentions the follwing:

"In the latest rounds of casting surrounding Disney's megabudgeted "Pearl Harbor," Ben Affleck is in talks to come aboard. "Pearl" would reteam the actor with director-producer Michael Bay and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who cast Affleck in their asteroid pic "Armageddon" two years ago, before Affleck became Hollywood's golden boy after winning an Oscar for "Good Will Hunting." Affleck is repped by CAA."

It's official...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-03-06T19:18:38-05:00

It's official now, as previously reported, Ben Affleck will join Michael again for "Pearl Harbor."

Affleck serves 'Harbor' duty for no upfront

By Anita M. Busch

Ben Affleck is the second high-profile actor to jump aboard Disney's "Pearl Harbor" for filmmakers Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay, despite the project's budgetary restrictions on casting. Negotiations were completed late Friday night on a deal by which Affleck will take no money upfront for the lead role.

"Harbor" is emerging as a case of talent rallying around talent. Cuba Gooding Jr. was first to come aboard for Bruckheimer and Bay. The involvement of Affleck and Gooding Jr. comes after the filmmakers' very public, very bumpy negotiations with the studio to get the project greenlit. Adding to the interest from A-listers is Randall Wallace's gritty, engaging script, several sources said.

Both actors are friends of the filmmakers. Affleck was cast in the Bruckheimer-produced, Bay-directed "Armageddon" before winning a best original screenplay Oscar for "Good Will Hunting"; Gooding Jr. plays in Bruckheimer's hockey league.

Gene Hackman, who has worked with Bruckheimer on "Enemy of the State" and "Crimson Tide," might also come aboard, but no decision has yet been made.

Bruckheimer and Bay experienced a rough review at the studio for "Harbor" after the departure of former chairman Joe Roth, who championed the project and gave it its first greenlight. After Roth left, Eisner re-evaluated Roth's decision to make the film at a price tag of $145 million and had the filmmakers make further cuts to bring it down another $10 million.

Bruckheimer and Bay reduced their own fees and then, because the bulk of the project cost is being applied toward its massive production, were left with only a small budget to cast even the lead roles. The filmmakers plan to re-create fully the Dec. 7, 1941, early-morning bombing by the Japanese of the Hawaiian naval base, a pivotal moment that pulled the United States into World War II. Any budgetary overages must be shouldered by the filmmakers.

Affleck began talking seriously last week about joining the project (HR 3/2). He will play the lead fighter pilot in the story that follows two brothers who fall in love with the same woman. A lead actress has yet to be cast.

"Harbor" is expected to go before cameras in April or May and shoot for six months.

Affleck's agreement to join "Harbor" delays two other projects: "Cinderella Man," a Universal Pictures/Miramax Films co-production in which he was expected to star, and Warner Bros.' "The Ugly Truth," in which he was negotiating to star with Gwyneth Paltrow. The latter project is seeking a director after Barry Sonnenfeld exited last month to direct "Big Trouble" at Disney.

Disney stations Hartnett at 'Pearl Harbor'

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-03-10T19:17:42-05:00

Josh Hartnett will star along with Ben Affelck in "Pearl Harbor." Read On...

Disney stations Hartnett at 'Pearl Harbor'

By Zorianna Kit

Josh Hartnett is set to star alongside Ben Affleck in Disney's megabudgeted World War II drama "Pearl Harbor" for filmmakers Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay. The six-month project is expected to go before cameras in the spring.

Hartnett's star is fast rising, as the young actor has roles in five films that are due out this year: Fox 2000's "Here on Earth," New Line Cinema's "Town and Country," Paramount Classics release "The Virgin Suicides" and Miramax's "O" and "Never Better."

The signing of Hartnett and Affleck ends months of searching for the two Army Air Corps pilots and best friends who fall in love with the same Navy nurse. The deal for Affleck pays him no money upfront to star in the $135 million project.

Bruckheimer and Bay reduced their own fees to make the film and have only a small budget to cast even the lead roles because of the project's production costs .

Though the female lead has not yet been cast, roles of the supporting nurses are beginning to fill, with newcomer and model James King being the first selected.

King, a former Cosmopolitan cover girl, recently wrapped a role in her first feature, New Line's "Happy Campers," and is now shooting the studio's "Blow," in which she portrays one of the daughters of a couple played by Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz.

The Randall Wallace-penned "Harbor," to be produced by Bruckheimer and Bay, the latter of whom will direct, is moving full steam ahead. Cuba Gooding Jr. was the first actor to sign last month as a 3rd Class mess attendant who served on the U.S.S. West Virginia when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

Hartnett has been seen on the big screen in the horror films "The Faculty" and "Halloween H20: 20 Years Later" and starred in the short-lived television series "Cracker." He is repped by the Iris Burton Agency and manager Nancy Kremer.

King, repped by ICM and manager Robert Flutie, made her acting debut in the short "Four Faces of God." She is slated to appear on the cover of Details magazine's May issue.

Michael Bay Talks 'Pearl Harbor'

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-03-11T19:15:35-05:00

Recently, InLinefirst.com asked Michael Bay About "Pearl Harbor," and surprisingly about a sequel to "The Rock."

We all know 'Pearl Harbor' is the highest-budgeted film of all time. We may or may not know that it was originally called 'Tennessee' before the film-makers decided to name it directly after the event. But what can director Michael Bay tell us about his ambitious project?

At a public appearance supporting Buena Vista's 'Mission to Mars,' Bay talked about 'Pearl Harbor.'

There's a lot of work ahead," Bay said. "We've been researching for the past year." Even though there is a lot of effort being put into historical accuracy, Bay assured InLineFirst readers that it will be a film about people.

"It's all character, and it's a very different movie than I've ever done before. It's all history, but not everything's based in fact."

'Mission to Mars' distributor Buena Vista will also finance and distribute 'Pearl Harbor.' While we had Bay's attention, we asked about the possibility of a sequel to 'The Rock.' He simply replied, "Not for me."

Affleck speaks...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-03-14T19:13:48-05:00

First of all, I would like to wish a very happy birthday to a friend of mine: Liz Olivera. I would give you her email so that you can all send her a wish...but she would stop being my friend after she gets bombed with all your emails.

There's more rumblings of casting for Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor project. According to a number of sources, Alec Baldwin is currently in talks to take on the film's role of the real life Gen. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle, a part that Kevin Costner previously negotiated for but chose to pass on when the production could not meet his financial requirements.

Ben Affleck talks on his site ( affleck.com )about "Pearl Harbor." WARNING, there are some minor spoilers:

"Which brings me to...my next movie and it's one I'm really thrilled about. In fact, I haven't been this excited to do a movie in a long time and nobody is as surprised as I am at that. If you had asked me a year ago if I'd be doing Michael Bay's next movie--and FOR NO MONEY at that--I'd have said you were crazy. And maybe I am, but I don't think so.

When I got the script I was fully expecting the kind of saccharine, popcorn that was Armageddon. I was shocked, to say the least. Jerry and Michael are working from a script by Randall Wallace (Braveheart) that is uncompromising, true to the accounts of survivors and striving to be the definitive epic on the day that "lived in infamy" and ultimitely proved to be the definitive moment in the greatest conflict of the last century.

Rather than some jingoistic cowboy story about yee-haw Americans getting "snuk-attacked" by cagy "Japs," this is a much more complex story. It begins with a nation that, according to a gallup poll, is 88% AGAINST getting involved in "the war in Europe" (!!!) It is a place suffering mightily from the hangover of a costly (in suffering) and senseless (in both geo-political and humanistic terms) war where thousands of American boys died in trenches in Europe. It is a place where Henry Ford and Charles Lindburgh lead HUGE rallies where the great applause line goes: "Hitler is our friend!!" The "peace in our time" movement which advocated isolationism in the face of the Axis powers invasions in Europe and Asia--an unimaginable concept in retrospect, but one that had an invincible political currency at the time. In fact, there are many fascinating parallels to the post Vietnam era, where the populace absolutely DID NOT want to send our young men overseas EVER AGAIN.

In the White House, a democratic President is running for his fourth term and facing the fight of his life. His Republic opponent, Willkie, is making great political hay by implying that FDR wants to "Drag America to war." A fistfight breaks out in the House of Representatives after a vociferous anti-wr, anti-FDR speech--each congressman takes and suffers six blows to the face. FDR publicly aknowledges that "The Axis powers will give anything in the world to have me licked the fifth of November!" and he barely squeaks by in the election but only after repeatedly promising "your boys are not going to be sent into any foriegn wars!"

An advisor to FDR, Mccollum, puts forth an internal memo indicatating that they fully expected that "upon defeat of England, the United States could expect an immediate attack from Germany." Yet FDR simply did not have the support of the populace to enter the war--just lending the British a few ships had caused a political shitstorm on capital hill and lead FDR to have to employ his famous "garden hose" analogy in a "Fireside Chat" the thrust of which being "If your neighbor's house is on fire, you lend him your hose..."

At a terrible political crossroad, FDR was stuck. Until that day in 1941, when a fleet of Japanese Battles ships, attack fighters and a group of bombers led a shockingly brazen assualt on the US Naval base at Pearl harbor, leaving 2403 Americans dead and 1178 wounded in less than an hour. The Japanese lost less than two hundred men, and only one was captured.

The movie will capture, using the most advanced special effects, and reproduce the exact events of that terrible day. if there is one thing I am certain of, it is that Michael's emormous visual storytelling talents will bring the attack sequence a sense of horrifying realism and terrible majesty. The third act of the movie is also culled from true wartime events in the pacific (and I don't want to give anything away) but it is truly gripping and extremely well executed in the script. the fictional love story that Mr. Wallace crafted (a la Braveheart) is well done and entirely absent false sentimentality. Suffice it to say that there is (I believe) very good reason that Michael, Jerry, the rental houses, and so many crewmembers and actors (including me) have waived our "fees": we want to make a good movie--and we want every nickel up on the screen to help tell the story. Ultimitely, I've found, it's a lot more satisfying to make a movie you can be proud of than it is to cash a big check. This time, we're taking the route of the former. I hope you'll like it. Memorial Day 2001."

Beckinsale In 'Pearl'?

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-03-15T19:13:09-05:00

Cinescape reports on the following regarding the lead female role for Pearl Harbor:

Kate Beckinsale (Breakdown Palace, Haunted) is the most recent candidate in talks to take on the female lead role in Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor project. According to Variety, the lead role is that of a Navy nurse who falls in love with a pilot named Rafe (to be played by Ben Affleck). Eventually, she is reassigned to Pearl Harbor prior to the infamous day. The trade also reports that though Beckinsale is currently the frontrunner for the role, there are three other actresses in talks for the role should she pass on it.

Pearl Harbor storyboard and Levi ads

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-03-19T19:08:44-05:00

The Unofficial Pearl Harbor Site has manage to get exclusive storyboards for "Pearl Harbor." They've got a total of four storyboards ( thanks to Nick Medrano ). You can view two of them by clicking on the thumbnails below, and the rest can be view by clicking on the following link http://cinemenium.com/pearlharbor

...

Back in August of 99, I was speaking to Michael about his new Levi's commercials. I was surprised to learn that he had made 3 commercials for Levi's that summer. They are: The Invisible Man, The Artist , and The Train (AKA "Frayed"). The "Train?" Well, Michael told me he did decided not to finish the "Train" commercial because Levi's was afraid to take chances with that particular commercial. Levi's thought it was a little bit to risqué ( he also went on to tell me how the Levi's "Elevator" commercial has the highest rating for any Levi's commercial ever made ). So he decided not to put up with all the ad agency BS...and walked off the set.

Well, Levi's has decided to air the "Train" commercial. I doubted that the cut you will be seeing is what Michael had in mind. But alas, it has Michael Bay elements. Click below to see "The Train"

Levi's Frayed/Train (Quicktime 4, 1.5mbs)

Pearl Harbor tidbits

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-03-22T19:06:13-05:00

Sources tell me that Michael Bay will most likely (if not already) hook up again with Jon Schwartzman as his DP for the 3rd time in a row.

Michael now lives in Bel Air (just in case you didn't know). It seems like the production process for "Pearl Harbor" might change how movies are made. Keep reading, got this from Variety.

***************

Studio's deferment deals could rewrite megapic rules

By CHARLES LYONS

Forty-five men and women stand motionless, staring at a small brass plaque.

They do not say a word.

Each silently reads about the hundreds of U.S. soldiers entombed, almost 60 years ago, in the sunken battleship Arizona. And each is transported, disturbed.

'That's why people are doing ÎPearl Harbor' and deferring their salaries,' said Todd Garner, co-president of Buena Vista Motion Picture Group, describing the reactions of crew members on a recent scouting trip to the Hawaiian site. (Garner gave director Michael Bay the idea for the project.)

But there are many other reasons why principal crew and vendors agreed to make deferments on the pic, which is budgeted at $135 million. And greater ramifications.

If the 'Pearl' model works, deferments could become the newest way for studios to produce more $100 million-plus films while avoiding co-financing pacts - pacts that reduce studios' potential upsides.

Still, the 'Pearl' deferments have already caused rumblings among crew members, some of whom have elected to pass on Disney's offer to work for less. And the new model could ignite already smoldering studio/union relationships.

With ILM agreeing to take deferments, other effects houses, many hurting for work, may find themselves forced to follow suit - and risk the consequences.

One key below-the-line pro was delighted when Michael Bay approached him to do the film but was taken aback by the director's throwaway line: 'I'm deferring my salary on this film. How about you?' Reluctantly, the crew member accepted the offer.

Soon thereafter, Bay invited some guests to his new multimillion-dollar home in Bel-Air for his birthday party. 'It was a nice gesture,' the crew member reflected. 'But looking around, I had to ask myself, ÎWhy am I deferring my meager pay?' '

Bay countered that no crew members attended his party and noted that nearly all of his primary crew from past films are returning for 'Pearl.' However, at least three of them assured Daily Variety they are returning under normal terms, with one arranging for the deferred portion of his salary to be put into an escrow account.

Crew members on low-budget films frequently have to make deferments, but when the producers on a few bigger pics, such as 'The English Patient,' have tried this arrangement, the results have not always been happy.

Deferments mean that the crew member or vendor agrees to work for a lower rate, with money coming back once the pic turns a profit. In this case, Disney promises that if 'Pearl' reaches a domestic gross of about $140 million, crew members will recoup what they would have been paid under normal circumstances.

Over the past year, however, only 10 movies have surpassed the $140 million domestic mark, including 'Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace,' 'The Sixth Sense' and 'Toy Story 2.'

Unlike movies such as 'American Graffiti' and 'Star Wars,' where below-the-line crew received considerable backend on the film, only producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director-producer Bay have 'points' on 'Pearl Harbor.

Hence, crew members and vendors are in for considerable risk - something that sources say they would have balked at had it not been for the subject matter and the talent involved. Others have found Disney's 'point'-less proposal uninviting. Since these crew members are crucial to the production, Disney has signed them on anyway, under traditional terms.

Despite the rumblings, Disney is steamrolling ahead with its plans, having already arranged for the following savings:

in Many heads of major below-the-line departments have agreed to deferments, including the D.P., editor, production designer and lighting director. The total budget value of such deferments is said to be $5 million-$10 million.

Panavision and Technicolor have been asked to take deferred payments. A Panavision spokesman said that while such deferments were discussed, the camera house will work on 'Pearl' under its standard deal with Disney.

ILM has agreed to what one Disney exec called 'meaningful deferments' on some 200 effects shots, said to cost close to $25 million.

Disney says its use of the shots will make it look more like 500 f/x shots were used. While ILM has ostensibly agreed to the deferments because the company wants to be in the Bruckheimer-Bay business, deal could add additional pressure to the post biz's bottom line.

A conservative approach has been taken regarding set construction: Instead of building full sets, it will at times build only what's needed for a shot. Unlike the method used for 'Waterworld,' the studio will only build a section of some ships.

The Mouse will take an equally conservative approach to battle re-creations: While one scene will require a fleet of 20 ships, 12-15 camera positions and nine Air Force planes, Disney plans to digitally add in numerous more ships and planes.

Prop houses, wardrobe houses and labs - among other vendors - have offered up to 25% deferments in exchange for upfront payments. But some say that they certainly don't want to make a habit of doing so.

'I wanted to change the way $100 million movies get made,' said Bruce Hendricks, the studio's president of motion picture production and the man responsible to the studio for sticking to the 'Pearl Harbor' budget.

'Nobody said to do this. It was something that I just came up with after seeing it done with such studio movies as ÎThe English Patient.' I just wanted to try a different way of making the movie cost-effective.'

Under this strategy, below-the-line craftsmen and vendors, many of whom are undergoing tough times, may find themselves in an untenable situation, having to choose whether to work and take a pay cut or not work at all.

Even with deferred pay, they lose money. If the film recoups, they will get a salary in two years but will lose the interest they could have accrued if paid this year.

A DGA spokesman, who pointed out that a.d.s could only defer dollar amounts over scale, said he was 'appalled by this trend.'

But Bay, known for such blockbusters as 'Armageddon' and 'The Rock,' emphatically said, 'The business thinks they are rewriting the rule books, but this is a special circumstance. I am going into this thinking that I am not going to make a dime. But I would rather gamble on myself.'

Still, some craftsmen are unimpressed by Bay's wager.

'I am sure that there must be some people who must be unhappy with me because we are making every dollar count,' said Hendricks.

'Certainly the production won't be as comfortable as people are used to. But no one was arm-twisted into doing this movie. Everyone knew that to do this movie, that's what needed to happen.'

Production begins in Hawaii on April 8 with a relatively compact shooting schedule of 85 days. Bay hopes to bring the film in at 2 hours and 20 minutes, or under.

This is gonna be big...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-03-31T19:03:53-05:00

Wow...this movie will be big. Just read this from reel.com:

The Real Thing

Now this will be something to see. The actual live bombardment (with 'real' explosives) of roughly fifteen Naval vessels moored at Pearl Harbor, to be captured by movie cameras within the next few weeks.

The movie, of course, is Pearl Harbor, Disney's super-sized - $135 million-and-counting - World War II epic drama. Filming is beginning this week under producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Michael Bay in and around Pearl Harbor. (April 8 is the official start date.) Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett will play the two male leads, with Kate Beckinsale reportedly playing their mutual love interest.

The ships to be destroyed along 'Battleship Row' are moored at the 'middle loch' on the rear side of Ford Island, which is located in the middle of Pearl Harbor.

A director friend told me Wednesday that Bay and Bruckheimer will be using actual naval vessels and real explosives. The U.S. Navy has been bombing and sinking its own vessels for years as part of military maneuvers ("sink X's" or "exercises," in naval jargon), but this level of realism is rare for a Hollywood movie shoot.

U.S. Navy spokesperson Lt. Melissa Sherman, currently in Hawaii, says she's aware of the plan to use live vessels in the simulation of the Pearl Harbor attack. She declined to say how many vessels would be used, or what kind. However, she adds, "They're not going to sink anything."

The 11-year-old boy in me is thrilled. Real explosions! Real flying shrapnel! Stunt men leaping into a flaming sea! Something to see, all right · only I won't see it. Not unless Bay and Bruckheimer change their tune about press coverage.

The general policy is to keep reporters and cameras at arm's length, according to Pearl Harbor's unit publicist Gabriela Gutentag. I called Gutentag a few weeks ago to ask about visiting Hawaii to watch filming of the Japanese bombardment, which Bruckheimer had told me earlier would probably be the most exciting thing to see.

The spectacle, Bruckheimer confided, would include Japanese bomber planes swooping down over the harbor, with scores of extras running around and simulated bomb explosions going off willy-nilly. When I mentioned this to Gutentag, she replied there would be a "closed set" policy during filming of this footage.

Given the scale of the action, I said to her, how "closed" do they expect the shooting of this sequence to be? An industrious photographer or video-shooter with a private plane at his or her disposal would be able to easily capture this.

The "live" bombing of the ships is said to be part of Bay's effort to knock our collective socks off. Word is he's trying to go the old-fashioned way as much as possible, with actual props and real explosives, instead of relying mainly on the computer-generated trickery that has become commonplace in the making of big-scale action films.

I think this is terrific. I've said time and again that CGI always looks like CGI, and that there's no substitute for organic realism. Think how much better Jim Cameron's depiction of the Titanic taking to sea would have looked if he'd been able to pay for a real vessel, instead of using that digitally animated version of the ship that looked · digitally animated.

Just you wait. Access Hollywood or Entertainment Tonight will work something out with Bruckheimer and Gutentag, and we'll be seeing at least some of this carnage on one of their shows before too long. I'll be watching from my desk in Los Angeles while eating a tuna-fish sandwich.

Pearl Harbor update

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-04-02T18:59:14-04:00

We have a lot of updates today.

This site got mention on the Corpus Christi Caller!!! The article was regarding Michael's 2nd visit to Corpus Christi. It says:

"...website dedicated to the director says Hollywood heavyweights Ben Affleck and Cuba Gooding Jr. will appear in the movie, and that Gene Hackman is negotiating."

Not bad eh?
. . .

It is windy and raining at the Pearl Harbor Arizona Memorial. And it will be like that for most of the week. Hope it starts clearing up before the cameras roll on Saturday, April 8th. Also, You can see a live webcam shot of the Pearl Harbor memorial by clicking here.
. . .

Also, got these two articles which talk about this weeks coming events

'Pearl Harbor' filming starts with visit to USS Arizona
By Tim Ryan

Filming on what is expected to be the biggest movie ever on Oahu in terms of budget, amount spent and number of filming days may begin as early as tomorrow.

The $135 million epic "Pearl Harbor" is expected to continue for some 30 production days with local spending, according to some estimates, of between $10 million and $20 million.

The production has brought in a large special-effects team, period airplanes, military vehicles and costumes.

"This picture is a grand slam home run economically, historically and promotionally," said Walea Constantinau, Honolulu city and county film liaison. "It's so important historically so that the younger generation can understand this event; a big budget film brings so much to this economy; and it gives us a chance to promote Hawaii."

A wreath-laying ceremony at the USS Arizona Memorial tomorrow will mark the beginning of filming here for the movie. Several of the actors, studio executives, Admiral Thomas Boulton Fargo, commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and Gov. Ben Cayetano are expected to attend.

The World War II epic stars Cuba Gooding Jr., Ben Affleck, Tom Sizemore, Kate Beckinsale, Josh Hartnett, Guy Torry, James King, Ewan Bremner, William Lee Scott and Matt Davis. It is being directed by Michael Bay and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, who are known for the blockbusters "Armageddon" and "The Rock."

Randall Wallace's "Pearl Harbor" tells the story of two Navy pilots and best friends (Affleck and Hartnett) who fall in love with the same Army nurse (Beckinsale). Gooding plays a 3rd Class mess attendant who served on the USS West Virginia when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Scott and Davis play the fighter pilots who work alongside Affleck and Hartnett.

Most of the "Pearl Harbor" filming in Hawaii will be done on military bases, especially at Ford Island. Some filming is expected on the deck of the USS Missouri.

About 15 World War II vintage aircraft -- collected from museums and private collectors -- are being stored on Ford Island after being shipped to Hawaii from San Diego.

According to sources, there are "piles and piles" of U.S. Army WWII gear on Ford Island, including tents, and along the shoreline are sand bags, large searchlights and machine guns.

Set construction will be simple, a source said. Instead of building full sets, the crew will at times build only what's needed for a shot.

The studio will take an equally conservative approach to battle re-creations. One scene might require 20 ships, 12-15 camera positions and nine Air Force planes; then Disney plans to digitally add in numerous more ships and planes.

Al Burnes, business agent of IATSE, Local 665, which provides the technicians for film, television and stage productions in Hawaii, said 54 technicians are working on the film, with another 10 to begin after filming starts. The production brought in about 200 crew and department heads from Los Angeles, he said. "I don't like that, but I understand it," Burnes said.

"This is the production's first location and they have at least another three, so they need these deparment heads at every place for continuity."

About 20 IATSE members, including carpenters, painters, and electricians, started working for the production in February.

Some members said they signed confidentiality agreements as part of their contract to work on the film.

"Pearl Harbor" will film six days a week, with Fridays off. Filming is expected through the first week in May, when the project moves to Texas and Los Angeles.

The film is expected to reach theaters in summer 2001.
. . . .

Pearl Harbor ... according to Hollywood
By Wayne Harada

Hollywood's lingering fascination with war, and, especially, World War II, starts up all over again this week.

Right in our front yard.

Or harbor. "Pearl Harbor," a megabucks film from Disney, begins preliminary shooting Tuesday at Pearl Harbor, site of the start of America's involvement in WWII. Officially, the launch date is Saturday, but production crews and actors are already in our midst, ready to roll.

The film boasts formidable behind-the-scenes movers and shakers, including the legendary Hollywood action film-making team of Jerry Bruckheimer (producer) and Michael Bay (director). They last collaborated on "Armageddon," about a war with mother nature.

Some A-list stars (Ben Affleck, Alec Baldwin, Cuba Gooding Jr.) are aboard, too, playing fictional as well as real-life figures. The screenplay, featuring romance and drama and embroidering together fiction and fact, is by Randall Wallace, the Oscar-nominated writer of "Braveheart." Early on, a peek at the closely guarded script prompted one Hollywood observer to dub this project "box office gold."

But when it comes to the Day of Infamy, the quality of Hollywood's understanding has varied from one film to the next, said Robert C. Schmitt, historian and former Hawaii state statistican, reflecting on the renewed interest in wartime dramas, sparked in part by "Saving Private Ryan." "Some films are better than others; there is one, in the early '70s, that stands out best."

He was referring to 1970's Japanese-American joint venture, "Tora! Tora! Tora!," which recreated the drama - and trauma - of the war from both nations' perspectives. "It was reasonably accurate where, over the years, most World War II films were terribly superficial," said Schmitt.

He also thinks Hollywood is gearing up to serve up a new wartime saga for younger generations of filmgoers who neither saw nor lived through the experience of Pearl Harbor.

"I'm not an expert on the war genre, but I would probably say in terms of film history, 'From Here to Eternity' is probably the one most people remember. But in terms of action, I'd say 'Tora! Tora! Tora!,'" said Georgette Deemer, Hawaii Film Office manager and one of the few Islanders who has read the proposed Wallace script. "But the new 'Pearl Harbor' will be great combination of both."

Pearl Harbor - whose name is a kind of shorthand for the devastation that war can wreak, the attack the subject of films, novels, history books and TV productions - has had its share of "close-ups" over the years. Among these: 1953's "From Here to Eternity," perhaps best remembered for that clinch-on-the-beach scene between Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr, and 1965's "In Harm's Way," with John Wayne leading the U.S. charge against the Japanese, with model ships and planes in bathtubs serving as the fleet. Footnote: "Eternity" has had extended life, in a 1979 TV mini-series spinoff (with title intact) with William Devane and Natalie Wood, which evolved later that same year into an episodic TV series with Devane and Barbara Hershey.

The new "Pearl Harbor" will almost certainly be the most realistic portrayal ever with special effects by Industrial Light and Magic, blending action shots with computer-generated images to recreate battle scenes.

The film has an announced pre-production budget of $135 million, believed to be the priciest ever approved up front (though other films have gone over budget to cost more). Hollywood is buzzing about the fact that the producer, director and, presumably, actors are deferring up front salaries and banking on box office profits later - a new approached designed to hold down the spiraling costs of filmmaking and assure the best in production values.

A studio source said that an 85-day shooting schedule is envisioned, with between 40 and 45 days here in the Islands - at Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, at Wheeler Air Force Base, at Fort Shafter and other unannounced destinations. Additional filming will continue in England, Texas and Los Angeles.

But Pearl Harbor will have a stand-in for its most famous scene: The ship-sinking sequences will actually be filmed at the Fox Baja facilities in Mexico, in the exact location where the blockbuster "Titanic" gurgled to its see-worthy demise.

But studio officials have been mum - or at best, vague - about specifics of the production.

Those on the military bases will likely start seeing things - Fiberglas plane parts, aircraft shells, old cars - popping up. And they'll start hearing and smelling things - "bombs," crashes, smoke and such - an eery reminder. The filmmakers are working with the Department of Defense to assure that historical sites are not disturbed and property is restored to before-filming condition.

Around town, 40-plus vintage cars, secured during an earlier open call, are being corralled for use in filming. More than 1,600 military enlistees and dependents have signed on as extras, awaiting their call for non-speaking crowd scenes. Props of all kinds are being built at Ford Island. A Matson container with vintage aircraft awaits unloading at Pearl.

Filming is expected to be completed by August or September.

Release date? Memorial Day 2001, preceding the 60th anniversary of the Day of Infamy, Dec. 7, 1941.

Chances of seeing stars or filming? Pretty slim as the set is closed. Unless you live and work at Pearl Harbor or one of the bases, you won't see much. So who's in the movie? Affleck and Josh Hartnett, playing best friends from Tennessee, pilots who fall in love with the same nurse, portrayed by Kate Beckinsale. Among others aboard: Baldwin as Col. James Doolittle, Gooding as mess attendant Dorie Miller. Just signed: William Lee Scott, soon to be seen in "Black and White," and a star in Bruckheimer's next flick, opening in June, "Gone in 60 Seconds."

Today, in Hawaii fashion, the project begins with a blessing. A wreath is being laid by filmmakers at the Arizona Memorial, to pay tribute to those who gave their lives in a war that has become spectacular entertainment.

Then it will be lights! Camera! Action!

Pearl Harbor

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-04-03T18:55:14-04:00

The Navy is backing "Pearl Harbor" 100%. Got a copy of the Navy News Service. You can read it by clicking here.
. . .

The Honolulu Advertiser reports the following about yesterday's ceremony at the Pearl Harbor/Arizona Memorial:

Pearl Harbor' movie drops anchor here; New generation to learn about WWII from film

By Wayne Harada and Catherine E. Toth Advertiser Staff Writers

Disney filmmakers pledged yesterday to bring the story of "Pearl Harbor ÷ which starts production here tomorrow ÷ to a new generation of movie-goers, while honoring those who died in World War II.

On the site of the Dec. 7, 1941 attack by the Japanese, the film's producer, director and stars, along with military officials, paid their respects with traditional pomp ÷ floral offerings, the playing of "Taps, and a flyover by four P-40 Warhawks.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer said, "It (the war) changed the way we thought. I felt this film was seminal in my career ÷ to get this done and done correctly.

Richard Cook, chairman of the Walt Disney Motion Picture Group, said "Pearl Harbor likely will be "the most anticipated movie in the industry next year.

Gov. Ben Cayetano said the state is cooperating fully with Disney.

"I think what's most important is that this film gives Disney an opportunity to do something great ÷ for our country, Cayetano said. He also said the film "can help us educate those generations and the generations to come about the lessons of war.

Adm. Thomas Fargo, commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said the Department of Defense also endorses the project, calling it "a wonderful effort.

Director Michael Bay said the epic drama, focusing on two fighter pilots and a Navy nurse, "is a true love story · a love triangle.

In said story, Tennessee crop dusters Rafe McCawley (Ben Affleck) and Danny Walker (Josh Hartnett) become Army Air Corps pilots. Rafe volunteers for the American Eagle Squadron during World War II in England, leaving behind his best friend and new love, Navy nurse Evelyn Johnson (Kate Beckinsale). Danny and Evelyn are then stationed at Pearl Harbor. After Rafe is reported killed, the two fall in love.

The key players have agreed to defer salaries, banking instead on box office success.

"(We've) really taken no money because I think we really like the script, the story seemed important, and it seemed like the right thing to do, said Affleck, the frequent indie star known for taking roles over money. "You want all the money to be up there to make a movie we can all be proud of. It's more satisfying for me to be in a movie that means something than for the cash up-front.

The film's preproduction budget of $135 million means that most of the money will be spent on production costs to ensure an accurate depiction of the war, according to Cook. A hefty chunk of the budget will support special effects created by Industrial Light and Magic.

According to Bay, the film will boast 180 true digital effects, with historical battle scenes to be recreated at the Baja, Mexico, tank where many of "Titanic's sinking scenes were filmed.

Some air attacks will be digitally produced, but extensive filming also will be done on inactive ships at Pearl, meaning war-like smoke, fire, and noise during production.

The attack on Pearl Harbor will involve the largest effects, said Bay.

"Michael wouldn't commit 'til he felt we could really represent the attack as authentically as possible, Bruckheimer said.

To ensure authenticity, the filmmakers have conducted research, consulted Pearl Harbor survivors, and even involved the Japanese in script reviews.

"We're trying to be as accurate as we can, in the context of motion pictures, Bruckheimer said.

"I have read it, and it's an excellent script, said Ralph Lindenmeyer, who was stationed at Pearl Harbor during the attack. "I knew what happened. I could see the chaos. I tried to impress the movie producers of that angle.

Some characters were assembled from fragments of history. The two friends are based on two pilot buddies, Welsh and Taylor, who shot down six Zeroes. Beckinsale's character is a composite of real-life nurses.

Cuba Gooding Jr.'s character, however, was derived from the history books. He plays Dorie Miller, a mess attendant on the USS Virginia who becomes a hero after the attack. Miller was the first African American to receive the Navy Cross.

Affleck and Hartnett were sent to a four-day boot camp with the U.S. Army Rangers. "We thought it was going to be an actor-y kind of boot camp, where they teach you to salute, Affleck said, laughing. "It wasn't quite that. It was more like the first 20 minutes of ÎFull Metal Jacket' but it was extraordinary.

"I think it was helpful to us, and the movie, for us to play our roles, he said. "It's much more helpful to me in my life and as a person. I don't think I scrubbed a urinal in my entire life.

"It was a really huge character-building experience, Hartnett said. "I'm positive I'll never forget it.

Pearl Harbor casting info

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-04-04T18:53:52-04:00

Leland Orser (Wonderland, The Bone Collector) is the latest addition to the growing cast of Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer's Pearl Harbor project. According to Variety, Orser will take on the role of Major Jackson, a wounded intelligence officer who works with Kate Beckinsale's Navy nurse character, Evelyn.

And the DP of Pearl Harbor is...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-04-05T18:53:06-04:00

Much of you have asked who is going to be Michael's DP (director of photography). Well, for the 3rd time in a row it will be no other than John Schwartzman ASC. One of this site's readers sent me a tip confirming, and giving some interesting info. Thanks Sean.

" I was at Panavision Woodland Hills on Monday, March 13 for a workshop and our class was interrupted twice because the camera assistant (just in case you don't know - he's the guy who checks out all the cameras, does tests, i.e. pre-production camera grunt work... then pulls the focus for the "A" camera on set, among other things) was in a rush to test the anamorphic lenses that they were planning to use for Pearl Harbor. He needed to screen his test shots from Friday and needed to do them immediately because he was concerned about some sort of "bending" on the edges of the picture. We were in the only screening room in the entire building so we were privy to the screening. He then came in a second time when we were at lunch to watch footage which was shot in front of Panavision which was mostly handheld photography involving a guy in full sailor (light brown) uniform and just some other guy in shorts and a white shirt. They were doing swish pans and running with the camera handheld. Apparently the sky matched the faces or the costumes too much (there wasn't enough contrast, I guess)... soooo... they brought in the head honcho - John Schwartzman to review the test shots...Schwartzman is definitely on board."

Pearl Harbor web cam screenshot

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-04-07T18:51:08-04:00

Here is a webcam shot of planes (P-40s ?) flying over Ford Island. Click on the image to view a bigger version of it.

Pearl Harbor set to start filming

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-04-07T18:48:35-04:00

Tomorrow is the first of principal photography. So those of you that live in Hawaii (you know who you are), get ready to take pictures like crazy. An e-mail them to nelson@michaelbay.com.

Word has it director-producer Michael Bay and producer Jerry Bruckheimer have tapped the writing duo Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais to do a dialogue polish on some of the scenes involving military exchanges.

The original script was penned by Randall Wallace (Braveheart).

Clement and La Frenais did some uncredited rewriting on Bay’s “The Rock” as well. They also wrote such films as “The Commitments” and 1979’s “The Prisoner of Zenda.”

Pearl Harbor stuff

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-04-08T18:46:53-04:00

The staff of Starbulletin.com presents this special video essay by Star-Bulletin Chief Photographer Dean Sensui. Click on the below links to view the movie in Quicktime or Realaudio format.

Quicktime (1.1 Mbs)

RealAudio (900k)

Bay gets 'Gory' at Touchstone

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-04-10T18:45:43-04:00

Listen up. Got this from the HollywoodReporter.

Bay gets 'Gory' at Touchstone
By Zorianna Kit

Touchstone Pictures has paid a low six-figure sum for "The Gory Details," an idea that Topper Lilien and Carroll Cartwright will write for filmmaker Michael Bay to produce and possibly direct.

"Gory" focuses on people who are in the business of crime cleaning -- sweeping up the bloody mess left at a murder scene.

Bay Films vp Jennifer Klein brought the idea to Bay and will co-produce. Buena Vista Motion Picture Group's co-presidents Todd Garner and Nina Jacobson along with senior production vp Mark Varhadian will oversee "Gory" for the studio.

Lilien and Cartwright, repped by the Gersh Agency's Frank Wuliger, co-wrote the upcoming USA Films' "Where the Money Is" starring Paul Newman and Linda Fiorentino. The duo also wrote "Dungeons & Dragons," a live-action version of the popular role-playing game for Sweetpea Entertainment, Silver Pictures and J & M Entertainment, which Warner Bros. will distribute domestically.

Pearl Harbor articles

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-04-11T18:43:35-04:00

Click here to read an article that appeared in the Star-Bulletin. Click here to read an article entitled "Reality, fiction clash in “Pearl Harbor’s script " that appeared in the Honolulu Advertisier.

Pearl Haror explosions video

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-04-17T18:42:38-04:00

Click here to view the Quicktime movie of the explosions that took place last week in Pearl harbor (1.4Mbs).

Pearl Harbor crash video

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-04-18T18:40:45-04:00

Many of you have e-mailed me requesting that I put on the video taken by an amateur photographer shown on ET (Entertainment Tonight) of the airplane crash. I have not seen the video and have no intentions of doing so. I will tell you the following without adopting a "holier-than-thou" attitude:

"The Michael Bay Site will not post footage or links to this video. Personally I do believe that it is ethically wrong to show the moments of someone else's agony and despair. "

Again, this is my personal choice and belief. I am not condemning anyone who has seen it or post it on their site. I am just giving you the reason why I won't.

*********

Regarding yesterday's plane accident in which, thank God, no one died, Bayfilms VP Jennifer Klein says Michael told her that the pilot suffered scrapes and a broken ring finger, not the broken wrist and face lacerations that have been reported by various websites and media organizations. The pilot is currently stationed at Tripler Army Medical Center in stable condition.

Hope it clears the air. Thanks to Nick Medrano at the Pearl Harbor site for the info.

Pearl Harbor article

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-04-23T18:39:42-04:00

The Honolulu Advertiser has an article mainly about Jerry Bruckheimer (co-producer) and snippets from Michael Bay. Click here to read it. Among Michael's quotes: "...I side with the survivors rather than the historians. Everyone has their own stories... And every historian has their own stories. What Iâm doing is taking the essence of the survivors, taking bits and pieces, and putting them into the movie."

Bad Boys, Bad Boys, whatcha gonna do?

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-04-24T18:37:12-04:00

I've been informed that there will be a Special Edition DVD for Michael Bay's first film "Bad Boys." It will be released on June 27, 2000. It will include the following special features:

Commentary by director Michael Bay
Theatrical trailer(s)
"Making the Boom & Bang in Bad Boys" Documentary
"Damage Control" featurette uses angles feature to analyze special effects explosions
Music Videos: "Shy Guy" by Diana King, "So Many Ways" by Warren G, "Five O Five O" by 69 Boyz
Isolated music score
Production notes
Widescreen anamorphic format

To preorder it for $17.97, CLICK here.

Some of you have asked me where you can get the Criterion Editions for "The Rock" and "Armageddon." Here is the info:

"The Rock"

The Criterion Edition for this 1986 Blockbuster is out of print. It was only printed on Laserdisc. It list for about US$125, but you can get it at Ken Cranes for about US$40 by calling toll free at (800) 624-3078. It has a lot of special features including: deleted scenes, Michael Bay' s commentary, Michael's "Got Milk?" commercial, etc. It comes on 3 discs. Will there be a DVD version? I highly doubted.

"Armageddon"

The Criterion Edition for 1998's Armageddon is available on DVD at amazon.com. The Laserdisc version is out of print. Collectors and movie buffs have gotten it for $100. But you can get it at the Laser Exchange for $85 (prices may vary). Call them at (978)774-1004 and ask for stock# CC1548l. There are only about 500 prints left.

Nike Alpha Project ads

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-04-27T18:34:21-04:00

Click here to view one of Michael's Nike Alpha Project commercials titled "Court Elves|Johnnny the Angry Android|Goat Boy."You must have Quicktime 4.0. Note: this is one of Michael's strangest commercials by far. It has that creepy "Fellini-esque" look and feel to it. I've always said it again and again: Michael can make pretty dark and edgy stuff. I just hope he directs the "Gory Details." Below is the list of the three commercials he made for the Alpha Project campaign.

"Court Elves|Johnnny the Angry Android|Goat Boy" (Propaganda Films 1999)

"Johnny the Angry Android" (Propaganda Films 1999)

"Snowdome" (Propaganda Films 1999)

Pearl Harbor casting

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-04-28T18:33:14-04:00

Interested in being an extra in Michael's "Pearl Harbor?" Click here to get the info.

Pearl Harbor filming in LA and casting news

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-05-02T18:32:11-04:00

Little tidbit of news today. For those of you living in the LA area, you might want to see Michael shooting a little bit of "Pearl Harbor" in LA on May 15 from 7pm-7am. Email me at nelson@michaelbay.com if you're interested in the address.

In casting news: Colm Feore (The Insider, Storm of the Century), Catherine Kellner (Six Degrees of Separation) and Jennifer Garner (Felicity) are the most recent additions to "Pearl Harbor."

Cinco de Mayo and Tony Cimo

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-05-05T18:31:07-04:00

For those of you of Mexican heritage, I would like to wish you a "Feliz Cinco de Mayo!"

For those of you living in Atlanta, WATL will broadcast this Saturday afternoon "Vengance: The Story of Tony Cimo." So what's the big deal? I've been bombarded with emails asking me if Michael acts in this movie as a sled agent. Go figure. The Internet Movie DataBase (IMDB) list him as part of the cast for this 1986 movie. I have official word that tells me that it is not the Michael Bay we know. Who the hell gave this info? Can anyone delete that info at the IMDB?

Anyway, if someone gets to record this, please send me a copy (email me at nelson@michaelbay.com if you want my mailing address). I wanna see who this sled agent is...

Pearl Harbor tidbit

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-05-08T18:29:50-04:00

Someone emailed me this tidbit that originally apprear in Dark Horizons.

"A little tit-bit report from some preliminary shooting on the Michael Bay directed Pearl Harbor here in Hawaii which wrapped up today. I witnessed one scene filmed, which was primarily a shot from above the ground (100 metres). However, located at each angle to the centre shot, were several cameras. A few words with some of the production staff, told me this was all to do with the DVD release. Apparently, viewers of the DVD, will be able to choose which camera angle they want to view. This won't be of just certain scenes, but of the whole movie.

This film will change the face of the way we view DVD, and will be the first major film to have 'proper' interaction with the viewer, almost allowing the audience to direct the film itself."

Bruckheimer site online

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-05-31T18:27:24-04:00

Jerry Bruckheimer (one of the producers of Pearl Harbor) has his web site up. Click here to go to www.jbfilms.com

Voight elected FDR in Disney 'Pearl Harbor'

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-06-02T18:26:50-04:00

Jon Voight is set to star as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Disney's megabudgeted World War II drama "Pearl Harbor" for filmmakers Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay... Having brought the United States out of the Depression, Roosevelt rallied the nation to support the war through his radio "fireside chats" and with his national speech the day after the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese sneak attack, which he described as a day that "will live in infamy."

Pearl Harbor teaser

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-06-19T18:26:17-04:00

I have received official word that there will be a teaser of "PEARL HARBOR" in the previews for the "THE PATRIOT." Both will premiere in the US on June 28. So keep your eyes open!

Pearl Harbor site

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-06-25T18:25:16-04:00

Nick Medrano at the Pearl Harbor Site (http://cinemenium.com/pearlharbor) has the site revamped. Pretty cool stuff which includes a flash teaser for "Pearl Harbor," and an interview with Randall Wallace.

Bad Boys Special Edition

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-06-27T18:23:36-04:00

The Special Edition for "Bad Boys" was released today. If you're interested in buying it click here.

When I spoke to Michael about the first DVD transfer for Bad Boys, he told me that Columbia-Tristar screwed up the transfer. He was right.

If you were ever to see the LaserDisc transfer of Bad Boys you will ask yourself who was doing the transfer at Columbia. My...the quality of the picture is horrible!

Now with this Special Edition release, the image looks waaaay better than the first DVD/LaserDisc release. It is a significant improvement.

Also, the most interesting thing about this release it Michael's commentary. It is very enlightening, and at times it can get very technical. But Michael keeps it interesting throughout the whole movie be it with technical info or some stories. By far this is my favorite commentary. He's the one doing all the talk unlike "The Rock" & "Armageddon."

Go buy it!

Pearl Harbor teaser

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-06-28T18:21:23-04:00

"December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy...we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again." --Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Pearl Harbor Speech, December 8, 1941.

I felt my blood rushing to my brain. I had goose pimples. I saw the Pearl Harbor teaser. God, this movie will be awesome. Go see the previews for "The Patriot."

Or see the Pearl Harbor teaser.

Pearl Harbor Teaser: Lo-Res (6.9Mbs, QuickTime)
Pearl Harbor Teaser: Hi-Res (13.7Mbs, QuickTime)
Pearl Habor Teaser: Hi-Res (20Mbs, Quicktime)
RealAudio (Streaming)

Affleck Talks 'Pearl'

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-07-08T18:18:38-04:00

Got this from the Cinescape Insider:

Ben Affleck is talking about Pearl Harbor and how it won't be like helmer Michael Bay's previous films. While talking to Popculprit, Affleck gave his take on the ongoing production, saying, "This is a serious film, and the stuff we shot in Hawaii is just visually amazing. It's not a mindless action thing."

Affleck adds, "The only thing that is fictionalized in the movie are some of the characters, who are amalgams of real people. Michael is humanizing the event, and it's richly evoking the time and feel. It's a serious film in all the ways that big, serious Hollywood movies have historically been, but only bigger, more sophisticated, more realistic·[Bay and producer Jerry Bruckheimer are] intent on not making this a mindless movie, which makes the whole thing almost more genuine than it otherwise would be. This is not a safe film for Michael, there is tremendous pressure for it to be as honest as possible.

A Flash of Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-07-10T18:17:53-04:00

You have to see this!! It is hilarious!!! I got this flash clip from macromedia.com. The clips is a cartoon spoof of the making of "Pearl Harbor." Michael Bay gets interviewed (NOTE: this is a spoof). You must have Flash installed to view this clip.

Click here to view it (700k).

"Oh man, those planes were roaring..."

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-07-15T18:16:50-04:00

"Oh man, those planes were roaring," said Rosalie Cook, a Westpark resident. "I asked myself, 'Is there a war going on?'" These were the words from a resident who saw some of the filming for Pearl Harbor. Click here to read the article.

'Pearl Harbor' crews begin transformation of Lex

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-07-24T18:15:53-04:00

"Director Michael Bay and his filming crew will come in from the Houston area, where they will film aboard the Battleship Texas, one of the few World War I vintage ships still left pretty much in tact..."

To read the complete article found in the Corpus Christi Caller, click here.

Pearl Harbor crew arrives in Corpus Christi

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-07-26T18:13:59-04:00

"Alec Baldwin and Ben Affleck, along with director Michael Bay, actor Josh Hartnett and the rest of the "Pearl Harbor" crew, are expected to arrive tonight and begin filming Thursday aboard the Lexington Museum on the Bay..." reads the Corpus Christi Caller. Click here to read the entire article.

Corpus Chrisit filming

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-07-30T18:13:09-04:00

Wanna read a good article about the filming going on in Corpus Christi? Click here.

Bay in 'Coyote Ugly'

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-08-05T18:12:31-04:00

You can catch a glimpse of Michael Bay in the movie "Coyote Ugly." He's the photographer in the bar.

Bay confronts loser

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-08-14T18:09:00-04:00

Michael and crew should be heading to England towards the end of August. The UK scenes of Pearl Harbor, are to be filmed at an airfield outside the city of Bath, in the south west of England, possible at the RAF airbase in Colerne, which is the nearest airfield according to sources.

I also picked up this humorous piece of info involving Michael from E!:

"Michael Bay, director of The Rock, Armageddon and the upcoming Pearl Harbor, attended the Mission to Mars premiere at the El Capitan in Hollywood recently. And I must tell you that one movie fan on the sidelines acted as abysmally as the performers do in this most painful of Brian DePalma outings (save Jerry O'Connell, perhaps). "Michael Bay sucks!" screamed a rude person behind the ropes. So, Michael darling charged over to the mouther-offer and confronted the jerk, who suddenly backed down and apologized. I declare, more stars should adopt Bay's butch ways."

Pearl Harbor flash teaser

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-08-21T18:07:32-04:00

Click here to view the Japanese Pearl Harbor flash teaser. From what I can read, it says it will premiere in Japan on July 14, 2001. Can anyone translate the text in the flash teaser? If so, please send me an email at nelson@michaelbay.com

Pearl Harbor: It's a wrap

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-09-20T18:06:39-04:00

The production is a wrap, after 90 days of shooting and an expenditure of $135 million. Says producer Jerry Bruckheimer: "It's coming in right on schedule and on budget."

Bruckheimer fan page

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-09-30T18:05:48-04:00

A cool fanpage dedicated to Jerry Bruckheimer is up. Go to www.bruckheimer.com and check it out. I even like it more than the official Bruckheimer page.

Bay Jumps on Kidnap Thriller

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-10-05T18:02:15-04:00

NEW YORK -- After completing photography on "Pearl Harbor," Michael Bay's Disney-based Bay Films has acquired an untitled thriller that Bay and Bay Films veep Jennifer Klein will develop, with hopes that Bay will direct.
The script by newcomer Stuart Alexander concerns the kidnapping of a high-powered attorney's wife; the ransom for her safe release is his suicide.

The project was bought on the basis of a 25-page outline. Alexander has finished the first draft, with the film being supervised by Disney Motion Picture Group president Nina Jacobson and exec veep Mark Vahradian.

That film could be the next one Bay directs -- another candidate is the dark comedy he's developing, "Gory Details" -- but he won't likely take another feature before the possible SAG strike next summer. His next directing job will be the pilot of "Quantico," a drama about the FBI Academy for Twentieth TV and FBC, which he's exec producing with Dario Scardapane, who wrote the script. Klein's producing as well.

Bay nearly made "Phone Booth," the Fox 2000 drama with a similar ticking-clock premise. Joel Schumacher is still trying to pull that together.

Though scripter Larry Cohen told this column that Bay disconnected because he wanted to move the drama from its single phone booth location, the director denied it. "Will (Smith) and I were ready to go, taking $500,000 each and backend, but we wanted Fox to put more money in the script to make the words better and the studio wouldn't. Every actor loved the idea, but if the words weren't there, that film wouldn't work."

That Bay is making new deals under his Mouse pact indicates that there has been some healing of the bruised feelings from when Disney rescinded a "Pearl Harbor" greenlight and didn't restore it until he and producer Jerry Bruckheimer waived their fees and cut other costs.

That duo agreed to work free until the pic covers its costs. "It was pretty discouraging at the beginning and became an emotional roller coaster," said Bay. "It was greenlit, then ungreenlit, then greenlit again, meaning I had to hire, fire, then rehire the whole crew. The whole film had a recipe for disaster, with so many locations. We worked with 60-year-old aircrafts, with hundreds of extras in the water around ships with explosives everywhere. But it was the best production experience I ever had, and we finished one day over schedule."

Bay said the studio allowed him $135 million with an extra $5 million cushion. "There are no hard feelings with the studio. I'm happy the movie got made. I would have been miserable if it hadn't." While Bay's best known for hardware-heavy hits like "Armageddon" and "The Rock," "Pearl Harbor" will broaden his range. "The thing I really like about the movie is it's shot with an old-fashioned feel, and women are responding to the love story," he said.

As Bay zeroes in on the next feature, one he's now dubious about is the Eric Roth-scripted Jon Peters-produced WB pic "Africa," about the exploits of Richard Leakey. Said Bay: "After tourists were hacked to death in Rwanda, my girlfriend said no way. I don't want to rush into another big movie right now. I'd just like to finish this one, do a few commercials, and the pilot." Alexander was repped by Carlos Goodman of Lichter, Grossman, Nichols & Adler.

Michael Bay Cameo

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-10-18T18:00:44-04:00

Got this from the UK site Popcorn. It's snippet from an extra that worked on the Uk set:

"...The biggest laugh was when Michael Bay appeared on-set dressed like us, complete with slicked-back hair. When the senior British AD asked me if I knew where the director was, I told him he'd just appeared on-set in a costume - much to the AD's surprise! Seems Mr Bay keeps these little Hitchcockian moments to himself. He sat himself next to Ben, thus insuring himself some screen time."

So keep your eyes opened, and maybe you'll catch a glimpse of Michael on "Pearl Harbor."

Pearl Harbor site

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-10-30T17:59:19-05:00

The Official Pearl Harbor site is online. Go check it out at www.pearlharbor.com

Pearl Harbor trailer feature in "Unbreakable"

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-11-17T17:57:42-05:00

Be on the lookout for the new "Pearl Harbor" trailer (not teaser) in the previews for Bruce Willis' "Unbreakable" which comes out on November 22, 2000. From what I hear, it is "amazing."

I will post the trailer online as soon as I get it.

Criterion's Beker defends "Armageddon"

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-11-21T17:56:12-05:00

In a conversation Salon had with the Criterion Collection's Peter Becker (the man who created the ultimate DVD versions of "Grand Illusion," "This Is Spinal Tap" -- and "Armageddon"), he defended Criterion's DVD issuing of "Armageddon" by saying the following:

"Specifically, with "Armageddon": You'd be silly to overlook blockbusters as a genre and leave them out of a film library. They drive so much. They drive tastes and shooting styles and visual references that appear all over the world in commercials and on TV as well as on movie screens. They're part of a huge cultural cross-pollination. And special effects are one of the most important aspects of a certain kind of contemporary filmmaking.

The opportunity we had to explore the effects in "Armageddon" was extraordinary. These guys dug a 400-foot hole in the middle of a Hollywood sound stage. It was a mammoth project and a great thing to be able to chronicle. One may choose to say, "What an enormous amount of money to spend on so frivolous an enterprise." But it occupies an important position on the spectrum of contemporary films.

Michael Bay, who made "Armageddon," is one of the most masterful directors of that kind. He's managed to develop a certain style and energy in shooting that is consonant with what people seem to be looking for in these huge blockbusters. He's an articulate exponent of what he is up to, and he is refreshingly candid. He's not going to sit there and try to convince you that his and Ingmar Bergman's intentions are one and the same. He's trying to make a wild ride and he's trying to show you how it's done.

While it may be that there are some who feel it's uncomfortable to see "Armageddon" on the shelf next to "Amarcord," they're both great discs for different reasons. I think there's an honorable place for "Armageddon" in our collection. It may help us bring in a whole new audience. If we climb too proudly to the top of the ivory tower where we screen only Fellini and Bergman, Godard and Truffaut, Kurosawa, Tarkovski and Pabst, we will find ourselves very soon preaching only to the choir."

Even people who hate "Armageddon" have to admit that one of the best things about your collection is that it's not stuffy. In addition to the high art, it's got some glitz, and it's got some cult items.

Pearl Harbor trailer description

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-11-22T17:55:09-05:00

Just came back from watching "Unbreakable." Excellent movie.

But, what I really went for was to see the new "Pearl Harbor" trailer. Let's go directly into the details. The openig shot is of two boys playing on what looks like a toy ariplane made of wood boxes and other stuff. It's about 3 minutes long. It has the same temp track (Journey to the Line), and some of the footage that was found in the teaser.There is some dialogue, but what is most impressive is FDR's voice over spoken by Jon Voight. What surprised me the most is that this film doesn't look like any of Michael's other movies.

But the the new shots are breathtaking. The one that made people in the cineplex say "WOW" was a tracking shot (from the rear) Michael set up to follow a bomb that is headed for one of the ships. I said "WOW" too. That's the money shot. It's the equivalent of the Chrysler building racing down towards the camera. It is awesome!!! There's also an underwater shot of dead sailors floating in the water with an American flag filled with holes and light beams flashing through. There are cool shots of the Japanese planes taking off the carriers. You have to see it.

As soon as I get the Quicktime files of the new trailer, I will notify you all through the mailing list. So sign up if you haven't!

When Worlds Collide

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-11-25T17:53:02-05:00

For those of you interested in the technical aspects of movie-making—especially photography—go and read this VERY informative interview I found in my old American Cinematographer magazines. It is by far one of the most interesting articles I've seen published about how Bay and Schwartzman work. It details the whole photography process in "Armageddon." This article is waist-deep in technical stuff.

When Worlds Collide.

Bruckheimer talk Bad Boys 2

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-11-27T17:51:36-05:00

In an interview Jerry Bruckhiemer had with Z.com he had this to say about "Pearl Harbor," and a possible sequel to "Bad Boys."

"We’re hoping for PG-13, but that’s going to come down to how Michael puts the movie together and what the rating board thinks of it. If it turns out that they decide it’s an R, what concessions he would have to make to make it a PG-13, that’s a creative decision we will have to make."

" 'Bad Boys' is the picture that we’ve been trying to come up with a story and screenplay that works...

Q: Is Michael Bay going to direct 'Bad Boys II?' We don’t know that yet. Once we have a script, we’ll show it to him and if he sparks to it, hopefully heâll direct it."

Pearl Harbor poster and other stuff

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-11-28T17:49:37-05:00

Tons of you have been asking why I don't have the new Pearl Harbor trailer. I've contacted movies.com ( a subsidary of Disney ), and one of the encoding studios Disney uses, and this is what they've said:

"...We do not yet have information on when the new trailer for "Pearl Harbor" will become available."

"I don't believe we've seen the trailer come through here yet. However, I'd expect it online soon."

So when I do have it, I will notify you guys and gals ASAP via the mailing list.

...

Here it is. The first "Pearl Harbor" Original Movie Poster. The poster measures 27 x 40 inches and printed on a very strong almost translucent paper. This new printing material is no doubt being used to enhance the effect of viewing the poster in a backlit theatre display frame.

They're limited. You can find one right now at ebay. Click here. Happy bidding!

I've also been told by movies.com (a subsidary of Disney) the following:

Thank you for contacting us. We do not yet have information on when the new trailer for "Pearl Harbor" will become available.

Disney at it again...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-11-29T17:48:22-05:00

I have some BAD news for you guys and gals. Apparently Disney won't be releasing the new "Pearl Harbor" trailer anytime soon. Nick Medrano at the PH site has been told by the mouse house that it won't be releasing the new trailer for another 2 - 3 weeks.

Honestly, Disney not releasing this trailer—like NOW—pisses me off a bit. They need all the promotion they can get for this movie. I understand if they don't want to hype it, but these trialers have gone well with audiences—especially this last one.

And again, if it *does* appear online anytime soon, I will notify you all on the mailing list.

Pearl Harbor trailer update

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-12-01T17:47:33-05:00

I have just receive official word that the new "Pearl Harbor" is currently being rescored for internet and television use. They do not have an exact date yet. And again, if it *does* appear online anytime soon, I will notify you all on the mailing list.

Pearl Harbor coincidence

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-12-04T17:45:56-05:00

Is this a coincidence? I was browsing through Barnesandnoble.com and came across this book: "Pearl Harbor, 1941" by Nancy Holder. It talks about 20-year-old Bekah Martin who completes her nurse's training in San Francisco, her aunt begs her not to return to her sheltered life on the Hawaiian Islands. Aunt Miriam insists that the Territory of Hawaii will look very different after all she's seen on the mainland. What her aunt does not realize is that Bekah had come to California not to seek adventure, but refuge from the tragic fire that had claimed the life of David MacLaughlin÷her fiance. Bekah now plans to return home and marry David's twin brother Ian, who shares David's last name but none of his independence.
On the journey home she encounters Scott DeAngelo, a brash New Yorker and naval ensign. Scott is pushy, opinionated, and overwhelming, and Bekah steels herself against the undeniable attraction that develops between them. That is, until the morning of December 7, when a surprise attack on American airships takes the island by storm, and Bekah is forced to choose between her sense of responsibility and her love for Scott...

Hmmm...is it me or does this sounds like Kate Beckinsdale's character in "Pearl Harbor?"

If you're interested in the book, click here.

Michael Bay eyeing King Arthur project?

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-12-05T17:43:34-05:00

Yes, you read right.

It seems that there is another film Michael might direct after "Pearl Harbor." (He's been mentioned as possibly directing "Africa," "The Gory Details," and another one that concerns the kidnapping of a high-powered attorney's wife; the ransom for her safe release is his suicide).

According to Variety columnist Michael Fleming, writer-producer David Franzoni, who concocted Gladiator, is working on bringing the story of King Arthur to the big screen again. An outline for the project was sold to Disney with word that the script is now being written by Franzoni. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is already attached to handle it with word that the film may be Michael Bay's next after Pearl Harbor.

Disney is attempting to keep a veil of secrecy around the project with word that the coming film will approach the familiar material in a "much different" way. The columnist reports that this new version of the story will be entrenched in reality looking at the politics of the era in a world where the Roman Empire has fallen. This Braveheart-like approach will favor gritty realism over the expected mystical stuff.

Bruckheimer talks Pearl Harbor

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-12-06T17:42:42-05:00

For those of you that haven't purchased the DVD for "Gone in 60 Seconds," go out and buy it!! It has lots of cool stuff on it, especially a conversation with producer Jerry Bruckheimer. In it he talks about what a producers does, they also show some behind the scenes of "Armageddon," and "The Rock." You get to see lots of shots of Michael at work during "The Rock" and "Armageddon." Jerry also talks about "Pearl Harbor." He goes on to say that "you haven't seen a movie like "Pearl Harbor" in the past 40-45 years...it's a classic." He also mentions that "Pearl Harbor" reminds him of David Lean's movies, and that Michael is "up there" on par with David Lean.

Poster

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-12-08T17:42:19-05:00

Keep your eyes open. I will be giving away a free "Pearl Harbor" poster. Keep checking back for details.

Pearl Harbor trailer info

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-12-15T17:40:51-05:00

I will post instructions on Saturday (pm) on how you can win an official Pearl Harbor poster. It's been a long and tired week, so forgive me for not puting up the instructions on Wednesday.
Ok...you've been asking for the trailer. This damn trailer has been out on the theaters for the past 3 weeks. Where in the online hell is it? Well, I have some bad news...again.

As many of you know, on 12.01.00 I mentioned that I received official word that the trailer new full trailer for Pearl Harbor was being rescored for the internet and TV, and that at the moment they DO NOT have a date. As of now, Michael is busy editing, trying to make some free time for the holidays (that's if he has any). I do not know if there will be a new trailer attached to any prints that are scheduled for the Xmas weekend.

Nick at cinemenium.com sent me the following:

"I recently spoke with Disney and asked what the delay was on their trailer for Pearl Harbor. I was told that they will not release the new trailer until........................mid January. The reason is because of various 'other commitments' elsewhere that needs to be taken care of. Whatever that means I don't know, but they sure know how to piss of a very dedicated and excited fan community."

I fell the pain brother. So there you have it.

My guess that the Mouse House is either revving up an enormous advertising campaign or it screwing up, or being lazy (which I highly doubt, they have to much $$$ riding on this movie).

As someone said on the message board "I don't understand why we are still waiting [for the new trailer]. This is possibly the most wanted trailer in the world right now."

Poster Contest

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-12-22T17:39:28-05:00

Well, the official "Pearl Harbor" site is up and running. Go and check it out. It mentions the "new" trailer will be out around mid January.

Ok, the reasons why I haven't posted any details about the poster is because I was sick. So here we go.

In order to win this poster, you will have to answer a question. The answer is somewhere in this site. You've got to scour this site. Once you think you've got the CORRECT answer, you will have to e-mail me the answer no earlier than JANUARY 5, 2001 12am Eastern Standard Time (in other words, New York time or -5 GMT). Any submission BEFORE the date posted in this paragraph will be invalid and discarded. The FIRST person to send the email with the correct answer wins the poster. The winner's name will be posted on this site. The winner's name and correct answer will be posted on michaelbay.com on January 8, 2000.

Here is the question:

"How old was Michael Bay when he met John Schwartzman (his DP)?"

Please send your answer along with your name and mailing address to poster giveaway@michaelbay.com
no earlier than JANUARY 5, 2001 12am Eastern Standard Time (-5 GMT).

Contest update

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2000-12-23T17:38:30-05:00

Due to reasons that people are away for the holidays, the date for receiving the correct question for the poster giveaway has been pushed back to January 5, 2001 12am Eastern Standard Time (-5 GMT). In other words, I will not accept answers before January 5, 2001. (I have already received answers which will be discarded).

Happy New Year

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-01-01T17:37:54-05:00

Doesn't 01-01-01 look cool? Happy New Year to all you guys & gals.

No major updates today. I'm just writing this little email to tell you that this Pearl Harbor poster giveaway is open to everyone ( US residents and international ). So, as long as you have a name and an address, you qualify!

Good stuff

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-01-03T17:36:02-05:00

Got a lot of good stuff today...

1.- Here is an article I picked up from the US Navy's web site. It's about the filming of Pearl Harbor on the USS Constellation. They speak with some of the crew and there are some pictures of Michael, Alec Baldwin, and Ben Affleck.

2.- Click here to see some pictures from the set and aboard the USS Constellation.

Poster contest

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-01-04T17:34:59-05:00

Just a little reminder that the first correct answer received on midnight (12am) January 5, 2001 will win the official Pearl harbor poster. the question:

"How old was Michael Bay when he met John Schwartzman (his DP)?"

Please send your correct answer along with your name and mailing address to postergiveaway@michaelbay.com
no earlier than JANUARY 5, 2001 12am Eastern Standard Time (-5 GMT).

Pearl Harbor poster giveaway winner

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-01-05T17:33:02-05:00

The correct answer for the Pearl Harbor poster giveaway was:

12 years old. Michael was 12 when he first met his future DP John Schwartzman. The answer was found in a Real Audio file that contained an interview with Schwartzman. You can find it under "Articles/Audio interviews/"Reflections on Michael Bay." You can click HERE to hear the answer.

A lot of you nailed down the correct answer at midnight. So it came down to tenths of a second (to see where you came in, click here). And the winner is:

Jessie Heng-Ho
from Richmond, BC, Canada

Congratulations.

I will be giving away more stuff in the near future, so stay tuned.

Super Bowl

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-01-17T17:30:25-05:00

According to USA TODAY, somewhere right around the SUPER BOWL will be a big PEARL HARBOR trailer... which won't be playing during the game per se... but either during Half Time or in the Post-Game section!

Pearl Harbor Premiere

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-01-21T17:28:19-05:00

The world premiere will be held at an outdoor theater on Pearl Harbor's Ford Island on May 21. Rear Adm. John Costas, acting Pacific Fleet deputy commander, says the Navy wants to invite former president George Bush to the premiere. Bush was a naval aviator who was shot down by the Japanese in WWII and rescued by a U.S. submarine. The film was shot at Pearl Harbor, Schofield Barracks, and other Oahu military installations with assistance from the Pentagon. Dept. of Defense approval is needed for the premiere to be held on Ford Island. (Variety)

New site design

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-02-01T17:27:39-05:00

As you can tell, we have a new design. You might ask: why such a simple (or plain design)? Well, we're going back to the basics. A minimalistic design with elegance, and a little of abstract.

For now, only the news section will be up.

Bay in uniform

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-02-02T17:24:03-05:00

Here is a michaelbay.com exclusive.

One of our readers and an extra in "Pearl Harbor" sent us this picture of Michael in uniform. Thanks to Anthony (you can see his site by clicking here.

Click on the thumbnail above to see a higher res image.

Birthday form

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-02-04T17:22:59-05:00

The site

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-02-05T17:22:11-05:00

January was an amazing month for michaelbay.com. This site went from 10 hits a day, to 100, to 250, and last month to 321,511 hits.

You know? I still remember the first visitor that posted in the guest book way back in fall of 1998. His name is Steve Muhr. So buddy, if you're out there, drop me a line.

I would like to thank all of you for making this site worthwhile maintaining.

Stuff

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-02-06T17:17:03-05:00

Do I have a treat for you all (no, it's not the NEW Pearl Harbor trailer). You can go to the multimedia section and see 4 music videos that were directed by Michael.

Also, this site is mentioned in an article by the Uk's 6degrees Film site. Click here to read the article. The article is entitled "Who Is Michael Bay." Apparently, the writer has some issues with Bay's editing style.

You can also read this important article where Michael Bay anounces he is forming his own as-yet-unnamed commercial production house. Click here to read the article.

Pearl Harbor Poster Collage

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-02-08T17:15:31-05:00

Seems that Disney has three posters planned for "Pearl Harbor" which are all linked together and here's a good quality shot of the first two. Check it out.

Pearl Harbor production rumors

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-02-09T17:14:36-05:00

There have been rumors that the production of Pearl Harbor is going to be delayed for numerous problems (lawsuits, historical innacuracies, etc). I am writing this update to clear up all this crap (I hardly respond to rumors). Some people...

That is NOT TRUE. These rumors are 100% BS. Disney, BayFilms, and Bruckiemer Films are all right on schedule. There are no lawsuits of any kind, and the historical aspect of the movie has been praised from the military to historians. That's the OFFICIAL word.

Having said that, the Criterion Edition of THE ROCK will be released on March 13, 2001. You can go here to pre-order it.

Birthday reminder

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-02-13T17:12:57-05:00

Just a little reminder that today is the last day to send Michael Bay a birthday e-mail. You have until midnight tonight to submit them. Click on the link above to fill out the form.

Pearl Harbor stuff/ Michael prepping for cameo

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-02-14T17:08:43-05:00

There are a couple news items today. The first being that Access Hollywood will be showing the NEW Pearl Harbor trailer on February 15, 2001. Check your local listings.

Here is another michaelbay.com exclusive (thanks to the "Ant" in the UK. You can see his site here ). This a story about the filming at Badmiton House.

One of the non-speaking stars of the UK filming was a small yappy dog. I guess he was the squadron mascot (we're not going to scare the enemy with that). One if the scenes had the dog being patted by Rafe (Ben Affleck) in one of those cheesy American movie clichés to show that the lead is a loveable rogue. Needless to say that yappy dogs aren't good at acting and there were a number of takes on that shot.

The next appearance by the dog was a scene in front of RAF Oakely (a.k.a. Badminton House) whereby the pilots sprint out towards their planes ready to engage the enemy. Set up to the right of the main door was the camera set to film the dog playing happily with a ball just as the pilots explode out of the door in clouds of dust, legs thrashing. So the scene was set, everyone was asked to be quiet (it was the last day and we were restless). The ball was put in front of the dog and it rocketed off with it, like a thing possessed. One of the assistant directors ran off after it obviously enjoying the play.

A few shots later and the dog was still happily running around with the ball. This time the pilots managed to get out of the door running. It was like watching fireworks explode as the dog ran towards them and the pilots jumped this way and that to avoid it. A few people stumbled. Everyone had to go back to first places for another take, and still the dog was running around with it's ball.

Just as they were setting up for another take the dog found itself running around the legs of the assistant director. Its nose was pushing tracks in the gravel as it nudged the ball around in circles and knocked against the AD. And over he went, crashing on the floor. He got up, dusted himself off and said, "That's going on MichaelBay.com!". The crew laughed. The extras laughed, however, I think it was more to do with the guy being an American and falling smack on his butt.

Anyway, here is a picture of Michael getting his hair done for his cameo in "Pearl Harbor."

Trailer update

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-02-15T17:07:59-05:00

The full Pearl Harbor trialer will be available on michaelbay.com (courtesy of Yahoo.com). Check back around 8:30pm tonight (-5 GMT).

Pearl Harbor trailer

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-02-16T17:07:20-05:00

You can download the new PEARL HARBOR trailer by clicking on the following link.

Pear Harbor Trailer 02-2001 (17Mbs)

Happy birthday

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-02-17T17:06:11-05:00

Hey Michael, Happy 36th Birthday!!

Pearl Harbor posters & score update

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-02-22T17:04:25-05:00

You can take a look at 3 Pearl Harbor posters by clicking here.

Hans Zimmer is still working on the score for the fast approaching Pearl Harbor. While talking to Hollywood Reporter columnist, Martin Grove, Zimmer revealed, "All I can tell you is right now as I'm sitting here is I've been sitting here for three days trying to write a great theme. I think all of that should be in capital letters -- A GREAT THEME. That's what you do at the beginning of these projects. You sit there and you try to write The Great Theme. It's very elusive. It tortures me and it tortures everybody around me. People don't even go near this room while I'm writing The Theme. And I haven't found it yet, so of course I'm in a complete panic, just like always. I always go through this stage."

When asked how much time he has for the theme, Zimmer replies, "I don't have any time. I don't know. I on purpose haven't looked at the calendar because that would be too terrifying. It's bad enough trying to write The Theme. It's even worse to try to have reality creep into this process. Reality is definitely the enemy in this case."

Regarding the difference between working with Ridley Scott and Michael Bay, the composer says, "I'm just about to find out. I think right now he's using the Ridley and Tony methods -- maybe they have conferred -- to leave me completely alone for a while and see what I come up with. We'll find out. I don't think I'll come up with something that will completely displease him. I think I know roughly where we want to go with this material." (Cinescape)

The Rock Criterion DVD

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-02-27T17:01:48-05:00

It seems that The Rock Criterion Collection's MSRP has been raised from $39.99 to $49.99. I don't think the online store has implemented this new price.... so, if you're planning on getting this title you better hurry up!

You can get it at Amazon.com at $27.99 by clicking here.

Pearl Harbor set photos

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-03-02T16:58:33-05:00

I have some exclusive pictures of Michael working on the set of Pearl Harbor. Please do not post them on your site without my permission. Click to view the pictures.

Pearl Harbor posters

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-03-08T16:57:27-05:00

Bummer...bring out your wallets. There are 2 new posters for Pearl Harbor. Click below to view these INTERNATIONAL versions.

Also...the above left poster is featured in a huge mural in Westwood, Ca. It popped up last week on the side of the Westwood Medical Building which has become a somewhat small debate. Click here to read the article.

The Rock DVD contest

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-03-13T16:56:22-05:00

I will be giving away a free copy of the 2-DVD set of the Criterion Edition of The Rock.

The contest will consist in sending an e-mail on why The Rock is your favorite action film.

I will then choose which is the best submission. And the winner will then receive his/her DVD.

Please send your submission to:

nelson@michaelbay.com

The contest is open to all (international and US residents). All submissions should be received no later than March 20 (12am EST, -5 GMT).

Criterion Edition DVD of The Rock

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-03-14T16:55:33-05:00

The response for the free Criterion Edition DVD of The Rock has been overwhelming. I gotta tell you, some of you have sent awesome submissions on why "The Rock" is your favorite film. It's gonna be harding choosing the winner...so keep on sending them.

Little something...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-03-15T16:54:40-05:00

For today's update, I have a little fact that strengthens my idea that Pearl Harbor will be awesome film.

For the film, Michael Bay was allowed to film underwater at the Arizona memorial. To date, no other feature film has been permitted to do so.

Pearl Harbor TV spot

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-03-19T16:53:37-05:00

You can see the new "Pearl Harbor" tv spot by clicking below. The clip was encoded courtesy of Nick Medrano and the Allmedia Studios team.

Pearl Harbor Tv Spot (20Mbs Quicktime)

"The Rock" Criterion DVD contest winner

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-03-21T16:52:29-05:00

Well, it was a tough one selecting the winner. After reading all the submissions (some of them about 3 pages long), I have finally selected a winner (BTW, if you don't like my decision, please don't be e-mailing me and asking me why your submission didn't win. There will always be a next time).

And the winner of the free Criterion Edition of The Rock is... James Cocherell.

So James, please e-mail me at nelson@michaelbay.com to claim your prize along with you mailing address.

German Pearl Harbor trailer

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-03-27T16:51:07-05:00

Someone has pointed me out to the German Pearl Harbor site ( click here ). And in their site they have the 2nd trailer posted in hi-res Quicktime. The trailer also shows new footage. Note: the narration and dialogue is in German.

You can view the hi-res Quicktime versions for the 2nd trailer by clicking on the links below.

German Version 640 x 480 (33mbs Quicktime)

German Version 320 x 136 (10mbs Quicktime)

German Version 200 x 85 (4mbs Quicktime)

Pearl Harobr set photo

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-04-03T16:49:35-04:00

Just a small upate today. Below is a picture of Michael directing on an aircraft carrier. Click on the thumbnail to view the larger picture.

The Poseidon Adventure & Marlon Brando rumors

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-04-04T16:47:04-04:00

Question: Is there any truth that Michael Bay will do his version of Paul Gallico's The Poseidon Adventure?

Answer: No.

Corona's Coming Attractions reported that Michael Bay is attached to this project. The report is untrue.

Question: Is there any truth that there is a secret 3rd disk on every on 1 of 300 copies of the Criterion Edition of The Rock?

Answer: No.

Here is Corona's response to this whole mess.

Tuesday, April 3, 2001... Stolen scoops with no credit and no credibility -- and just when you though there was some degree of common sense and courtesy on the internet, something happens that raises some questions.

Yesterday a scoop went up on Ananova announcing that Marlon Brando would play a part in the forthcoming Jerry Bruckheimer / Michael Bay film Pearl Harbor as officer Noel Kilty. Here is the full story, with no sources or credit given. But that's okay, because we know exactly where it came from. It was part of an scoop ran on the April 1st edition of Test Pattern about a suspicious sounding third disc found in copies of Criterion's The Rock DVD. We made it up, as part of the April Fools tradition here at Corona. Now, not only did the folks at Ananova take this scoop, post it as fact, not credit it or explain the details of how the information came out, but they almost created a widespread rumor based on a joke. And without that credit, or a link to show folks where the story came from, who is going to know it's a joke? This, in fact, is what almost happened.

We got e-mail from our friends at C.H.U.D., who were doing their best to find some confirmation one way or the other on this story before they ran it. Now the folks at C.H.U.D. are not the fools, and had they known that the story originated on the April 1st edition of Test Pattern they would have chuckled and moved on without a doubt. But when another website runs just a small part of the same story, it begins to look like two different sources of the same information, and maybe that means there is some truth to it. Well, I'm here to say there is absolutely no truth to the Marlon Brando joke at all. Will there be a character named officer Noel Kilty in Pearl Harbor? Rearrange the letters of the name itself and you'll get your answer.

Not Likely eh?

THR Pearl Harbor article

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-04-08T16:42:09-04:00

Nelson here...

Ok, I've been away for a while visiting family in Montreal.

Here's a very interesting article I found in the Hollywood Reporter. It's one of Michael's first interviews since finishing his final edit of Pearl Harbor.

This interview will air Monday, May 28 on the AMC channel.

'Pearl' should give explosive start to summer B.O.

WSJ article

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-04-09T16:40:44-04:00

Just a snippet from the Wall Street Journal's interview with Michael Bay:

"According to the Wall Street Journal, and as previously reported, Joe Roth split from Disney leaving Peter Schneider to take his place. In the early development of the film, when the budget was being estimated at over $200M, Schneider suggested that Bay be given his leave in favor of a director who could craft the film on a smaller budget. Word has it that Jerry Bruckheimer threatened to walk if Bay was axed, thus ending that.

In addition, in order to save on money, Disney wanted Bay to scuttle the Doolittle raid on Japan at the film's finale. This and the studio's demand that the helmer bring in the picture with a PG-13 rating rather than an R threatened to capsize the project with word that Bay was contemplating walking. Bay eventually won on the Doolittle front, but the film will be PG-13.

Still, though Bay got Doolittle, the studio demanded and got a studio executive on the set whose daily task was to watch the film's budget, which would seem to be stepping on the toes of Bruckheimer's responsibilities. (Cinescape)

Pearl Harobr wallpaper

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-04-10T16:39:40-04:00

Here is one cool wallpaper from the Pearl Harbor movie. Click below to download the zip.

Autographed poster by Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-04-15T16:38:31-04:00

Heads up! The above international poster is hard to get. The above poster signed by Michael Bay is a hairline away from being imposible to get.

Michaelbay.com will be auctioning this international poster (and others) signed by Michael himself.

Keep your eyes open and check back for more details.

Updates

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-04-20T16:27:28-04:00

Ok, we have a few updates today.

You can read the May 2001 MovieLine Magazine interview with Michael Bay by clicking here. Very good article (thanks AA for transcribing it).

We finally have a ad-free site. Now we have a new message board. And it too is free of ads, pop-ups, and annoying animated banners. To use this message board, you will have to register. It's free. Click here to go to the new message board.

Michaelbay.com will be auctioning this international poster (and others) signed by Michael himself. In order to to bid on this poster, you will have to do the following:

1.- Be a registered user on the ezBoards system ( click here to register ). Without this registration you won't be able to post any messages.

2.- Register with Michaelbay.com in order to obtain the password that will let you access the "Auction" board ( click here to register ). Without this registration you won't be able to participate in the auction.

3.- You have to be a resident of the US or Canada.

Japanese Pearl Harbor poster

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-04-21T16:26:10-04:00

Some of you have been asking me about the Japanese poster for Pearl Harbor. It's hard to get. But you can see it below.

Message boards notice

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-04-24T16:24:08-04:00

Today, April 24th, from 9:00 AM PST to 6:00 PM PST, the message board hosting provider is moving to a much faster bandwidth provider. During this time the Michael Bay Message Board will be unavailable. Following the move of the message board we will experience a dramatic increase in speed.

Pearl Harbor Score snippets

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-04-25T16:20:36-04:00

You can listen to snippets of the Pearl Harbor score by clicking on the following links (You must have Flash player installed, you will get a black screen once you click the link, but the music will be playing so be sure to turn up your speakers). The music is breath-taking.

Track 01

Track 02

Track 03

***********

Ok, we're down to the wire. Pearl Harbor is less than a month away, and all the goodies are beginning to come in. Pearl Harbor : The Movie and the Moment is now available in book stores. I gotta tell you, its a wonderful book! Lots of cool pictures, and very insightful. Click here to buy it at amazon.com.

Also, my Swiss connection (Vincent Nicolas) has made these Pearl Harbor collages that you guys can use as wallpapers. They truly rock! The zips contains 800 & 1024 resolutions.

Download wallpaper zip (777kb)

Download wallpaper zip (1.7mbs)

Download blue wallpaper version zip (133kb)

24 days away

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-01T16:19:46-04:00

We're 24 days away from Pearl Harbor hitting your local cine/megaplex, and as some of you know, Faith Hill will sing the film's love song, "There You'll Be." We now have a list of the tracks for the Pearl Harbor soundtrack. CD Cover Art is similiar to the version "B" poster. Due for release by Warner Brothers Records and Hollywood Records on 5/22

1. "There You'll Be" (Faith Hill)
2. Tennessee
3. Brothers
4. ...And Then I Kissed Him
5. I Will Come Back
6. Attack
7. December 7th
8. War
9. Heart Of A Volunteer

-Score Composed by Hans Zimmer.
-Score Produced by Hans Zimmer and Bob Badami.
-Song Produced by Trevor Horn, Byron Gallimore, and Faith Hill.

Pearl harbor tidbits

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-03T16:18:31-04:00

Interested in seeing how Pearl Harbor is being marketed in Japan? Click here to view the Japanese Quicktime trailer (5.6Mbs).

...

"Pearl Harbor" promises guys all the action a war movie can pack into two hours and still include a love story for girls. The battle takes 40 minutes, about twice the screen time as the epic beach storming in Saving Private Ryan.''

The above quote is from an article entitled "Hollywood Sets Summer of Sequels And Big Bang Films." Click here to read it.

Pearl Harbor TV Spot

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-04T16:17:46-04:00

You can watch one of the new TV Spots for Pearl Harbor (courtesy of the guys at pearlharborfilm.com).

Click here to view it (Mpeg format).

Faith Hill Films Major Video for Pearl Harbor Tune

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-05T16:15:52-04:00

It seems Michael will be directing the music video for "Pearl Harbor."

Got this from countrystars.com (what was i doing around here you may ask? Someone gave me the heads up. No really.) Some of the facts may be wrong on this article, but you get the picture.

FAITH HILL FILMS MAJOR VIDEO FOR PEARL HARBOR TUNE

Touchstone Films flew Faith Hill to an undisclosed location outside of Dallas, TX where yesterday she began filming the video for "There You'll Be," the first single from the "Pearl Harbor" movie soundtrack album (CD due out June 16.) The video is being directed by none other than "Pearl Harbor" film director, Michael Bay. The Diane Warren-penned song will presumably be released to multiple radio formats May 22, the week before the Memorial Day weekend national release of the predicted blockbuster movie. Faith's only stipulation to filming the video this week, was that it had to wrap today so that she can return home to Nashville Saturday for daughter Gracie's 5th birthday.

Newsweek: The Road to Pearl Harbor

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-06T16:11:27-04:00

You can read this Newsweek article entitled "The Road to Pearl Harbor" by clicking here.

Faith Hill's new Pearl Harbor song

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-10T16:10:08-04:00

Got the following from PearlHarborfilm.com:

"Some fans are claiming that the Pearl Harbor love song, sang by Faith Hill, has been released in the Los Angeles radio station, KIIS FM. Furthurmore, it has been reported that the song has "made the entire radio studio cry" after listening. Other reports are that the song is "extremely moving and emotional". Also, you can catch the Michael Bay directed Faith Hill video a week from this Sunday on MTV!!"

Also, you can view the 3rd TV spot by clicking here (Thanks to the AICN crew).

Pearl Harbor soundtrack

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-10T16:02:43-04:00

You can read the lyrics for Faith Hill's song for Pearl Harbor "There You'll Be" by clicking here.

You can listen to a 1:20min mp3 of the song by clicking below.

There You'll Be (1.3Mbs Mp3)

SF Chronicle article

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-13T16:01:21-04:00

You can read an interview with Michael that appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle. Click here to read it.

Bay chat on Yahoo.com

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-17T15:58:50-04:00

I asked Michael about the falling bomb shot (whether it was all CGI or a composite, and man, are we in for a ride), and this is what he had to say:

Michael: Let me say that we have about 30 of those shots. There is stuff no one has seen on any trailer or any commercial. That shot...it's great, but we have ones that are much better. And yes, it was shot from a helicopter at different altitudes We melded the film together, and those were digital battleships.

...

Chat for a special video interview and live chat with Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay. Watch the live webcast from the deck of the USS Stennis and then stick around as Jerry and Michael answer your questions about this summer's biggest blockbuster!

Click here to access the chat!

...

The press junket for "Pearl Harbor" took place in Honolulu over the weekend, with the cast and crew, including Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Kate Beckinsdale, Jon Voight, Michael Bay, and Jerry Bruckheimer in attendance, to talk about next week's release of the anticipated "Pearl Harbor" film. These audio clips are in MP3 format.

Ben Affleck on Filming 'Pearl Harbor'
Ben Affleck on Doing His Stunt Work
Alec Baldwin on the Importance of 'Pearl Harbor' Today
Josh Hartnett on the Scale of the Movie
Kate Beckinsdale on Michael Bay
Jon Voight on the Film's Accuracy
Director Michael Bay on the Honor of Making 'Pearl Harbor'
Jerry Bruckhemier on the Reality of Pearl Harbor
Jerry Bruckheimer on the Survivors of Pearl Harbor

(Courtesy of Cinecon.com)

...

Here is a THE high resolution trailer from Pearl Harbor. This is the 2nd trailer without the Zimmer music.

Pearl Harbor 2nd Trailer

Will Michael Bay direct "Red Dragon?"

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-18T15:57:38-04:00

Well... there are some rumors going around that Michael might direct "Red Dragon," which is the third installment to the Hannibal Lecter trilogy.

Turns out that indeed Michael Bay has taken a meeting and read the script for Ted Tally's RED DRAGON. However, no negotiations are going on between Dino DeLaurentis and Michael because as of yet, Michael has not decided if he wants to do this film. Michael has GORY DETAILS and that King Arthur project on his plate at the moment, and might want to do those first, which would mean passing on RED DRAGON... but as of yet he hasn't decided. (Courtesy of AICN)

'Pearl Harbor' Hits Home for Navy Sailors

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-20T15:56:45-04:00

HONOLULU (Reuters) - It may be only a movie, but for sailors in the modern-day U.S. Navy at a preview screening late on Thursday, "Pearl Harbor'' really hit home. "Those were our shipmates who died,'' said Draftsman Second Class Robert Smith, after gently patting his crisp white uniform just over his heart.

You can read the complete article by clicking here.

LA Times article & tons of stuff

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-21T15:52:04-04:00

You have to read this article. I must say it is one of the best articles I've ever read about Michael. It appeared in the Sunday edition of the LA Times.

Marshaling All of His Forces.

There are also two articles that appeared in the Orange County Register. You can read the articles by clicking below.

Fighting the good fight

Love story with a battle plan

...

You can view some pictures of Michael & the cast of "Pearl Harbor" aboard the USS Stennis by clicking here.

...

You can catch Michael's new music video for "Pearl Harbor" featuring faith Hill:

VH1
Show: Video Premiere
Date: Tuesday - May 22, 2001 Time: 07:00 pm - 07:05 pm ET

MTV
Show: Total Request Live (TRL)
Date: Thursday - May 24, 2001 Time: 04:00 pm - 05:00 pm ET CMT

I don't have a specific time for the CMT debut, but CMT has been debuting all of its major new videos during Request Line, so I suspect it will debut on Tuesday's show. Request Line is on at 8:00 pm ET.

...

You can also read an article featured in Yahoo.com:

'Pearl Harbor' May Be Big in Japan

...

You can view clips containing interviews with Michael Bay, Jerry Bruckheimer and others by clicking on the following links (thanks to Kevin Hicks for the heads-up on that real cool footage):

Pearl Harbor: Back to Pearl Harbor (quicktime)

Pearl Harbor: The Event

...

Click here to view a "behind the scenes" for the music video for Pearl Harbor directed by Michael Bay.

NYTimes article and lots of stuff

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-22T15:44:25-04:00

Here is another personal & introspective article about Michael Bay. This article featured in the NY Times is the 10th in a series of discussions with noted directors, actors, screenwriters, cinematographers and others in the film industry.

Watching Movies With Michael Bay.

...

The Pearl Harbor Soundtrack is out. Gotta tell you, tracks "December 7th" & "War" are very amazing, and they are my favorites. Buy it amazon by clicking the picture above.

...

I've added more premeire pictures. Click here to view them.

...

Read an article about the premiere done by the Hollywood Reporter here.

Read about the events that took place at the Pearl Harbor premiere.

Pearl Harbor Survivors Steal Show at Film Premiere

'Pearl Harbor' Unites Stars, History

View some pictures of Michael at the premiere by clicking here (including one with his girlfriend Lisa Dergan ).

...

View some exclusive clips (courtesy of ABC) of Pearl Harbor. In them you can catch a scene with Ben Affleck and Alec Baldwin (you can also see Michael's dog Mason on a couple of shots).

Doolittle & Rafe ( Hi | Low | RealAudio)

...

Download some cool Japanese "Pearl Harbor" wallpapers like the one below.

Josh Hartnett ( 800x600 | 1024x768 )

Ben Affleck ( 800x600 | 1024x768 )

Kate Beckinsale ( 800x600 | 1024x768 )

Ben & Kate ( 800x600 | 1024x768 )

Panoramic ( 800x600 | 1024x768 )

"There You'll Be"

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-23T15:38:50-04:00

Watch Michael Bay's new music video featuring Faith Hill by clicking here.
...

Click below to see the coverage for the Pearl Harbor premiere.

WMP [ Hi | Med | Lo ]

QuickTime [ Hi | Med | Lo ]

RealAudio [ Hi | Med | Lo ]

...

Click below to see the "Making of Pearl Harbor."

WMP [ Hi | Med | Lo ]

QuickTime [ Hi | Med | Lo ]

RealAudio [ Hi | Med | Lo ]

...

Read the article from the May 2001 issue of Premeire.

In Love And War

DH interviews Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-24T15:36:45-04:00

For now, enjoy the Michael Bay experience.

05.24.01
Garth Franklin had a small interview with Michael at the premeire of Pearl Harbor. In it he speaks about studio interference, tales from survivors, what was cut & added to the final version, how he prepared for the job, and those pesky "Phone Booth" and "Red Dragon" stories. Click below to read the interview.

Director Michael Bay Talks "Pearl Harbor" By Garth Franklin.

...

Click here to read a spoiler-free review of "Pearl Harbor" by Nate. A very good and objective.

Memorial Day

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-25T08:35:02-04:00

“As we hit the lakes, rivers and backyard spas this weekend, don't forget to remember those, their families, who fought and died to give us the freedom we enjoy.

Take a minute to drop a line to a friend, family member, or acquaintance who has chosen to defend our nation at home and abroad. Pick up a tab, send over a round of drinks, or just go a few steps out of your way to shake the hand of a serviceman in uniform. It will make your weekend more enjoyable.

Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.”

-Troy W. Vincent
American

...

It's finally here. I've been waiting for this film since the summer of 1999. Pearl Harbor opens today nationwide.

I will post my initial reaction tonight. I will post a small review tomorrow.

Pearl Harbor

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-26T15:31:14-04:00

A Michael Bay film.

Those words have a entire new meaning. Click below to see what I thought of Pearl Harbor.

My Thoughts on 'Pearl Harbor.'

Bay in Europe

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-28T15:30:47-04:00

Michael will be in Europe this week. He will be attending press conferences and promoting "Pearl Harbor."

So Bay fans in Europe, don't blink. Anyone sees anything (pictures or articles) or records something on TV, email me at nelson@michaelbay.com.

Pearl Harbor opening weekend

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-29T15:29:44-04:00

According to ShowbizData, Pearl Harbor raked in $75 Million in it's 4-day opening. That's the highest opening for a Michael Bay Film.

Rolling Stone article

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-05-31T15:28:39-04:00

Want to read a good article on Michael Bay. Want to know what he did with his bar-mitzvah money? Or the only two traumas stick out in his mind? Or at what age he lost his virginity? Click below to read the article featured in Rollingstone.com.

Taking some time off

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-06-10T15:27:30-04:00

Nelson here..

I will be taking some time off in Canada. So I won't be updating michaelbay.com often for the next couple of weeks. If anything happens, I will post it on the message board.

Pearl Harbor Tokyo Premiere

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-06-21T15:25:31-04:00

Nelson here...

Ok, I'm back from vacation. Montreal was good.

Below you can see pictures of Michael at the Pearl Harbor premiere at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. Click on the pic below to see the gallery.

Little update

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-07-16T21:23:44-04:00

Nelson here....

Hi guys & gals. Sorry for the lack of updates, but I've been busy this summer.

I'll start off with the Japan's reaction of Pearl Harbor. Although I've received a couple of FUs in Japanese, the majority of people have liked it.

-Read this article of Japan's reaction here. (Thanks to Adam Lloyd for the heads-up)

-I'm almost done transcribing a lengthy article that appeared in July's Esquire Magazine. It interviews Michael, and tells a lot of good stuff. I'll post it as soon as I'm done.

Kent Jones article

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-08-06T18:16:35-04:00

Hey guys. Not much news on Michael these days. He is taking some time off (who wouldn't after working on Pearl Harbor?). As some of you know, Michael has made a coupe of commercials for Victoria's Secret and Pepsi. They be around soon.

For now, here is an interesting article about Michael and his movies. Believe it or not, it's titled "Bay Watch" (yes, it's the third article that has that header). This journalist seems to like Michael's movies. ;)

Click here to read it. Thanks to Susan K. for the heads up.

Spoke to Michael today.

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-08-14T21:48:34-04:00

Spoke to Michael today.

I asked him if he had anything in the works and he said he is still looking at stuff and hasn't commited to anything. He is still with CAA. And for all of those of you that ask "does he read the message boards," the answer is: yes.

'Pearl Harbor' DVD shows war's horrors

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-08-15T15:14:23-04:00

"When a DVD of the director's cut of the successful yet critically bombarded war epic Pearl Harbor reaches store shelves on Jan. 15, perhaps it should be retitled "Michael Bay's Retribution." An R-rated version of the story behind the Japanese air attack that launched U.S. involvement in World War II will be contained in a deluxe three-DVD set ($39.99). It's the one Bay wishes could have played in theaters. When Harbor opened in May, he expressed regret that the horrors were muffled by a mandated PG-13, the family-friendly rating required by his agreement with Disney. He said then, 'I would have liked to have made this movie more violent.'"

Read the whole article here.

Pearl Harbor DVD Details 1

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-08-15T19:12:06-04:00

Bummer, get ready to empty your pockets. I guess I will be purchasing all THREE sets...read on.

Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer's PEARL HARBOR will be hitting store shelves three days before the 60th anniversary of the earth shaking event the film was based on.

On December 4th, the film will be available initially in two different packs: the 60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition on both VHS and DVD as well as a 60th Anniversary Commemorative Gift Set in both formats.

In addition, January 15, 2002 will set the film released again as a Vista Series Three-Disc DVD With Director's Cut.

Here are the details of each package:

60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

The two tape VHS set includes a dynamic bonus documentary on the real attack on Pearl Harbor and that fateful day's unsung heroes, as well as the Faith Hill music video "There You'll Be."

The two-disc DVD includes all VHS features as well as an introduction by Director Michael Bay, a documentary on the real life Pearl Harbor veterans and their return to the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial for the film's premiere, and insightful interviews with the cast. PEARL HARBOR on DVD is presented in DTS(R) and Dolby(R) Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with THX(R) Certification, in a widescreen (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation that captures the sweep and drama of this important epic.

The VHS two-tape set will sell for $24.99 (S.R.P.) with the DVD set going for $29.99 (S.R.P.).

The 60th Anniversary Commemorative Gift Set

Each set (either DVD or VHS) contains all the features of the 60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition, plus the fascinating companion movie, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BEYOND THE MOVIE: PEARL HARBOR. The documentary, this fascinating movie brings script, characters and footage from PEARL HARBOR together with a look at the real events, stories, heroes and places of Pearl Harbor.

Also included is National Geographic's 60th Anniversary Commemorative map: one side of the map provides a detailed overview of what happened at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The other side of the map is an authentic replica of a world map from this time period, displaying political boundaries.

The VHS gift set will sell for $39.99 (S.R.P.) with the DVD gift set priced at $49.99.

VISTA Series: Director's Cut

PEARL HARBOR will be available as a three-disc VISTA (Vision, Imagination, Style, Theme, Artistry) series DVD, presenting the director's cut of the film, which differs from what was presented in theaters, and all the special programs, documentaries and featurettes from the 60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition.

In addition, the VISTA DVD offers filmmaker audio commentaries and "making of" featurettes that bring the viewer behind-the-scenes and into the filmmaking process. The creation of the incredible battle scenes in the movie are covered, from the on-set pyrotechnics to the computer-animated wizardry that brought these gripping scenes to life.

Pearl Harbor DVD details 2

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-08-16T21:10:15-04:00

Lots of you have been asking me about the intricate details for the "Pearl Harbor" DVD sets coming out in December and January. Click below to read the official Buena Vista Entertainment press release.

"Pearl Harbor" DVD Official Press Release.

DGA Article

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-08-21T07:01:02-04:00

You can read an article on Michael found in the August 2001 issue of the DGA Magazine.

For those of you that have asked about Michael's Black & Decker commercial, well, he speaks about it for the first time in print. Click below to read it. [ Thanks to Susan B. for the heads up]

Pearl Harbor "R-Rated" Petition

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-08-23T00:03:54-04:00

I've setup an online petition for the theatrical release of Michael Bay's rated-R version of Pearl Harbor.

Honestly guys, please sign this petition, 'cause I won't send unless we get 1,000+ signatures. So get your families, girl/boyfriends, friends, and their friends to sign it.

Click here to sign the petition.

Aaliyah

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-08-26T20:03:27-04:00

Nelson here...

This has nothing to do with the usual content of this site, but R&B singer and actress Aaliyah died after a small plane that was to carry her and eight others back to the United States crashed after takeoff in the Bahamas, authorities said.

Aaliyah, who co-starred with martial artist Jet Li in the 2000 action flick "Romeo Must Die," plays the title role in the film adaptation of the Anne Rice novel "Queen of the Damned" and was cast in "The Matrix 2," both due in 2002.

News

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-08-27T07:02:27-04:00

I am pleased to announce that michaelbay.com will have an online radio station.

Now you can listen to different channels of music we will be having while you browse the site or surf through the internet.

We will be offereing the following channels:

1.- Rock (mostly 80's metal and some 90s)

2.- Techno/Trance

3.- 80's Pop

4.- Movie Sountracks & Scores.

The station will start broadcasting on September 14, 2001.

You will need Winamp installed if you want to listen to the broadcast. If you have a Mac, you need to have MacAmp installed.

Pearl Harbor Re-release

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-08-28T21:01:19-04:00

Disney will be re-releasing the pg-13 version of "Pearl Harbor" on about 500 theater this Labor Day weekend.

Click here to read the full article.

Pepsi One ad

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-09-04T14:59:49-04:00

I hope you guys had a good weekend.

You can see Michael's new commercial! It's the latest Pepsi ONE commercial, starring Kim Cattrall. Click below to view it.

Window Media [ 56k | 100k ]

RealAudio [ 56k | 100k ]

Pearl Harbor Top-Grossing Film Worldwide

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-09-05T14:37:34-04:00

By having taken in a total of $430 million in ticket sales worldwide, Pearl Harbor has now become the top-grossing film of the year, Disney announced Tuesday. (The studio's effort to push the film past the $200-million mark domestically by widening its release last weekend brought another $867,300 into the coffers, pushing the gross-to-date to $196.7 million.)

Pearl Harbor DVDs

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-09-06T14:35:32-04:00

*Sigh*

Take a look at "Pearl Harbor" DVD packaging. I think I will be buying all three sets. [ Thanks to AJ on the message boards. ]

Today

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-09-11T23:10:42-04:00

Our prayers are with all those families that lost their loved ones today in New York City, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania.

-Nelson E. Argueta
Designer & maintainer

New web site and stuff

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-11-14T19:32:44-05:00

So you ask: where is the new f*cking website!?

And I say: "it's on it's way!" I've decided to keep this one until the new one is totally ready. One day you'll wake up and you'll see the new one.

We have a lot of good stuff that's going to be happening around here. Among them:

-Michael will be joining us for chats. He will also be posting on the messageboards.

-We will be auction autographed Pearl Harbor DVDs before 12-04-01. Proceeds will go to charity.

So keep your eyes open. Here are some news I got about Michael's "Platinum Dunes."

Field backs Bay to go Platinum on low budgets

Filmmaker Michael Bay has branched out to create a low-budget genre film division titled Platinum Dunes, which will be financed by Ted Field's Radar Pictures. The company, named after Bay's first student film, will be run by producers Brad Fuller and Andrew Form. It aims to produce films in the $5 million-$12 million range and is eyeing projects with plans to be in production on its inaugural feature within the next six months. Platinum's offices are housed temporarily at Radar's offices in Westwood. Bay said that his company met with numerous potential investors during the past six months before narrowing it down to a small group of candidates. "Ted was insistent on us doing a deal," Bay told The Hollywood Reporter. "I met him through dinner parties, and I like the way his mind works. He's smart, he's politically active, he works very hard -- and I respect that. I also consider him a friend, and I love doing business with friends." Fuller and Form also are longtime friends of Bay. Platinum marks a change of pace for Bay, who built a name for himself as a big-budget film director on such projects as "Bad Boys," "The Rock," "Armageddon" and the recent "Pearl Harbor." "Since 'Pearl Harbor,' I've decided to change things up," Bay said. "I've started a commercial division this past summer called -- and we're making fun of ourselves with the name -- the Institute for Development of the Advanced Perceptual Awareness. I'm 37 years old, and it's time to not just be the guy who does huge movies. I want to branch out, expand, and with this low-budget division, be instrumental in the careers of younger directors."

The Art of DVD Talk Movies

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-11-15T18:30:53-05:00

Got this article of the LA Times. Great article. It gives you a glimpse into the coming director's commentary for Pearl Harbor.

"I Am Legend"

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-11-19T09:29:47-05:00

AICN has reportedly said that Michael will direct "I Am Legend." At this point, nothing is set. Michael might or might not direct the Richard Matheson novel. I'll keep you guys posted.

Miscellaneous tidbits

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-12-04T21:25:55-05:00

I just finished watching the "Pearl Harbor" DVDs. Real cool stuff. Awesome sound and transfer! I'll post reviews later.

In other news, Michael Bay sued his former stockbroker Tuesday, saying the man made a sneak attack on his portfolio, defrauding the disaster filmmaker of $5 million. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, alleges Win H. Troung, a former employee of Merrill Lynch brokerage firm in Beverly Hills, engaged in excessive trading and defrauded Bay by buying and selling more than $1 billion worth of stock over a 15-month period. Read the complete article below.

''Pearl Harbor'' director sues former stockbroker.

Pearl Harbor Vid & DVD

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-12-06T20:05:06-05:00

Hit Big Millions sold on debut day.

The DVD and VHS releases of Michael Bay's PEARL HARBOR have hit big in stores. In its first day of release, combined sales for DVD and VHS were over 3 million units. In addition, the first day of DVD sales broke Buena Vista Home Entertainment's house record recently set by SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS. Industry sources say the disc sold in excess of 1.5M. Going into the weekend, sales are expected to stay steady.

Pain' Is Michael Bay's Gain

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-12-12T06:22:24-05:00

By Michael Fleming

NEW YORK (Variety) - ``Pearl Harbor'' director Michael Bay is pumped to shoot ``Pain and Gain,'' a dark film about steroid-abusing bodybuilders who engage in a campaign of kidnapping, extortion and murder in Florida.

The project will mark Bay's first for Paramount Pictures, which optioned a series of investigative articles written by Pete Collins for the Miami New Times about the Sun Gym gang. Much as they used steroids as a shortcut to rippling pecs and six-pack abs, the gang used crime as a shortcut to the high life of fast cars, flashy clothes and strippers.

``I had been looking for a movie with the tone of 'Fargo' for a long time, and even though this is violent, this story has that potential,'' said Bay, who also wanted to make a film with a modest budget after directing only expensive action films, such as ``The Rock'' and ``Armageddon.''

``These guys are knuckleheads who get away with doing very bad things and committing very violent acts. They were greed-obsessed muscleheads who could never be happy with what they had, always wanting more,'' Bay added.

The gang ringleaders seem a mix between the ``Fargo'' characters and ``Saturday Night Live'' duo Hans and Franz. The Sun Gym gang got away with increasingly bolder crimes, even though they were bumblers who left a trail like a caterpillar. The gang finally got caught after murdering a couple, only to discover they hadn't properly fleeced their assets and murdered them for nothing.

Bay will likely direct a film before ``Pain and Gain. Possibilities include a ``Bad Boys'' sequel and the Warner Bros. project ``I Am Legend,'' starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Bay will produce ``Pain and Gain'' with former Disney exec Donald De Line, who has a first-look deal at Paramount.

Happy Holidays

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2001-12-24T17:21:40-05:00

Hi guys. Just taking a little time here to wish all you guys Merry Christmas, and may you be in the company of your loved ones.

Server Issues

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2002-01-09T07:19:46-05:00

FYI, yesterday evening the server hosting this site crashed. To make a long story short, I had to upload everything. So if there are any broken link, please bear with me. Thanks.

Bay's birthday

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2002-02-01T14:19:08-05:00

As some of you might know, February 17 is Michael's birthday. And as a custom in prior years, you can send Michael a little e-mail wishing him Happy Birthday. I usually print these emails and send them to him. Click here to find out when the deadline is and to fill out the b-day form.

And yes, he does read them.

In other news, Michael is will only produce the remake of the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." He will do "Pain & Gain" next year. He's involved in the writing of "Bad Boys 2." And he might do a movie with Will Smith before "Bad Boys 2" gets done (I Am Legend).

Bay tidbits

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2002-03-15T14:17:23-05:00

I've sent Michael the e-mails you all sent. Thank you. He should be getting them today.

Here is an interesting article. Read about Michael venturig into the IMAX & Extreme Sports arena.

Bay Targets Extreme Sports with Giant-Screen Pic.

Happy Birthday Michael

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2002-03-17T17:16:35-05:00

Happy 37th birthday Michael!

BB2

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2002-03-08T00:25:53-05:00

"Sony Pictures kicked off the last day of ShoWest with a bang Thursday with the announcement that stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence will reteam with producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Michael Bay for "Bad Boys 2."

Asked how it felt to be able to finally announce the long-anticipated sequel to the 1995 hit "Bad Boys," planned for a summer 2003 release, Columbia Pictures chairman Amy Pascal said: "It feels good. We're very, very excited."

New Line Catches 'Chainsaw' Buzz

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2002-03-09T20:05:24-05:00

New Line has picked up the rights to Michael Bay's remake of the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

****

New Line Catches 'Chainsaw' Buzz

By Charles Lyons

NEW YORK (Variety) - New Line Cinema is shelling out $5 million-$7 million for North American and Italian rights to a toned-down, modern refiguring of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."

New Line co-CEO Bob Shaye said the picture would be "an original, fresh and thrilling post-modern" take on the 1974 cult classic. In the new picture, he noted, blood-letting will be kept to a minimum, particularly since producer Michael Bay is active on a director committee against violence.

Studio production president Toby Emmerich added: "My sense from Bay is that he will not so much look at the previous 'Chainsaw' movies as look back to the original, real stories that informed it."

Writer/director Tobe Hooper's "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" helped spawn an entire genre of B slasher pics. When a dozen graves are violated in a rural Texas cemetery, five twentysomethings investigate. En route they discover a family of grave robbers, led by a vicious, saw-wielding butcher.

Shooting is expected to begin this summer with a budget between $13 million and $19 million.

Sony's Screen Gems, Paramount Pictures and Dimension Films also pursued "Massacre," but not as aggressively as New Line. Bay clinched the New Line deal after screening a one-minute promo for the picture. The picture has already lined up distribution deals in such countries as Spain, Britain, Germany and Japan.

Mercedes Benz 'Timeless'

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-03-17T19:12:18-04:00

Click on the link below to see Michael Bay's new Mercedes Benz commercial:

Mercedes Benz SL500 (Timesless) 15MB

News tidbits

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2002-03-18T19:43:03-05:00

Got some news for you.

Michael told me he will most likely be narrowing it down to doing "Bad Boys 2" this summer and then quickly doing "I am Legend. "

He also has two more Mercedes Benz commercials coming. I'll keep you guys posted.

For those of you asking, Schwartzman shot the "Timeless" commercial.

Pearl harbor wins an Oscar

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2002-03-24T00:09:53-05:00

Pearl Harbor won as Oscar for best Best Sound Editing!

Congrats to George Watters II & Christopher Boyes, and of course, Michael Bay!

Message boards

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2002-04-16T14:09:21-04:00

The company hosting the messageboard has fucked up big time. I apologize to all of you who have had to deal with those fucking annoying ads. Needless to say I'm fuckin' pissed.

I'll get the problem fixed ASAP. For now, I have turn off the link so you won't have to deal with those ads.

Pearl harbor Autographed DVDs

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2002-04-17T14:08:04-04:00

As it stands now, Michaelbay.com will be selling "Pearl Harbor" DVD copies autographed by Michael Bay prior to it's July 2 release. I will post more info later.

Sorry about my French from yesterday, but this is what happens when you pay $$$ and you get this kind of service. Anyway, the boards are back up—without—the ads.

Bad Boys 2 Shooting Info

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2002-04-23T14:04:59-04:00

I've been informed that shooting for "Bad Boys 2" is scheduled to start on July 15th, 2002.

Also, the director's cut for "Pearl Harbor" will be in stores on July 2, 2002.

Bad Boys 2 trailer

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2002-12-18T06:00:58-05:00

The Bad Boys 2 trailer is up!

Click here to download the trailer!

LA Time: Michael Bay, master of the 'huge canvas'

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-05-21T21:45:04-04:00

Michael Bay, master of the 'huge canvas'

By Geoff Boucher
May 24, 2009

Michael Bay is lean, walks with purpose and carries his chin and shoulders at an imperious tilt, and on a recent afternoon at his work compound in Santa Monica it was easy to envision him as some proud matador; Bay, like those bullfighters in Barcelona, thinks of himself as a mayhem artist in the crowd-pleasing business.

Bay is back in the ring on June 24 with his eighth film, " Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," which many industry observers expect to surpass the first "Transformers" film, which grossed a staggering $708 million worldwide in 2007. "The pre-tracking is huge," Bay said of surveys of audience interest in the movie that stars Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox and an army of two-story alien robots.

He rolled his eyes, though, contemplating the last-minute labor that needs to be done. "This one," he said, "is barely going to make it to theaters. You have no idea how complicated my life is."

Read the rest of the article.

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LATimes: Michael Bay shows us 'Transformer 2' footage...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-05-21T15:03:03-04:00

Nelson here... since there are some minor spoilers, I’ve set spoiler text to white, so if you really, really wanna know, you’re gonna have to highlight the text with your mouse cursor.

Michael Bay shows us 'Transformer 2' footage and talks about Shia LaBeouf's dark moments

By Geoff Boucher

SPOILER ALERT: I watched about 20-25 minutes of footage from "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" and although I describe the scenes only in VERY general terms below, you might want to stop reading if you want to save all the surprises for when the film opens on June 24.

I visited with Michael Bay last week and got a rare chance to sit with him in the editing bay and check out several sequences from "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," which most of Hollywood expects to be one of the mammoth money-making films this year.

Bay was a pleasant host but I could tell he didn't really have the time to be entertaining visitors, not with the big finish-line looming for a movie that he has been working on "every day for two years," as he put it. "This one is going to be close," he said of the last-minute labors that remain.

A bit about that footage...

He showed me a comedy sequence with the Witwicky family getting young Sam (Shia LaBeouf) ready to go off to Princeton University. There was a lot of "empty nest" humor with Sam's mom, Judy (Julie White), and dad, Ron (Kevin Dunn), and then the house is all but leveled by an unwelcome metallic visitor. The scene has a lot of humor in it but Bay said the film, overall, is darker than its 2007 predecessor. "This one," Bay said, "is less quippy."

There was the first scene in the film for the nubile Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox) and of course she was wearing very little and posed like a grease-monkey hottie on a garage pin-up poster. "Of course we had to get that out of the way," Bay said with mock resignation. There was plenty more of Fox in seductive mode and a romantic rival as well -- at Princeton, a curvy mystery girl pounces on Sam in his dorm-room but there's something a little alien about her. Maybe it's the nasty steel tail that suddenly emerges from under her skirt like a scorpion's stinger.

(My mind flashed on the director feud between Bay and McG on whether "Terminator Salvation" was just a Nine Inch Nails version of "Transformers" -- this particular Bay baddie seemed to be channeling a bit of "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," so maybe McG will be firing back pretty soon...)

The hardware is impressive but it's characters and story that generate the word-of-mouth that can carry a film into its second, third and fourth week as a box-office powerhouse, as "Iron Man" and "Star Trek" prove. Bay said he is mightily pleased with the performances in this film. The actors, he said, have sharper interactions this time around because of the previous experience of working together and in character; he said that's one of the underappreciated benefits of this make-a-sequel era.

"People I've shown this to instantly feel like, 'Hey, I know that family, they’re fun to watch.' It’s like when you watch a favorite TV series, there are things about familiarity you like and it can be satisfying. There are other benefits from doing it a second time. Movies do take a life. Things spark and take a life, things you thought would be important drop away and a tone is set. With the sequels, you know the tone. That’s a huge thing."

Perhaps, but sequels can also spend so much time being "familiar" that they become numb, pointless encores. We'll have to wait and see the whole film in order to judge this particular $200-million enterprise.

Bay showed me an intense action sequence in Shanghai and I have to say he's right when he boasts that the robots this time around are more impressive in their movement, intricacy and emotives...

There was also a section of the film in a Princeton classroom with a leering Lothario of a professor (Rainn Wilson) who has a run-in with new student Witwicky, who is suddenly a sputtering genius thanks to his encounter with a powerful shard of alien technology. Bay based the sleazy Wilson character on a randy film instructor he remembered back at his alma mater, Wesleyan University, who wore leather pants and had a whispered reputation for seducing coeds.

There seemed to be a lot of humor in the film, but that may have been weighted by the fact that many of the more intense action scenes simply weren't ready for sharing with a visitor. I asked Bay about his reputation for being a strident boss on the set and he said that's the cost of doing business.

"My movies are a big canvas. A lot of stuff can go wrong. I also do a lot of dangerous stuff so we take things seriously. You have to run a real well-oiled machine."

He showed me a sequence with a cranky new Autobot with a lot of stylized personality (think of a windy old geezer with the metallic equivalent of a braided beard) and he mentioned that the smaller robots will be a key part of this film. Tom Kenny (the star voice of "SpongeBob SquarePants") and ubiquitous voice veteran Frank Welker are on board and I think little kids in particular are going to seize on this movie. "Jeffrey Katzenberg gave me advice once. He said it's great to have little characters with these big huge voices," Bay noted of some of the manic little bots.

I met Bay at his Santa Monica work compound, where one of his giant mastiffs was casually walking around like it owned the place. "You're the first reporter to come into this editing bay," the director and producer said. (The visit was for a Sunday cover story in this weekend's Los Angeles Times Calendar section; I'll be posting that feature here on Hero Complex on Friday.) Bay took me by his office, where he spends very little time -- he's usually on a movie set or the editing room.

“This was an auto body shop years ago,” Bay said as he gave a tour of the offices, which sit behind an imposing gate. “I had my car painted here when I was 17, in that building across the parking lot. It was a Volkswagen Scirocco. I hand-sanded it myself and they sprayed it.”

In a corner conference room, a pair of MTV Movie Award trophies (they're shaped like tall buckets of popcorn) share a wall with a gruesome latex torso from “Bad Boys,” the 1995 film that marked Bay’s deep-impact arrival on the Hollywood scene.

“We had a burglar alarm go off one night and the cops came in here with their guns pulled, and they saw that in the dark,” Bay said with crooked grin. “It completely freaked them out.”

I asked Bay about his lead actors and where they are this time around. It made him reflect on the first time he met LaBeouf, who came to visit the same Santa Monica office.

"Shia came in and auditioned and he was this little skinny kid. ‘Dude you’re like this action king!’ he was so giddy and he wanted to be in action movie so bad. I told him, ‘All right, all right, just calm down.’ I instantly loved his acting because he is disarming, he is great at improv. He’s got this everyday kind of guy that thing. He’s much more charismatic in this movie, too. He’s coming into his own. He’s a smart actor. You sometimes have to push him when he doesn’t believe it. He’ll go through a dark period. With actors you’ve got to be a psychologist. You have to see the darkness coming, especially with funny actors. I can see it coming on and I have to say, ‘Shia…’ and pull him aside. I explain it to him and he’ll come out of it. And then he’ll say, ‘You’re right, you’re right, I was in that mood…’ The reason is they're scared of things sometimes. It’s not easy being an actor and putting yourself out there.”

On Fox: "I brought Megan in when I was producing a different movie and she auditioned for a two-day part. We gave the role to someone else but I remembered her when it came to this movie. There were a lot of young women that auditioned for ‘Transformers,’ but she got it. She was very junior as an actress. There was a chemistry thing, though, between her and Shia. She’s vastly improved over the last one."

We're going to have a lot more "Transformers" coverage here at the Hero Complex, so check back for that long Bay profile on Friday and then come back next week for more insights into a movie that may well be a juggernaut at the box office.

Source: LAtimes

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We have a winner!

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-05-21T11:02:22-04:00

Nelson here...

B. Tyler of the Lone Star State is the winner of the RoTF poster contest.

If you didn’t win, be sure to check back soon ‘cause I’ll be giving away more goodies.

Meet Sideways

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-05-20T09:13:29-04:00

Click for bigger image.

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Michael Bay TF2 set photos

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-05-19T06:39:31-04:00

Download (photo by Jamie Trueblood)

Download (photo by Robert Zuckerman)

Download (photo by Jamie Trueblood)

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Transformers Revenge of the Fallen TV Spots

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-05-18T22:19:00-04:00

Meet Isabel Lucas

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-05-18T06:59:15-04:00

Download photo (by Robert Zuckerman).

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Hasbro's Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Press Kit Giveaway

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-05-18T08:00:06-04:00

Nelson here... Here’s a chance to win a Hasbro Transformers ROTF Press Kit.

To enter, send an email with your name & your favorite obscure Transformer to webmaster@revengeiscoming.com. Contest is open to US, Europe, Japan, Australia, Israel & Canada residents only. Contest ends on end of day May 25, 2009.

The press kit contains:

BumbleBee Movie Voice Mixer Helmet
Transformers Movie BumbleBee Plasma Canon
Optmus Prime t-shirt (Medium)
Optimus Prime (Mech Alive)
BumbleBee (Human Alliance w/ Sam Witwicky action figure)
Sideswip (Gravity Bots - Automatically converts)
Sideways (Mech Alive)
Transformers ROTF Official Movie adaptation Comic (#1)
CD with Hasbro Image art

Linkin Park's "New Divide"

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-05-14T08:36:12-04:00

Click on the link below to watch the video clip.

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Revenge of the Fallen poster giveaway

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-05-13T08:38:18-04:00

Nelson here... In the next few weeks I will be giving out some Revenge of the Fallen posters.

To enter, send your name, and email to webmaster@revengeiscoming.com. Contest is open to US residents only and ends on end of day May 20, 2009. Good luck!

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New Michael Bay TF2 set photos

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-05-12T14:44:01-04:00

Download (Photo by Jaimie Trueblood)

Download (Photo by Jaimie Trueblood)

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Bay and Westerns

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-05-06T13:08:29-04:00

Nelson here...

MTV recently spoke to Bay about other film ambitions:

“I love cowboys,” explained the director of this summer’s big-budget bonanza “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” when we spoke with him recently. “I love Westerns.”

“ I love, love, love Westerns; love them,” he insisted. “I’ve just always been a huge fan of Western movies. I actually wrote a senior thesis on Western movies.”

The mind reels when one considers what Michael Bay’s take on the genre might yield. Exploding horses? Stagecoaches that transform into killer robots? But while he might be keeping his eyes out for a good script, the director told us that he doesn’t have anything in mind just yet.

“No,” he admitted, only insisting that he hopes to make his Western someday. “I do like horses. That was the saddest Kentucky Derby I’ve ever seen last year.”

Source: MTV

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Transformers 2 trailer (#3)

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-05-01T12:12:58-04:00

Michael Bay at Transformers trailer premiere and screening

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-04-30T14:41:17-04:00

Click here to watch the video clip.

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Transformers 2: NEW Linkin Park Song & Score

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-04-27T12:45:10-04:00

Nelson here...

From Mike Shinoda’s blog:

Although I wasn't at liberty to say it before, the song I've been referencing here on mikeshinoda.com in the past few weeks...is actually being done for Michael Bay's new Transformers film, due out June 24th.

In addition--and probably ever cooler--we have been offered the unique opportunity to help score the film. The song we wrote is being used as one of the themes, and we will be writing various interpolations on that theme, and trying out some other thematic ideas as part of the (very large) team scoring the film.

My bandmates and I are working with award-winning film composer (and resident ass-kicker) Hans Zimmer. We met with Hans last week, and heard some of the incredible things he and his guys have done with our new song. In the next few days, we'll be doing some work with Hans' amazing writing and recording crew.

Michael Bay has shown us select scenes from the film, and it looks incredible. I can't wait for you to see it.

Linkin Park photograph by James Minchin.

Source: mikeshinoda.com

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Michael Bay talks TF2 with TV Guide

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-04-24T15:41:33-04:00

Revenge of the Fallen tidbits

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-04-23T14:23:31-04:00

Nelson here...

Back in the day when Michael directed Armageddon and Pearl Harbor, there were books that accompanied the released of both films. "Visions of Armageddon" and "Pearl Harbor: The Movie and the Moment." I got the special hardcover edition of "Visions of Armageddon" which was shipped in a velvet-like slipcase. They are numbered, autographed by Bay & Bruckheimer and only 200 were printed.

So it was this in mind that I asked Michael the other day if he was planning on doing something similar. "Yes" was his response. He indicated that it might be available for this holiday season. So I’m looking forward to that.

In other news, Bay noted that Steve Jablonsky and Linkin Park are working on the score for "Revenge of the Fallen." He also mentioned that they will be re-releasing the first Transformers movie with the new “Revenge of the Fallen” trailer attached to it in about 25 markets in the US.

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Showest Footage

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-04-20T12:40:45-04:00

The Showest footage was pulled down because it was just a 12-hour thing.

I just wanted the fans to get a taste of what we have been making for a year and a half because we have been so quiet. The piece was cut about a month ago for this Showest thing I accepted this past month - so as you can see many of the shots were far from being finished renders. This dinky little site received over 1,500,000 hits and 550,000 downloads in this short time. Anyway the trailer is being printed today and coming out on Wolverine and Star Trek. 64 days left!

Michael

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ShoWest 2009 Michael Bay Tribute

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-04-17T20:54:21-04:00

Nelson here...

Here is the video tribute that was shown before Michael Bay accepted the Showest 2009 Vanguard Award for Excellence in Filmmaking.

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Transformers 2: post production

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-04-17T19:13:57-04:00

Nelson here...

For those interested in the post production aspect of movie-making, here is a cool behind the scenes for the ACE (American Cinema Editors) blog.

Every new movie or television production goes through the process of deciding about what technology to employ. Long ago it was a simple as “KEM, Moviola, or Steenbeck.” Now of course it is a lot more complicated. And every show is breaking new ground in some fashion.

Case in point: Transformers 2 (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen). It is still possible to edit major feature film releases with Meridien systems, but using the latest hardware and software from Avid provides several new benefits.

One of the important new abilities was to allow the director, Michael Bay, to have a full working Media Composer on his laptop. Editorial provides him with an up to date portable drive with all media and a current project which allows him to comment on scenes, and to clip favorite takes for the editors to work with.

Paul Rubell is one of five editors on the project. He was brought on during post, after he had finished Public Enemies for Michael Mann - editing on Meridien systems. Paul was re-editing several scenes but had difficulty getting the very busy director to view and comment on them. Finally, the director was given these new cuts on his laptop, and Paul was soon given the notes he needed to proceed.

Read the entire article.

Source: ACE blog

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60 Days - Revenge

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-04-15T12:49:16-04:00

Steven Spielberg sat next to me in a big 100 person theater at Sony today. There were 98 empty seats. The lights came up after we just watched my cut of Revenge of the Fallen. He turned to me and said "It's awesome". He felt this movie was better than the first - and probably my best, who knows - at this point in a movie you start to lose your objectivity. I just hope the fans like it. I'm going to start putting it in front of audiences in a few weeks - no you are not invited, yet.

We have 60 days left. Let me tell you it will be a race to finish. It's 12 at night and we are still working here in the edit room. Everyone at ILM and DD are killing themselves right now, they are doing a stellar job on the effects. We also just finished our trailer which is coming out with Wolverine. Talk to you soon.

Michael

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Michael Bay TF2 set photos

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-04-08T18:48:54-04:00

Michael Bay accepts award at Showest

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-04-03T11:38:56-04:00

“... Few have enjoyed the success of director of the year Michael Bay, who helms this summer's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Bay came to accept the award for director of the year, but was looking forward to giving theaters something back: advice.

"Let's be honest," he says. "Some of the theaters still suck. And we're working on movies two or three years. These exhibitors are the most important people in the industry. All of the magic happens in the two hours people are sitting in the theater. Not watching it on DVD. Not watching it on the computer. I want to tell them to make the moviegoing experience as special as they can, because that's what burns in people's memories."

Source: USAToday

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Revenge of the Fallen Robots

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-04-01T22:45:31-04:00

By Anthony Breznican, USA TODAY

It's always the quiet ones you need to fear.

Ninjas. Serial killers. Boba Fett. Gastrointestinal functions.

In Transformers lore, the mechanical jaguar Ravage has been a villain favorite since the 1980s for his stealthy tactics and deadly force. Ever since a four-legged mechanical beast prowled through the trailer for summer's sequel, Revenge of The Fallen, fans have been awaiting more word about the feline-ish Decepticon. As more robots in the June 24 movie are revealed, Ravage comes into focus.

"In the spirit of 'more than meets the eye,' Ravage isn't just lethal because of his sharp teeth," says screenwriter Alex Kurtzman. "There's actually another skill set Ravage has that didn't exist before, so there's going to be a surprise for fans."

This version of the cat already looks far different from the original, with a single glowing red eye and a swinging, mace-like tail, but his role will be similar to the 1980s cartoon and Hasbro toy — the ultimate spy.

Ravage often was dispatched to monitor the heroic Autobots and their human allies, reporting back to the Decepticons by transforming into a cassette tape and replaying his recordings through the larger robot master Soundwave, who switched into a Walkman-sized tape deck. (How a giant robot became a small piece of sound equipment was a comical hole in logic never fully explained.)

The cassette tape transformation is gone, of course; Ravage doesn't turn into anything. But Soundwave will appear, again serving as an evil communications expert but this time in the form of an orbiting space satellite.

"They are still connected," fellow screenwriter Roberto Orci says of Soundwave and his pet. "But rather than trying to hold onto a notion as antiquated as an audiotape, which some members of our audience have maybe never laid eyes on, we wanted to go a new way."

And Ravage, as before, won't speak like the other Transformers.

"We wanted to stay true to the idea that Decepticons who take visual clues from beasts maintain that," says Orci. "It would be strange to have a talking jaguar, or a scorpion with an English accent."

Filmmaker Michael Bay has ensured that Ravage has lots of company, including many redesigned favorite robots from the original 1980s incarnation, in the new film.

"We have big guys, some little guys. We have a lot of littler ones, too. Little weirder ones," Bay says. Like the Insecticons, which were giant bugs in the original series and Hasbro toy line, but are now tiny creepy-crawly infiltrators.

Bay, who collects the Vanguard Award Thursday night at ShoWest, offers a peek at others joining Optimus Prime and Bumblebee for another rock-'em, sock-'em robo-brawl.

AUTOBOTS (the good guys)

Jetfire:

As in the original, this fighter plane crash-landed on Earth a long time ago, and he will become a reformed Decepticon now fighting for the humans. His alternate form is the SR-71 Blackbird, the outdated but still-sleek Cold War spy plane.

"He's old, craggy, forgetful ... doesn't work very well. Can't transform very well, because he's very geriatric. They get stuck with him a lot," Bay says. "He knows the plan of the bad guys, but he forgets all the good parts of the plan."

New recruits:

Sideswipe, a candy-apple red Lamborghini in the original, joins the cast this time as General Motor's silver Corvette Stingray concept car. Jolt is a new foot soldier, played in four-wheel form by the Volt, a forthcoming Chevy hybrid plug-in. Two of GM's other concept cars (the Trax and Beat) play The Twins, nicknamed Skids and Mudflap.

"Some of the junior Transformers are just dumb," Bay says with a laugh. "But it's great for kids because they're like the Little Engine That Could. They're (screw)-ups, but they get really heroic at the end."

For the gals:

Arcee is the only female and turns up as Megan Fox's hot-pink motorcycle. Co-screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci say she was in an early draft of the first movie. "But we felt we needed to win the audience over before asking for that suspension of disbelief: a feminine alien robot," Kurtzman says.

DECEPTICONS (the bad guys)

The title character:

The Fallen is an ancient robot, sort of the Transformers' version of Lucifer. He's one of the original robot aliens, and his defiance and arrogance led to his banishment into another dimension.

The screenwriters say that The Fallen holds the key to life on both Earth and Cybertron, the Transformers' home planet.

Other troublemakers:

A smaller, but no less malevolent Decepticon is known as The Doctor — a spider-like droid that transforms into various implements of torture and has a not-so-nice encounter with star Shia LaBeouf.

Then there's a giant one called Demolishor, and another tinier one with the sportier name of Wheelie.

Constructicons:

These seven robots — Scavenger, Scrapper, Hightower, Longhaul, Rampage, Overload and Mixmaster — transform into construction machinery, but also link up with one another to form one gigantic robot stomper named Devastator.

"He's made of vehicles designed to build, and he turns into is someone who loves to destroy," Orci says. "He is an agent of absolute chaos."

Bay says Devastator is the crème de la smash and got a uncharacteristic reaction out of the film's executive producer already.

"Spielberg saw it and said, 'This is (expletive) awesome!' " Bay says, and adds: "It's always nice when you can make him swear."

Source: USAToday

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Behind Transformers Revenge of the Fallen

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-04-01T11:08:02-04:00

By PETER DEBRUGE

CREATIVE CREW

In the spirit of director Michael Bay's return, Paramount gave away T-shirts that read "Even Bigger Giant F**king Robots Are Coming" at San Diego Comic-Con last summer.
Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, both repeat Bay collaborators, teamed up with "The Ring" writer Ehren Kruger, who pitched an idea the producers deemed worth of a sequel.
A veteran of "Spider-Man" and other big-budget tentpoles, producer Ian Bryce managed the day-to-day logistics, from scheduling and budgeting to negotiating the use of billion-dollar U.S. military equipment, while producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura focused on the creative side.
Of exec producer (and story confidante) Steven Spielberg, Bay says, "It's fun to talk with another director who gets how it will look."
According to Bay, Hans Zimmer protege Steve Jablonsky "wrote some big cues with Hans on 'Pearl Harbor.' Now it's the other way around," with Zimmer assisting Jablonsky on "Transformers."
"I shoot very fast and need a young, energetic d.p. to keep up with me," says Bay, who was impressed with lenser Ben Seresin's reel.

THE VISUAL SUSPECTS

Effects-laden pic's lead shop, industrial light and magic, had a tall order on the sequel: Bay not only upped the screen time and overall number of robots but also insisted that the metal beings be able to emote.
Bay-owned f/x shop Digital domain supplied about 100 shots, mostly of smaller characters. Subtlety may not be the helmer's trademark, but that's exactly what he expected from the characters' animated performances.
Scott Farrar supervised vfx work for both companies, while pyrotechnics and practical effects were John Frazier's duty.

LOCATIONS

Most of the interiors were shot at Raleigh Studios' Playa Vista stages, which once served as Howard Hughes' hangars.
For dramatic exteriors, the production turned to the Philadelphia and New Mexico film offices. With LaBeouf's character in college, New Jersey facilitated access to Princeton U.
Bryce and co-producer Allegra Clegg got military permission to film sequences at Camp Pendleton, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range.
Tying ancient sites into Transformers lore, the crew traveled as far as Egypt and Jordan, where the Royal Film Commission granted them access to Petra.

OTHER POST

To maximize the impact on Imax, Bay shot several sequences on the company's large-format film stock.

LICENSING

Hasbro holds the rights to the Transformers property, including the new characters unveiled in the sequel.
Last Month, General Motors finally began producing the redesigned Camaro featured in the first film. As di Bonaventura explains, "Michael looks around to see what is the cool car and, if it fits the story, puts it in the movie."

TALENT POOL

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" will reunite most of the original cast, from Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox to super-soldiers Josh Duhamel and Tyrese.
Among the new human faces are Rainn Wilson and Ramon Rodriguez.
Fans have been anticipating the arrival of more robot characters, including evil Decepticon Soundwave and Autobots Sideswipe, Skids, Mudflap and Jolt.

BELOW-THE-LINE LEADERS

Preferring to work with proven crew, Bay reteamed with first a.d. K.C. Hodenfield, script supervisor Karen Golden and costume pro Deborah L. Scott.
Former Navy SEAL Harry Humphries has been teaching Bay's cast how to handle weapons since "The Rock."
"We give every crew member one baby break," Bay kids. With sound mixer Peter Devlin on diaper duty, Geoffrey Patterson ("Titanic") stepped in. For post, Greg P. Russell is joined by Gary Summers ("Twister").

STANDOUT CONTRIBUTORS

Steve Tihanyi, director of marketing relations for General Motors, let Bay have his pick of the company's concept cars, adapting four new Autobots to the Stingray Corvette, Beat and Trax minis and forthcoming Volt electric vehicle. Since GM lacked the resources, the crew took the designs and fabricated the cars themselves.
Not just anyone can film at the Pyramids in Giza. For permission, Bay appealed to Zahi Hawass, secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, who turned out to be a Transformers fan, granting the production access that hadn't been given in decades. "He put his arm around me and said, 'Don't hurt my pyramids,'" Bay recalls.
Defense Dept. film liaison Phil Strub has been Bay's direct connection to the Pentagon since "Armageddon," supplying script approvals and expert military advice. "You're doing a crazy robot movie ... and the Pentagon says, 'If we were ever called to fight aliens, this is how we'd do it,'" says Bay, whose films have been big recruitment boosters for the armed forces.

Source: Variety

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At Work With Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-04-01T10:50:48-04:00

By PETER DEBRUGE

THE MAN

No one makes movies on the scale of Michael Bay, though the director remembers a time when the studio wasn't sure whether he could handle anything larger than a musicvideo.
But as Bay saw it, he'd already logged more on-set experience than most feature helmers. "I've already directed over 500 days, and I know how to work a crew," he told Sony before being allowed to make "Bad Boys." Much of his team was already in place -- and still works with him today. Bay occasionally even sacrifices some of his fee to shoot in California with his preferred crew.
"Michael, to his credit, is an intensely loyal person," says producer Ian Bryce, who met the director nearly 30 years earlier, when both were working in lowly Lucasfilm jobs. "Once he finds someone he likes and he trusts, they become part of the team."

ENTERPRISING PARTNERS

Launched Platinum Dunes production shingle with Brad Fuller and Andrew Form in 2001, designed to give first-time helmers a shot by remaking such horror classics as "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Friday the 13th."
In 2006, acquired Venice, Calif.-based vfx studio Digital Domain from James Cameron and Stan Winston.
Directs commercials via The Institute for the Development of Enhanced Perceptual Awareness, which he opened with Scott Gardenhour, a producer Bay linked up with during his early days at Propaganda Films.

PRODUCTION PROS

First caught producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson's attention by directing the Chicago musicvideo for "Days of Thunder." Bay went on to make "Bad Boys" and "The Rock" for the duo, followed by another three movies for Bruckheimer. Bruckheimer and Bay currently have "Cocaine Cowboys" in the works for HBO.
In his teens, Bay landed a job doing file storage for Steven Spielberg, who later handpicked him to direct "Transformers."
Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner has brought all sorts of goodies to Bay's doorstep, including "Transformers" franchise and an upcoming adaptation of the Ouija board game.

SHOPS AND WARES

Bay relies on Chapman/Leonard for equipment, trusts his digital intermediates to Company 3 and swears by Panavision, Deluxe, Dolby labs and Avid.
He always uses ILM for visual effects work, but also sends repeat business to Asylum, KNB Effects and Gentle Giant Studios.

GO-TO CREW

Many collaborators have been with Bay for years:

Production designer Nigel Phelps dates back to Bay's musicvideo days. Since "Bad Boys," stunt co-ordinator Kenny Bates has found the best drivers.
DPs come and go, but key grip Les Tomita has been with Bay since "The Rock." So has hair and makeup duo Yolanda Toussieng and Ed Henriques, who handled everything from Sean Connery's coif to Shia LaBeouf's battle scars.
Among Bay's trusted team of editors, "Tom Muldoon has been with me since my very first musicvideo," the director says. "He also comes in and works on my movies -- every single one." Other key cutters include Paul Rubell and Glen Scantlebury.

Others have worked their way up through the ranks:

Mitchell Amundsen graduated from camera operator to d.p. under Bay's watch.
Bay gave ambitious ex-barista Mark Palansky (who'd bug Bay with questions over the Starbucks counter) a break on "Pearl Harbor." When the young man tried to ankle his assistant job, Bay said, "I refuse for you to quit. This is the best film school you're gonna get!" He went on to direct "Penelope."
Since assistant Edward Albolote wants to edit, Bay gave him an apprentice role on "Transformers."

STRATEGIC COMMAND

Matthew Cohan, VP of development for Bay Films, worked his way up from a staff assistant position on "Pearl Harbor."
William Morris agents John Fogelman and Rob Carlson set up Bay's last three features, while CAA's David O'Connor reps Platinum Dunes.
Bay and attorney Robert Offer (of Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern) go back as far as nursery school. "I've known him longer than his wife," Bay says of his counsel.
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Hasbro congratualtes Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-04-01T10:48:02-04:00

Variety: Michael Bay keeps vfx shops busy

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-04-01T10:40:10-04:00

ILM, Digital Domain push the limits for director

By DAVID S. COHEN

After "Transformers" hit theaters in 2007, Michael Bay spoofed himself in a Verizon FiOS commercial, proclaiming, "I demand things to be awesome!" and proving it by flaunting his "awesome pussycat" (a tiger) and awesome (exploding) barbecue grill.

Turns out the helmer was only half-kidding. Just ask the visual effects studios on "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," who have their hands full keeping up with Bay's itch for excess.

"He's brilliant, but he's a challenge," says Matthew Butler, Digital Domain's vfx supervisor on the film. Not only is Bay demanding, as top directors generally are, but "he's incredibly fast-paced. He's a whirlwind to keep up with, both on the set and in post."

Scott Farrar of Industrial Light and Magic, lead vfx supervisor on both "Transformers" films, sounds somewhat awestruck as he compares the sequel to its predecessor.

"Michael took the production value up many, many notches," he says. "Just the backgrounds alone are huge. It's a combination of 'Apocalypse Now' and 'Ben-Hur,' in regards to fantastic backgrounds and the unbelievable sets we worked at around the world."

Everyone involved in "Revenge of the Fallen" is keeping the details under wraps, but Farrar says there are some 60 robot characters, and they play in settings around the world. Some, like refineries at night, were chosen to boost the visual drama and show off the scale of the giant 'bots.

What's more, this time the Transformers will interact much more with the world around them. Farrar highlights "the splashes and the hits and the fighting on dirt or moving, banging into trees," explaining, "Things splinter and break, they spit, they outgas, they sweat, they snort."

ILM, having developed the vfx for the first "Transformers," is the lead shop on this one as well. But Bay is part owner of Digital Domain, which presents some unusual challenges for Butler and the DD team.

For Bay, co-owning the company puts him in a potential conflict of interest. The director always wants the best for his movie and usually asks for as much as possible from the vfx shop. The owner of a vfx shop, on the other hand, has to keep an eye on costs and margins.

Butler says Bay is remarkably good at balancing those roles: "Michael is very fiscally responsible. a director but he's very much a producer too. In fact, whenever we're talking about any shot or sequence, he's thinking about what it costs, and he's thinking about bang for the buck."

One new challenge is that several sequences will be shown in Imax format, approximately 16 times larger than 35mm, which means the CG work must be finished at much higher resolution. At that scale, it can take several days to render a final frame.

All this is on top of creating a new family of giant robots. "(Bay) had to learn a whole litany of new things by getting into this robot culture on the first film," Farrar says. "I don't think he'd ever worked on a film where he'd done so much directing of animated characters. So he's really taken it to heart, and I think not everybody does, but he actually enjoys the process."

Source: Variety

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Michael Bay honored with ShoWest Award

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-03-24T15:21:19-04:00

Michael Bay will receive the ShoWest 2009 Vanguard Award for excellence in filmmaking at the upcoming confab of theater owners.

Bay will be feted at an awards gala set to close the annual exhibition confab April 2. ShoWest opens March 30 at the Bally's and Paris hotels in Las Vegas.

Michael Bay's aggressive visual style and memorable action sequences leave audiences at the edge of their seats and running back to the theaters for more with each new release," Showest co-managing director Mitch Neuhauser said.

Source: Variety

Transformers 3 release date

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-03-17T09:27:02-04:00

Nelson here, according to Variety Tranformers 3 gets a release date of 2011:

Paramount and DreamWorks are forging ahead with "Transformers 3," dating the movie for release on July 1, 2011.

But Michael just posted this on the forums:

I said I was taking off a year from Transformers. Paramount made a mistake in dating Transformers 3 - they asked me on the phone - I said yes to July 4 - but for 2012 - whoops! Not 2011!!! That would mean I would have to start prep in September. No way. My brain needs a break from fighting robots. -- Michael

Read and discuss at the forums.

Regarding Soundwave...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-03-10T08:40:46-04:00

Nelson here...

S4TE forum member ‘MitP’ started a thread pleading Michael to use Frank Welker as the voice for Soundwave. Here is Michael’s response:

I think I'm going to pursue Frank on Soundwave. - Michael

Read and discuss at the forums.

Regarding Megatron...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-03-05T15:05:50-05:00

Nelson here...

If you wish to know more about Megatron, click here to read and discuss at the forums.

Okay cat is out of the bag. Megatron is back ---- but you will only get to see him from the long lost past. We go way back in time as this movie explains the mythology of the Primes. He is not a tank like everyone suggests, but an alien vehicle. But sadly he does not has much screen time.

Michael Bay speaks to the Transformers Collectors’ Club

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-02-24T12:31:50-05:00

Rick Alvarez: How did making this film compare to the first? How did the fans reaction to the first film change what you did in the second film?

Michael Bay: The fans are very vocal and we listened. I worked very closely with the writers in order to dive more deeply into the mythology. We really looked for elements that have never been explored and we discovered some story lines that we wanted to elaborate. This is a coming of age story for Sam but we also wanted to delve much deeper into the personalities of the robots. There is much, much more robot interaction in this film. This film has many more personal moments but will also appeal to the hardcore fans as it can be wicked at times.

RA: Special effects software and camera technology have made advancements since the first film. How has this empowered you to further realize your vision for Revenge?

MB: The developments in technology have allowed us to have the robots show emotion. This is a robot movie and this new technology allows us to explore a greater depth of personality from these characters.

RA: No other director has the kind of relationship that you have developed with the US Military. What piece of hardware did you get access to that are you most excited about for this coming film?

MB: It’s like I have a direct line to the Pentagon. This is the first movie where actual F16’s have made a bombing run on a movie set and coordinated with special effects explosions. We were on a working nuclear submarine and working aircraft carrier. The military loved the first movie. It really helped with recruiting and promoting a positive image for them. Now they are happy to do just about anything they can for my films. We also found out that in Afghanistan the Buffalo(s) (Bonecrusher vehicle from the first movie) have all been nicknamed different Transformers characters by their personnel. We also worked with tanks firing real rounds and you have not lived until you have heard an actual tank firing. We have so much access - I am appreciative and excited about all the military vehicles we use.

RA: Filming at the pyramids must have been amazing! What were the greatest challenges you faced?

MB: This is the first time in 30 years that anyone has filmed at the pyramids and the first time ever anyone has filmed from the top of Petra. Steven filmed Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade from the base of Petra. It took 21 very heavy helicopter loads to get all our gear to the top. We had all the access we wanted in Egypt as we found out that the head of Egyptian Antiquities Dr. Zahi Hawass is a big Transformers fan and was very helpful. We also filmed in the desert where Lawrence of Arabia was filmed. Very challenging conditions.

RA: We know you love to blow things up in your movies, what is your favorite thing to blow up or demolish?

MB: Well, I don’t have a favorite, as I like to blow up a lot of things. The most expensive thing I’ve blown us was a $50 million dollar house that no one would buy in Bad Boys II.

RA: Is there anything else you would like to tell the fans about this great new movie?

MB: Fans should know that I really want to satisfy them by making an even better movie than the first one. Tonight was just a taste of what is to come. Not a scene shown was a “money shot” from the film. I really want to keep them a secret to give everyone a great surprise this summer. Oh yes, and all the previews you have seen so far, you won’t get a bit of the final story from the trailers. The final movie will be so much more than what you “think” you have seen in the previews.

Source: Transformers Collectors’ Club

Michael Bay Handpicked ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ Concept Cars

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-02-24T12:23:25-05:00

Last week, GM rolled out its brand new Camaro and Corvette Stingray designs that are going to double as Autobots for Michael Bay’s “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.”

As it turns out, Michael Bay personally selected concepts from GM’s design studio for the new film — a process that allowed him intimate access to some of GM’s most closely guarded plans. And that privilege was granted as a direct result of the trust he built with the company during his first “Transformers” installment.

“With the first movie, there wasn’t a whole lot of dialogue back and forth between Michael Bay and myself,” GM Vice President of Global Design Ed Wellburn told MTV News, reflecting on how GM’s relationship with Bay began. “We were building the concept in secret we didn’t want anyone to know, and he was building the movie in secret. He was looking for something special from us, and we showed him a couple of cars.”

The new Camaro, which Bay used for the Autobot Bumblebee, was one of the first tests of how much he could be trusted.

“I didn’t want to share with him Camaro unless he told me more about the movie,” Wellburn said. “There was a little negotiating, and then there it was.” The success of the Camaro’s appearance, which helped GM by raising awareness of the newly redesigned car, literally opened some big doors for Bay in “Revenge of the Fallen.”

“When it comes to the sequel, it was different because the relationship had built quite a bit,” Wellburn explained. “Michael came to Detroit, and he and I just walked the studios. He was looking for one, maybe two new vehicles. He came here, and he pretty much had it in his head what the sequel would be. I’ll never forget it. One third of the way through the tour he said, ‘I need a notepad. There are just too many designs that we may want to use in the movie.’”

Some models, like the Beat and Trax, which will appear as the Autobots Skids and Mudflap for “Revenge of the Fallen,” even affected how the characters functioned.

“That day that he visited us and walked the halls of the studios, the movie developed and in some ways changed,” he revealed. “[Bay] was inspired by things like the two small cars that maybe could work together in some way. That’s all I can say right now.”

Source: MTV

Happy birthday Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-02-17T11:04:39-05:00

Nelson here...

Mike, from myself and everyone at the forums we would like to wish you a happy 44th birthday!!

Revenge of the Fallen Teaser in HD

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-02-16T11:24:04-05:00

Click here to download it in HD.

Click here to download it in HD.

'Friday the 19th' rakes in $42 million

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-02-15T22:55:45-05:00

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than to watch college kids get slaughtered in a remake of " Friday the 13th "?

The revival of the venerable slasher franchise easily took the No. 1 spot at the North American box office this weekend, setting a new record for a horror opening with estimated sales of $42.2 million, distributor Warner Bros . Pictures said on Sunday.

The old mark was held by " The Grudge " with a $39 million debut in 2004. That film had a less-restrictive PG-13 rating, while the R rating for "Friday the 13th" ostensibly prevented fans under age 17 from buying tickets unless accompanied by an adult.

The new film is essentially a remake of the 1980 film that kicked off the horror series and eventually introduced a hockey-masked villain named Jason. His most recent appearance, in 2003's "Freddy vs. Jason," generated a $36.4 million opening.

Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc , predicted "Friday the 13th" would end up in the $48 million range once sales for the U.S. Presidents Day holiday on Monday were calculated.

The film was directed by German filmmaker Marcus Nispel , who shot the hit 2004 retread of " The Texas Chainsaw Massacre ." Both films were produced by "Transformers" director Michael Bay , whose Platinum Dunes banner specializes in low-budget horror remakes.

Source: Yahoo Movies

Transformers 'Revenge of the Fallen' HD trailers at Apple

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-02-03T16:40:05-05:00

Nelson here...

After about 500,000 downloads of the TF2 teaser, the server went down as there were too many simultaneous connections, hence the disappearance of the HD Quicktime trailers from the main page.

You can now download the HD trailers at Apple’s Quicktime site.

Transformers Revenge of the Fallen teaser

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-02-03T02:29:14-05:00

Enjoy.

Revenge is Coming

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-01-09T06:53:54-05:00

Okay it's time to turn up the heat on Transformers - Revenge of the Fallen. We've waited low in the weeds letting all the summer movies get their stuff out. We've seen the great year end movies, and watched the upcoming clips of the upcoming summer fare. We've seen certain movies coming out even try to duplicate Transformer size robots in their ads. Please, come on.

Well, I promise you we will rock your world with Transformers 2. The fans wanted ROBOTS KICKING ASS - well we got it. Today we are releasing the teaser poster and soon the onslaught will continue with a steady drum beat until June 26th.

I'll keep you informed.

Bay

A Nightmare on Elm Street

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-01-08T07:19:21-05:00

For those of you interested in viewing or posting feedback on ANMOES, go to producer Brad Fuller’s official blog page.

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/platinumdunes/

Michael Bay mentioned on Bingo America

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2009-01-08T07:20:52-05:00

Win Wired 'Transformers' issue autographed by Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-12-29T10:34:16-05:00

Here’s your chance to win Wired Magazine’s July 2007 Transformers issue autographed by Michael Bay himself (see below).

All you have to do email your name, mailing address, and the name of you favorite Transformer to:

webmaster@revengeiscoming.com

The contest will end on January 6, 2009 when we will randomly choose the winner. Good luck!

USA Today article on Tranformers 2

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-12-28T22:31:11-05:00

Here’s an article on TF2 that contains SPOILERS. Read at your own risk.

LeBeouf, Fox really underfire in ‘Transformers 2.’

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen pictures

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-12-28T22:11:47-05:00

Nelson here...so here are the first official picture of Michael Bay’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen which I had mentioned courtesy of Empire Magazine.

Michael Bay and Michael Capponi present a special evening to improve lives in Miami-Dade

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-12-19T23:58:29-05:00

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Dec. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Famed film director Michael Bay and real estate developer and hospitality entrepreneur Michael Capponi have joined forces to present the 2nd annual Toast to United Way, an intimate cocktail reception to benefit the community.

The invitation-only event will be held at 8 pm, on Saturday, December 27th at Bay's Miami Beach home. Tickets are $250 per person. VIP tickets, which will allow guests to join Bay and his celebrity guests on a private rooftop lounge, are available for $500 per person. Following the reception, all guests will be invited to an after-party. Proceeds go to support the work of United Way of Miami-Dade.

"I am honored to open my home to help children and families in need," Bay said. "This is an extraordinary time where American's have to dig deep to help others. Miami is my new hometown and I'm committed to doing my part to help this community thrive."

The director of such blockbusters as Transformers, Pearl Harbor, and Bad Boys, Bay is serving as the host for the evening. Capponi is chairing this year's event. The guest list includes "jetsetters" in town for the holidays, the mayors of Miami-Dade and Miami Beach, as well as several surprise celebrities. Approximately 300 guests will dine on fine cuisine graciously catered by The Forge and top shelf drinks generously provided by Diageo. Toast to United Way began in 2007 and was spearheaded by Capponi.

"I realized with the success of last year's Toast to United Way that each of us can be an incredible force for good in our community if we work together," Capponi said. "I am excited to be involved once again and invite others to join me to help improve the lives of those less fortunate."

As part of this year's festivities, Bay and Capponi will honor the owners and managers of the Miami Beach venues that participated in last year's event. Honorees include Jeffrey Chodorow, Joe Day, Linley Edwards, Dave Grutman, Dimitris Harvalis, Roman Jones, Mark Lehmkuhl, Shareef Malnik, Karim Masri, Eric Milon, Francis Milon, Louis Puig, Nicola Siervo, Mark Tamis, Joshua Wagner, Graham Wheeler, Romain Zago and Terry Zarikian.

Source: United Way of Miami-Dade

Update from Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-12-09T01:32:00-05:00

Hey everyone. Back from Egypt and Jordan – we had a wonderful shoot over there. I will miss the crew they were an amazing bunch of people and a lot of fun.

I'm stuck in the edit room up to my eye balls - also finished producing Friday the 13Th and The Unborn - coming out the after the new year. Our Trailer for Transformer you have been asking about - First there will be a teaser poster soon after the new year, and the teaser trailer will be out either in the theaters early Feb. or on the Superbowl. Cannot decide yet. I'm going to release some set stills on this site in a few weeks. I'll keep you informed. Going back to do more selects now from my portable avid that I take home from work. It's late, see you.

Michael

Friday the 13th trailer

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-11-14T08:04:36-05:00

Watch the trailer in HD.

It's a wrap!

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-10-31T07:53:51-04:00

Nelson here..

As of this week, principal photography for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has ended.

Congrats to Michael and his team.

Michael Bay update from the Middle East

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-10-23T11:45:10-04:00

The shooting in the the Middle East is ground breaking - an awesome time had by all the crew.

The Transformer Ride at Universal making all the press rounds - not sure yet - they had me in a press release saying I supported it - but Universal has a long way to go in my mind. I don't support it yet - I'm not involved and not sure the story of the ride works, and I know Optimus is not going to just show up to be directed by some new people that have never worked with him. I hate when people bullshit a quote from me that I never said.

I'll keep you informed. Maybe the guy making the rides at Universal will direct Transformers 3????

Bay

"Unborn" produced by Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-10-10T11:25:22-04:00

Produced by Michael Bay
Directed by David Goyer

Michael Bay to shoot select scenes of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen with IMAX cameras

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-09-30T10:10:19-04:00

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30 /CNW/ - IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX - News; TSX: IMX - News), DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures today announced that director Michael Bay will shoot key sequences of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen with IMAX(R) cameras. Bay will integrate the IMAX footage with state of the art CGI to create an unprecedented look and feel for the highly anticipated sequel to last year's box office hit, Transformers. As previously announced, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will be released to IMAX(R) theatres simultaneously with the movie's wide release on June 26, 2009.

The movie sequences shot in traditional 35mm will be digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R) with IMAX DMR(R) (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The IMAX DMR scenes will appear in the traditional "letterbox" shape, while scenes shot with IMAX's cameras will expand vertically to fill the entire IMAX screen.

"The extraordinary level of detail and intensity captured by the IMAX camera creates many exciting possibilities for us with this film," said Michael Bay, the film's director. "IMAX's all-encompassing format will take this story to a new level, and I am once again very excited to share The IMAX Experience with Transformers fans around the world."

"The addition of another amazing title from DreamWorks and Paramount, combined with more groundbreaking use of IMAX technology by Hollywood's top filmmakers, are examples of how far we have come as a company and a distribution platform over the past several years," said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "The growth of the IMAX theatre network, fueled by the economical benefits of the new IMAX digital system, is driving interest from virtually all of the top studios, which is resulting in more IMAX movies for audiences to enjoy."

"Michael Bay's innovative use of IMAX cameras will create a spectacular cinematic adventure for moviegoers next summer," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "We're very excited to be integrated as a core part of the Transformers production, and with the skilled marketing and distribution teams at DreamWorks and Paramount, the timing is ideal given our expanding global audience and network footprint."

Source: PR Newswire

ET: Behind the scenes at Michael Bay's 'Revenge of the Fallen' New Mexico set

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-09-24T13:15:52-04:00

Check out this video clip of Entertainment Tonight going behind the scenes at Holloman AFB and White Sands Missle Range. Click on the link below.

View the vide clip.

Transformers 2: behind the scenes (clip #2)

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-09-16T23:37:04-04:00

Science meets Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-09-08T09:12:39-04:00

Remember when Armageddon was criticized by fanboys and wannabe scientist for it’s over-the-top inaccuracies?

Meet Mary D’Souza from the University of Quuensland School of Engineering.

She is a PH.D student from Australia who won an international prize for her ingeniuos plan to prevent an asteroid from hitting Planet Earth.

Her solution: cover Apophis—a small planet that’s expected to pass close to Earth—in a Mylar sheet.

Just in case you forgot, one of the scientists in Armageddon suggest using Mylar to possibly have solar radiation push the asteroid of it’s path.

“Some of us have got this idea: We want to land a craft, deploy solar sails. You’ll have a great big canopy. Solar winds will be caught by these mylar sails!”

Who knew.

Source: The Register

Haute Living magazine: Behind the Camera

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-09-07T09:46:03-04:00

Here’s a snippet from an article on Michael Bay featured in Haute Living magazine.

He is only in Miami for one week, so his dogs-bullmastiffs named for characters in his films-are not with him this trip. The pampered dogs generally travel everywhere with the star director, and even have their own chauffeur to take them from Bay’s Los Angeles home to his office, but given the short duration of this trip, they wait faithfully for him in L.A. But he explains that they generally love his house on shining Miami waterways and do their best to defend it. The dogs (larger than life, just like the action in his films) take full advantage of the secluded backyard, which borders Biscayne Bay. “If someone comes cruising up to the house on their boat or Jet Ski or whatever, they go bounding over to the water, big barks, big commotion!” Bay laughs. It’s a scene straight from a movie. Picture it: Hogan fans, not aware that the fallen family has moved from their infamous Miami Beach home, rent some Jet Skis and try to glide up to catch a glimpse of the spandex-clad Hulkster. Two dogs, weighing in at 150 pounds, emerge from behind the cabana, barking, snarling, effectively scaring the would-be snoopers away with a start.

Read the rest of the article.

Transformers 2: behind the scenes (clip #1)

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-09-06T11:37:06-04:00

Transformers 2: Tanker and car explosions

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-09-06T09:43:25-04:00

Be sure to watch these clips in high quality.

Note: to view the high quality clips you must click on either of the following links and click “watch in high quality.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwkW5Ud--08

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3RREEBw5wk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIC-ZxiKXoc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSWk_9-VJIs

Update from Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-07-30T09:43:01-04:00

Transformers - Revenge of the Fallen :

The car crash with Shia is unexpected, but we are still filming. The movie has not shut down - there is plenty to do without Shia. The shooting is also going great - I'm having a blast making this movie! Shia will be back soon and we wish all wish him a fast recovery.

Michael Bay

Michael Bay talks Transformers and Friday 13th remake

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-07-15T17:57:34-04:00

From Entertainment Weekly:

During a break on the set of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen — described to us as a "remote air force base" at an "undisclosed location" — horror franchise reviver and blockbuster director extraordinaire Michael Bay hopped on the phone to give us the scoop on the Transformers sequel, his other projects in the works, and his reaction to that Dark Knight script circling the Internet with his name on it...

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What can you tell us about Transformers 2? Or, better yet, what will you tell us?

MICHAEL BAY: When we were writing the script, I said to the writers, "I hate sequels that try to make it to the third movie. Pretend like we’re never having a third movie, so let’s go for broke on the second one. I hate those cliffhangers! Let’s just make this movie stand on its own." I really feel this movie is not a forced sequel. I think the script is really good, and I think it’s got a lot of new stuff in it. There are a lot of rumors out there, but we’ve released a lot of fake stuff. We’ve done a really good job of keeping things secret.

Can you give us a hint of something that is true then?
[Laughs] No.

C'mon, anything?
There are some great, new robots that are really inventive.

Read the rest of the interview here.

Happy 4th of July

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-07-04T10:06:32-04:00

We wish you a happy and safe Fourth of July! To everyone else, we thank you for visiting Michael Bay dot com!

Regarding Penn's open letter to Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-06-26T14:19:19-04:00

Nelson here.

Penn students on Facebook have set up an open letter to Michael Bay. According to the post they seem to think that although Michael has shot at Penn the movie will take place at Princeton. It reads:

Princeton? Really? You HAD to shoot at the University of Pennsylvania and choose to have us 'play' Princeton? Shia couldn't have gone to UPENN? Join this group and ask Michael Bay to CGI the University of Pennsylvania (not Princeton) back into Transformers 2.

Michael has indicated to me that neither school gave him permission to use their names. There was a very funny “mom” scene were both felt it did not represent the school.

Transformers Blu-ray specs

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-06-25T17:05:36-04:00

PRODUCT INFO:

Runtime: 2 Hr. 23 Min. 24 Sec.

Languages: English Subtitled, French Dubbed & Subtitled, Portuguese Subtitled, Spanish Dubbed & Subtitled
Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital, 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus, 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, 5.1 PCM (Uncompressed)
US Rating: PG-13 - For intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, brief sexual humor, and language.
DVD Features:

• Commentary: Commentary by Director Michael Bay
• Featurette: OUR WORLD:
• Featurette: The Story Sparks HD
• Featurette: Human Allies HD
• Featurette: I Fight Giant Robots HD
• Featurette: Battleground HD
• Featurette: THEIR WAR:
• Featurette: Rise of the Robots HD
• Featurette: Autobots Roll Out HD
• Featurette: Decepticons Strike HD
• Featurette: Inside the AllSpark HD
• Featurette: Transformers Tech Inspector (TBD) HD
• Trailers: TRAILERS (will play after the feature via a menu):
• Trailers: Iron Man Trailer HD
• Featurette: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE:
• Trailers: Transformers Teaser Trailer HD
• Trailers: Rise of the Autobots HD
• Other: Transformers H.U.D. (Heads Up Display)
• Other: BD-Live Features (TBD
• Featurette: From Script to Sand: The Skorponok Desert Attack HD
• Featurette: Concepts HD
• Trailers: Trailers HD:
• Trailers: Teaser Trailer 1 HD
• Trailers: Theatrical Trailer 2 HD
• Trailers: Theatrical Trailer 4 HD
• Easter Eggs: EASTER EGGS:
• Easter Eggs: Michael Bay Cameo HD
• Easter Eggs: Girl in Dress HD
• Easter Eggs: Bay Bot HD
• Easter Eggs: Casting Mojo HD

Michael Bay at Princeton

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-06-25T13:31:57-04:00

From the NJ.com:

Ben and Michael Bay

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

BY ROBERT STERN

PRINCETON BOROUGH -- Imagine staging a car crash amid the Gothic-style stone edifices of Princeton University.

That prospect made Hollywood director Michael Bay a tad uneasy as he planned filming part of the sequel to last year's blockbuster "Transformers" movie.

He didn't know if the university, where scenes for his next "Transformers" movie have been shot for the last two days, would go along with the bent metal of an action flick.

"I thought the school was going to freak out and did a little" before accepting the crash shots, Bay said yesterday during a brief interview.

But it's all in a day's work when filming the story of a teenage hero caught in the middle of a war between two races of robotic aliens who's now off to college.

Dormitory, lecture hall and other scenes featuring lead actor Shia LaBeouf and others are also being shot at Princeton for the DreamWorks studio film, which is scheduled for release on June 26, 2009, under the title "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."

In one scene shot inside one of Princeton's large lecture halls, LaBeouf's character attends an Astronomy 101 class, Bay said.

In another shot at Princeton's Dillon Gymnasium, he and co-star Megan Fox are among dozens of students fleeing the building into a courtyard and parking lot ahead of some yet-to-be-revealed menace.

And while filming here is officially a closed set, hundreds of onlookers for the last two days lined the perimeter of some of the scenes -- though they were periodically instructed to keep quiet and take no pictures.

For a time yesterday afternoon, the area outside Dillon Gymnasium was the place to be for a glimpse of the celebrities and a chance to see the cameras rolling.

Tony Qian, a 2007 West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South graduate now attending the University of Delaware, even lucked into a spot as an extra during casting calls that were done before filming in Princeton began. The best part for him so far was some small talk between takes with the two lead stars.

"I got to talk (briefly) to Shia and Megan," Qian said. "That would probably be the coolest."

LaBeouf asked him how he was doing, he said, and the three of them went over how not to run into each other during a panicked exodus from a building.

Bay, the director of last year's "Transformers" movie and the new one in the making, said the first two days of filming on and near the Princeton campus have gone very well.

The film crew is scheduled to wrap up its Princeton work today.

In a brief interview outside Princeton's Whig Hall during a catered lunch break for the cast and crew yesterday, Bay shed a little light on Princeton's role as a setting in the "Transformers" sequel.

The university angle to the plot "is all about Sam growing up and going to college ... a teenager growing into a man," Bay said.

Sam is college student Sam Witwicky, LaBeouf's character in the special-effects-packed film about warring good and evil robots from another planet that come to Earth disguised as cars, planes, trucks and other machines.

In the first movie, Witwicky and his love interest, Mikaela Banes (played by Fox), help the faction of good robots, the Autobots, in their battle against the evil Decepticons.

As the battle continues in the second film, LaBeouf and Fox reprise their roles. Although both characters have grown from high school- to college-age since the first "Transformers" installment, only LaBeouf's Witwicky is off to college because Fox's Banes can't afford school, Bay said.

With Witwicky enrolled at a fictional East Coast school with an Ivy League feel, Banes comes from Los Angeles as a visitor to her friend's new campus, Bay said.

Campus scenes were shot at both Princeton and, earlier this month, at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Bay, who said the Princeton campus reminds him of his alma mater, Wesleyan University, said he decided to put Princeton in the movie (though it won't be called Princeton) because the campus is so beautiful.

"I just love the look of the university," he said.

Neither the university nor representatives for the filmmakers would divulge how much DreamWorks is paying to do some of the filming here.

Back to Alamogordo

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-06-13T21:06:37-04:00

ALAMOGORDO, New Mexico -DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Pictures and director Michael Bay will return to New Mexico to film major sequences for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Governor Richardson announced Monday. The next installment of the box office hit Transformers is expected to hit theaters next summer.

"Transformers was a huge success and I am pleased that Dream Works, Paramount Pictures and Michael Bay have decided to return to New Mexico to film the second installment," said Governor Richardson.

The first film, starring Shia LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Megan Fox and John Turturro, grossed more than $700 million worldwide.

The current production has been prepping in Alamogordo since April and expects to begin filming in the fall.

Source: KVIA

Michael Bay at Penn

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-06-11T21:31:46-04:00

Here are photos courtesy of The Faded Silver Screen:

Michael Bay and crew in Philadelphia

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-06-09T01:37:28-04:00

From Philly.com:

Keep an eye out for Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Megan Fox and John Turturro over the next two weeks as Michael Bay puts Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen before the cameras in Philly, starting tomorrow. Among locations: Peco plants along the Delaware, the University of Pennsylvania (because LaBeouf plays a college student), and Eastern State Penitentiary. Last week's shooting in Bethlehem, Pa., was a blast, as the old U.S. Steel plant hosted explosions and whirring Black Hawk helicopters.

Michael Bay at the National Air and Space Museum

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-06-07T15:25:47-04:00

From the Washington Post:

The National Air and Space Museum went Hollywood when it became the first Smithsonian-affiliated spot to be featured in a movie title ("Night at the Museum 2: Escape From the Smithsonian," filmed last month). Now its Chantilly outpost is getting some time in the limelight.

Director Michael Bay was at the museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center yesterday, filming scenes for his upcoming "Transformers" sequel with stars Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox. We hear that a "super-friendly" LaBeouf signed autographs while Bay took visiting school groups on behind-the-scenes tours of the film set. The museum will stay open while the crew works through today; disappointingly, there appear to be no massive controlled explosions planned.

Revenge of the Fallen

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-06-05T20:19:58-04:00

From Hasbro.com:

With a little more than a year away until its debut, the buzz is building about the sequel to 2007’s hit movie TRANSFORMERS

TRANSFORMERS 2: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN began shooting on June 2nd in Bethlehem, PA. While details of the movie’s plot a closely-guarded secret, expect a key character from the first movie to make a dramatic comeback and attempt to settle a score.

"Not a lame sequel"

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-06-04T14:54:10-04:00

From MTV.com:

First there was “Back to the Future,” and then “The Matrix,” and then, more recently, “Pirates of the Caribbean,” where literally the last thing said on screen during the second film was a cliffhanging new plot point. If you’ve got a successful franchise, why not link the second and third movies, forcing audiences to wait upwards of a year for resolution?

Because it’s friggin “lame,” “Transformers” director Michael Bay insisted to us at the MTV Movie Awards, telling MTV News that the second go-round with Optimus Prime would be entirely self-contained.

“You know how those sequels they do the second one so you go see the third one? ["Transformers 2”] is it,” he said, indicating that “2” would be its own story free from the duel shackles of set-up or resolution. “First one was just introducing, setting up stuff, so we can go a lot farther. Let’s just say [this] is not a lame sequel.”

If “Transformers” was all about introduction, then “Transformers 2” will be all about escalation, with reports that upwards of 20 robots will do battle in the blockbuster sequel. But for Bay, it’s not the number of robots present, but how they’ll be more fully and individually realized that has him excited, he said.

“The robots are going to surprise a lot of people because we go with a lot of different levels,” he teased.

Of course, that also applies to returning cast members, as well, who will now get a chance to go further with their characters than they did in the original. Shia LaBeouf will be in college (and taught by Rainn Wilson). But forget transforming robots or finals angst, Megan Fox smiled, the real transformation is yet to come.

“In this one I transform from a girl into a woman,” she laughed.

Michael Bay meets fans at Bethlehem Steel

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-06-03T17:35:30-04:00

From the Morning Call:

“Bay then zipped up to the chain-link gate in a golf cart as people screamed and chanted ''T-2! T-2!'' He cheerfully invited everyone into a parking lot at Northampton Community College's Fowler Family Southside Center, just a few hundred feet from two Apache helicopters.”

Michael Bay accepts award at the MTV movie awards

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-06-02T17:53:21-04:00

Michael Bay and Will Smith talk Bad Boys 3 on the MTV red carpet

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-06-02T17:29:39-04:00

"It's not one of those bullshit sequels"

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-06-02T12:51:51-04:00

Michael Bay gets interview on the MTV Movie awards red carpet. Click here to view the interview at Joblo.com.

Photograph by Lester Cohen.

Transformers principal photgraphy begins today

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-06-02T09:57:35-04:00

Nelson here.

Shooting begins today in Bethlehem, Pa. Good luck to Michael and the crew!

'Transformers" comes to Blur-ray

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-06-02T09:54:47-04:00

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Michael Bay feels vindicated.

Paramount Pictures is releasing his box office hit "Transformers" on Blu-ray Disc, nearly a year after the studio's decision to issue the film in the rival HD DVD format triggered a tirade from the director.

"I've been waiting for 'Transformers' to be released on Blu-ray for a long time, and it was worth the wait," Bay said. He called the September 2 release of the two-disc set "the complete high-definition package for fans."

"It looks stunning and really allows you to engage with this movie in new ways," Bay added. "Remember, I told everyone Blu-ray was best."

He sure did. In August, when Paramount stunned the industry by announcing it was dropping its support for Blu-ray Disc and would release films only in HD DVD, "Transformers" was the flashpoint of the controversy. It was the biggest title the studio had in store for the fourth quarter, and a Blu-ray Disc edition had already been mastered and prepared for release.

On his Web site, Bay blasted Paramount's decision to go HD DVD-only and threatened to take his sequel elsewhere.

"I want people to see my movies in the best formats possible," he wrote. "For Paramount to deny people who have Blu-ray sucks! They are progressive by having two formats. No 'Transformers 2' for me."

Bay backtracked, writing the next day that he "overreacted" and "might be back on" for the sequel. As it turns out, HD DVD was soon to be doomed when principal developer Toshiba threw in the towel February 19.

The Blu-ray edition of "Transformers" that Paramount is preparing will include extensive extras and special features, including a commentary from Bay and two documentaries about the film's human and robotic stars. Segments include executive producer Steven Spielberg discussing his love for the franchise, and a detailed look at the casting process and real-world weapons provided by the military.

Bay said principal photography on "Transformers 2" is set to begin Monday.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

'Transformers' best movie at the MTV awards.

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-06-01T22:57:29-04:00

From the Associated Press:

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. (AP) — "Transformers" is the winner of best movie at the 2008 MTV Movie Awards.

Last summer's robots-in-disguise blockbuster took the top honor Sunday night. Megan Fox helped accept the award.

The ceremony was held at the Gibson Amphitheatre, only a couple of hundred yards uphill from the disastrous fire that ripped through the adjacent Universal Studios lot earlier in the day in Universal City, Calif.

Online voters chose winners for categories such as best kiss, best villain and best summer movie so far. Johnny Depp won twice, and got the biggest ovations of the night while shyly accepting best comedic performance and best villain awards.

Tom Cruise presented Adam Sandler with the Generation Award, the show's highest honor.

Optimus shirt will get you arrested

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-05-30T22:46:19-04:00

Nelson here.

A passenger in the UK was not allowed to board a flight because he had on a FCUK Transformers shirt that offended the authorities. Below is the offending shirt. Read the whole here.

Crews arrive in Bethlehem, Pa

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-05-30T21:16:03-04:00

From the Morning Call:

The beginning of a blockbuster?

By Michael Duck Of The Morning Call / May 29, 2008

Explosions, blazing lights and even military helicopters will all be part of making a Hollywood movie about giant, shape-shifting robots -- but, as the Bethlehem neighbors of the ''Transformers 2'' movie set will find out next week, it might not involve much sleep.

The movie's crew will be turning the former Bethlehem Steel site into a nighttime war zone from 4 p.m. Monday until 7 a.m. Tuesday, Mayor John Callahan said Wednesday. The filming will continue the following two nights during the same hours.

Notices were sent to neighbors and nearby business owners Tuesday warning them about the upcoming noise, glare and road closures that will come along with the filming of one of the movie's opening scenes, which will feature the computer-generated robots alongside Steel's instantly-recognizable blast furnaces.

''It is essentially going to be a simulated war,'' Callahan said.

''Overall, it's a great thing for the city,'' he said, citing the economic impact from the roughly 200 crew members staying in hotels and buying supplies.

At the same time, city officials know the filming might be an inconvenience for anyone trying to sleep through director Michael Bay's pyrotechnic displays. Callahan said officials want to make sure residents know what's going on so they won't call police with worries or complaints about the noise.

The movie, which follows up on Bay's 2007 blockbuster ''Transformers,'' focuses on extraterrestrial robots that disguise themselves as everything from cars to fighter jets. Both movies are based on the ''Transformers'' toys and cartoon that rocketed to popularity in the 1980s.

The Bethlehem scene will be set in a fictional Chinese city. The movie's crew has already recruited dozens of local residents of Asian descent to work as extras.

Members of the movie crew appeared to be building part of the set Wednesday at the western edge of the blast furnaces. Also on Wednesday, dozens of trucks carrying filming equipment rolled into a parking lot at the nearby Steel Ice Center.

''It's pretty thrilling that they're going to be right here,'' said Nancy Hudson of Bethlehem, the ice rink's receptionist, adding that she and her family are ''big fans of Optimus Prime'' -- the heroic Transformers leader who changes into a tractor-trailer.

''Right now, we're all kind of looking out and wondering what's going to happenÂ…and hoping that they have people watching their equipment,'' Hudson said, alluding to the pricey lights and other filmmaking supplies.

In fact, security is tight on the movie set, the Bethlehem Steel site and even the ice rink's parking lot. When a Morning Call reporter checked out the parking lot Wednesday afternoon, a security guard with a badge featuring the ''Transformers'' logo politely asked him to move along.

The notice issued Tuesday to neighbors and nearby businesses mentions that the filming will include ''large-scale pyrotechnics,'' fake guns and several military helicopters, Callahan said. He added the filming will also shut down nearby parts of Third and Polk streets from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

In addition, lights will be set up along the Lehigh Canal towpath to illuminate the blast furnaces from across the Lehigh River, Callahan said.

The Rev. Gordon Mowrer, a city councilman, lives nearby in Moravian Village on the north side of the river. He jokingly pledged to sit out in a lawn chair to take in the scene next week.

''I really am curious to see what it's going to be like,'' he said, adding that it might be a preview of the noise and lighting that Musikfest concerts will bring to the Steel site in a few years.

Asked where other curious onlookers might get a glimpse of the action, Callahan declined to offer any suggestions. ''We're not necessarily encouraging people to come out,'' he said, but he acknowledged that people are excited to see the filming and will probably find some good vantage points at a safe distance.

''It's like the fireworks,'' Callahan said. ''We don't tell people where to go to watch the fireworks, but they seem to figure it out.''

The Ouija

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-05-29T13:18:01-04:00

From THR:

David Berenbaum and Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes have been brought on deck to bring Hasbro's supernatural game "Ouija Board" to the big screen. The project is set up at Universal, where Hasbro has a six-year strategic partnership.

Platinum Dunes' Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller will produce "Ouija" along with Hasbro.

Although the specific log line for the film is being kept under wraps, the film will be a supernatural adventure with the Ouija board playing an integral part of the story. The movie is not taking a "Jumanji"-like approach, which involved a game coming to life.

While divination or spiritual boards have been around for centuries, they began being sold as novelty items in the late 1800s, with the first Ouija board, one with an alphabet on it, being patented in 1890. Players' fingers are placed on a small planchette that mysteriously moves to letters and numbers in order to spell out messages from beyond the earthly realm.

The board has been produced by Hasbro's Parker Brothers since 1966, with millions being sold worldwide.

Bennett Schneir, Hasbro's senior vp and managing director of motion pictures will oversee the project for Hasbro.

Berenbaum penned "Elf" and worked on "The Spiderwick Chronicles," "Zoom," and "The Haunted Mansion." The scribe was approached by Hasbro before the company's partnership with Universal and his deal only very recently closed.

Platinum Dunes, known for its horror remakes, is working on "Unborn," an original supernatural thriller being directed by David Goyer.

The project is another example of WMA synergy at work: the agency reps Hasbro, Berenbaum and Platinum Dunes.

Sydney Pollack: 1934 - 2008

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-05-28T12:55:39-04:00

LOS ANGELES — Sydney Pollack, a Hollywood mainstay as director, producer and sometime actor whose star-laden movies like “The Way We Were,” “Tootsie” and “Out of Africa” were among the most successful of the 1970s and ’80s, died Monday at home here. He was 73.

The cause was cancer, said the publicist Leslee Dart, who spoke for his family.

Mr. Pollack’s career defined an era in which big stars (Robert Redford, Barbra Streisand, Warren Beatty) and the filmmakers who knew how to wrangle them (Barry Levinson, Mike Nichols) retooled the Hollywood system. Savvy operators, they played studio against studio, staking their fortunes on pictures that served commerce without wholly abandoning art.

Hollywood honored Mr. Pollack in return. His movies received multiple Academy Award nominations, and as a director he won an Oscar for his work on the 1985 film “Out of Africa” as well as nominations for directing “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” (1969) and “Tootsie” (1982).

“Michael Clayton,” of which Mr. Pollack was a producer and a member of the cast, was nominated for a best picture Oscar earlier this year. He delivered a trademark performance as an old-bull lawyer who demands dark deeds from a subordinate, played by George Clooney. (“This is news? This case has reeked from Day 1!” snaps Mr. Pollack’s Marty Bach.) Most recently, Mr. Pollack portrayed the father of Patrick Dempsey’s character in “Made of Honor.”

Mr. Pollack became a prolific producer of independent films in the latter part of his career. With a partner, the filmmaker Anthony Minghella, he ran Mirage Enterprises, a production company whose films included Mr. Minghella’s “Cold Mountain” and the documentary “Sketches of Frank Gehry,” released in 2006, the last film directed by Mr. Pollack.

Source: NYTimes

Transformers 2 to pump $5 million into regional economy

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-05-17T22:35:29-04:00

From the Morning Call:

Bay's last ''Transformers'' movie featured ''one heart-stopping scene after another,'' Callahan said. ''To have Bethlehem as a backdrop for all that is going to be spectacular.''

He also joked that he's lobbying to get into the film, even if that means playing a corpse in a crowd scene.

Many members of the Lehigh Valley's filmmaking community are eager to see a Dreamworks movie set spring up in their backyard.

''It doesn't get any bigger than that,'' said Kathy McAuley of the Lehigh Valley Film Office. ''This is undoubtedly the biggest thrill that I've had, working to bring filmmakers here.''

''Transformers 2,'' which is scheduled for a 2009 release, will also be filming in Philadelphia. The production is expected to spend more than $5 million between its operations in Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley and New Jersey, Callahan said.

Read the complete article here.

The Billion Dollar Club

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-05-09T12:43:03-04:00

There are only 13 directors in film history who's films have grossed more than $1 billion at the box office (domestically). Michael Bay did it in seven. So did James Cameron. The list follows:

1 Steven Spielberg $3,447.9
2 Robert Zemeckis $1,802.9
3 George Lucas $1,700.5
4 Ron Howard $1,606.3
5 Chris Columbus $1,567.9
6 Gore Verbinski $1,308.5
7 Tim Burton $1,289.3
8 Peter Jackson $1,271.7
9 Sam Raimi $1,249.7
10 James Cameron $1,146.9
11 Michael Bay $1,093.7
12 Clint Eastwood $1,002.4
13 Andrew Adamson $1,000.6

Stats courtesy of Boxofficemojo.com.

Indy 4 to really suck? ;)

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-05-08T03:44:45-04:00

SAG negotiations end with no deal

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-05-07T13:14:07-04:00

Nelson here...

It appears that the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) negotiations with the AMPTP have resulted in no new contract.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollywood producers on Tuesday temporarily broke off contract talks with the Screen Actors Guild, calling its demands regarding DVD sales and online content "unreasonable." "With SAG's continued adherence to unreasonable demands in both new and traditional media, continuing negotiations at this time does not make sense," the producers said in a statement. The guild responded in a statement by saying the producers' decision to end talks after 18 days was unfortunate. Both sides have said they sought to avoid a repeat of the 100-day writers strike that ended in February. The union's contract for films and prime-time TV shows expires June 30.

Bay weighs in:

SAG wants more than Directors and Writers? That's a smart tactic I guess. When are people going to understand, most importantly actors - we are at war - we are facing a major recession - our country is in dire need of being fixed - our country also has no money because we have given trillions to the Iraq war and we have NOT even started to pay for it - it is just paid right now by printing more money on presses - China owns our ass in every way. Why not strike on a business in a down fall. Just like the writer's they made pennies on the four extra months striking - when you do the real math and they are paying the price for it still - so many writer's out of work still!!! I want this business to thrive - I know the studio heads and they will punish those that defy them. Okay, be an idealist - but you will never get a better deal then the writer's or directors - only the same - the studio's will never allow it, don't kid yourself. The working actors don't want a strike - they have said so. Too many non working actors have a say which is crazy - maybe there are just too many actors?? Gosh I'm even a member of SAG, but I don't feel I've earned the right to vote in this guild.

One hunch, the leaders of these guilds seem to like the limelight they get in the press, it becomes more about the ego in the room rather than something smart. Striking is not smart. Through the history in America, strikes in businesses have only gained the union worker 6% at the max - so take the emotion out of it and go for the 6%. A path to strike is not smart for the the hundreds of thousands of people in this business. Sanity needs to prevail here - talk real and talk the same talk as your union brothers - not more!

Transformers principal photography set to begin June 2

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-04-25T20:14:47-04:00

Nelson here...

Spoke to Michael today and I was informed that Transformers 2 is set to begin shooting principal photography on Wednesday, June 2, 2008.

Enjoy the weekend!

Awesome extended

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-03-16T08:33:47-04:00

Happy birthday Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-02-17T08:06:54-05:00

Click here to wish Michael a happy birthday.

And the fat lady sings!

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-02-16T18:47:51-05:00

From the NYTimes:

HD DVD, the beloved format of Toshiba and three Hollywood studios, died Friday after a brief illness. The cause of death was determined to be the decision by Wal-Mart to stock only high-definition DVDs and players using the Blu-ray format.

The announcement by Wal-Mart Stores, the nation’s largest retailer of DVDs, that it would stop selling the discs and machines in June when supplies are depleted comes after decisions this week by Best Buy, the largest electronics retailer, to promote Blu-ray as its preferred format and Netflix, the DVD-rental service, to stock only Blu-ray movies, phasing out HD DVD by the end of this year.Last year, Target, one of the top sellers of electronics, discontinued selling HD DVD players in its stores, but continued to sell them online.“The fat lady has sung,” said Rob Enderle, a technology industry analyst in Silicon Valley. “Wal-Mart is the biggest player in the DVD market. If it says HD DVD is done, you can take that as a fact.”

Michael at the beginning of this year:

Blu ray is just better. HD will die a slow death. It's what I predicted a year ago. Now with Warner's down for the count with Blu Ray. That makes it easier for Wal-Mart to push Blu Ray. And whatever Wal-Mart pushes - wins.

Verizon FIOS: Awesome!

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-02-14T20:49:45-05:00

Check here to see if Verizon Fios is available in your area.

View FIOS pricing here.

Mike speaks on Blu-ray

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-02-14T16:59:29-05:00

Michael Bay Relishes Blu-ray's Victories

Author: FRED TOPEL

TransformersWhen Paramount Home Entertainment decided to support HD DVD exclusively, Michael Bay was vocally opposed. Since the decision came just as his Transformers would debut on high-definition home video, Bay threatened to back out of the sequel.

He took back his drastic comments and is hard at work developing Transformers 2, but now that Blu-ray is the format that is gaining momentum, Bay cannot help but remind us he told us so.

“Blu-ray’s better, and I told everyone,” Bay said at the Visual Effects Society’s sixth annual award show, where he presented the award for animated character in a motion picture. “I was very vocal about it. I knew HD [DVD] was not going to make it.”

With HD DVD being edged out of competition by sheer volume of product moving to Blu-ray, Bay is all but gloating.

“Am I thrilled? It really wasn’t my fight, but remember what I said in the press? I was kind of saying HD [DVD]’s going to lose,” he said. “No one believed me.”

Many of Bay’s films were produced by studios that have supported Blu-ray from the beginning. The Rock is already available on Blu-ray from Buena Vista Home Entertainment (now Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment), with Pearl Harbor and Armageddon possibly on the way. Sony’s Columbia owns the “Bad Boys” films.

Bay personally supervises his Blu-ray transfers and says he loves his preferred format.

“It’s just sharper,” he said. “It’s just [that] the tools are better. I just think it’s closer to what it should look like.”

Should Armageddon make it to Blu-ray, there may be even more work in store. Original materials were destroyed.

"Believe it or not, we have to remaster Armageddon,” he said. “The Armageddon [master] was burned in a fire apparently, so we’ve got to re-master the whole movie.”

With many of Bay’s films 10 years old or more, it is possible that Blu-ray editions will reveal flaws just by bringing them into sharper focus.

“I’m sure that’s going to be apparent, probably in Armageddon,” he said.

The Rock, Bay’s second film after Bad Boys, was released in 1996. The Blu-ray edition appears grainy in certain shots, but Bay likes it that way. He uses it as an artistic choice, even in his more recent film.

“Yeah, there’s some grain, pushing film, shooting at night,” he said. “There’s actually some grain in Transformers. We pushed it just a little too much. I don’t mind grain. Grain has a vibe.”

Source: homemediamagazine.com

Verizon Taps High-Octane Filmmaker Michael Bay for New FiOS Advertising Campaign

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-02-14T17:00:42-05:00

NEW YORK, Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrated filmmaker Michael Bay will be the first celebrity featured in a new advertising campaign for Verizon FiOS TV and FiOS Internet services. Themed "This is FiOS; This is Big," the new campaign -- created for Verizon by McCann Erickson, New York -- showcases the groundbreaking services delivered over Verizon's advanced fiber-optic network straight to customers' homes.

"Michael Bay is a larger-than-life figure because he's a powerful game-changer," said John Wimsatt, senior vice president of marketing for Verizon Telecom. "Verizon FiOS is the best and first choice for home entertainment because the power of our fiber-optic network delivers the best picture quality, fastest Internet and most-innovative interactive services. Michael Bay is the perfect choice to help portray the big, powerful experiences that FiOS creates in home entertainment and broadband."

Bay -- who is famous for directing cutting-edge, high-octane blockbusters like "Transformers," "Pearl Harbor," "Bad Boys" and "Armageddon" -- stars in an action-packed, 30-second TV spot for Verizon FiOS Internet service that begins airing Sunday (Feb. 17). In the ad, Bay deftly spoofs his own super-charged Hollywood persona as he blows up things throughout a super-contemporary home to show how Verizon "blows away" cable Internet service with upload and download speeds that are up to 25 times faster. While a Verizon technician installs FiOS Internet service in the home, Bay uses a remote detonator to blow up a barbecue grill and swimming pool. He also shows off his pet cat -- a Bengal tiger -- and a 20-foot-tall Transformer to underscore how "awesome" -- a word he continuously repeats -- he finds the Verizon fiber-optic technology.

Source: PRNewswire.

View the ad here.

Bay Hosts Transformers Tech Show

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-02-14T07:20:33-05:00

From Variety:

Transformers director Michael Bay returned to the scene of the crime Thursday night at the Cary Grant mixing stage at the Sony lot to revisit the Oscar-nominated achievements in VFX and sound. The place was packed with filmmaking geeks eager to hear and see the behind-the-scenes machinations that go into a formidable FX epic like Transformers.

It was tough for Bay to go back, he admitted after the show, as he's already deep into pre-production on Transformers 2, which is set to start filming on June 2. Bay didn't let the strike stop him. "The strike was a drag," he said. "But I like to write myself. So I wrote 60 pages. I showed the writers something to look at. We'll get back to the torture chamber on Monday." Transformers 2 will deepen the different robot characters as well as the humor, he said. "There's a geriatric robot. If there's an actors strike we'll just stop and start again. We'll make our date." (The movie is scheduled to open June 26, 2009.)

After The Rock, Armageddon, and Pearl Harbor, Bay is tight with the Pentagon and thinks nothing of picking up the phone to get them to reroute a C130 gunship with Seals in it for a few hours. "We pay for the fuel," he says. "The military looks at this as a recruiting effort. The jargon is real. I told them what was happening, and that's what they said. I shot it like a documentary."

Bay, who has a reputation for being tough on crews, endured some good-humored riffing during the show-and-tell, from star Shia LaBeouf as well as his sound designers, editors, and mixers and special FX and ILM VFX artists. Bay was proud that he made Transformers "for a price" he said, in California and New Mexico. "We have the best crews."

For Bay, sound is "50 % of the movie, while the visual effects are a whole other movie unto itself." He shot as much of the film as possible in real locations with live (often dangerous) on-camera stunts and real FX supervised by the legendary John Frazier. In stark contrast to a Star Wars episode which boasts mostly blue screen shots, Transformers had only two days of blue-screen shooting (when the young leads climbed on the shoulders of the robots).

Even the famous shot of the bus that is split apart by a giant robot was a live-action bus blown in two going 60 mph on the freeway with a 30-foot CG robot added six months later. "There's one million details these guys put in the movie," said Frazier, who tried to keep enormous spaces open in the shots for the CG animators to work in.

For LaBeouf and the other actors, "acting without anything there is hard," said Bay. "It's so different when you don't have any environment to react to." LaBeouf described a P.A. holding a long big stick with a green ball on top and shaking it. "They're angry now, shake it faster," he described Bay saying. ILM VFX supervisor Scott Farrar showed the actors a pre-vis--"a cartoon of what's going on in the scene," said Bay, adding, "I always like to put my actors under duress." According to LaBeouf, hanging from a building 20 feet in the air to talk to Megatron or being surrounded by explosions while the cameras wore protective gear was the norm.

On the VFX side, "it's lighting," said Bay. "Everyone looks at light every day and when something looks fake it's not lit well to your brain. We worked on the light, that's why the robots look so real, these things sit next to humans." Bay flew up to ILM in San Francisco frequently, and communicated via satellite link with a pen pointer. He'd never dealt with animation before, which is about performance. "It was painstaking, like Pixar cartoons," he said, "a pain in the ass."

Scott Benza, the animation supervisor, was there to "bring life to the robots," he said. He worked with 30 animators on 16 characters and 47 transformations--each one unique. "It encompasses everything from subtle acting to a full on action scene with brutal robots fighting each other. We gave each artist the freedom to go to town." Optimus Prime has 10108 parts. All the pieces had 4 to 16 layers of information: details, scratches, and metal flake paint with a clear coat finish.

The robots were heavy and massive and athletic and nimble, all at the same time, like Ninja fighters. "They had to have weight and mass and be very cool," said Farrar. The transformations involved "clever people solving puzzles, fitting pieces from one form into another. It would take brute force on each shot until it worked."

The robots also had to act--with complicated facial rigs for the eyes, nose, and mouth-- and each one was different. They rebuilt Bumblebee's eyes three times, making the iris go up and down, until one day in dailies "we saw his soul," said Farrar.

The VFX team took the live-action shots and created CG environments to match them. Said Farrar, "it's about how to make the big guys who are not there look real. You have to go way beyond--the metals look metallic, they look like part of a scene, they fit in with buildings. We are there to put things in the movie that can't be photographed or are difficult or too dangerous to shoot."

Russell Earl did lighting and rendering. "We'd go back and recreate in the computer Scorpinox jumping out of the sand," he said. "We'd copy the scene and use a CG version to match." Adding reflections and highlights and shadow are a big part of making the robots' 20-foot height look real. And making the environment "dirty." Flying debris. Particles. Compositing all these elements is the other huge challenge.

Bay has worked with the same sound crew for 12 years. He affectionately razzed sound mixer Kevin O'Connell as "the biggest loser in Academy history." He's had 19 noms and no wins. This is his 20th go-round.

O'Connell, supervising sound editors Ethan Van Der Ryn and Mike Hopkins, sound rerecording mixer Greg P. Russell and sound mixer Peter Devlin explained how they capture all the distinct sounds on set (dialogue, planes, guns, ricochets, explosions, 9 sets of sounds specific to the robots) and collect it all for the sound mixers to file and manipulate, along with the music. "We take hundreds of sounds," said O'Connell, and try to focus the energy." The goal is to key the audience into what's important in a given scene, and not wind up with "a train wreck of sound."

The sound designers had to come up with characteristic personalities for the different robots, and make the large robot sounds work--partly by throwing the sound to all the speakers in a theater, not just the "dialogue" speaker in the center of the screen.

The sound of Optimus Prime, voiced by Peter Cullen, is about air. Bumble Bee is about buzzing. The sound crew brought a volunteer up to a mike to record sound for Bumble Bee as he groans on the battlefield. The audience listened to the actor live, then heard the sound integrated through the Bumble Bee sound matrix on screen. It magically worked. Big applause. The magic of sound.

Transformers wins 4 awards at the VES

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-02-11T19:54:07-05:00

Click here to view the complete list of winners at the Visual Effects Society awards.

From the Hollywood Reporter:

"Transformers" on Sunday won four Visual Effects Society Awards, including the top prize for outstanding visual effects in a visual effects-driven film.

In addition to the top award, "Transformers" won trophies for single visual effect of the year, for its desert highway sequence; models and miniatures; and compositing. Collecting the top prize were Scott Farrar, Shari Hanson, Russell Earl and Scott Benza.

Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Motion Picture

"Transformers"
Scott Farrar
Shari Hanson
Russell Earl
Scott Benza

Best Single Visual Effect of the Year

"Transformers" (Desert highway sequence)
Scott Farrar
Shari Hanson
Shawn Kelly
Michael Jamieson

Models or Miniatures in a Motion Picture

"Transformers"
Dave Fogler
Ron Woodall
Alex Jaeger
Brian Gernand

Compositing in a Motion Picture

"Transformers"
Pat Tubach
Beth D'Amato
Todd Vaziri
Mike Conte

Michael Bay speaks about Transformers 2

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-02-11T19:55:42-05:00

Video courtesy of ISB.net.

Michael Bay ad cameo

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-01-25T19:47:37-05:00

Transformers nominated for 3 Oscars

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-01-22T20:01:16-05:00

VISUAL EFFECTS

"The Golden Compass" (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners) Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris and Trevor Wood

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End" (Walt Disney) John Knoll, Hal Hickel, Charles Gibson and John Frazier

"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro) Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Russell Earl and John Frazier

SOUND MIXING

"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal) Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis

"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter Kurland

"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney) Randy Thom, Michael Semanick and Doc Kane

"3:10 to Yuma" (Lionsgate) Paul Massey, David Giammarco and Jim Stuebe

"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro) Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell and Peter J. Devlin

SOUND EDITING

"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal) Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg

"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) Skip Lievsay

"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney) Randy Thom and Michael Silvers

"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax) Matthew Wood

"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro) Ethan Van der Ryn and Mike Hopkins

Michael Bay talks about the the DGA, the WGA strike, and the future of Transformers

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-01-18T07:26:10-05:00

From Variety:

Director Michael Bay said he was cautiously optimistic, but that he has been preparing to get a "Transformers" sequel into production, strike or no strike."We knew from early on that the writers strike could get ugly, and this has got to bring a little sanity to the situation," Bay said. "I can't do the movie without my writers, but I have been prepping. I'm not in the guild, but I've been writing every day. This strike (is) insane, and a director's responsibility is to the 50 crew members who depend on you for their livelihoods. We've got battle plans ready for the possibility of an actors strike. Somehow, you've got to keep the ball rolling."

Official Directors Have A New Deal!

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-01-17T20:08:47-05:00

Great News!!!

Michael

******

From Variety:

The DGA’s reached a tentative three-year deal with the AMPTP with key advances in jurisdiction and payment for programming on the Internet.

“Two words describe this agreement -- groundbreaking and substantial,” said Gil Cates, chair of the DGA’s Negotiations Committee. “The gains in this contract for directors and their teams are extraordinary -- and there are no rollbacks of any kind.”

The was announced Thursday afternoon following six days of negotiations at AMPTP amid widespread expectations that the helmers would quickly reach an agreement with the majors. Deal, if ratified by the 13,500 DGA members, will take effect on July 1.

DGA touted a trio of new-media gains:

Establishing DGA jurisdiction over programs produced for distribution on the Internet;
Boosting the residuals formula for paid Internet downloads (electronic sell-through) by double the current rate;
And establishing residual rates for ad-supported streaming and use of clips on the Internet.

Source: Variety

Transformers: The Top-Selling DVD of 2007

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-01-08T21:35:21-05:00

Top-selling DVDs of 2007

1. Transformers (Paramount/DreamWorks): 13.74 million units
2. Happy Feet (Warner): 13.48
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Disney): 13.20
4. 300 (Warner): 12.91
5. Ratatouille (Disney): 12.06
6. Shrek the Third (Paramount/DreamWorks): 11.84
7. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Warner): 10.14
8. The Departed (Warner): 8.94
9. Night at the Museum (Fox): 8.66
10. The Bourne Ultimatum (Universal): 7.36

Source: Redhill group via USA Today

Blu-ray Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2008-01-05T10:35:26-05:00

Nelson here...happy new year! And what a way to start the new year.

It appears that Michael Bay was right.

Variety reports the details on Warner Bros. decision to got Blu-ray exclusively.

Warner Bros. will throw all its weight behind Blu-ray later this year, a decision that could serve as a death blow to the rival HD DVD format.Studio, which had hinted it might drop one format after the holidays, said it decided to back Blu-ray to try and reduce confusion brought on by the high-def format war and better drive mainstream adoption. Warner made the decision heading into the annual Consumer Electronics Show confab in Las Vegas, where it had been skedded to participate in activities promoting the rival HD DVD format on Sunday evening.Warner execs cited Blu-ray's domestic and international sales as the tipping point in its favor. From the start, the Sony developed format enjoys has had an advantage in greater studio support and the PlayStation 3 console, which plays high-def movies and, at least in the early going, was much more affordable than Blu-ray decks, which have tended to carry a higher price tag than HD DVD counterparts.

Happy New Year

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-12-31T18:38:37-05:00

I want to thank Nelson for running such a good site!

For the millions of viewers that logged on this year I want to thank you for the support. Transformers 2 will be coming soon. The new robots are really really unique and there are a lot of them this time.

I WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE A GREAT HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR.

Your friend,

Michael

Transformers most popular trailer on Yahoo.com for 2007

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-12-29T10:53:58-05:00

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/top10trailersof2007.html

Academy considers Transformers for Best VFX

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-12-17T19:19:23-05:00

From Variety:

The Motion Picture Academy’s visual effects branch made an unprecedented statement in support of visual effects in animated films as it narrowed the contenders for the vfx Oscar to 15 films that will be considered for the January “bake-off.”

Michael Bay on AMC's Shootout (Part 1)

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-12-16T19:15:34-05:00

Nelson herre...

Bay appeared today on AMC's Shootout with Peter Guber and Peter Bart.

This clip, "Michael Bay on mentoring" refers to Mark Palansky, who use to work for Bay. IIRC, Palansky shot the Super 8 footage in Pearl Harbor.

His first feature film is set to release on February 29th, 2008. It's called "Penelope" starring Christina Ricci. You can view the trailer in HD.

Transformers: Behind the scenes

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-12-15T08:53:32-05:00

Digital Domain Plans to Go Public

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-12-11T21:35:30-05:00

From the AP:

Digital Domain, a visual effects and animation company affiliated with Hollywood film producer Michael Bay, said Tuesday it plans an initial public offering of its common stock, but did not disclose any terms.

Bay to receive award from the MPSE

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-12-01T09:10:28-05:00

From Variety:

The Motion Picture Sound Editors will present Michael Bay with the Golden Reel Filmmaker Award at the 55th Motion Picture Sound Editors Awards to be held in February.

Transformers DVD and HD-DVD sales are top sellers this year

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-10-22T21:43:52-04:00

HOLLYWOOD--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The blockbuster hit from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, TRANSFORMERS, is the year’s top-selling week one DVD with North American sales reaching 8.3 million units since the title’s debut on October 16, it was announced today by Paramount Home Entertainment. The biggest original film of the year from director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg, in association with Hasbro, Inc., is also the best-selling DVD day one for the year with over 4.5 million units sold on Tuesday. Additionally, the smash hit has exploded into the high definition market, selling over 100,000 HD DVDs its first day of release, rocketing past previous releases to become the best-selling day one high definition title on either format since their inceptions. TRANSFORMERS has sold over 190,000 HD DVDs in its first week making it the fastest and best-selling week one release on either high definition format as well as the best selling HD DVD ever. The TRANSFORMERS DVD is also the top-selling October DVD release in the history of the home entertainment industry.

“The performance of the TRANSFORMERS DVD and HD DVD has demonstrated the phenomenal success of this global franchise,” said Kelley Avery, president, Worldwide Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures. “We’re happy to be kicking off the fourth quarter with a title that clearly shows home entertainment releases are still an event that drives consumers into stores—which is a win for both content providers and retailers.” Earning over $700 million at the global box office, the live-action feature film TRANSFORMERS is the latest success in a worldwide franchise that has emerged as one of the most successful properties in action figure history, spawning numerous television series and comic books and a wealth of toys, games and other licensed merchandise. In 2007, TRANSFORMERS has become one of the hottest properties for boys in a variety of categories, including toys, publishing, video games, apparel and back-to-school. Hasbro’s licensing arm, HPG, has signed more than 250 licensees in 70 countries around the world.

The first live-action film based on the enduringly popular “ROBOTS IN DISGUISE”, TRANSFORMERS features the ultimate battle between good and evil, as the peace-loving AUTOBOTS seek to protect humanity from the evil forces of the DECEPTICONS. The TRANSFORMERS Special Edition two-disc DVD and HD DVD sets provide an incredible experience with an arsenal of bonus material that delivers excitement and fun for long-time fans, as well as for viewers who are new to the TRANSFORMERS universe. Further, the HD DVD includes a host of highly advanced web-enabled features that will continue to roll-out through the rest of the year.

Source: Businesswire

Bay: Transformers DVD could have been better...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-10-22T21:41:55-04:00

By Mike Snider, USA TODAY

Most directors diplomatically go to bat for DVDs of their films. Filmmaker Michael Bay (Armageddon, Bad Boys, The Rock) is just as likely to drop verbal bombs while talking about his DVDs as when he is directing.
Bay's take on the new Transformers DVD, which has sold 8.3 million copies since its release last week: "It's a good DVD. But not as good as it could have been," he says. That sales total made Transformers the year's fastest-selling DVD in North America, according to Paramount Home Entertainment.

Despite setting a record, Bay, 42, says a hectic studio schedule prevented him from being as personally involved in the DVD as he was back in the days of Pearl Harbor. His 2002 four-disc director's cut of that film set the standard for buffed-up special editions.

"I was traveling promoting (Transformers) while they were doing the DVD," he says. "You try to guide people as to what to do (in making it), but ultimately if you rush your date, you are not going to get the DVD as good as it could be. … Studios want to pump this stuff out, and my job is to care about it and try to put the right people on it. They just see it as a show they are selling, and I see it as a movie. That's how your movie lives on, in the DVD format."

An aspect of the DVD that Bay says he personally fought for was having the film be on a disc by itself, with just a commentary. He won that battle in the $20 single-disc version that hit shelves last week along with a deluxe, two-disc $40 version.

Source: USA TODAY

Michael Bay Planet LA interview

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-10-16T06:29:51-04:00

This is one great interview in which Michael talks about the entertainmnet industry and the LA of yesterday.

'Transformers II' update

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-10-10T20:25:06-04:00

By Jay A. Fernandez, Special to The Times
October 10, 2007

Well, DreamWorks and Paramount are finally moving forward with their inevitable "Transformers" sequel, and they've done it by putting an enormous down payment on a unique, blockbuster screenwriting crew. In a deal that could ultimately pay out more than $8 million, the studios have hired Ehren Kruger ("The Ring," "Scream 3") to write the film's screenplay with original "Transformers" scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, whose four credited films have produced $1.4 billion in worldwide box office.

DreamWorks' willingness to agree to a combined team of A-listers, especially at such lofty rates, speaks to the studio's faith in the writers' ability to deliver (it also, one insider notes, effectively discourages the studio from spending more money to hire someone to rewrite their work).

Producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura and DreamWorks executives had been inviting writers to propose takes on the sequel as early as May, two months before the first film's Independence Day opening. The studio has been looking at the "Transformers" property as an extended saga, with an expansive mythology built into at least two more films.

But Kurtzman and Orci have been jammed with high-profile writing and producing assignments ("Star Trek," "Eagle Eye") and originally passed on writing the sequel to avoid overextending themselves. With returning director Michael Bay looking to keep them involved and no killer pitches forthcoming, last month the studio finally persuaded them by suggesting they team with another writer (for the second film only; Bay has not committed to a third either.)

As producers, Kurtzman and Orci had hired Kruger to pen another DreamWorks project, "Nightlife," and apparently enjoyed the relationship enough to collaborate with him as writers. (Kruger had recently adapted Stephen King's "The Talisman" for Steven Spielberg, a "Transformers" executive producer.)

Even with the added partner, the logistics should prove complicated. The new "Star Trek," which Kurtzman and Orci are producing and writing for Paramount, and "Eagle Eye," which they're producing for DreamWorks, start shooting on the same day next month. And "Fringe," the sci-fi series Kurtzman and Orci sold to Fox TV last week, starts shooting by year's end.

So Kurtzman and Orci will somehow be writing their part of the "Transformers" script while bouncing around three sets. (At least "Fringe" is co-written and co-executive-produced by "Trek" director J.J. Abrams, so lunch breaks on the "Trek" set should prove productive.)

No deadline has been set for the screenplay, though the film does have a release date: June 26, 2009. So the hiring of several writers was less about trying to complete a script before the potential Writers Guild walkout on Nov. 1 than about having access to numerous voices to address the inevitable changes as this behemoth progresses through its years-long development and production process.

Just the same, the three writers are already pooling their ideas to nail down the detailed story line while Bay has begun pulling together some digital pre-visualization robot designs that didn't make it into the first film. An added benefit lost on no one is that with a CGI-heavy film like this, the preliminary work provides an effective cushion if the writers (or directors and actors next summer) do strike -- effects crews can work ahead and compile action sequences during any stoppage.

Source: LATimes

"Transformers 2" writers

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-10-04T06:58:01-04:00

By Borys Kit

Scribe Ehren Kruger and the writing team of Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are in negotiations to team to write the screenplay for DreamWorks/Paramount's "Transformers 2."

Director Michael Bay, star Shia LaBeouf and producers Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Don Murphy are back in their respective chairs, as is exec producer Steven Spielberg.

The teaming of A-listers to write such a huge project might be an industry first and could have been necessary because Kurtzman and Orci -- who wrote the $315 million-grossing first "Transformers" movie -- also are busy writing J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" movie for Paramount and producing "Eagle Eye" for DreamWorks.

But the teaming will not be a case of complete strangers being thrust together, as the three writers are working together on "Nightlife," a DreamWorks serial-killer project that sees Kruger adapting a Thomas Perry novel, with Kurtzman and Orci producing along with Neal Moritz. Kruger also adapted the Stephen King tome "The Talisman," which Spielberg is exec producing for TNT.

Sources are pegging the writing deal, which is not yet closed, in the $5 million-$7 million range, which also might be an industry high for a nonoriginal screenplay. Reflected in the price is the pressure to perform: With the studio hoping to make the movie before a potential talent strike, the writers are going to have to type fast.

Kruger met with Bay and Hasbro president Brian Goldner and impressed the duo with his knowledge of the "Transformers" mythology.

Kruger also has "Torso," a graphic novel adaptation that has David Fincher directing, set up at Paramount. He is repped by Paradigm and Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern.

Orci and Kurtzman are repped at CAA.

Source: THR

Bay pumps news blood into "Friday the 13th"

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-10-02T05:28:52-04:00

By Borys Kit

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "Transformers" director Michael Bay is reviving the "Friday the 13th" franchise through his low-budget production company.

The remake of the original 1980 horror classic, which turned the villainous Jason into a cultural icon, is being produced for New Line Cinema by Bay's Platinum Dunes banner. Platinum Dunes was also behind the revival of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "The Hitcher."

In the original "Friday the 13th," the serial killer made only a brief appearance in the final frames and never killed anyone. Jason didn't even don the famous mask until the third movie. The remake, however, will focus on Jason -- who will wear the mask and kill -- and keep the famous setting of Crystal Lake.

Damian Shannon and Mark Swift will write the script. They wrote 2003's "Freddy vs. Jason," the killer's last big-screen appearance. That film grossed more than $82 million domestically.

Source: Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

Transformers behind the scenes DVD clip: Inside the Allspark

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-09-28T19:25:42-04:00

Check out the video clip.

Transformers 2 scheduled for summer 2009

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-09-21T22:09:24-04:00

Nelson here....

According to the LATimes, Transformers 2 is scheduled for the summer of 2009.

...He and director Michael Bay have signed on to make "Transformers 2," scheduled to hit theaters in the summer of 2009.

Stay tuned for more details.

Transformers in IMAX!

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-09-21T07:18:58-04:00

Click here to purchase your Transformers IMAX tickets for this limited time engagement.

The NYTimes interviews Bay in 1996

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-09-20T07:39:19-04:00

Nelson here....

Now that the New York Times has opened their vault without charging, I found this little gem of an interview of Michael around the premeire of The Rock. It's an interesting piece. One of the quotes:

"Optimism is what being a photographer is about," he said. "You look through the lens at the ugliness in this world, and there's always some beauty to find."

Read the entire article here.

IMAX and the DVD

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-09-18T07:39:25-04:00

I saw the IMAX print and it is awesome! It is the future of cinema to see movies in this format. I'm going to see Tranformers one last time and get ready to gear up for Transformers 2. I added two minutes of stuff for IMAX that will never make into any DVD's. There will never be an extended edition.

About the DVD. I like the two disc set. I has all the extras that the others don't have. It is the definitive edition of Transformers. It really breaks down how we made the movie.

Anyway hope you like the IMAX print!

Bay

Michael Bay on Japanese TV

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-09-10T20:20:23-04:00

Pre-order Transformers on HD-DVD

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-09-10T19:59:18-04:00

Pre-order the Transformers (Two-Disc Special Edition) [HD DVD]

Transformers IMAX release to include additional footage

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-09-05T15:10:55-04:00

Nelson here...

I contacted Michael to verify if the IMAX release of Transformers will include additional footage not seen in the first theatrical release, and he has confirmed that there will be about 2 extra minutes.

Transformers DVD goes on sale October 16

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-09-05T13:29:37-04:00

From Director Michael Bay and Executive Producer Steven Spielberg Comes the BIGGEST Original Blockbuster of the Year, TRANSFORMERS

$650+ Million Smash Hit from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures Rolls out on DVD and HD DVD October 16 in Two-Disc Sets Bursting with a Universe of Bonus Features to Immerse Fans of All Ages in the World of the Legendary ROBOTS IN DISGUISE

HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The armies of CYBERTRON invaded theaters with a juggernaut fury that shook the summer of 2007, but on October 16, 2007 fans of all ages will discover that there is far “More Than Meets The Eye” to the massive mechanical behemoths when TRANSFORMERS arrives on Earth in spectacular DVD and HD DVD two-disc Special Edition sets as well as on a single disc from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures; distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment.

Earning over $650 million at the global box office to date, the massive production exploded onto screens from the creative minds of director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg, in association with Hasbro, taking audiences by storm and becoming the biggest original film of the year. The first live-action film based on the enduringly popular “robots in disguise”, TRANSFORMERS features the ultimate battle between good and evil, as the peace-loving AUTOBOTS seek to protect humanity from the evil forces of the DECEPTICONS. The action-packed film stars a hot young cast of up-and-coming actors including Shia LaBeouf (Disturbia), Josh Duhamel (Las Vegas), Tyrese Gibson (Four Brothers) and Megan Fox (Hope & Faith), as well as seasoned performers such as Jon Voight (National Treasure) and John Turturro (The Good Shepherd). But the biggest stars are the TRANSFORMERS robots themselves – including fan favorites OPTIMUS PRIME, MEGATRON, BUMBLEBEE, RATCHET, JAZZ and more – brought to life by revolutionary new VFX techniques developed by the innovative digital wizards at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM).

The TRANSFORMERS Special Edition two-disc sets provide an incredible experience with an arsenal of bonus material that delivers excitement and fun for long-time fans, as well as for viewers who are new to the TRANSFORMERS universe. The extensive special features include commentary by Michael Bay and two multi-part in-depth documentaries exploring the human elements of the film as well as the phenomenal robot stars. Presented in multiple parts, “Our World” and “Their War” include segments with Steven Spielberg discussing his love for the franchise and the early concept for the movie, the extensive casting process, the training, consultants and real-world weapons provided by the military to lend authenticity to the film, the evolution of the robots from Hasbro’s iconic toy line to big-screen stars, the unique vehicles created for the movie, a discussion with ILM’s legendary digital artists and much more.

The discs go even further behind-the-scenes with early sketch concepts of the robots and an in-depth look at the making of the SKORPONOK attack from writing and conceptualization through the creation of the stunning visual effects.

Out-Of-This World High-Def Content:

In addition to superior picture and sound and all of the above bonus material presented in high definition, the HD DVD presentation provides consumers with a host of web-enabled features, which are accessible through all connected HD DVD players. The web-enabled features take advantage of technology that allows the studio to present the content in a new way. These cutting-edge, online features can be updated, providing consumers with an evolving entertainment experience months, or even years, after the disc is physically produced. Initial features include a TRANSFORMERS Intelligence Mode in which an on-screen dashboard over the film provides information about the robots and weapons, their strength levels, character updates and more. Plus, a GPS Locator that can access a map and GPS coordinates. Paramount’s TRANSFORMERS HD DVD connectivity capabilities will reveal additional HD DVD exclusive features at street date and at various time periods in the future.

The HD DVD also includes a TRANSFORMERS H.U.D. (Heads Up Display) that lets viewers access running text commentary while watching the film and even view relevant behind-the-scenes footage in a picture-in-picture window. Additionally, viewers can explore the main robots’ individual details in high definition with the TRANSFORMERS Tech Inspector.

DVD:

The TRANSFORMERS DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Total runtime is 143 minutes.

TRANSFORMERS Special Edition DVD bonus features include:

Disc 1:
-- Feature film
-- Commentary by Michael Bay

Disc 2:

Our World

The Story Sparks - Steven Spielberg discusses his love for the franchise and early concept art for the film. Explores how the writers adapted the cartoon into a live action movie and why Michael Bay is the perfect director for the film.
Human Allies - A look at how the actors were selected and their experiences on the set.
Fight Giant Robots - An exploration of the military training that Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson underwent for their roles and the various stunts that the actors were asked to perform.
Battleground - A piece on the senior officials from the Department of Defense and Air Force who consulted on the film to give it authenticity and the key locations that the U.S. government provided access to.

Their War

Rise of the Robots - Explores the interaction between Hasbro designers and Michael Bay to bring the toy line roaring to life.
AUTOBOTS Roll Out - Michael Bay discusses working with Chevy and its designers and the modifications that were made to the cars seen in the film.
DECEPTICONS Strike - The film's military advisors discuss the "toys" they allowed the production to borrow: F-22 Raptors, Ospreys and A-10 Warthogs.
Inside the AllSpark - ILM's digital artists discuss the challenges of bringing the TRANSFORMERS to life.

More Than Meets The Eye

From Script to Sand: The SKORPONOK Desert Attack - An in-depth look at the making of this particularly epic and challenging scene from initial storyboarding through production and visual effects.
Concepts - Early sketch concepts of the robots.
Trailers

TRANSFORMERS HD-DVD

The HD DVD is presented in 1080p High Definition with English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus and English, English SDH+, French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese subtitles. In addition to the above features that will be presented in high definition, the TRANSFORMERS HD DVD will also offer the following exclusive content:

Disc 1:

TRANSFORMERS H.U.D. (Heads Up Display)--In this mode, viewers can access running text-based behind-the-scenes background information on the production during the feature. Users can also watch relevant picture-in-picture b-roll and video with Bay, Spielberg and other filmmakers during select sequences.
Transformers Intelligence Mode web-enabled features consist of:
Transformation ModeHealth, Meter Weapon Mode, Robot Bio, In Scene Indicator, Text Ticker, GPS

Disc 2:

TRANSFORMERS Tech Inspector - Gives viewers an unprecedented look at the TRANSFORMERS robots through the exquisitely detailed models created by ILM artists. Users can zoom in on each detail for a closer examination and pause and change the rotation of the models.

Marketing Support:

Paramount Home Entertainment will support the home video debut of TRANSFORMERS with one of the biggest media campaigns in the division’s history. The multi-million dollar blitz will include television, print, radio and online advertising reaching a four quadrant audience. The expansive campaign also will include a viral marketing program in which fans can go online to customize a message for their friends from OPTIMUS PRIME and send it via telephone or email. In addition, an array of high-impact displays will be deployed to retail locations across the country. Promotional partners including Chevrolet and Hostess will also extend the TRANSFORMERS message to millions of people.

Each TRANSFORMERS DVD will include an insert alerting consumers to Chevrolet's "The Bumblebee Camaro Sweepstakes". Beginning October 17, 2007, fans can enter to win one of three customized Chevy Camaro cars styled after the TRANSFORMERS AUTOBOT BUMBLEBEE at chevy.com/camaro. The sweepstakes also will be promoted with a wide-reaching television, print and online advertising campaign that will further extend the DVD messaging and excitement.

This October, Hostess, the maker of America’s most iconic snack cakes, will be launching a national consumer promotion on approximately 17 million TRANSFORMERS themed packages at convenience and grocery/mass merchandiser retail stores. Consumers will be directed via www.hostesscakes.com to a Hostess micro-site where they can play an instant-win game for a chance to win a 50” Plasma TV and Home Entertainment system, portable DVD players and other prizes.

The HD DVD version and two-disc standard-def special edition will both be priced at $39.99, with the standard-def single-disc at $19.95 MAP.

Transformers score coming October 9, 2007

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-09-03T12:39:06-04:00

Pre-order the Transformers score CD at Amazon.com

Track listing below.

1. Autobots
2. Decepticons
3. All Spark
4. Deciphering the Signal
5. Frenzy
6. Optimus
7. Bumblebee
8. Soccent Attack
9. Sam at the Lake
10. Skorpinok
11. Cybertron
12. Arrival to Earth
13. Whitwicky
14. Downtown Battle
15. Sector 7
16. Bumblebee Captured
17. You're a Soldier Now
18. Sam on the Roof
19. Optimus vs. Megatron
20. No Sacrifice, No Victory

Transformers IMAX poster

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-09-01T05:35:31-04:00

New design and new forum

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-08-31T23:27:09-04:00

Nelson here...

As you can see, we have a new look. If you catch any broken links or broken image links, please email me at webmaster@michaelbay.com.

As for the forums, you will have to re-register. Once, you do, I will update your post count to match that of the old boards when they close (please register with your OLD USERNAME so I can easily track and assign you your correct post count).

Sacred Emotion

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-08-30T07:06:31-04:00

Back in 1988, Michael was given the opportunity to direct his first music video. It was a comeback song titled "Sacred Emotion" for Donny Osmond.

Enjoy.

10 years and running...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-08-30T07:07:21-04:00

Nelson here...

Ten years ago I started this site using Adobe Pagemill 1.0 and a cracked version of Photoshop running on a Cyrix 286 system operated by Windows 95. The page had a image of Michael, a bio, and the list of his films (Bad Boys and The Rock). A lot has happened since then.

On behalf of Michael, I would like to thank all of you who have visited and supported the site over the years.

Thank you.

Transformers goes IMAX on September 21

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-08-21T19:50:07-04:00

One of the Biggest Movies of 2007 Gets Digitally Enhanced into The IMAX

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - IMAX Corporation, DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures announced today that "TRANSFORMERS," one of the highest grossing movies of the year, will be digitally re-mastered into IMAX's immersive format and released to IMAX(R) theatres on September 21. The Michael Bay-directed movie, which has already generated $310 million in gross box office receipts domestically since its premiere in conventional theaters on July 3, will be enhanced into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R) through IMAX's DMR(R) (Digital Re-Mastering) technology.

"IMAX's all-encompassing format takes 'TRANSFORMERS' to a whole new level of detail and intensity," said Michael Bay, the film's director. "I am very excited to work with the team at IMAX to create this turbo-charged version."

"As fans of 'TRANSFORMERS' await the release of the DVD in the fall, they will have a brand new way to experience the adventure -- as if they are actually part of the movie," said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "The images and sound in 'TRANSFORMERS' are perfectly suited to The IMAX Experience and we are very excited to share the IMAX version with the film's present and future fans."

"When you combine Michael Bay's action packed brand of filmmaking with The IMAX Experience, you get a movie that plays to the elusive and extremely valuable tech-savvy demographic," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "We are very excited to offer moviegoers a chance to experience one of the highest grossing and most popular films of the year in a premium way that cannot be replicated anywhere else, and we are delighted to once again work with the talented team at Paramount Pictures to make this happen."

Source: Imax

Michael Bay HD-DVD post

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-08-21T19:51:27-04:00

Last night at dinner I was having dinner with three Blu-Ray owners, they were pissed about no Transformers Blu-Ray and I drank the kool aid hook line and sinker. So at 1:30 in the morning I posted - nothing good ever comes out of early am posts mind you - I over reacted. I heard where Paramount is coming from and the future of HD and players that will be close to the $200 mark which is the magic number. I like what I heard.

As a director, I'm all about people seeing films in the best quality possible, and I saw and heard firsthand people upset about a corporate decision.

So today I saw 300 on HD-DVD, it rocks!

So I think I might be back on to do Transformers 2!

Michael Bay

Transformers to be released on standard definition DVD and HD-DVD only

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-08-20T15:57:40-04:00

Nelson here...

It appears that Transformers will be released on on regular DVD & HD-DVD only and not Blu-Ray.

Paramount/Dreamworks has decided to drop it's support for Blu-Ray. That means you must either own a Toshiba HD-DVD player or have the HD-DVD add-on for the xBox 360 to view Transformers in HD.

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc. and DreamWorks Animation SKG , each announced today that they will exclusively support the next-generation HD DVD format on a worldwide basis. The exclusive HD DVD commitment will include all movies distributed by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films, as well as movies from DreamWorks Animation, which are distributed exclusively by Paramount Home Entertainment.The companies each said that the decision to distribute exclusively in the HD DVD format resulted from an extensive evaluation of current market offerings, which confirmed the clear benefits of HD DVD, particularly its market-ready technology and lower manufacturing costs. Paramount Home Entertainment will launch its exclusive HD DVD program with the release of the blockbuster comedy hit "Blades of Glory" on August 28th and follow with two of the biggest grossing movies of the year "Transformers" and "Shrek the Third". These three titles alone represent more than $1.5 billion in box office ticket sales worldwide.

Source: CNN

Shortpacked....

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-08-18T06:38:30-04:00

Nelson here...

Shortpacked had come up with another brilliant strip, enjoy!'

You can visit their site here.

Giant Fuckin' Robots are Coming to IMAX!

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-08-18T06:39:01-04:00

Nelson here...

I contacted Michael and he has confirmed that Transformers will be arriving on IMAX theaters.

Stay tuned for details.

Michael interviewed at the NYSE

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-08-10T21:45:22-04:00

Nelson here...

This interview took place back in June when Michael and Hasbro rang the opening bell at the NYSE.

'Transformers' beats 'Harry' in Japan

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-08-09T06:46:24-04:00

Bay film takes in $5.35 million
By MARK SCHILLING

Opening Saturday on 617 screens, helmer Michael Bay's "Transformers" jumped straight to the top of the Japanese weekend box office with a two-day total of ¥631.3 million ($5.35 million).

That spelled more than "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," which took in $4.04 million over the weekend, for second place.

The "Transformers" figure is 16% better than the $4.6 million opening weekend for "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" (Japan cume $57.5 million), which bowed on 370 screens, and 6% better than the $5.07 million of "Mission: Impossible III" (Japan cume $43.4 million), which debuted on 800 screens. Both were released in summer, like "Transformers."

"Transformers" compares favorably with Bay's previous smash, "Armageddon," which opened in Japan with $5.87 million and went on to make $114 million in 1998 when the Japanese exhibition circuit was considerably smaller than today.

Looking at the strong early numbers, and the higher-than-expected female auds, distributor United Intl. Pictures is predicting a $59 million final tally for "Transformers."

Source: Variety

Michael Bay takes the witness stand

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-08-07T07:17:56-04:00

In the end, there are no fireworks, no explosions and no Aerosmith...nevertheless, there’s a ripple of excitement in the courtroom as director Michael Bay states and spells his name. Juror 6, a film industry executive, sits up in his chair, smiles and shakes his head.

On direct examination, Bay first appears a little nervous. Listing his blockbusters for the jury, he misses “Bad Boys II,” something Deputy District Attorney Alan Jackson quickly points out.

“Oh, yes,” he says.

Quickly though, he seems relaxed and confident, and he says exactly what prosecutors have called him to the stand to say. He knew Lana Clarkson, he liked Lana Clarkson and he never dissed Lana Clarkson. He was at the party in question, he acknowledges, but he never saw the actress.

On cross, things get a little testy. Defense attorney Bradley Brunon suggests that if he liked Lana so much he would have offered her one of the many parts available in the blockbusters he has made over the years.

“Uh, no, but I never offered Tom Hanks a part either,” Bay shoots back.

There are a few chuckles. And Brunon mutters, “We’re not talking about Tom Hanks. He may not have accepted.”

It’s all over in 25 minutes. (That’s 14 percent of Pearl Harbor’s running time.)

Outside court, Bay is similarly brief. How was it to not be directing the action? “It was good,” he says with a smile. “It got repetitive.” On the way to the elevator bank, he adds, “It’s so irrelevant.”

Source: CourtTV

* * * * *

The Associated Press
Monday, August 6, 2007

LOS ANGELES: The director of this summer's blockbuster "Transformers" was called by prosecutors as a rebuttal witness at Phil Spector's murder trial on Monday.

A defense witness had testified earlier in the trial actress Lana Clarkson was distraught over an encounter with director Michael Bay at a party about 10 days before she died in Spector's home in 2003.

Spector's attorneys contend it was another sign that Clarkson was suicidal and may have shot herself.

Bay testified he remembered Clarkson from a time he cast her for a small role in a car commercial in 1998, but denied ever seeing her among the 350 to 400 other people at the Hollywood Hills party in late January 2003.

"If I disrespected her she probably would have slapped me," Bay said. "She was just that saucy."

Clarkson's friend Punkin Pie Laughlin testified last month that she accompanied Clarkson to the party. She said Clarkson, who found modest fame as the star of a cult movie, "Barbarian Queen," in the 1980s, tried to talk to Bay but returned in tears, saying he didn't acknowledge her.

Laughlin suggested the incident the party contributed to Clarkson's depression and was a turning point.

The prosecution contends Spector, 67, who gained fame with his "Wall of Sound" music recording technique, killed Clarkson when she tried to leave his home after coming there for a drink.

Under questioning by prosecutor Alan Jackson, Bay said he scoured his memory after he read of Clarkson's death, trying to figure out when he last saw her. He said he thought it was eight or nine months before she died but he could not remember the circumstances.

Defense attorney Brad Brunon noted that Bay did several movies after he first met Clarkson. Asked whether he ever offered her a role in one of his movies, Bay snapped, "No. But I never offered Tom Hanks a part either."

Bay recalled that at Christmas 2002, he received a gift of chocolates from Clarkson along with a copy of a one-woman video she had produced to promote her career.

Asked by Brunon whether he gave the video any consideration, he said, "I didn't even look at it."

Source: The AP via IHT

Court TV: Michael Bay to take the stand

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-08-02T21:14:07-04:00

Nelson here...

Court TV reports that MIchael Bay is set to take the stand in the Phil Spector trial.

"The prosecution unveils a list of 13 rebuttal witnesses, and one name is a blockbuster...Michael Bay, director of "Transformers," will take the stand and say that Punkin Pie was lying when she testified that he snubbed a teetering-on-the-brink-of-sanity Clarkson at a party a few weeks before her death, prosecutor Jackson says."

To read Michael's post concerning the trial, click here.

Stay tuned for more details.

Update: Michael will be taking the stand on Monday, August 6. The case will be televised on Court TV.

A trip down memory lane

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-08-01T10:50:41-04:00

Nelson here...

Michael's second movie "The Rock" came out more than 10 years ago. Doesn't seem that long ago, no?

Anyway, here is a behind the scenes video clip. Enjoy!

New photographs

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-29T12:34:47-04:00

Nelson here....

These photos appeared on the UK Telegraph newspaper and where taken by Spencer Murphy.

You can check out his web site at http://www.spencermurphy.co.uk

These are posted with permission. Please do not repost.

U.S. Servicemembers reaction of ‘Transformers’

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-25T17:03:57-04:00

By John J. Kruzel/American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2007 – Under the cover of darkness in the nation’s capital last night, servicemembers from all branches deployed into theater -- the movie theater.

About 600 military personnel and family members attended a sneak preview of “Transformers,” the summer science fiction action-adventure film set for national release July 3.

Audience members cheered as virtuous Autobot transformers fought in concert with their U.S. military allies against the depraved Decepticons, while the clash between good and evil played out in stunning images and bone-rattling sound.

“That was without a doubt the best movie I have ever seen,” Army Staff Sgt. Mario Youngblood, dressed in his combat uniform, said as he emerged wide-eyed from the theater. The soldier, who grew up watching the early animated version, said the film did justice to the “Generation 1” Transformers of his youth.

“Transformers” features servicemembers from various branches fighting side-by-side in the thick of the action, depicting joint military operations.

“Obviously, the military has never fought giant robots, and hopefully we never will. But the way this film is structured, if we ever had to do it, this is probably how we would do it,” said Army Lt. Col Paul Sinor, a public affairs officer with that service’s Office of the Chief of Public Affairs.

During one battle scene, members of a joint special operations force are attacked by a Decepticon in the desert of a Middle Eastern country. Using a common cellular phone, the Army commander on the ground dials the Pentagon and tosses the phone to his Air Force combat controller, who directs an Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft to their position. Operators on the AWACS then call in AC-130 Spectres and A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft for air support.

“Go, Air Force!” an audience member yelled when an AC-130 began firing on enemies with its side-mounted artillery guns. “Yeah, Navy!” belts out a sailor upon seeing a team of destroyers cutting across the shining sea.

This battle scene illustrates “netcentric warfare,” the modern military strategy aimed at connecting command centers to airborne control systems to warfighters around the globe.

Liaison officers like Sinor worked with director Michael Bay to ensure the U.S. military’s portrayal -- its core values in addition to its tactics, dialogue and uniforms -- looks and feels authentic. As a testament to the military’s fondness for technical titles, servicemembers refer to the transformer robots as Non-Biological Extraterrestrials, or NBEs.

“Try to keep up with the acronyms,” one of the film’s characters says during an intelligence briefing.

The resolute secretary of defense, played by Jon Voight, gives a nonverbal plug during the film to America Supports You, a Defense Department program that connects military members to a civilian support network. The lapel of the Defense Secretary’s suit jacket is affixed with a pin bearing the ASY logo.

“(Bay) did the Hollywood part of the film, we did the military part, and it was a very cohesive, very easy way of doing things,” said Sinor, who has worked with Bay previously on films that include “The Rock” and “Armageddon.”

Defense Department officials allowed Paramount Pictures to film at Air Force bases in New Mexico and California, and to rent military equipment such as the CV-22 Osprey and F-22 Raptor, which made their big-screen debuts in “Transformers.” F-22s run about $25,000 per hour, according to the rental scale established by the department.

“You can’t go to Tanks R’ Us and rent a tank or a destroyer,” Sinor said. “If you need that in the movie, you have to come to the military.”

The film promoters, who last night treated guests to free popcorn and soda, stood outside the theater doors after the film, asking for audience members’ reactions in an exit poll fashion. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and one servicemember remarked about the Hollywood’s portrayal of the military, “This is the first time they got it right.”

“The special effects are definitely going to draw the younger crowd, and then they’ll be able to see just how the Air Force operates,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Mike Gasparetto after the film.

Gasparetto, a career field manager for Air Force Recruiting Service, said moviegoers will get a chance to see some of his service’s more exciting missions.

“I think it will be a great branding tool for the Air Force, to let the folks know that the Air Force does more than just move people around in aircraft,” he said. Hundreds of airmen appear in the film as extras, and nearly a dozen others have speaking roles.

“The military cooperating with the entertainment industry puts a more personal side on what the military does,” he said. “We’re not just about protecting the nation, although that is our primary job. This film shows that we have a human side to us while we are there to protect and help wherever needed.”

Source: USDOD/defenselink.mil

That Phil Spector Freak

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-18T02:04:57-04:00

What a friggin circus in that Phil Spector murder trial. Some whack job witness who say's she is a friend of the poor murdered girl Lana Clarkson say's she ended it (meaning suicide) because I did not recognize Lana at a party. Can you believe this dumb story? First of all Phil Spector looks like a creepy murderer. No girl would sit in a foyer of a house with a purse on her shoulder, and borrow some guys gun, and say I'm gonna end it here, oh and I'm gonna blow my teeth out and wreck my face while I'm doing it. According to national suicide experts, people - especially women, never hurt their face in the process of suicide.

So this is the Spector creep's only alibi - she committed suicide - come on.

I knew Lana. She worked with me on two commercials. I liked her energy - she had a great personality. I would never forget her face. It would be a big event in someone's life If you saw a woman you knew at a party on Saturday night and she was dead two days later, don't you think? I never saw Lana at this party. This Punkin, witness lady is a liar! According to reports, Punkin has a book deal about being Lana's friend. She wants to make money off of her so called 'friend'. What a disgusting piece of shit that Pumkin lady is!!!

Michael Bay

China, meet Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-20T21:59:30-04:00

I am really excited about this partnership with Mtime and the exposure of my work and thoughts to Chinese movie fans, for whom I have great respect, as I celebrate the release of "Transformers" with them.

-Michael Bay

If you read Mandarin--or not--check out the site at http://michaelbay.mtime.com/

Transformers DVD

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-20T13:17:43-04:00

Nelson here...

The Transformers DVD...when does it come out you ask. What's it gonna have? What I can tell you is this: there will be 2 versions:

1- A regular version with no extras (just a director commentary).

2.- A multi-disc version with the movie w/ director's commentary and additional disc(s) with tons of extra stuff.

Transformers will also be available on HD-DVD and Blu-ray formats.

Meet Bonecrusher Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-20T07:20:57-04:00

Nelson here...

I met with Mike this past Wednesday, and I managed to get a shot of Michael's new Mastiff: Bonecrusher.

Broken records

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-20T06:35:19-04:00

Nelson here...

Transformers has broken the box office record in China....Transformers hit 100M Yuan.

Transformers breaks South Korean box office record....6 million viewers.

Editing with Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-13T07:48:15-04:00

Nelson here...

If you're interested on what went on behind-the-scenes with Transformers, click here to read this great article.

Source: FXGuide.com

Michael Bay's Transformers: $246.1 million worldwide

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-08T16:52:45-04:00

Biggest first-week gross ever for a non-sequel (beating Spider-Man's $151.6 mil)
A global box office total of $246.1 mil, when you add in the $93.6 mil Transformers earned in 23 other countries
Biggest Tuesday gross ever ($27.9 mil), as well as the third-best Wednesday ($29.1 mil) and fifth-best Thursday ($19.2 mil)
A super-solid $16,854 per-theater average in 4,011 venues
A resounding CinemaScore rave of A from an audience that was two-thirds male but evenly split between young folk and old
A 93% positive rating at the exit polls

Michael Bay: 1, haters: 0 (part 3)

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-08T16:23:19-04:00

'Transformers' morphs into money machine

Sci-fi saga makes $67.6 million debut

Associated Press
July 9, 2007

The shape-shifting robots of "Transformers" have taken on a new form: Huge piles of cash.

The sci-fi saga "Transformers," DreamWorks and Paramount's big-screen take on the Hasbro toys, debuted with $67.6 million in ticket sales in its first weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. That gave it $152.5 million since opening with preview screenings Monday night.

If the weekend figures hold when final numbers are released Monday, that would give "Transformers" the biggest first week revenues ever for a non-sequel, surpassing the $151.6 million of 2002's "Spider-Man." But factoring in today's higher ticket prices, "Spider-Man" drew more people in its first week, about 26.1 million, compared to 22.5 million for "Transformers."

"Transformers," was directed by Michael Bay and features a cast led by Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox, who are among the humans hurled into the action when two races of warring robots bring their feud to Earth.

The movie's striking visual effects and the Transformers brand -- which debuted in the 1980s with toys, a TV show and an animated movie -- proved irresistible for audiences, said Rob Moore, Paramount's head of worldwide marketing and distribution.

"Michael Bay created something visually that people hadn't seen before," Moore said. "When you look at a jet plane flying under a bridge then flipping and turning into a robot, those kinds of images people found incredibly unique and compelling."

"Transformers" also took in $93.6 million in 23 other countries where it has opened since June 28.

Source: THR

Michael Bay: 1, haters: 0 (part 2)

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-08T16:23:13-04:00

'Transformers' dominates box office

Robust robots squash 'Spider-Man' record

By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK

With moviegoers transforming the July 4th holiday box office into non-stop fireworks, DreamWorks and Paramount's "Transformers" scored the highest seven-day performance for a non-sequel in history, clobbering previous record-holder "Spider-Man."

Pic closed out its 6 1/2 day opening at an estimated $152.5 million from 4,011 screens, including an estimated weekend take of $67.6 million. "Spider-Man" made $151.6 million during its first seven days.

"Transformers" and other films benefited from an unusually hectic July 4th holiday week at theaters, bookended by two lucrative weekends.

Source: Variety

Michael Bay: 1, haters: 0 (part 1)

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-08T14:46:08-04:00

Nelson here....

This is for all the losers (haters) that said this movie would tank.

From deadlinehollywood:

SUNDAY AM: Paramount says PG-13 Transformers officially made $22.7 million Friday and $25.9 million Saturday and a projected $18.9 million Sunday from 4,011 North American theaters. After a record breaking Fourth Of July mid week opening, I'm told the DreamWorks battle of the bots hauled in a hefty $67.6 million this weekend for a 6 1/2 day cume of $152.5 million. So, in even less time, Transformers now has scored the biggest 7-day opening of all time for a non-sequel, passing Spider-Man 1 ($151.6M), The Passion Of The Christ ($144.6M) and Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone ($129.4). In addition, Transformers has grossed $93.6 million in 23 overseas markets representing 40% of the international business. Paramount estimates the global box office by end of day Sunday at $246.1 mil.

Transformers Crushes Fandango's July 4th Ticketing Record

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-06T17:57:41-04:00

In a recent online survey on Fandango, several thousand moviegoers responded with the top reasons they are seeing Transformers. The results are as follows:

-- 75% were fans of the Transformers cartoons when they were kids;

-- 65% had played with the Transformers toys;

-- 24% had read the comic books;

-- 16% are fans of director Michael Bay.

Source: PRNewswire

EW: When Robots Attack article

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-06T16:11:18-04:00

Some think ''Transformers'' represents the future of the blockbuster -- and some are afraid they're right. Inside the megahit's explosive blend of action and advertising by Josh Rottenberg

Read the entire article.

Transformers Box Office numbers

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-05T14:13:48-04:00

The DreamWorks Pictures/Paramount Pictures co-production TRANSFORMERS pulled in an unheard of 4.3% increase from Tuesday 7/3 to Wednesday 7/4.

In 4,011 theatres, we are estimating $29,100,000 for Wednesday 7/4/07.

We also have a revised final number for Tuesday 7/3/07 of $27,900,000. Our cumulative estimated box office to date is $65,700,00.

This is the biggest July 4th gross in history, beating SPIDERMAN 2 ($21,955,000 on 7/4/04) and the biggest Wednesday non-sequel of all time (beating THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST with $26,556,000 on Wednesday 2/25/04).

This represents the biggest box office in history for a movie on a Tuesday, beating PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST at $15,731,919.

EW: Optimus Prime Time

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-05T07:24:42-04:00

''Transformers'' director Michael Bay opens up about working with Steven Spielberg, the art of the action film, and the possibility of a sequel.

By Adam B. Vary

'I've thought more about robots in a year and a half than probably anybody,'' sighs Michael Bay. Slouched in his chair, a gentle breeze wafting through his surprisingly zen Santa Monica, Calif., office, he's still hung over from the previous evening's mega-premiere of his latest summer-action extravaganza, Transformers — the movie adaptation of the 1980s cartoon TV series and Hasbro toy line about a race of alien machines who bring their war to Earth. (He may be doing more celebrating after seeing the estimated $36.3 million in box-office revenue from the movie's first 36 hours in theatres, including $27.5 million on July 3, its first full day of release, a new record for a Tuesday opening.)

Over the course of the next hour, Bay talked to EW.com about his working relationship with exec producer Steven Spielberg, what helped him get over the notion of directing just ''a toy movie,'' and how he feels about being, you know, Michael Bay.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: I have to tell you, as a Transformers fan since childhood, the special effects were pretty darn cool.

MICHAEL BAY: That's what it's all about. I worked a long time on that. It wasn't always easy.

I can see why — the machinery is incredibly intricate. Why did you want to go in that route and not more —

Simple? Like a cartoon? Basically it's the equivalent of, like, the Marshmallow Man in Ghostbusters. It's got to withstand, you know, a 40-foot screen — you just need a lot of detail and a lot of things moving just to keep your eye dazzled by these complex machines. It wasn't always peaches and cream. The robots kind of sucked in the beginning. My whole thing is lighting with [visual] effects. We all know something in our brain is telling us it's not lit right — that's what makes you say it looks like a cartoon. You figure out how it's all going to reflect different pieces of light — different materials reflect differently.

What first hooked you into wanting to direct Transformers?

It was a pitch that Steven [Spielberg] gave me. The story is true: I hung up [after we talked] and went ''I'm not doing that silly movie because it sounds like a toy movie.'' I thought about it. And I said okay, you know, [I'll] just go to Hasbro [for] this thing called Transformer School. I sat in this conference room and we went through the entire lore of Transformers. I like Japanese anime movies — I just think visually they're really cool. There were some images in the room; I kept looking at one and I'm like, you know, if I make it real and edgy, it might be something really interesting. So I was a non-Transformer fan, but that's good because I think it makes it more accessible for people that are non-Transformer fans. I kept having this image of a kid hiding his robots from his parents. To me that's just a great kid fantasy. You have alien robots that are your friends. That's charming to me. [Chuckles]

My understanding is that Spielberg really was the guy that roped you into directing this film. What was the first time that you realized that he was following your career?

When I was 27, I did a whole string of commercials that were pretty famous, the type of commercial where people go to a bar [and say], ''Did you see that commercial?'' That ''Got Milk?'' stuff, a whole string of funny Nike ones, whatever. So I sent this reel [of my work] around Hollywood. I get this call from my agent. ''Steven wants to see you.'' I go, ''Steven who?'' ''Steven Spielberg wants to see you.'' Okay. I drove down to his office. A true story — I said, ''You know, when I was 15, I worked at Lucasfilm and I filed your Raiders of the Lost Ark storyboards. I saw the entire movie [in storyboard form] and I honestly thought it was going to suck.'' [Laughs] And he started laughing. And I said, ''When I went to the Grauman's Chinese [Theater] with my parents and saw it, I went 'Oh my God, I've got to do this.''' [Pause] I don't know, he's always been nice to me.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: There are stories of him asking you how you would pull off certain shots, or certain sequences.

MICHAEL BAY: What was fun working with him, we would sit in my war room and [I'd say], ''Oh, Steven, I got this scene and I want to do it like this and shoot like that.'' And he knows what I'm talking about. He goes, ''Oh, what if you do that?'' But you can see when I'm showing him stuff that his gears are ticking for Indiana Jones 4. [Chuckles] You can see that he's a competitive director.

I'm told he worked a lot with the Transformers' screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci to bring a certain innocent tone to the film. The motto seems to have been, ''It's about a boy and his car.''

Yeah. That was the hook to the movie. But I added a stronger military thing at the beginning to make it more, I guess, badass, to make the stakes higher. But originally the tone was very suburbia. We kind of changed that and made it edgier. I like the idea of the suburbia. I specifically shot this a little bit more suburbia, meaning, like, I would never put actors at a Burger King, but it's what people do, you know what I mean? Or in [lead character Sam Witwicky's suburban] house. It's not a sexy house. But it's identifiable, and more accessible.

Was there a particular demographic that you thought would be your target audience?

I just thought it would be from kids to, you know, to 20-something whatever. The first day on the set I'm working with all these guys in the military and I was apologizing for the movie. Forty-something guys. I was like, ''Okay guys, I know this sounds really stupid, but there's a 40-foot-tall robot over here and it's going to flip and land right here.'' They're like, ''Which robot? Is this Starscream?'' I'm like, how do these guys know that? And I realized, oh my God, it's a lot older than I thought.

What is your work ethic with actors? What do you want and expect out of them when you are on the set?

I want people to bring their A game. There are some directors that sit in a chair. They sit in their trailer. I am always on the set. I do 12-hour days, that's it, and I don't go in overtime. And I shoot very fast. When I am doing action I'm like your worst nightmare basketball coach. I am there with my kneepads on, right next to you, and I'm there because I'm trying to instill the adrenaline. When they see me intense, I see actors' intensity starting to rise. It's like a game you've got to play. Sometimes you create a bit of chaos. We call it on the set ''Bayos.'' But no, honestly, it's like a manipulation thing.

You made certain changes to the Transformers from the '80s series to update them and make them cinematic — like giving Optimus Prime a long-nose truck cab instead of a flat-front. There was a lot of fan uproar about that. There were even rumors that you got death threats.

No. You get these funny talkbacks, like, ''Damn you, Michael Bay, you wrecked my childhood, Michael Bay. I want to hunt you down.'' I mean, whatever, you know. People are passionate about their childhoods. [Laughs] But honestly, they remember the cartoons greater than what they really are if you look at them. Because they don't stand up at all.

I watched the 1986 Transformers animated movie the night before seeing your film, and it was, um, kinda not so good.

Yeah, I saw 15 minutes of that movie and I wanted to put a gun to my head. ''I can't see this. I have to go into my own head about what this movie [I'm making] is.'' [Laughs] So yeah, you take the heat, but they weren't seeing [the robots] in a 3-D world.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: I couldn't help noticing that all the Autobots other than Optimus Prime are GM cars.

MICHAEL BAY: Why did I do it? I did this movie for [a budget of] $150 [million]. That was a hard number. Steven, he's tight with the budget. So it forced me to get creative. I opened it to any car company, from Ford to Porsche, anyone. I just did it to keep an open mind because I wanted to find Bumblebee. I did not want a Volkswagen [like in the original cartoon series] — it's the Herbie Love Bug to me.

I've had a relationship with GM, so they took me to where they do these cool concept cars. I saw this picture of that Camaro [used in the film], and I'm like, That's the car. It saved me $3 million on my budget, getting all those cars. I don't think you are whoring out the movie, because I think each car kind of fits the character. Maybe not Jazz [the Autobot that's a Pontiac Solstice in the film]. Jazz is the one thing which I was like, ehhh, I wish he was a different car, personally. It's too little. But that's why I did it. It saved me money.

Was there any concern that you were also serving Hasbro, making sure that you are true to the toys and original characters?

Well, I said ''Listen, if I do this, I'm going to redesign these things. You might not like everything, but I'm going to do it my way or I'm not going to do it.'' Starscream [the Decepticon fighter jet] they had a big f---ing problem with, you know. When we were deciding characters it became kind of ridiculous. Ian Bryce, my producer, came to me: ''Mike, they need the molds [of the Transformers for the toys].'' [I said] ''We don't have a script yet. We're only on page 30!'' He goes, ''They need the molds in China. What kind of vehicles do you want?'' Literally, we were scrambling.

There was a poem that leaked on the Internet this spring, seemingly written by someone within production, that blamed DreamWorks for giving you too much creative control over the movie. Is it weird being the director people seem to love to take shots at?

No. I'm pretty content with who I am. I feel like I'm happy in my life. They take cheap shots because people don't really know me. They think [what I do] is not art. Like, a nice woman from the Hollywood Foreign Press, she [asks me], ''Wouldn't you want to do more of an art movie, like something that's hard to do?'' And I said, ''Are you kidding me?'' I had this big picture of Bumblebee [behind me]. That took a team of artists. It is so much harder to do, these type of [big action] movies, than a little art movie in the south of France. I mean, if you can take something that doesn't exist and make it look like it's got a soul, that's art. It's just frustrating when people just think it's like, oh, it's easy.

How are you sitting with the idea of directing another Transformers movie?

Let's see how this one does. I've got a lot of ideas for the next one. There's a lot of really cool, big robot stuff that I had in my head that we didn't do. I just want to see how this works. You might not grow as much as a director [to do a sequel]. But it's kind of like you have your baby and you don't want someone else to take it.

So, hypothetically, if you were to take on a Transformers sequel, would it be your next film?

I don't know if it would be ready. It just takes so long to do a script. A couple things are on the horizon, but [maybe] I'll do my little movie that I can knock out, because we all think we're going to have a strike.

What is it?

Pain and Gain. It's a true story, happened in Florida. Just love the characters. It's these guys who work at a gym, and nothing's good enough. They're all looking for the American Dream, and they end up kidnapping. It's like a mixture of Fargo and Pulp Fiction, but it's all true. And they're knuckleheads. The whole point is no one's happy with what they've got. It's a fun character piece. No action. One car crash.

Maybe that woman from the Hollywood Foreign Press will be satisfied.

[Laughs] I don't know! If I shot in the south of France, maybe she would!

Source: EW

$28 million on July 3

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-04T14:27:39-04:00

Nelson here...

I just spoke to Michael and he informed me that Transformers raked in $28 million yesterday, Tuesday.

Biggest amount ever for a Tuesday.

Happy Independence Day!

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-04T10:58:16-04:00

We're taking the day off to hang out with family and friends, watch Transformers, watch fireworks, and celebrate Independence Day (United States).

If you're celebrating today, too, we wish you a happy and safe Fourth! To everyone else, we thank you for visiting Michael Bay dot com!

'Transformers' grabs $8.8 mil at box office

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-03T21:03:01-04:00

By Gregg Kilday

"Transformers," director Michael Bay's screen interpretation of the Hasbro toy line, rolled into theaters Monday and quickly amassed $8.8 million in North America.

Those returns came from showings that ran from 8 p.m. on in 3,050 theaters.

Although the Paramount Pictures' release of the DreamWorks film only played evening performances, its Monday number topped that of the day's number two film, Buena Vista's "Ratatouille," by more than $1 million and more than doubled the day's grosses for 20th Century Fox's competing action movie "Live Free or Die Hard."

Figures for "Transformers" first full day of performances on Tuesday, when the film rolls into more than 4,000 theaters, will be released on Wednesday.

Source: THR

Bad toys, bad toys, whatcha gonna do...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-03T06:47:05-04:00

"Talk about getting your money's worth. There is so much action packed into every second of "Transformers" that by the time it's over, you may be tempted to go outside and give the box office another 10 bucks." - NY Dailynews.com

"Transformers has some of the best action sequences you'll see all summer." - Washington Post

"You'll find yourself rooting for computer-generated robots that magically transform into cars, trucks and fighter planes. It's selling the movie short to say the special effects are amazing -- they are out of this world." - Arizona Republic

"The most surprising thing about Michael Bay's much-anticipated, blockbuster-bound Transformers is how funny the movie is." - Miami Herald

"It's the transformation of robots that will blow your mind ... Add that to the eye-popping robot smackdowns and good old fashioned car chases, and you have a movie that is going to get your blood pumping and your heartbeat racing..." - Wafflemovies.com

"...The acting is sharp, and it features some of the most spectacular action and effects sequences of any movie of its kind." - USA Today

"If it's true that there's an 8-year-old boy inside every man, Transformers is just the ticket to bring the kid out." - Variety

"Bay and an army of visual designers have successfully re-imagined a photorealistic world in which these Titans can believably clash." - The Hollywood Reporter

Ebert: Bay rocks 'em and socks 'em

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-07-02T07:17:48-04:00

Roger Ebert gives it 3 out of 4 stars. Read his review.

Chud.com

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-29T16:10:03-04:00

Nick Nunziata, founder and owner of Chud.com says: "I had a blast. A really entertaining flick. A summer movie that finally delivers."

Chud's Jeremy Smith reviews Transformers and has this to say:

Granted, "value" is a debased term in the middle of the summer movie season - especially this summer, which has thus far been a steady succession of high-profile disappointments. But Transformers is the event moviegoers have been waiting for. It's got giant fucking robots doing huge fucking damage to a lot of fucking expensive hardware and property. Expecting much more than that out of a picture like this is to be an idiot.

The Hollywood Reporter: Sci-fi action that is both smart and funny.

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-29T16:02:39-04:00

Transformers

Bottom Line: Sci-fi action that is both smart and funny.

By Kirk Honeycutt

Jun 29, 2007

This is noisy fun with characters and plot lines kept simple and flashes of comedy that hit home more often than not.

"Transformers" is a wet dream for fanboys, with vehicles that whiz and whir into alien robots, spectacular sci-fi stunt chases, glistening military hardware, overheated computer software and brainy, hot girls who love Popular Mechanics. It's a Michael Bay movie based on a Hasbro line of toys that perfectly captures adolescent fascination with mechanical things you can take apart and put back together.

The movie is noisy fun, with characters and plot lines kept simple and flashes of comedy that hit home more often than not. Most importantly, the filmmakers have shrewdly selected their young cast. Shia LaBeouf is one of the hottest young actors on the planet at the moment, with the surprise hit thriller "Disturbia" and excellent lead vocal performance in the animated comedy "Surf's Up" already behind him this year. Megan Fox and Rachael Taylor add terrific sex appeal in roles designed to emphasize female capability and intelligence. And singer-actor Tyrese Gibson and Josh Duhamel are the smart-looking military dudes who take on the aliens at street level.

The movie's appeal definitely will expand beyond fanboys and sci-fi addicts to include older "kids" who grew up with the Transformers toys and comic books. DreamWorks and Paramount should be well-rewarded for their deep-pocketed faith in this potential franchise with a global hit.

This is not the first cinematic outing for the mechanical warriors. A 1986 animated movie was based on the original "Transformers"

television show, which was based, of course, on the popular multiform robot toy line. It didn't go over well at the boxoffice. (That tooner, incidentally, was set in 2005.) But now Bay and an army of visual designers have successfully re-imagined a photorealistic world in which these Titans can believably clash.

The best thing in the script by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (from a story by Orci, Kurtzman and John Rogers) is how a teen plot line gets tied into the fate of the world. Young Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf), who's nerdy but funny and sort of cool, gets a mysterious car from his dad, a banged-up '76 Chevy Camaro that he only later discovers is an alien robot. Now that's a way to get a girl's attention!

That girl, with the arresting name of Mikaela (Fox), has been in school with him for years but never really noticed him. One day she accepts a ride from him and finds herself caught up in a war of the worlds. Seems an ancestor of Sam made a discovery in the Arctic Circle that prompts the bad guys -- sorry, robots -- to target Sam, who unknowingly holds the key to mankind's survival -- if he hasn't already sold it on eBay.

Two robotic races -- the evil Decepticons and the heroic Autobots -- hide out on Earth as cars, trucks, 18-wheeler tractors, Hummers, jets or even a boom box before grinding and expanding into their robotic essence. These are CGI-errific moments, courtesy of Industrial Light + Magic, that will have fanboys leaping from their seats. All these techno creatures have feelings and emotions, you understand, which leads to the film's most amusing moment, when Sam's Camaro performs wheelies after his girlfriend "insults" the car. Its radio also plays tunes that fit the mood.

The filmmakers create three other sets of characters: A group of computer hackers headed by Taylor and Anthony Anderson, who no less than the U.S. Secretary of Defense (Jon Voight) desperately appoints as his "advisers"; surviving military members of an alien attack on a U.S. base in the Middle East, led by Duhamel and Gibson, who somehow wind up duking it out with the aliens in downtown Los Angeles; and shadowy anti-alien agents led by John Turturro.

The snarl of action and story lines is sometimes awkward, but at least the audience can identify with characters wherever the robots choose to rumble. No faceless multitudes screaming and fleeing here as in the Godzilla movies of old.

Clearly, none of this would work if Bay had not adroitly coordinated the stunts, animation and characters, both real and mechanical. Thanks goes to a team of editors, who have made good sense of all the action. On the debit side, sound levels are all too high, and the score pushes harder than necessary.

While he has long been a master of mayhem, on this occasion Bay weds his visual dazzle to material that carries the action smoothly. This is an extravaganza rather than overwrought excess. As one young boy exclaims upon seeing his first robot, "This is 10 times cooler than 'Armageddon'!"

Source: THR.

Transformers Rotten Tomatoes meter!

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-29T14:15:55-04:00

It's at 100%!

...He bites back

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-28T12:12:52-04:00

Bay bites back

The director of Pearl Harbor, Bad Boys II and now Transformers defends his art, writes Jim Schembri.

THE easiest way to start an argument among cinema lovers is to state categorically that Michael Bay is an artist.

Yes, that Michael Bay. The hack. The King of Crud. You know the titles: Bad Boys, Pearl Harbor, Armageddon, Bad Boys II, The Rock. Big, empty-headed, action mush. Cinematic hamburger. McBlockbusters. How is that art?

Maybe it helps to think about it this way: the hallmark of any artist is to author a signature style. In this sense, love them or hate them, everybody knows a Michael Bay film when they see one. He is, if you like, an auteur of sorts.

Of course, run the idea of cinematic artistry past Michael Bay and you'll get no argument. As the lithe 42-year-old settles into the couch opposite for our interview, he may - with $3 billion in box office earnings under his belt - qualify as a Hollywood heavy hitter, but he doesn't speak like one. He doesn't come across as a person with anything to defend, either. He loves conversation, accepts criticism and loves the question.

"I see myself as an artist," he says with a distinct LA drawl. "Art is something that you create from nothing. I use a lot of very talented people, but it is art if you can get people to applaud or laugh in that theatre, so you're creating some sort of emotional response. Then you realise, hey, they're applauding for a truck! Do you know what I'm saying?"

Bay is referring to his new art film, Transformers, a live-action film based on the popular series of toys from the 1980s where various ordinary-looking vehicles turn - or "transform" - into giant warring robots. In the film the robots do battle on Earth. Some are here to protect the humans, others to destroy. There are explosions, fireballs, some fabulously photo-realistic digital effects.

Ever since re-creating the attack on Pearl Harbour with the aid of CGI, Bay has become a wizard at harnessing digital technology for action. With Transformers, he steps to the next level. Curiously, however, one of his favourite moments in the film involves the staging of a 1970s-style car stunt where a Camaro balances on two wheels. No CGI assist there, Bay says proudly.

"Let me tell you about that stunt. That was the most patient I've ever been in my entire film career. It took three hours for that guy to get up, and it was all real. No CGI. I broke a record for being the most patient I have ever been because I like real. I'm old-school."

Despite his box-office success - or, he suspects, because of it - Bay has become the punching bag of choice for critics the world over. Even South Park has taken a swing. Why? Bay suspects it has something to do with "fear of the new". So he's a pioneer on the action genre frontier? "If you look at action nowadays, it's changed more to my style," he says.

So what does he think of the armies of Bay naysayers?

"First of all, there are too many critics and it all just turns into white noise. Also, I think many of them are out of touch with pop culture. Roger Ebert (of the Chicago Sun-Times) once commented (negatively) on one scene in Bad Boys II and I'm like, 'Wait a minute. I've seen this movie with 10 paying audiences and they were laughing so loud they couldn't hear the dialogue. Didn't he see what was going on in the theatre?' Then I found out he sees movies by himself."

Transformers certainly is a first-of-a-kind. Whereas most modern films feature sporadic spots of product placement, Transformers is all about product placement. The "star" car is courtesy of General Motors, and toy giant Hasbro is expecting the film to act as a global promotional showreel for its new line of Transformer toys.

Deal-making is all part of the process, says Bay. "Listen, I had a finite budget for this. It was $US145 million ($A171 million). That's not a lot for this type of movie, and when I (was looking for) that car, I went to GM and they took me through their concept cars and I went, 'That's it!'

"I had a good relationship with them (GM). They gave me $3 million worth of cars, which cuts $3 million out of my budget, which means I can put more up on the screen. So I don't think it's whoring out the movie. It was a good compromise."

As for Hasbro, the film's opening titles declare the company as Bay's chief production partner.

"Listen, I didn't care that this is associated with a toy," he insists. "It has nothing to do with the toys. I wanted to make my own movie that would appeal to the non-Transformer fan as well as Transformer fans."

Nothing to do with the toy? Michael, please. It's in the title.

"Listen, I didn't grow up with the toy, I didn't grow up with the cartoon, so I'm trying to do my own thing with it."

Bay has made most of his films for uber-producer Jerry Bruckheimer, with whom he is planning his next epic. For Transformers, however, Bay's new patron is the one producer considered more "uber" than Bruckheimer - Steven Spielberg. Indeed, it was Spielberg's idea to have Bay direct the film. "You know," says Bay, "he always says 'I wanna be your new Jerry Bruckheimer'. Isn't that funny?"

Yes, it is. Fall-down-on-the-couch funny. He joins the laughter, then adds: "Spielberg has been very open about that (mentoring role). He said to me, 'Michael, I think you've got one of the finest eyes in Hollywood.' And taking that from one of my idols, that's pretty awesome."

It takes a few solid minutes of prodding, but Bay eventually concedes that Transformers is a return to safer cinematic territory after the box-office flop of his previous film, The Island.

"You're probably right. OK. OK. I'll grant you that. This film is still a big risk, but I'm more comfortable in this realm."

The circumstances this time around were also far less troublesome. The Island was not only plagued with production problems, but with an ill-conceived marketing strategy that Bay hated. His big lesson from the experience?

"Never trust a studio with marketing your movie. I am all over this movie. Like, they can't do a f---ing thing without me looking at every detail!"

One cannot interview Michael Bay and not seize the opportunity to raise a central criticism of his kinetic style. As fun and enthralling as Transformers is, its massive action sequences share the same irritating qualities as those in his other films. The camera is too close, the cutting is too fast, there is too much shaking, not enough sense of composition. Everything looks like a jagged blur. It's as though Bay is trying to cram too much into the frame.

Michael, does it have to be this way? He thinks.

"You watch Mission: Impossible III. That's way too shaky." A pause. "It's a style. I don't know if the cutting is too fast. You know, as I go on with movies, I think I do slow down a little bit."

The time has come in Michael Bay's career to fulfil everyone's fantasy by making a small-scale film with no explosions or giant killer robots or machine-guns, where it's just people relating.

"That's my fantasy, too!" he exclaims. This is good because Bay has an underappreciated gift for comedy, which he has sprinkled generously throughout his films. He considers Armageddon a comedy about the world being saved by a bunch of average Joes, and the hilarious opening reel of Transformers plays like an unofficial remake of Herbie, the Love Bug.

"I love comedy," Bay says. "I've got this great pulp fictiony true story called Pain and Gain that I've been working on. It's fun dialogue and it's true and it's these people looking for the American dream in the wrong way. It's something that I really want to do."

And he likes improvising. The chancy masturbation joke in Transformers, he says, was done on the spot, and he loved it. "We made this funny scene because I had these great actors to work with, but the studio kept saying, 'What are you doing? That's not in the script! You're wrecking this movie!' And I said: 'Just trust me. This is how I work. I shoot a lot of jokes, and some of them will live and some of them are going to die, but these are the things that will bring the house down. You watch and see."

Bay's next film will be another Bruckheimer biggie, but he is hungry for change. A passing joke about the prospects of a Bad Boys III elicits this response.

"Here's the thing. Bad Boys II was fun, and it's funny, but it's no great shakes . . . I'm worried that big movies are going to go away, so I figure I'd better direct (some) while they're still here."

Does he really think they will go away? "Maybe." Why? "I don't know. There are not a lot of big movies." Michael, there's one every second week! He laughs. "I guess you're right. This is just the neurotic director talking to you." Michael Bay? Neurotic? "I know. The thing is, I'm unemployed now. I am! That's the way we think. I'm unemployed."

Source: The Age dot com

Transformers: HBO First Look

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-27T20:57:32-04:00

HBO's "First Look" features a 25 minute behind the scenes featurette on the making of Transformers.

Check the HBO schedule.

Metal Machine Musings

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-27T06:04:08-04:00

He’s everything film critics hate about Hollywood but still delivers hit after hit. After redefining the action movie for the MTV generation, what would Michael Bay want with the world’s biggest toy franchise? DREW TURNEY was at the recent Transformers press conference in Sydney.

The room was full of movie reporters and everybody was talking about the franchise, the fanboys and the stunts and effects when the question nobody wanted to ask but everyone was thinking finally came up. Why do so many people hate Michael Bay?

“When I did Bad Boys I used a style of very quick editing,” Bay explains. “Partially because I didn’t have a lot of money for art direction so we had to disguise things. I was competing against True Lies, which had all the money and effects in the world. So that became my style and it kind of hooked into young kids.

“So yeah, I did get the whipping boy thing and a very esteemed film professor told me that in Hollywood they’ll always go after someone who changes something. They don’t like change, and if you look at action movies these days they’re all fast cut now, and I don’t know if I’m somewhat responsible for that.”

Bay’s long been a favourite target of the critical establishment who bemoan the death of cinema quality on the altar of lucrative sequel rights and tie-in merchandising lines, but it’s easy to forget how good he is at what he does. Like the Star Wars prequels, if you watch a Michael Bay film but fast-forward through the drama and exposition you’ll think you’re in the hands of a master.

That hatred was joined by the chorus of howls from long-time Transformers devotees who came out of the woodwork to leave death threats on his blog and make 39,000 attempted hacks onto the servers of Industrial Light And Magic – the Lucas-owned company responsible for the movie’s effects.

But with Steven Spielberg’s influence and money behind him, Bay forged ahead and has delivered one of the better films in his canon, certainly the biggest. You have to feel for the guy and wonder if all the scorn is worth it.

“You’re never going to make everyone happy and I knew that going into this, but you’ve got to respect the fanbase,” he states. “You can’t change Spider-Man’s outfit too much. When they put nipples on Batman, you saw that. You have to be respectful to certain arguments but you’ve got to make your own choices as a filmmaker. Many fans who saw clips really gave it their stamp of approval and they were only seeing 2-D images.”

In agreeing to do the film, Bay wanted to do it as realistically as he could. The result is slightly at odds with the cartoonish origins of the franchise, but as a film branded with Bay’s name, it’s going to be full of large-scale destruction, destruction of buildings and transport machinery and huge explosions.

To achieve real-looking robots causing all that mayhem was no small task, as the director explains. “I’m very into lighting and how real these things had to look. A lot of CG just doesn’t look real, all of us have something in our brain that says when the light isn’t right, so we (Bay and ILM) worked extensively on lighting.

“Optimus Prime had 10,108 parts that all had to move and interact. They had to reflect certain kinds of light. When you look at a car you’ve got soft light and little hard pings everywhere and that’s a hard thing to do in the digital world.”

Even more important to the goal of creating digital characters seem real however is giving us something to love, hate and react to. In a lot of ways, the magic of movies in the digital age is making us feel for something or someone that doesn’t exist except in a computer program – even something as inexpressive as a robot.

The screening Bay attended with fans and the press was the first time he’d seen it with audience, and he says the reaction to his digital creations blew even him away. “My favourite was Bumblebee. You just get a lot of emotion out of him. I just finished (the film) literally last Friday and when you step back it’s so weird that there was nothing there and now you’ve got something.

“I heard the audience last night applauding when a truck came in and skidded in – they’re finding emotion in a truck! I really liked it that we created characters out of thin air you can feel something for.”

With a single frame of film taking 38 hours to render, it was a big investment of time and energy in a project Bay initially dismissed out of hand. “Steven (Spielberg) told me about this movie called Transformers. He said there wasn’t much of an idea but it’s about this boy who buys his first car and it’s an alien robot. After I hung up I said ‘I’m never doing that stupid movie’.

“But I thought about it and went to Hasbro and met the CEO. He took me through the whole Transformers lore and something just kind of clicked. I thought if I could make this really real and edgy I think I could do something very cool with it.”

Edgy? Could it be Michael Bay’s entering his long-awaited arthouse period? If you hate him, no such luck. If you love him, he’s on course for more thrills, kills and spills than ever…

Source: Xpressmag.com

"Transformers" director firing on all cylinders

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-27T06:05:34-04:00

NEW YORK -- Director Michael Bay, Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks might be hoping to transform the boxoffice when their "Transformers" movie opens Tuesday, but starring roles in the film for General Motors and eBay, an unprecedented takeover of eBay's home page and Bay's decision to direct spots for three tie-in partners might help transform the Hollywood promotions business as well.

GM has four of its vehicles -- the Chevy Camaro, the Pontiac Solstice, the Hummer H2 and the GMC Topkick -- playing four of "Transformers' " Autobot heroes: Bumblebee, Jazz, Ratchet and Ironhide. It's the type of starring role that every advertiser strives for but rarely achieves, especially in a big-budget summer tentpole film.

"I think this is a once-in-a-motion-picture-history-type opportunity for an automotive company where you have a film that actually incorporates multiple cars that are actually characters in the film," said LeeAnne Stables, senior vp worldwide marketing partnerships at Paramount.

Added Dino Bernacchi, associate director of marketing alliances and branded entertainment at GM: "We try to find properties where the cars are the stars, and literally our cars are the stars of this movie. You don't get any more heroic than the roles that our four vehicles play."

Often roles this big require brands to spend millions of dollars in integration fees in addition to millions in TV ads and other cross-promotional activity, but GM only had to supply two vehicles for each brand starring in the movie, though it did spend millions in promotions. It also built two Camaros especially for the film since the vehicle is not for sale yet and is based on a concept car Bay saw last year at an auto show. GM provided dozens of other vehicles for background use in the movie.

"Michael saw the new Camaro at the 2006 auto show and immediately fell in love with it and wanted it for Bumblebee," Bernacchi said.

Bay's long-standing relationship with GM also led to the car manufacturer's role in the movie's spotlight. GM has supplied vehicles for several of Bay's movies, including about 80 for "Bad Boys II," and Bay directed spots for Chevy earlier in his career.

Bernacchi said that whatever GM spent on the promotions and the vehicles "pales in comparison" to the benefits GM is getting, not just from being featured in a blockbuster film but also in the "Transformers" video game and appearing as toys from Hasbro as well as in all ancillary marketing surrounding the movie.

"Whatever the cost was, it was a small investment for the big exposure and opportunity we're embarking upon right now," Bernacchi said. "This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

EBay also plays a role in the film's story line when a key item goes up for sale on the auction Web site. Additionally, eBay is integrating "Transformers" into its home page for two days in its biggest movie tie-in. Although eBay has featured rich media ads on its home page, it never has changed its home page as part of a cross-promotional deal with a Hollywood studio or any other third party.

"This is unprecedented," said Kimi Kokka, director of marketing partnerships and promotions at eBay. "We've never integrated content into our home page before. We're changing the look and feel of the home page and the technology around it for those two days." She said the "Transformers" takeover scheduled for Thursday and Friday was not based on an ad buy but was part of eBay's promotional partnership with Paramount.

"EBay has never done a movie promotion like this," Stables said. "They're doing things for us that money can't buy." The site also will auction off key props and memorabilia related to the movie, starting Thursday. In addition, it has created a special "Transformers"-themed microsite that links to all "Transformers" merchandise for sale on eBay.

Kokka said that eBay decided to embark on the promotional partnership mostly because of the organic integration of eBay in the film. "It started with the creative integration in the story line, and from there we just built upon it to see how we could make it come to life on eBay as well as on the big screen. Opportunities like this just don't come along, which is why we're doing such a deep marketing partnership with Paramount."

In another rare move by Paramount, Bay directed commercials for tie-in partners GM, Burger King and PepsiCo's Mountain Dew.

There appears to be an increasing willingness among top film directors to helm tie-in partners' spots and a growing push by studios to encourage them to do so, but it still is rare to see a top Hollywood director helm spots for advertisers let alone for three different tie-in partners on one movie. For GM alone, Bay directed five different commercials.

"Having the director of the film involved in the production of the partners' promotional spots ensured the spots were in sync with the tone of the film," Stables said. "No one could possibly know the flavor of the movie better than the director himself, so it was a perfect match."

Stables said the Mountain Dew promotion also is significant, with "Transformers" graphics and logos plastered on 850 million packages of Mountain Dew, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi and other PepsiCo beverage brands and a custom TV spot that Bay shot and directed.

"I just think this is a huge promotion for Pepsi," she said. "This is probably one of the biggest if not the biggest beverage promotion for any film this summer."

Mountain Dew also has a minor placement in the movie, which features a shot of a Mountain Dew vending machine. The placement and promotion stemmed from Pepsi's placement and entertainment marketing agency Davie-Brown Entertainment providing product for the crew and set, Stables said.

Source: THR.

The Rebirth of Optimus Prime: Behind the Scenes with Director Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-25T22:48:23-04:00

Nelson here...I mentioned this a couple days ago.

Click here to read the article.

Original link.

Michael Bay rings NYSE opening bell

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-25T17:38:00-04:00

Michael and Hasbro rang the opening bell.

http://www.nyse.com/events/1182162037532.html

Watch the streaming video here.

Download the QuickTime video here.

Ctrl-Click and 'Download Linked File' (Mac) or Rt-Click and 'Save Target As' (PC) the link above.

“Transformers” via Satellite to 4,000 Viewers

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-25T17:03:54-04:00

Raleigh, NC and Hollywood, CA – L.A. Film Festival – June 25, 2007 – Microspace Communications Corporation (Microspace), the leading distributor of digital cinema via satellite, today announced that it will deliver the North American premiere of DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures’ release of “TRANSFORMERS” to the L.A. Film Festival on June 27, 2007.

The exclusive pre-release screening of “TRANSFORMERS” will represent the first time a motion picture has been delivered via satellite to the L.A. Film Festival. The distribution will be one of the largest film premieres in history and will be screened simultaneously to thousands of viewers.

“Digital delivery is a key element in the change to digital cinema,” said Jim Tharp, president, domestic distribution for Paramount Pictures. “We are so pleased to partner with Microspace for satellite delivery of TRANSFORMERS at the LA Film Festival.”

“Satellite delivery of motion pictures continues to gain significant traction among studios and exhibitors as return-on-investment is realized,” said Curt Tilly, manager of digital cinema distribution at Microspace. “The quality and reliability that digital delivery yields, enables both studios and exhibitors to feature the highest quality presentation the first time and every time.”

Microspace collaborates with studios, content preparation companies and exhibitors to utilize satellite distribution and its benefits. The proven workflow and electronic delivery of Microspace’s satellite distribution provides the industry with a turn-key solution for content delivery and minimizes the potential issues and costs associated with physical delivery. Through the use of two discrete satellite systems, movies and keys are delivered on-time, every-time at Microspace connected theatres.

The North American premiere will be open to 4,000 people across four theaters in Westwood Village where they will view the Autobots® and Decepticons® battle it out. The premiere will take place on June 27, 2007 at 8:15 p.m. “TRANSFORMERS” will open in theaters nationwide on July 3, 2007.

Read the rest.

Michael Bay 2nd Life interview

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-23T21:58:16-04:00

Click here to listen to the Second Life interview Michael Bay and Lorenzo Di Bonaventura.

Wire Magazine: 'subgenre known simply as "Michael Bay"'

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-22T19:31:54-04:00

Nelson here...

The July 2007 Wired Magazine feature Optimus Prime on the cover and an article on the Transformers film. It's a very good and entertaining read.

Among the quotes:

"I knew there were fans....I didn't know there were people who'd hunt you down. I urge them to watch the 1986 animated movie, go watch the cartoon. You'll want to shoot yourself."

"Then there's the matter of matter. Bays says that weight-mass orthodoxy informed the decision to make Prime a hog-nosed semi instead of the flat-front model from the cartoon, which he says, would have yielded only a 23 feet of robot height. (He wanted Prime to stand at least 30 feet tall.)"

"Physics also informed the decision to make Megatron, originally a pistol, into a jet..."

"But other alterations were simply Bay's prerogative. Optimus Prime now boast bright orange cholo flames and--much to fans' horror--lips. 'I'm the director. I make my own decisions. I like to paint the house green, even when everyone says it's got to be white."

'Transformers' steals spotlight at Taormina

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-22T09:52:16-04:00

'Transformers' steals spotlight at Taormina

By Eric J. Lyman
June 22, 2007

TAORMINA, Sicily -- DreamWorks/Paramount's "Transformers," the mega-budget summer film based on the 1980s animated series, launched the summer season Thursday at the 53rd annual Taormina Film Festival with the festival's most enthusiastic response and extra-tight anti-piracy measures.

The crowds at Taormina's famous 5,000-seat cliffside Greek Theatre were enthusiastic, gathering more than two hours before the film started and screaming and clapping as a specially made short film and laser light show marked the start of the evening's events.

"This is an awesome place for a film like this," said 18-year-old Michael Formis, on vacation from Winter Park, Fla. "The setting and the atmosphere is just unreal."

Although screenings earlier in the week in South Korea and Australia and a European premiere in Spain the night before meant the Taormina showing was technically an Italian premiere, Paramount made it clear that Thursday night's screening was the official world launch for the film.

"This is a worldwide film, and with its dates and its reputation, Taormina was a perfect springboard for us," producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura said.

Lucia Puenzo, the Argentinean director of "XXY" -- the provocative story of a teenage hermaphrodite that premiered here Wednesday -- officially welcomed director Michael Bay and the "Transformers" cast to a packed house at the 2,300-year-old venue, presenting Bay with a Harry Winston watch as the recipient of a Taormina Arte Award.

At a question-and-answer session earlier in the day, Taormina artistic director Deborah Young said the onstage juxtaposition of the directors of a blockbuster like "Transformers" and an art house film like "XXY" was a good metaphor for the 53-year-old Taormina event.

"This festival is all about bringing different cultures and perspectives together," Young said. "You couldn't ask for a better example than that."

For the briefing, Paramount decked out a large conference room at the Grand Hotel Timeo to fit the futuristic feel of the film, with director Bay, di Bonaventura and the film's star, Shia LaBeouf, on hand for a lighthearted exchange with a standing-room-only crowd of journalists.

LaBeouf stole the show with his enthusiasm. "No doubt, this film is a really big deal back where I come from," the 21-year-old said, shaking his head.

"Shia, it's a big deal all over the world," Bay corrected him.

"Well, I haven't been anywhere before this," LaBeouf said, laughing. "I don't know what's going on all over the world."

Paramount took extra steps to prevent pirating of the film, with tight security at the gates of the Greek Theatre and proctors roaming the seats to prevent illegal filming of the event.

Although the "Transformers" premiere dominated the day at the festival, several other films had their moment on one of Taormina's silver screens, including screenings of Aleksei Mizgiryov's Russian crime drama "Kremen" (Hard-Hearted); "13m2," a thriller from France's Barthelemy Grossman; and 1999 coming-of-age story "El Medina" (The City), the last film in the Egyptian tribute series. "XXY" also unspooled in a reprise screening.

Original link.

Access Hollywood interviews MIchael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-20T21:24:01-04:00

Check out this Access Hollywood interview with Michael. View it here.

MoviesOnline interviews Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-19T12:17:47-04:00

Nelson here...

This is by far one of the best interviews I've read in a long time.

Some of the gems. In regards to the screening:

"A lot of the older ladies, like 35, 40, they are like, ‘I didn’t want to come here. I didn’t want to see this. I was dragged here.’ It’s true! This one lady goes, ‘This kinds of reinvents super heroes.’ She said this great line. She goes, ‘We’re tired of the suits and the whatever. This is totally new and different.’

In regards to some of his favorite directors:

"Raising Arizona was such an instrumental movie in how I’ve done some of my commercials. Just that comic timing. A lot of people didn’t get that movie when it came out."

Read the entire interview here.

The Canada National Post: "Transformers as the rock ‘n’ roll equivalent of heavy metal thunder."

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-18T04:57:46-04:00

Only Michael Bay would have the creative nerve to re-boot the animated Transformers as a live-action motion picture. Sure, Batman and Spidey have fanatic followers, too, but Transformers trippers are multi-generational compulsives. Even in their quietest moments, they have been making lots of noise about how this latest cinema makeover will ruin this and/or mess up that.

All this for a movie about a cartoon originally created to sell toys. Uh-huh. Toys.

Giant robots in disguise all right. Way back in 1984, a toy line was promoted in what amounted to narrative advertising through a Marvel Comics series and a TV show. The commercial cloaking device continued with an animated feature in 1986 which contained more of the same product placement.

Since that time, Transformers has gone through many incarnations, re-configurations and re-designs, making it one of the most enduring and most multi-layered U.S. and Japanese franchises in the history of pop culture. Enough said on that, because trying to sort them all out would be mind-numbing.

Let’s cut to the chase, and the Friday night preview screening I attended for Bay’s mega-budgeted Transformers at the Mann Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Bay even attended "to make sure the sound was loud enough." It was. And with his cinema wisdom, previously showcased in Armageddon and The Rock and Bad Boys, the director conjures up a revival of the Transformers brand.

In the hyper-kinetic flick, Shia LaBeouf plays Sam Witwicky, a young man who befriends the space travelling Autobots, robots who are pitted against their evil counterparts, the Decepticons. Both are usually waging war on the planet Cybertron, but this time Earth gets to be the battleground. The car-like Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, find a friend in Sam based on some previous history with Sam’s granddad. This leaves the Decepticons, led by Megatron, really angry. A worldly face off is to be expected. Bay gets into it with the same kind of macho menace you might expect.

And there are, indeed, some powerful, head-spinning confrontations surpassing special effects scenes he’s done previously, including The Island. And that’s saying a lot. Think of Transformers as the rock ‘n’ roll equivalent of heavy metal thunder.

What non-robot highlights can you look for? Megan Fox plays Mikaela, Sam’s girlfriend. Josh Duhamel is a special ops team leader and survivor of an attack by the Decepticon Blackout. Tyrese Gibson is an Air Force combat-trained warrior who teams up with Duhamel. Then there is John Turturro doing his villainous best to get some solid laughs as the wacky leader of a secret government group. Jon Voight portrays the U.S. Secretary of State in his stately way. And, of course, comic relief comes briefly, but effectively from Bernie Mac’s car salesman.

On the controversy front, no controversy at all: Hugo Weaving is just fine as the voice of Megatron replacing TV series voice actor Frank Welker. Peter Cullen returns as the voice of Optimus Prime as he is in most of the Transformers shows on TV. And let us not be too concerned about this either: The Autobot Bumblebee, formerly a VW Bug, has been upgraded to a Camaro. And yes, Autobots Ironhide and Ratchet and Decepticons Blackout, Brawl and Bonecrusher are all included.

The climatic showdown is everything Bay and Transformers freaks would want it to be.

On Saturday, the Transformers brigade gathered at the Beverly Hills Four Seasons Hotel to put their thoughts on the film into perspective. It even included a confession by Bay.
"I was not a Transformers fan," said the director who was brought in by executive producer Steven Spielberg to do the movie. Bay became a believer fast enough, especially after going to Transformers school.

Still, he knew that he was going to make "a more adult kind of live action movie." Bay also said he understood he would have to trim back the number of robot characters in the picture, and highlight the human sub-plots. Spielberg helped him with that by describing the movie as the story of "a boy and his first car."

"And the overall underlying theme is 'no sacrifice, no victory,' " said Bay, who also pointed out that he received complete cooperation from the U.S. Armed Forces, which provided jet fighters, attack helicopters and some special forces units. All that hardware and manpower aided the director in his quest to make the film seem "more accessible and more acceptable."
Generally, Bay was pleased with the result, which he believes re-fashions "a kids' story" into an adult action-adventure picture children can enjoy.

"I liked the challenge of doing something that hadn't been done and creating characters out of thin air," he said.

Later on, Bay refused to confirm that he might be doing the same thing with his next project: a movie version of the popular video game, Prince Of Persia. Meanwhile, LaBeouf, who begins filming the fourth installment of Indiana Jones on Monday, said he applauds Bay for making Transformers more than just a special effects action flick.

"There's a lot of heart in the movie," said LaBeouf, who admitted he was a Transformers comic book and cartoon series fanatic growing up.

So is the actor ready for the attention coming his way when the film opens July 3? "I live a regular life," he said. "I intend to keep it that way." The joker in LaBeouf couldn’t resist a bit of fun when he was asked what he might have kept from the Transformers movie as a memory? "It was a lock of Michael Bay's hair," he said smiling.

Like LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson's a big Transformers follower. "Optimus Prime is my guy," he said. And sure he agreed, "Michael Bay is intense at times" but he thinks it was worth the hard work.

So does Bay, who said some fans were worried about the makeovers and alterations. But Bay said it all came together. So will he do a Transformers sequel? "There is no script right now," he said. "But I will leave that negotiation open."

Original article.

Transformers: Making the Movie

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-16T19:07:53-04:00

Click here to read the making of the Transformers movie. This is form the media press kit being given out to journalist and media outlets.

Transformers Asia Junket Heats Up Seoul

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-12T06:08:39-04:00

Transformers Asia Junket Heats Up Seoul

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Director Michael Bay and rising star Megan Fox sizzled up Monday night's Asia junket for their mega-action robot film "Transformers,'' held at N Seoul Tower. The film's character model Bumblebee, revealing its looming yellow 5.2-meter, 3.7-ton figure for the first time, also heated up the show.

"Korea is a huge emerging world market (in cinema),'' the award-winning director told journalists that gathered from all over the world for the event. He was also "very happy'' the world premier for his movie would take place here on June 28 (opens July 4 in the United States).

It is the first time a major Hollywood film held its opening press event in Korea. Artist Choe So-ri inaugurated the program with a stunning drum performance using fire and water, symbolizing the film's dueling evil Decepticons and good Autobots, respectively.

Based on a popular American comic book and TV series of the same title, "Transformers'' is about alien robot races battling on Earth to locate their long lost energy source, to which a teenager named Sam (Shia LaBoeuf) obliviously holds the key. With the help of Mikaela (Megan Fox), Sam and others join forces to save the planet.

During the press talk, Bay, 42, exerted much confidence about his film and its extensive appeal to both fans and non-fans, international and domestic.

"I grew up a non-`Transformers' fan'' he said, "so when Steven Spielberg called me a year and a half ago to direct this movie, I thought ah, it'd be a silly toy movie, (I'm) not really interested, but since then I became a gigantic `Transformers' fan.'' Bay says his favorite character is Optimus Prime, the "really cool'' leader of the human-friendly Autobots.

The director explained that the film "has a kind of a universal appeal and it brings out the kid in you,'' and that "it's definitely something new and different you haven't seen this summer, and by using really groundbreaking visual effects,'' the film "appeals to a lot of different age ranges.''

Bay continued, "I like to do ideas that are big ideas that really travel around the world,'' yet this film "was challenging because it was a cartoon. My job was to make it real and bring it to life on-screen.'' He said it was tough working with 40 artists and developing the characters.

Bay is known for his visually stunning and star-making blockbuster movies: Ben Affleck and Owen Wilson rose to stardom through "Armageddon'' (1998), Nicolas Cage became a megastar with "The Rock'' (1996) and Josh Hartnett upgraded his heartthrob image with "Pearl Harbor'' (2001).

Actress Megan Fox, heroine of the action-packed science-fiction film "Transformers," poses in front of the robot character model Bumblebee, at the film's opening press event in Seoul, Monday. /Yonhap.
For "Transformers,'' newcomer Megan Fox beat the competition in nine auditions against some 600 other women from numerous countries. Although she hadn't seen the script upon joining the cast, she said "I knew that Michael (Bay) was directing it and I knew that Steven (Spielberg) was producing it, and that's all an actor needs to know to be excited to trying get involved in a project.

"I was looking for a job and ended up getting the best one,'' she said.

How? "Just look at her,'' Bay said.

The 21-year-old played a sexy and charismatic teenager on-screen, and told reporters that Bay wanted her to be stronger and tougher. Steering a truck at full speed with a super size robot trailing behind, the actress does define rough with a sexy touch.

Fox magnetized camera lenses as she posed for lengthy photo ops on the red carpet and onstage. Showing off her foxy grin and tattoos, including the one of Marilyn Monroe's face on her right forearm, the actress waved to the excited crowd.

Great news for worldwide "Transformers'' fans: Bay explained that the film's finale was left slightly open-ended because there might be " two, three, four and five and so on.

"But that all depends on you up there,'' he said to a crowd of Koreans gathered near the venue's terrace. Someone yelled "Hell yeah!'' and Bay smiled, "Alright, there you go.''

As for the possibility of real world robots in the near future, Bay laughed, saying that "there definitely will be a massive alien robot war in the future,'' in light of his own film. The alluring Ms. Fox added that artificial intelligence and the like "scare the crap out of me.''

Fox pleasantly surprised the local crowd by enthusiastically stating that "The Host'' (2006) was her "favorite film'' -- "after `Transformers,''' Bay insisted. The actress said the monster scared her enormously and that the fine acting in the Korean blockbuster was impressive.

About his second visit to Korea, Bay said the country has become "very big and crowded'' ever since his trip here with his mother 20 years ago. For Fox, it was her first time traveling outside of the U.S., and thought Korea seemed beautiful.

Bay and Fox continued onto Australia to promote "Transformers.'' The film recently won the American MTV award for "Best Summer Movie You Haven't Seen Yet.''

Original article.

South Korea Transformers press conference

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-11T21:33:29-04:00

Michael Bay and Megan Fox attend the press conference in South Korea.

AICN interview Peter Cullen

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-09T19:41:55-04:00

Quint over at AICN has interviewed the man behind Optimus Prime. Read the interview here. Among some of the things he said:

Peter Cullen: Yeah it’s better with Michael Bay, you know even just a couple of cars would be special… the guy is just brilliant. I mean, he really is brilliant and he’s got a vision. He had a marvelous vision for the entire beginning from conceptual… through the process. He’s responsible for so many great things, including giving Optimus Prime a sense of humor, which makes him more believable, working in the human relation situation along with the real people. Prime is actually charmingly funny. That’s a step in the right direction!

Variety: 'Transformers' aims for broad audience

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-09T08:04:31-04:00

'Transformers' aims for broad audience
Movie being sold as more than toy knockoff

By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK

"Transformers" conjures up images of kiddie playthings, ever-changing alien robots that first landed in toy boxes in the 1980s.

DreamWorks and Paramount think they have something more than a kiddie pic or a nostalgic tribute -- execs feel that the pic, which launches July 3, is a four-quadrant summer joyride. The question is how to market the film to those four groups.

As director Michael Bay deadpans, "I definitely didn't make a toy movie."

The PG-13 movie is this summer's only big-budget live-action pic that is not a sequel, and boasts the imprint of action-megapic director Bay and exec producer Steven Spielberg.

The studio marketing execs are selling the movie as much more than a toy knockoff, talking up spectacular special effects, a fast-moving plot and humor.

"The push has been to defy people's expectations," says Christine Birch, DreamWorks president of marketing. "When they hear 'Transformers,' they think 'toy movie.' They think little kids. The movie is family-friendly, but that doesn't make it juvenile."

One studio exec says: "You need to get young males, which Bay can. But you also need to get younger kids, which could be more Steven. The challenge comes in trying to tell parents it's OK to bring their younger children without alienating teenagers. It still needs a 'Terminator' toughness."

Rob Moore, Paramount's president of worldwide marketing and distribution, says the movie has just that. "It has signature Michael Bay action that is visually spectacular. But the movie also has a great sense of humor. You really have a combination."

In testing, DreamWorks and Par skedded two screenings: One for kids and parents, the other for all audiences. The scores were almost identical.

Starring Shia LaBeouf and Josh Duhamel, "Transformers" would give DreamWorks and Paramount a much-needed live-action franchise.

Even before Par acquired DreamWorks, the two entities agreed to collaborate on a "Transformers" project. It's said to be a passion project for Spielberg, who was intrigued by its alien themes, and he thought Bay would be perfect to direct.

After a string of box office hits, Bay stumbled with DreamWorks' "The Island" ($36 million domestically and $125 million overseas). If "Transformers" clicks, it will be a rebound for the director and the action is said to be quintessential Bay, mirroring such pics as "Armageddon," "The Rock" and "Bad Boys."

And, at least partly due to Spielberg's mark, it's being hyped as featuring the same kind of special effects that made "Jurassic Park" work in the 1990s.

Script was penned by the team of Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, who also wrote Par's upcoming "Star Trek" installment.

"Transformers" was produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Don Murphy and Tom DeSanto, who secured the film rights from Hasbro.

Article link.

Transformer's Press Kit Contest

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-08T21:05:09-04:00

Nelson here...one lucky fan will be receiving this Transformers mega-press kit.

So, what do you have to do to win this? SImple. Answer the following two (2) questions:

1. Who is your favorite Transformer
2. And why is it your favorite Transformer

E-mail your name, address, and answers to: contest@michaelbay.com

Here are the contest rules:

You must live in one of the following countries: US, UK, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Italy, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, & Switzerland.

You will have to pay for shipping and insurance through Paypal.com. You have 24 hours to pay once you are contacted (if you do not respond, your prize is void).

The winner will be announced on this blog. You will be contacted with shipping and insurance rates info. If you are the winner and can't pay, the prize will be given to another contestant.

There are no returns, refunds and/or cash exchanges.

The contest ends on Friday, June 15, 2007.

The contents of the Transformers press kit are:

01.- Optimus Prime Voice Changer
02.- "Optimash Prime" Mr. Potato Head figure
03.- Deluxe Class Bonecrusher
04.- Deluxe Class Swindle
05.- Optimus Prime "Battle Rig Blaster"
06.- Robot Fighters game featuring Optimus Prime and Megatron
07.- "Transformers: Ghost of Yesterday" Prequel Novel by Alan Dean Foster
08.- T-Shirt featuring Barricade's police logo
09.- Small projector toy that shines an image of Optimus Prime
10.- Transformers press kit material and CD-rom
11.- Decepticon movie logo magnet
12.- Autobot movie logo magnet
13.- Leader Class Megatron action figure
14.- Transformers 3-D Battle-Card Game sample pack

Giant Fucking Robots Are Coming Shirts are here

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-06T20:56:55-04:00

>> Order here

Yahoo.com interview with Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-06T05:18:04-04:00

Michael answers some questions on Transformers.

Click to watch.

Michael Bay to appear "On the Lot"

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-05T06:04:44-04:00

"TRANSFORMERS" STAR SHIA LABEOUF AND DIRECTOR MICHAEL BAY TO SERVE AS GUEST JUDGES "ON THE LOT"

TUESDAY, JUNE 5, ON FOX

Moviemaking competition series ON THE LOT will air its weekly "Film Premiere" episode this Tuesday June 5 8/7c on FOX, with "Transformers" star Shia LaBeouf ("Disturbia," "Surf's Up") and director Michael Bay ("Armageddon," "Bad Boys") serving as guest judges along with regulars Carrie Fisher and Garry Marshall.

The remaining 15 director finalists have been divided into three groups of five, and the first group - Sam Friedlander, Hilary Graham, Trever James, Shalini Kantayya and Adam Stein - will premiere their personal submission films and receive the judges' critiques. Viewers will vote for their favorite films after the show.

ON THE LOT is produced by Mark Burnett Productions, DreamWorks Television and Amblin Television. Mark Burnett and Steven Spielberg are creators and executive producers. David Goffin serves as executive producer with Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey and Conrad Riggs co-executive producers.

Link.

Bay's Transformers wins MTV award

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-04T07:12:41-04:00

Transformers won the MTV movie awards for "Best Summer Movie You haven't Seen Yet."

Click to see Michael accept the award .

Tranformers to hit US theaters on night of July 2

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-02T17:30:31-04:00

Nelson here.

Just spoke to Michael and he confirmed that Transformers will open in theaters on July 3 with a special showing on the night of July 2.

Transformers international press tour

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-02T06:25:34-04:00

Nelson here...Shia & Megan have begun the international press tour for Transformers. Michael Bay begins his tour this following week.

View a snippet of the Tokyo press conference.

Transformers "Freakout" Tv ad

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-06-01T19:22:44-04:00

This is the ad that premiered on Nickelodeon. Enjoy!

View in Quicktime HD

Mirror # 1

Mirror # 2

Behind the scenes of the Transformers score

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-05-29T15:46:43-04:00

Nelson here...thanks to Adam Lloyd for the heads up on the Steve Jablonsky Transformers scoring sessions .

Click to read the complete article via SoundtrackNet.

New photographs

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-05-29T08:37:32-04:00

Nelson here...we got some new photographs of Michael Bay on the set of Transformers. Click here to view.

Do not repost photos without expressed permission of michaelbay.com.

Pepsi One ad behind the scenes

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-05-20T08:41:25-04:00

This is one of two ads Michael shot for the Pepsi One campaign.

Note from Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-05-18T06:07:30-04:00

Hey, I want to thank everyone for the kind words on the trailer. I'm so used to seeing robots I kind of got bored with the trailer. I forget you have not seen them. When they put the piece together I kept wanting to show our truly awesome shots - but we didn't. I can without a doubt, say we have just teased you on this trailer. We have so many huge shots that will never be in our ads. I bet this will be one of the rare trailers that does not show you the true money shots of the movie.

I would also like fans opinion on opening on July 3rd instead of the 4th. The studio kind of sort of is thinking about which might mean "no". If you spread the word on the Net - everywhere - they might listen. The 3rd everyone is off from work, I say "what the fuck" play the movie - "give'em giant fucking robots early"!!!

Michael

Low and behold the Transformers theatrical trailer

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-05-17T19:44:59-04:00

View it in high definition here.

View the international trailer here.

New Transformer trailer today at Yahoo

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-05-17T05:23:12-04:00

Be sure to watch!

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/transformers.html

New Transformers TV ad

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-05-17T05:21:44-04:00

Jazz in Maxim

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-05-16T06:24:07-04:00

Michael Bay producing a videogame

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-05-14T06:55:11-04:00

A while ago I spoke to Michael and he indicated he was in the process of writing the script for a video game.

Now, the LATimes reports Digital Domain and Bay are producing a video game with a $25 million budget. Read the article below.

Special-effects house aims to make video games more cinematic

With a movie director as co-chairman, Digital Domain is poised to accelerate the blurring of the two media.
By Richard Verrier

Times Staff Writer

May 14, 2007

A budget of about $25 million may not be much for director Michael Bay, maker of such mega-budget movies as "Armageddon" and "Pearl Harbor."

But it's enough to get him launched on a new passion: creating a video game that matches the quality of a feature film.

Bay's first-person shooter game is part of a larger strategy to transform Digital Domain Inc., where he is now co-chairman, from one of Hollywood's elite special-effects houses into a full-blown production studio, capitalizing on the convergence between games and feature films.

That was a key inducement for Bay in leading a Florida-based investment group, Wyndcrest Holdings, last May in its $35-million purchase of the Venice company.

"I make world-class images," Bay said. "Why not put those images into a game?"

Over 13 years, Digital Domain made its name with computer wizardry that created memorable scenes for "Titanic," "The Day After Tomorrow" and "Flags of Our Fathers."

But differences among the former owners, and a lack of investment capital, hampered the company in recent years. That allowed rivals such as Sony Pictures ImageWorks, Rhythm & Hues and Peter Jackson's Weta to cut into Digital Domain's core effects business.

Compounding matters, Digital Domain and other U.S. visual-effects houses have been squeezed by rising labor costs and competition from rivals in Europe and Asia that are able to produce effects at a fraction of the cost.

Enter Bay and Wyndcrest Holdings. The partnership bought out owners that included IBM Corp., Cox Enterprises Inc. and the company founders — director James Cameron, effects legend Stan Winston and then-Chief Executive Scott Ross.

Former veteran Microsoft Corp. executive Carl Stork, a principal of Wyndcrest, was tapped to lead the turnaround. He hired three top executives from George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic.

"We see ourselves being the next-generation digital-content studio," Stork said. "It's like we're a new, start-up company."

Beyond fixing leaky roofs and buying ergonomic chairs for the company's 500 workers, the new owners bought a new computer network. They've also worked to improve Digital's relations with major studios, building up feature effects work that helped return the company to the black last year after a loss in 2005.

Company executives won't disclose finances but say Digital Domain will post a double-digit increase in revenue this year, helped by a thriving business working on commercials. Profit, however, will be flat as Wyndcrest pumps up to $100 million over the next three years into equipment purchases, acquisitions and about 100 hires, many of them video-game programmers, Stork said.

Digital Domain plans to develop four or five games over the next two years, tapping into a lucrative industry whose sales in the U.S. climbed 19% to a record $12.5 billion last year, according to research firm NPD Group. As video entertainment becomes more sophisticated, the line between video games and movies is blurring.

Mindful of that trend, Digital Domain is building its own games unit and plans to acquire one or more game firms this year. The games would mostly be tied to Digital Domain's visual-effects projects, appealing to a range of styles and genres.

"We're not just talking about the convergence of film and video games," said Ed Ulbrich, president of Digital Domain's commercial division. "It's no longer a theory."

The video game industry, however, is fiercely competitive, dominated by such established players as Activision, Electronic Arts and THQ Inc.

"It's going to be very difficult" for Digital Domain, said Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities. "The skill set of a game maker is very different from the skill set of a graphic artist."

Nonetheless, company executives say they have a competitive advantage: a network of A-list directors that includes David Fincher ("Fight Club"), Rob Cohen ("The Fast and the Furious") and, of course, Bay, whose latest movie, "Transformers," is one of the summer's most anticipated releases.

Most film-based games are developed through third parties, and filmmakers often have little or no creative control. By contrast, Digital would let filmmakers direct their own games.

Beyond video games, Digital Domain also wants to make computer-animated feature films, following a path of other effects houses such as rivals Rhythm & Hues of Los Angeles and Sony ImageWorks. ImageWorks helped spawn a new animation division last year at Sony Pictures, which releases "Surf's Up" next month.

Unlike Sony, however, Digital Domain won't compete in the crowded family market but will make animated films targeted to teenagers and young adults that cost $30 million to $50 million.

To keep costs down, the animation will be created using video game software in real time, rather than the slower frame-by-frame technique. Creating digital characters used in both a movie and a video game also would reduce costs.

A recent TV ad that Digital Domain made for "Gears of War," the popular Microsoft science-fiction game for Xbox 360, showed off the new direction.

Instead of relying on conventional software, Digital Domain's visual-effects artists created the 60-second spot using the same software that the game runs on. The commercial featured realistic effects and took only five weeks to make, about half the regular time, said Jay Wilbur, vice president of business development at Epic Games Inc., developer of "Gears of War."

"It was a massively successful campaign for us," he said.

Transformers behind the scenes featurette

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-05-11T07:38:58-04:00

A response to Bruce Willis

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-05-10T19:57:23-04:00

Hard to believe it really is Bruce saying that stuff on AICN. I loved working with Bruce. He gave me a big hug one month ago at the GM party and we talked for 20 minutes. We even talked about working together again! I mean it would be sad if he felt this way - he's never one to hide his feelings - I say sad, in that he wouldn't be man enough to say it to my face. But truly sad that such a big time actor would have to hide on a little talk back section. So I really don't believe this story.

I find it also totally odd that my agents at William Morris got the call from Bruce's people to inquire if I would like to helm Die Hard 4, but I was already on Transformers.

Michael

Transformers high res pix

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-05-10T05:59:11-04:00

Click on the thumbnails to view larger versions.

View the robots

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-05-09T20:09:24-04:00

View the Transformer robots and read in amazing interview with ILM.

Link.

Michael Bay and Cisco

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-05-08T07:27:47-04:00

Join Michael Bay, a panel of Cisco and other entertainment industry executives in an interactive discussion about the impact the digital video revolution has had on the entertainment industry. Hear how digital video technology has influenced the film-making process. Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how some of the world's biggest brands are connecting themselves to entertainment, and learn how companies like Cisco are using this connection to redefine how they reach their target audiences. See how Cisco's enterprise video solution is changing the way people communicate with one another and view their entertainment content.

The Digital Video Revolution and the Empowered Consumer
Wednesday, July 25
8:15 a.m.–9:30 a.m.

For more information, read the complete details.

Sunday post

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-05-06T20:47:49-04:00

Nelson here.

It's with great pleasure that I announce Bonecrusher Bay. Bonecrusher is Michael's new mastiff.

Sadly Mason passed away 6 weeks ago. He had been around a while and had parts in Pearl Harbor and Bad Boys 2. He will be missed.

*****

In other news, there have been a couple folks in MySpace that have been pretending to be Michael. Like this loser here.

Michael's true MySpace placeholder page can be found here. Sadly, www.myspace.com/michaelbay is owned by someone else.

Hence I've set a page at the VIRB online community. You can find it at http://www.virb.com/michaelbay.

VIRB is what Myspace would be if they cared about design and layout. VIRB is fresh and small as we speak. I expect it to be popular but niche online community. We'll see.

New Transformers trailer info

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-05-04T21:20:32-04:00

Nelson here.

A little update: I just spoke to Bay and he's just putting the finishing touches of the new Transformers theatrical trailer.

It will be attached to Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.

LATimes article: He's not toying around

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-05-04T06:30:46-04:00

A very good article about Bay and the production of Transformers.

Read the entire article.

Original source: LATimes.

Transformer Screenings

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-04-27T19:07:57-04:00

We had two screenings tonight. 850 people. Highest test scores in my career. Blew Armageddon away which was a 92.

Go Figure.

-Michael

Transform your summer

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-04-22T12:21:55-04:00

Michael has been working on a Pepsi ad that will promote the Transformers movie this summer.

Check out the site:

http://pepsi.yahoo.com/transformyoursummer/

Spoke to Michael

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-04-22T00:14:12-04:00

Nelson here,

I spoke to Mike today...

>> He's been super busy editing the movie and in the process shooting the ads that will accompany the release of Transformers. He's doing ads that involve GM and Pepsi.

>> The unreleased ad (Prime speaks) that was posted on youtube was a test that European were making with the ads. The clip where OP was "speaking," lets just say that it wasn't OP or Cullen speaking. It was something the European studios added on their own. In fact, it was a test shot.

>> As reported by Slate, Spielberg and Bay are not at odds. Where do they come up with this?

>> As reported by naysayers and haters, Bay never said "the cartoons were amatuer and our movie is spectacular" in Empire magazine. He was referring to the animation and complexity of the transformation of the cartoon robots themselves and not the cartoons as a whole.

Shoot for the Edit

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-04-21T16:05:41-04:00

Nelson, here.

I've gotten lots of e-mails of people asking me what does "shoot for the edit" mean or where did the phrase come from.

From the book "Visons of Armageddon," Michael states:

"Coming out of music videos and commercials, I learned how to shoot very quickly and also make something look good. One of my knacks is shooting for the edit, basically editing things in my mind."

So there you have it.

BTW, here's the picture that accompanies the article.

Michael driving around...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-04-12T09:11:34-04:00

Nelson here.

I once had the chance to see Mike's Ferrari up-close at his office. Very nice car.

Here is MIke waiting at a light in Beverly Hills.

Video link.

Ask Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-04-12T08:59:04-04:00

E-mail Michael your question which might be used in a video interview.

Send your questions to askmichaelbay@yahoo.com

Transformer TV ads

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-03-30T21:06:26-04:00

Enjoy!

:)

Ad #1

Ad #2

Transformers USAToday article

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-03-27T06:57:27-04:00

Read "Transformers: Good Knight vs Bad.

'Transformers': Good knight vs. bad

By Anthony Breznican, USA TODAY

The writers of the new Transformers movie thought of the shape-shifting robot characters as giant, mechanical knights.

So it's fitting the first images of Optimus Prime and Megatron — the posters go online Wednesday — reveal armor and faceplates that look medieval by way of Star Wars.

"We always modeled Optimus Prime after King Arthur," says Alex Kurtzman, who co-wrote the film with Roberto Orci. "His design (from the '80s toys and cartoon) was so iconic we couldn't make too many changes."

Transformers opens July 4, a release date generally set aside for movies expected to be summer blockbusters.

Kurtzman and Orci worked on TV's Alias, Mission: Impossible III and the upcoming Star Trek remake directed by J.J. Abrams.

While doing an uncredited rewrite on Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds, the director, who is executive producer of Transformers, talked them into crafting the script for the warring-robots adventure by Michael Bay.

The writers said the concept of alien robots who are able to change into ordinary-looking Earth vehicles was an intriguing premise. A darker parallel to contemporary times: The robots destroyed their home planet in a war over energy.

"The Transformers as a race are sentient emotional beings, and they share our characteristics," Orci says. "They arrived on our planet when we face similar kinds of wars and are able to say, 'We are not that different from the humans.' "

Prime (voiced in the movie by original cartoon actor Peter Cullen) is the leader of the Autobots, protector robots from the alien planet Cybertron, where mechanisms evolved into living beings.

On Earth, Prime changes from a robot into a thundering big rig to disguise his identity. The smooth curves of his red, white and blue façade suggest a kind of solid comfort.

In contrast, his nemesis Megatron — a fascist politician on his home world whose motto was "Peace through tyranny" — has a jagged, colorless metal face with a covering that suggests the exposed jaw of a skull or insectlike pincers.

The Matrix's Hugo Weaving will voice Megatron.

"He's very dangerous-looking," says Kurtzman, noting the character had a more humanoid face in the cartoon.

The writers don't want to reveal yet what machine Megatron becomes.

But the gun that Megatron used to transform into had to go. Says Orci, "That would be the equivalent of Darth Vader turning into his own lightsaber and someone else swinging him around."

Transformers posters

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-03-27T06:31:49-04:00

Download the hi-res file here (1.4MB).

Tranformers on MySpace

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-03-27T06:25:15-04:00

Transformers joins MySpace. Check it out.

Hugo Weaving/Megatron

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-03-24T08:51:35-04:00

Sector 7's (password: NBETWO) Counter Information Campaign is reporting that "Operation Hungry Dragon 2 continues. As of today agent H. Weaving has officially convinced S.S., M.B., R.D and A.K. to oversee the Megaman issue. The recording will commence immediately."

Agent H. Weaving= Hugo Weaving.

S.S. = Steven Spielberg
M.B.= Michael Bay
R.O.= Roberto Orci
A.K.= Alex Kurtzman

Click here to view a larger version of the screen capture below:

102 DAYS left...SHIT!!!

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-03-23T19:33:02-04:00

Almost a 100 days left.

I guess I should start posting every week?

I've been working my ass off - the cut is really coming along -the shots ---awesome. Some of the most difficult renders in ILM history. Sometimes up to 38 hours per frame. The Show West thing was fun to see the scenes play in a 1000 person house. But they just saw 25 minutes so it is hard to feel engaged because they are not seeing the full run of a movie. Harry called me to tell me how he loved it. I see all the dickwad talk back people who claim they have read a finished script. Impossible - I kept the only draft for the last two months before shooting. That's where did major retooling to the script - yes the scene beats are similar but a very different script.

We are still writing the robot voices. They talk about just 20 minutes of action at the end - yeah right. This is by far the most action I have ever put into a movie - I have 12 huge set pieces. Boy I get tired of these lame cry babies on the net.

-Michael Bay

2012

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-03-19T07:55:27-04:00

Trio sees '2012' future

Bay, Orci, Kurtzman adapt book

By Borys Kit
March 19, 2007

Director Michael Bay and writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman -- the creative team behind the summer's "Transformers" -- are reuniting to bring sci-fi author's Whitley Strieber forthcoming novel "2012: The War for Souls" to the big screen for Warner Bros. Pictures.

Talks are in the preliminary stages, but it is known that Bay intends to direct, while Orci and Kurtzman will produce via their company Kurtzman/Orci.

Strieber's story centers on an academic researcher who discovers that multiple versions of Earth co-exist in different dimensions, but all are threatened by an apocalypse to occur in 2012 prophesied by the ancient Mayans. By opening a portal into a parallel universe, he makes contact with his double to stop the prophecy from being fulfilled. The book is due in the fall by St. Martin imprint Tor.

A search for a writer to adapt is under way.

"We've been looking for a way to have the kinds of thrillers that we are interested in that still take into account the latest theories and discoveries in Egyptology and in quantum mechanics and all those things that Mr. Strieber is so knowledge about," Orci said.

"The idea of a man teaming up with himself to solve a cosmic mystery was way too good for us to pass up," Kurtzman said.

Kurtzman/Orci execs Steven Puri and Mandy Safavi brought the book into the company at the same time as Bay's producing partners Andrew Form and Brad Fuller got it via their exec Matt Smith. When Bay heard that the scribes had it, he called them up and suggested a team-up.

"2012" will be the third teaming for the trio, who first got together when the writers came on board to rewrite Bay's "The Island."

"It's been a great partnership," Kurtzman said. "I think we trust each other for what we all bring to the table. No one is better visually than Michael; the way he blocks out action is like no other director out there, and I think he trusts our story sense."

Greg Silverman oversees the project for the studio.

Strieber is known for such novels as "The Wolfen" and "Communion." His most recent novel, "The Grays," is being adapted by Ken Nolan for Sony, while "The Hunger" is in development at Warners. He is repped by Innovative Artists, Paul Canterna and attorney Lawrence Rose.

Bay is repped by WMA.

Kurtzman and Orci are repped by CAA.

Article via THR.

MTV interviews Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-02-15T22:07:01-05:00

A lot of cool Transformers stuff plus a little something on Bad Boys 3.

View clip.

Read it here.

Bay pic sneak: Nothing to toy with

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-02-14T07:05:45-05:00

****Beware: SPOILERS AHEAD****

From Variety:

Bay pic sneak: Nothing to toy with

Toy Fair screens 25 minutes of 'Transformers'

By DADE HAYES

The invitation at first sounded too wacky to be believed. At Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater, hallowed province of Fassbinder and Truffaut, footage from Paramount and DreamWorks' Michael Bay pic "Transformers" would be shown to a crowd of toy enthusiasts.

But so it went Tuesday night for an audience stocked with consumer-product execs, toy collectors and general robot evangelists in Gotham for the American Intl. Toy Fair. The footage totaled 25 minutes from the film based on Hasbro's revived 1980s toy line -- "not necessarily the best scenes, but some of the scenes that were finished," cautioned Bay.

Ecstatic applause greeted each of the four long sequences.

The last time Bay took a high-octane passion project into a high-end setting, he presided over a similar screening for "The Island" at the Academy theater in Beverly Hills. That spring 2005 event began an anxious couple of months leading to one of the most troubled releases of recent summers.

This time, Bay seemed gratified to be playing to an inherently more sympathetic crowd. "You guys aren't really the target audience," he joked.

The footage contained plenty of what producer Jerry Bruckheimer has termed "Bay-os" -- automatic weapon fire, rumbling car engines, sweaty military dialogue ("Bogey in the weeds and he's not squawking!"). But the scenes were spiked with wit and exuberant popcorn energy. In one scene, John Turturro, appearing as a mysterious, "Men in Black"-esque agent, savors the line "Bingo! Take him and bake him!"

A brief panel session preceded the footage. Bay was joined by DreamWorks production chief Adam Goodman and Brian Goldner, chief operating officer of Hasbro and an exec producer on the pic. "It reminds me of 'Back to the Future' or 'Close Encounters' -- real Amblin film from back in the day," Goodman said.

Beyond the trio onstage Tuesday, the film is exec produced by Steven Spielberg and produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Don Murphy. None of the latter three was in Gotham for Tuesday's event.

But another producer who did attend, Tom DeSanto, compared the experience to the way "X-Men," which he exec produced, first snuck up on audiences in 2000. "People were really going to give that one the smell test," he said. "And it was a real surprise."

Michael Bay's Transformers Sneak Peak

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-02-14T06:58:23-05:00

****Beware: SPOILERS AHEAD****

From MTV.com:

This is my superhero movie," Michael Bay says to MTV News moments after screening 25 minutes of nearly complete footage from his summer blockbuster "Transformers."

Bay, the director of bombastic popcorn cinema like "Armageddon" and "Bad Boys," sat down with MTV News to discuss the footage that every fanboy or fangirl would die to see. "I've done action my whole life. I don't get excited about action, but I'm excited about this," Bay says. And judging from the scenes he screened, this isn't hyperbole.

Four scenes are shown in all, and each ups the ante immediately on what audience members can expect from their summer entertainment from now on. Sporting a temp score and incomplete effects, one could forgive the film for seeming halfway there, but the DreamWorks exec — who warns that there are still 140 days until release to finalize it all — needn't worry. The scenes impress.

As the lights dim, the setting is Qatar. Some soldiers are lamenting what they're missing back home. Josh Duhamel is talking to his sweetheart back home via video phone — yes, the woman says their kid has his laugh. What do you want? It's Michael Bay — when all hell breaks loose. And for a change, this cliché is apt. An unidentified helicopter has landed, and the soldiers have their guns drawn. The stakes change completely when the helicopter reveals its true form. Or should we say his true form, because this is Blackout. The Decepticon is about to lay waste to everything in his path.

After Blackout's seamless transformation, the soldiers are suddenly overmatched. Tanks are hurled like washrags as this relentless killing machine makes like Godzilla, terrorizing soldiers and civilians alike. Perhaps you've spent many a day dreaming of what a Transformer would look like in our world. Perhaps not. Nothing can prepare you for what this is. Imagine Godzilla crossed with a Velociraptor, mechanize the beast and maybe, just maybe you have an idea of the world of Michael Bay's "Transformers."

It's clear from seeing the next scene — of a teenage underdog, Sam (Shia LaBeouf), pining for the hot girl in a park — that Bay loves his Americana. Say what you will about the director (style over substance, too many cuts, etc.), but he knows how to paint a picture. You could say Bay paints Norman Rockwell paintings — except that his art has Aerosmith ballads and giant robots fighting each other in the foreground.

But back to that scene in the park. Sam picks up his would-be paramour in a beat-up, yellow camaro. You don't have to be a fanboy to know from the first instant that this is Bumblebee — and if you're slow on the uptake, there's the air freshener hanging in front that says "Bee-otch" — and that a transformation is close at hand.

This summer, no film has as much baggage as "Transformers." Based on the beloved toys and cartoon that originated 23 years ago, it's a film that has been speculated and argued about for years. Once Bay — a director with nearly as many critics as fans — signed on, the message boards lit up. Bay says he's been listening all along. "They all think I wasn't listening, but I was. I didn't want to make the boxy characters. I was listening to the fans. I know they hated the Optimus paint job with the stripes," he says, referring to the slightly altered look of his hero Autobot. "That caused a lot of grief," he laughs. He seems to still be steeling himself for more criticism.

The screen fades to black and we are in another scene. Now we are in Suburbia, USA, on a street that seems to have been borrowed from a Spielberg film of old (is this the same block that a T-Rex traversed in "The Lost World"?). In fact, "Transformers" is produced by Spielberg. Its advertising campaign, Bay explains, will follow the classic Spielberg law of never showing too much. That means no full views of the characters, no transformations, just glimpses. You'll have to buy your ticket for the full show.

Meanwhile in Suburbia, we're in the home of Sam's parents as our hero tries to sneak back to retrieve something seemingly very important to the Transformers. Oh, and he's brought along three Autobots who are less than inconspicuous. If your geek goosebumps don't activate the moment you see Optimus Prime driving down the street commanding, in full robot mode, "Autobots fall back," you need to check yourself. The voice is familiar for a reason — it belongs to the longtime voice of Optimus, Peter Cullen. Bay says the other voices are all temporary and casting is still in progress.

One more scene (a Decepticon attack in the desert, courtesy of Scorponok), and it's over. It's a mind-blowing experience, as Bay promised, to see childhood fantasies brought to life, and he says it's just the tip of the iceberg. He tells MTV News that there are no less than 14 set pieces in the film. There is a twinkle in his eye as he flashes a grin. "You can do a lot with 30- and 40-foot robots."

Transformers Writers Interview

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-01-14T13:18:30-05:00

You can read an interview conducted by Toyfare Magazine in which Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci explain the process of writing the story and characters.

Page 1 / Page 2 / Page 3 / Page 4

Japanese Transformers Trailer

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2007-01-08T20:59:40-05:00

The link below shows us a slightly different cut of the Transformers teaser trailer with an intro by Bay and Spielberg.

Click to watch.

Transformers Teaser now available.

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-12-20T20:26:33-05:00

You can view the TF teaser in HD at Yahoo Movies.

Also check out Sector 7. Password can be found in the teaser trailer.

Transformers Teaser on Yahoo.com on 12/20

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-12-18T21:49:14-05:00

Be sure to watch the new Transformers teaser on Yahoo.com starting December 20th.

The teaser will be attached to Ben Stiller's new movie "Night at the Museum" which hits theaters December 22nd.

New Teaser/Note from Michael

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-12-14T18:37:05-05:00

It has been awhile since I've posted.

Finished shooting end of Sept., on budget, just came under $300,000. I beat Pearl by a $100,000. I had a great time making this movie, the cast and crew were amazing.

Today I just finished the new teaser for Christmas and I think it's AWESOME! The trailer mixing Guru who does all the big summer movies turned to me and said with a little more ump - it was "fucking awesome."

I think some of my films have had good teasers but this one is just makes a statement. It's hard edged to show we are not a silly "toy" movie. We show just hints of robots - and almost none of our epic shots are in this teaser, but the movie just looks big. I had a room full of 20 Tranformers adult geeks, and they all applauded at the end.

It comes out the 22nd - see it in the theater!

Let me know what you think.

Michael Bay

2007 Transformers Sneak Peek

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-11-16T21:23:30-05:00

Watch a sneak peek of the 20007 Transformers movie from the Transformers 25th Anniversary Special Edition DVD. Click in the image below.

Enter to win a TF 20th Anniversary Special Edition DVD

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-10-31T21:18:19-05:00

Nelson here.

A couple of Transformers 20th Anniversary Special Edition DVDs will be given to some lucky TF fans.*

For your chance to win, submit your name, and a small one-paragraph essay on why you're looking forward to seeing the 2007 live-action Transformers movie to nelson@michaelbay.com.

Contest ends November 6, 2006.

*Contest only open to U.S. residents only.

Transformers 20th Anniversary Special Edition DVD

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-10-29T20:13:36-05:00

Nelson here...I will be giving away a few Transformers 20th Anniversary Special Edition DVDs to some lucky TF fans. Stay tuned for more info.

For now, you can visit the official site or preorder it at amazon.com. Or check out some movie clips here, here, and here.

Michael Bay at the TCM: TB Premiere

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-10-06T20:49:02-04:00

Watch Michael being interview by Melodie courtesy of IESB.net.

View Quicktime (28.3MB).

"Giant Fucking Robots are Coming" shirts will be available soon.

Detroit Article & Photos

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-10-04T20:51:25-04:00

Depot in disguise

Amy Lee / The Detroit News / Photos by Brandy Baker

DETROIT -- The hulking mass of the abandoned Michigan Central Station in southwest Detroit will splash across the big screen -- again -- when robots come to life next summer in the big-budget film "Transformers: The Movie."

Director Michael Bay and the crew working on the $100 million-plus production of "Transformers" shot scenes with actor Shia LaBeouf inside the decaying station Tuesday. The crew also shot a car chase scene late Tuesday afternoon on Fort Street, and curious Detroiters lined the streets to watch the action. Shooting continues today on Fort Street, but filming in Detroit should wrap up by early evening, said Gabriela Gutentag, publicist for Bay Films.

About 100 Michigan residents, about half from Metro Detroit, will serve as extras on the film, which is slated to open in theaters on July 4, 2007. One of those extras, Todd Walsh, 32, of East Lansing, hung around the corner of Fort and Shelby streets Tuesday afternoon waiting to film his scene.

Walsh was dressed as a road construction worker and wore his own dirty jeans with a wardrobe-issued orange and yellow reflective jacket, brown boots and white hard hat. He is one of eight extras who will scurry when a massive evil Transformer makes its way down a street in the movie.

Extras are paid about $50 a day and get free food for the shoot.

Tuesday's shooting marks the second time Bay has filmed at the Michigan Central Station, also known as Michigan Central Depot. He also used it briefly in his 2005 film, "The Island."

"The train depot looks remarkably similar to when we were last here, which is good for us because it's one of the main reasons we came back," said producer Ian Bryce, who also has produced "Spider-Man" and "Almost Famous." Steven Spielberg is the executive producer on "Transformers."

"(The depot) is a sort of beat up but beautiful structure and such a reminder of bygone days."

Detroit is reveling in the exposure created when famous directors like Bay choose to shoot in the city, said Al Fields, who works in the mayor's office and is the spokesman for the Detroit Film Office.

"We're trying to become a Midwest destination for films," Fields said. "We try to be as easy to work with as possible for things like closing down streets so we become known as being a great place for films to be made."

"Transformers: The Movie" is based on the successful comic book, cartoon and Hasbro action figures that were hugely popular in the 1980s. Transformers are robots from the planet Cybertron that can disguise themselves by turning into cars, trucks, planes, construction equipment and even dinosaurs.

The "good" Transformers, the Autobots, will again face the "bad" Transformers, the Decepticons, in the second big-screen movie to grow from the franchise. "Transformers: The Movie" is expected to garner a PG-13 rating.

Tuesday's shots at the train station featured LaBeouf running into the depot, through its crumbling lobby and up some stairs. That shot, which ends the movie, was captured around 4:15 p.m. at the depot.

"Shia is trying to get to a rooftop that we shot in Los Angeles that had a style of architecture that was beat up, so we needed to establish Shia into a similar type of environment," Bryce said. In other words, the actor will run into one of Detroit's landmarks and emerge on a rooftop in Los Angeles when the movie is pieced together.

LaBeouf, clad in a ripped brown sweatshirt with a dirty and blood-spattered neck, immediately posed for photos with brothers Jack and Max Sydorchuk, ages 7 and 11, respectively, after the shoot. Their father, Jeff, snapped a few cell phone photos, and Max said he couldn't wait to show the picture to his friends at Divine Child Elementary School in Dearborn today.

"That was the coolest thing in the world," Max said.

Unlike the animated "Transformers" movie that came out in 1987, the new Transformers movie will feature live actors, including LaBeouf, Jon Voight and Bernie Mac, as well as computer-generated robots.

"It's very family-oriented, with a lot of heart and a lot of humanity and a good deal of action," Bryce said.

More D.C. Set Photos

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-10-02T10:07:20-04:00

Michael Bay

http://www.michaelbay.com/images/tf/web/IMG_4464.jpg

http://www.michaelbay.com/images/tf/web/IMG_4473.jpg

http://www.michaelbay.com/images/tf/web/IMG_4181.jpg

Director of Photography Mitch Admundsen

http://www.michaelbay.com/images/tf/web/IMG_4475.jpg

Production Sound Mixer Peter Devlin

http://www.michaelbay.com/images/tf/web/IMG_4415.jpg

DP Mitch Admundsen and gaffer Andy Ryan

http://www.michaelbay.com/images/tf/web/IMG_4134.jpg

Washington D.C. Set Photos

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-10-01T19:02:56-04:00

Enjoy. Do not use without permission.

Michael Bay

http://www.michaelbay.com/images/tf/web/IMG_4335.jpg

Rachael Taylor

http://www.michaelbay.com/images/tf/web/IMG_4371_color.jpg

Ian Bryce, Michael Bay, & Lorenzo DiBoneventura

http://www.michaelbay.com/images/tf/web/IMG_4175.jpg

http://www.michaelbay.com/images/tf/web/IMG_4408.jpg

Michael Bay

http://www.michaelbay.com/images/tf/web/IMG_4445.jpg

Detroit Casting Information

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-09-27T20:15:05-04:00

http://www.clickondetroit.com/seenon4/9929357/detail.html

Paid extras needed for major motion picture "Transformers".

The movie is directed by Michael Bay with Steven Spielberg acting as executive producer.

Extras 16 years of age & older are needed to work outside for the 2-day scene currently scheduled for the first week of Oct. 2006. If you are interested in possibly working as a paid extra in the film, please send information immediately.

Mail To: Wendy Washbrook/Extra Casting
"Transformers"
5600 Campus Center Drive
Bungalow 1
Playa Vista, CA 90094

Or Email Photo and Info To: Wendy Washbrook/Extra Casting: wwashbrook@verizon.net

No phone calls. Photos will not be returned.

Transformer tidbits from Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-08-18T19:47:10-04:00

Nelson here...

I just barely caught Michael in between takes. Among the things he mentioned:

1- They will be releasing more teaser posters in the coming months.

2- Paramount made studies and concluded that the TF "ANNOUNCEMENT" was the 2nd highest rated "teaser" this summer.

3.- They just finished shooting a lot of Pentagon interiors on a soundstage in scenes that involved many Chiefs of staff in their huge war room.

4.- Shia just was recently suspended over the edge of a 20 story building in a very dynamic and intense scene.

5.- The average transformation time from normal mode to alt mode and vice versa is about 3 to 4 seconds.

6.- The leaked pictures are legit (although a somewhat early rendering).

7.- Filming of massive chase scenes will begin in the following weeks.

8.- The CGI transformations by ILM are looking wicked and nastier every single day.

9.- Part 1 will be about why the transformers came to earth.

10.- This movie will be a new start for the live action franchise that will not be based on any particular TF TV series and/or comic book.

And last but certainly not least, the Autobots are:

Optimus Prime: idealistic view of humanity.
Bumblebee: underdog, spy, most "connected" to humans
Jazz: style, loyal, eager, contemporary
Ratchet: new form, medical officer, science officer. Emergency vehicle.
Ironhide: tough, tough stare, first in battle, classic cowboy, gritty. Optimus' oldest friend.

Decepticons are:

Megatron: survival of the fittest, social darwinism, less idealistic view of humanity. Sees himself as advanced, sees humans as lower.
Starscream: seems faithful but plotting, "we will see a lot of that dynamic," explains why he does not push it, waits for his opportunity.
Brawl: eager for battle, jumps in. From non-G1 character, experimental, but will be in sequels. First disguised non-flyer.
Bonecrusher: closest to constructicon but not giving away mode. Hates other cons except Megatron. Doesn't want friends.
Barricade: scout, hunter, lures into trap.
Scorponok: closest to Beast Wars, fitted to environment.
Frenzy: "had some evolution for us," started off as Soundwave but had contradictions and changed to stay truer to G1. Smaller, able to infiltrate. Stealth spy, can hide anywhere.
Blackout: comes in, takes out fighting ability, sends EMP, first-tier attack, transporter, biggest vehicle.

Discuss here.

Michael Bay & Transformers on MTV

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-08-08T19:22:26-04:00

Thanks to Andreas.

View clip.

More Michael Bay on Access Hollywood...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-08-07T20:49:59-04:00

http://video.accesshollywood.com/v/?linkId=25436

Michael Bay on Access Hollywood

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-08-05T11:41:34-04:00

View an Access Hollywood clip about Michael Bay's Transformers.

Thanks to "JesterJJZ" for encoding the clip.

Desktop Backgrounds

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-07-12T09:11:32-04:00

Download desktops backgrounds of the Transformer logos.

Behind the scenes footage at Holloman AFB

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-07-12T08:45:07-04:00

Check out an article, great photos, and a behind the scenes video of Michael's crew shooting at Holloman AFB.

Read article.

Titles In Transformers Teaser

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-07-04T09:02:15-04:00

Happy 4th of July.

We have a great article courtesy of VFXtalk.com regarding the Transformers announcement titles.

Read the article.

Visit the Imaginary Forces site.

Transformers announcement teaser stuff...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-07-01T15:19:14-04:00

BTW, for those of you asking:

1- None of the Mars story, launch footage, and rover footage is going to be in the movie.

2.- Yes, Bay did shoot the rover footage.

Forums are down

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-06-30T17:17:39-04:00

The shootfortheedit.com forums are down for the time being due to insane traffic and server capacity. We are currently working on getting the forums back up and runing.

[update: 2:26PM EST] forums back up.

Transformers Teaser

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-06-29T19:31:10-04:00

Enjoy...

Link

Transformers Casting Call

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-06-24T17:50:00-04:00

LOS ANGELES, June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Central Casting is holding an open call for 16 & 17 year olds and 18-23 year olds that look like High School students for the new Michael Bay feature film, "Transformers." We need SAG Members and Non-Union. The scheduled work dates are July 10-12, 2006. Dates are subject to change. The open call will be held at Central Casting in Burbank, CA. Anyone interested in attending should call 818-503-3329 for more information.

The Open Call will be held:
Date: Thursday, June 29, 2006
Time: 5PM - 8PM
Location: Central Casting
220 South Flower Street
Burbank, CA 91502

Central Casting is the largest extras casting company in the world and has been in business since 1925. The company casts extras for film, television, and commercials. Central Casting is a division of Entertainment Partners.

Transformers Teaser Score

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-06-18T00:59:56-04:00

Steve Jablonsky (The Island, Tears of the Sun) has scored the 90-second teaser score for The Transformers.

Check it out at Soundtrack.net.

Michael Bay in Holloman AFB

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-06-14T20:37:26-04:00

Check out this article at the US Air Force's site.

Michael Bay on location

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-06-09T20:25:48-04:00

Transformers web site

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-06-08T19:19:06-04:00

It appears they liked the timer from michaelbay.com.

Go and check it out!

Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning Trailer

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-06-08T09:06:36-04:00

Check out the trailer for Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning trailer.

You can also view it in high-defenition.

Michael Bay - 5/28/06 update

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-05-28T01:38:03-04:00

We finished our first week. One of the best first weeks on a movie I've ever experienced. We shot over 250 set ups.

I'm working on the military aspects of the film right now in New Mexico at Hollaman Air Force base and the Army's White Sands missile base. The military has been stellar with us. This is the largest military cooperation since Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down.

Friday we shot two CV-22's (Ospreys). They fly like aliens dropping out of the sky. We also shot stealth fighters and low attack missile runs (50 feet off the deck) A10 Warthogs. They look so deadly and mean.

We also shot in an army tank grave yard, that has more tanks in it then all of Iraq. The military cast Josh and Tyrese are surrounded with top notch Seal Team members.

I almost dropped from heat stroke on Wednesday in the 118 degree heat. Several crew went down in the heat on these dunes. It is amazing how quickly it can come on - I now see how some of those football players drop dead from heat stroke.

The script reviews -- I've seen, have been great but - I know they read a 112 page draft that was on record of four months old, but the dates they have given are wrong. We have done so much work since then.

I just hope people don't spoil it for people hearing everything in the movie before they see the movie - that's so lame.

I've anticipated leaks for months so I keep the only shooting script in my computer. Nobody has it, not even actors get a full script. Steven Spielberg taught me this trick.

I must say I'm very excited about this movie, we have shot some awesome shots!!!

And it's hard to get me excited.

All the best,

Michael Bay

Holloman Air Force Base provides sneak peek of film location

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-05-21T20:49:22-04:00

Read this good article providing an behind the scenes peek at the filming of Transformers at HAFB. Read it here.

Check out the HAFB web site.

And then there was one...

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-05-16T07:11:10-04:00

...that is, one major film release left for release on 7/4/7.

Remember this?

Michael Bay Acquires Digital Domain

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-05-16T06:53:20-04:00

Read the press release.

Transformers Teaser Date

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-05-13T17:45:01-04:00

The teaser and poster for the Transformers film will be out July 4, 2006.

A little secret from Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-05-11T20:17:09-04:00

It's a bit tiresome to watch all the supposed script leaks on Don Murphy's site.

There's been a lot of chatter about character names and what "things" may be called in the script. I'm going to let everyone in on a little secret. Something that the writers don't know, nor my crew, or Steven Spielberg, or the presidents of Paramount and Dreamworks. Not even Don Murphy who is not involved on the day to day with this movie.

Many of the names in the script are aliases.

The only people that know the real names of many of these characters are the COO of Hasbro, their corporate lawyer and myself. I think this is two less people that knew the secret recipe for Coca-Cola.

On my directing contract I had to sign all these non-disclosure agreements just on this character name point. These names will not be revealed until the toy boxes are printed.

The writers had to construct the script where no actor needed to verbally refer to a character by name other than the main few.

So rest asured A.K.A Devastator, is not really Devastator.

Michael

Bay directs GMC Yukon ads

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-04-22T11:00:04-04:00

From MediaDaily News:

"...Director Michael Bay directed two GM commercials, both similar in tone to the "CSI" shows. One is a 30-second spot introducing the Yukon as the all-new MAU. The other is a 60-second spot featuring executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who talks about the donation of two 2007 GMC Yukon trucks to the cities of Los Angeles and Las Vegas for use by real-life criminal analysis departments."

The ads will be up soon in the ads section.

Bay in the Windy City

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-04-16T18:23:32-04:00

Below are three photos of Michael shooting the AT&T ad "Spread the Word" in Chicago, Il. Photos courtesy and property of Mark Saunders and Jai Girard.

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

"Got Milk" and Alpha Projects ads

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-02-28T21:11:40-05:00

We got three more ads for you. One is from the "Got Milk?" trilogy, and the other two are from the Nike Alpha Project series that debuted in the winter of 98-99. Visit the ads page to view them.

Note from Michael Bay

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-02-17T19:23:55-05:00

The prep for the movie is going well. The military looks like it is going to support the film which is a big deal in giving the movie scope and credibility. The Pentagon has always been great with me because I make our military look good.

All the posts and talk about the original voices --- could we just let it rest for a while? I heard everyone, I'm thinking about it. We are reinventing how the robots look, transform and move - Remember these are the most realistic Transformers you will have ever seen. They have to fit completely into the human world to make this live action film credible. I have shown the animatics and some of the hundreds of drawings - TO THE MOST RELIGIOUS OF FANS - they tell me they are "mind-blowing" and "take it to a level they never considered" - I guess that's good? Time will tell.

Believe me I respect the fans. But I just want you to give me a chance because I'm working with some really talented artists to create this vision. But it is a vision that allows for growth, change, improvement and surprises. Looking back at the history of Transformers, remember there has been tons of change and improvements over the years.

I'm working on third act action, and if you could - what would you imagine for great robot action?

Talk to you soon,

All the best, Michael

Michael Bay ads now available on iTunes

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-02-05T02:16:12-05:00

Most of Michael's ads are now available on iTunes podcast section, ready and formatted to be loaded onto your video iPod. Click on the link below to go to the iTunes store (the ads are free, and you must have iTunes installed on your computer BTW).

July 4, 2007

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-02-04T19:26:03-05:00

Shooting for Transformers begins on the end of May for a release date of July 4, 2007.

Michael's posted a Transformers update in the forums

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-02-02T22:06:13-05:00

Check it out!

Added video RSS/XML feed

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-02-02T21:32:16-05:00

I've set up an RSS/XML feed for the ads section. In a couple of days you will be able to load Bay's ads through iTunes and put them on your video iPods.

For now, click on the orange/grey button to your left.

Forums

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-01-30T12:00:52-05:00

If you click to go to the forums and get a header with a blank page that says "blah, blah server...," just clear your cookies and cache and you should be set.

FYI

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-01-29T13:05:44-05:00

As you can tell, we're in the process of redesigning the site. Thanks for your patience as more stuff is added.

Welcome to the new redesigned michaelbay.com

webmaster@michaelbay.com — 2006-01-28T22:39:35-05:00

Hi guys and gals. Once again, thanks again for hanging in all these years. Stay tuned for more additions to this site.