Transformers (July 4, 2007)

[Nicap]

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

Sam - teenage male, somewhat nerdy, but ultimately heroic.

Miguela Barns - teenage female, Sam's love interest.

Cpt William Lennicks - 30s male, leader of the military.

Maggie - female, really hot, really smart, works as a codebreaker for the government.

John Kellar - 50's/60's male, US Secretary of State.

Glen Whitman - 20's male, technogeek, comic relief.

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

Link - http://www.allspark.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2281

[Thunderstruck]

Wasn't Blue Harvest code name for a star wars movie?

[the_ss2k]

Wasn't Blue Harvest code name for a star wars movie?

Yes. Return of the Jedi.

[Nicap]

As news filters out about Shia LaBeouf in line for a role in the upcoming movie, now producer Don Murphy has posted confirmation that Shia is in final talks for the role of Spike Witwicky

[Nicap]

Shia LaBeouf is in final negotiations to star in "Transformers," the DreamWorks/Paramount Pictures live-action adaptation of the 1980s Hasbro toy line of giant robots that morph into cars, trucks, planes, ships and other technological creations.

Michael Bay is directing the movie, which is being produced by Angry Films' Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto and Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Steven Spielberg is executive producing.

In Transformers lore, the robots are divided into two groups: the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, who believe in tolerance and the sanctity of life; and the Decepticons, led by Megatron, who espouse survival of the fittest and the extermination of biological life.

LaBeouf will play Spike Witwicky, an 18-year-old on the lookout for his first car. When he buys one, he discovers it is actually an elite sentinel for the Autobots.

The original script is by John Rogers, while Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci penned the most recent draft.

Hasbro's Brian Goldner also is exec producing.

The movie, which has a July 4, 2007, release date, is set to start shooting in Los Angeles in May.

Adam Goodman is overseeing for DreamWorks.

LaBeouf will now have the distinction of starring in the first two DreamWorks movies to go before cameras since Paramount acquired the studio -- he also is starring in DreamWorks' "Disturbia," which starts shooting Friday. He most recently starred in "The Greatest Game Ever Played" and will next appear in "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints," followed by Emilio Estevez's "Bobby.

[Nicap]

In a small update to the ever-growing pile of new information we have regarding the 2007 Transformers movie, we now know that Ethan Phillips, best known for his role as Neelix on Star Trek: Voyager has joined the cast of the movie.

The news originates from a German website, TrekZone

http://www.trekzone.de/
http://www.trektoday.com/news/300306_03.shtml

[Nicap]

IGN.com has a TF exclusive announcing most of the human side of the cast for Transformers the movie. The actual Transformer voices are still unknown.

    April 20, 2006 - IGN FilmForce has learned which actors are poised to join the previously announced Shia LaBeof in the cast of the DreamWorks-Paramount live-action feature film version of The Transformers. (LaBeof will star as "Sam," the unlikely teen hero of the movie.) IGN has confirmed through multiple sources that Oscar winner Jon Voight is in talks to reunite with his Pearl Harbor director, Michael Bay, as "Keller." A casting notice online describes Keller as the U.S. Secretary of State. Voight and LaBeof previously starred together in Holes.

    Another Bay veteran, Armageddon's Michael Clarke Duncan, is closing in on the role of "Figueroa." This character is described in a casting notice posted at Sneak Peek TV as being "Dominican by way of the Louisiana Bayou. Chief Warrant officer in the Army. Spirited fellow who loves to sing. Close team member of Lennox."

    And who is Lennox? Sources indicated that Vegas star Josh Duhamel has a lock on the role of the young military commander.

    Bernie Mac is the frontrunner for the role of "Bobby Bolivia." A casting notice said Bolivia "could sell ice to an Eskimo. Tries to get Sam to buy a car. Your typical wheelin' dealin' used car salesman."

    IGN has also learned that the following actors are being lined up for roles: Tyrese as "Epps"; John Turturro as "Simmons"; Rachael Taylor as "Maggie," previously described as a super-hot and super-smart codebreaker for the government; Megan Fox as "Mikaela," referred to in a casting notice as Sam's love interest; Travis Van Winkle as "Trent"; and John Robinson as "Miles."

[Liquidmark]

ME-WANT-TRANFORMERS-MOVIE-NOW!! ^_^

Speaking of transformers. Has anyone seen/heard about the G1 NEO figures?

So far, I've only seen astrotrain and he looks mad pimp! Can't wait to see how the others look...

http://www.tfw2005.com/gallery/News-Neo-G1-Astrotrain

This movie event could be bigger for me than Star Wars episode three! ^_^

It sooooo gonna OWN!

On the flip side, I am also an Apple Fan. We all know CEO Jobs is a loud jerk. Hell, he through me out of Apple Computer HQ one time and I still by his computers.

I know this is off topic, But what happened with Steve?

Tho, If you don't want to discuss it, that's cool. ^_^

[Nicap]

I know this is off topic, But what happened with Steve?

Tho, If you don't want to discuss it, that's cool. ^_^
[/quote]

Some random guy help me sneek into Apple HQ and sat me down in the lobby to talk. He left and said i could stay in the lobby as long as i did not go anywhere. Well shortly after this nice guy left Steve jobs walk in and made eye contact with me and went up to his office. Shortly after someone tapped me on the shoulder and kicked me out. I have a blog post about it and i will be happy to provide a link with the pictures i took. I just need some time because i am rebuilding my wordpress.

[Liquidmark]

Man, I'd love to see that blog.

Dang, the way he did it was totally uncool. >_<

Why didn't he ask you to leave himself? Does he think he's too good for that or something? Least he could've done is say hello or something. Somebody needs to show him pics of when he long hair and looked like a hippy.

He should really remember those that kept Apple from sinking into oblivion in his absence.

Anyhoo, back on subject...

Any word on what the plot may be other than the general stuff?

Will they even touch on the deeper personalities of some of the characters and their motives? (Like, for instance, Thundercrackers apprehension to harm humans or the fact that the whole war started as a matter of ideals and not just because the deceptions want to be evil for no reason)

I soooooo hate it when the bad guys are bad just cuz'. There hasn't been a bad guy that i can think of in history that ever thought they were bad guys.

Anyone remember "Operation: We Are Right"?

[Nicap]

Man, I'd love to see that blog.

Dang, the way he did it was totally uncool. >_<

Why didn't he ask you to leave himself? Does he think he's too good for that or something? Least he could've done is say hello or something. Somebody needs to show him pics of when he long hair and looked like a hippy.

He should really remember those that kept Apple from sinking into oblivion in his absence.

At the time I got into Apple HQ i was aware of Steve Jobs reputation for having a temper and no tolerance for ignorance. From what i had read about him at the time i was prepared to just be yelled at if i was lucky enough to have seen him.

I was not expecting him to say hi. I was not expecting him to just let me sit their. I was not expecting to have a chat about computers or the future of apple. (but i would have loved that) I went in knowing he had a temper and expected to have a very short visit. I was some what educated on his personality. It would have been different had i say, walked up to a rock star i liked and new nothing about and he was just a total dick. I would have lost some respect. So personally i am ok with it and i will post a link to the blog entry and photos once i have that aspect of my site repaired.

Anyhoo, back on subject...

Any word on what the plot may be other than the general stuff?

Will they even touch on the deeper personalities of some of the characters and their motives? (Like, for instance, Thundercrackers apprehension to harm humans or the fact that the whole war started as a matter of ideals and not just because the deceptions want to be evil for no reason)

I soooooo hate it when the bad guys are bad just cuz'. There hasn't been a bad guy that i can think of in history that ever thought they were bad guys.

Anyone remember "Operation: We Are Right"?

Based on what i have read i get the impression they are going to follow the first 4 comic book stories from the 80s. Now this is just my opinion and i could be way off base but just from what i have read that is how i am leaning on the story line currently.

If they follow the comic the first movie will involve the Army, A Billionaire figure, a small love story between spike and some girl.

[Willeisen88]

Man, I'd love to see that blog.

Dang, the way he did it was totally uncool. >_<

Why didn't he ask you to leave himself? Does he think he's too good for that or something? Least he could've done is say hello or something. Somebody needs to show him pics of when he long hair and looked like a hippy.

He should really remember those that kept Apple from sinking into oblivion in his absence.

You can't expect the man to let you just sit in Apple HQ all day. I have "visited" (snuck in) to lots of places like that; Pixar, Maxis, the original Lucas Arts building (security is really tight on the new one on Presidio). I was met with a similar response at each place; wandered around for about 15 minutes, someone asks me if I am the kid of someone that works there, then they kick me out. Steve may be less hospitable than say, Will Wright, but he is still a big exec. You can't expect any of them to take time out of their day to talk to some guy sitting in the lobby.

Also, Steve has always been a little bit of a hard ass. That is what made Apple great initially and what makes it great now. I imagine the engineer meeting for the original iMac went something like this:

Steve: So the designers and I have come up with this for our next all-in-one computer. *shows model of iMac to engineers*
Engineer 1: But sir, the heat from the display will be too much.
Engineer 2: Our logic boards won’t even fit in there.
Steve: Well I guess you will have to design new ones then. I don’t care, just make it work or your fired.


 It is also what got him ousted from the company back in the day, but that is another subject.

Anyway...what were we talking about? The Transformers movie?

[Liquidmark]

Believe me, I have heard some stuff that made me not like him for a while....Trust me on this...

The uncool part for me is the running to his office and ringing security WITHOUT saying even so much as a "You! Get the f*** out" with security guards flanking his position. Kinda worse than getting yelled at in my book. Disapointing...

Trust me, It's not a hospitality thing with me. I just think it's weaksauce to call security without so much as a "Who are you?" or "Get out". It is mad dishonorable to me.

Tho, getting that far in is made of OWN and GOD! *Thumbs Up*

I'm looking forward to the link ^_^

*Back to Transformers*

Anyhoo, The military you say? Hmm, Interesting. Still, it would be nice if they ever go into what motivates the autobots and decepticons. I pray that they don't just make the good guys good, just cuz and make the bad guys bad, just cuz.

[Nicap]

Ok So i just read this interview type thing over at http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=23105 and i am just so exited i did not knwo what to quote. So please read and check out the link.

One thing I can confirm, straight from Bay's mouth (and this is something he wanted the fans to know) is that he is going to audition the original voice actors for the Autobots and Decepticons. He said it's no guarantee they'll get cast, but he's going to give them a listen. His main fear is that the actors have aged since the cartoon and that age may be noticeable in their voices.

Bay then showed me a rough design for the TRANSFORMERS teaser poster. It was a robotic eye overlooking planet Earth, kind of peeking over the curvature of the globe. The eye was in a brow the shape of a right triangle and looked very mechanical, iris and all. The tagline was "Their War. Our World."

I like the tagline and the poster was very polished, but it reminded me a little too much of the ID4 poster. And the font for TRANSFORMERS at the bottom of the poster looked like ROBOCOP's font, not enough like the the TRANSFORMERS font.

The biggest difference from the cartoon and toys is that the Autobots and Decepticons aren't going to be as blocky. Bay said that when they started breaking down how these robots transform from vehicles to robots the blocky end result didn't make any sense and looked pretty silly. So, you see the working parts of the vehicles much more on the robots, you see sharper angles, but they all stem from them transforming.

Prime is when his face guard is up. Bay was quick to point out that the Optimus I was seeing was him without his battle mask. Like the other robot I saw, Optimus was more angular than the cartoon, but he was still hulking. He was by no means lithe and skinny. Bulky, but not blocky.
The second piece of art I saw had him standing full size, head to toe , on the right side and his vehicle form on the left. Yes, it's still a Mac truck.
The third piece was a close up on his eyes. There was actually 2 different pieces here, two different options for how the eyes would look. They still haven't decided on the eyes yet, but Bay said the robots, and Optimus Prime especially, had to show emotion and you couldn't do that with just glowing red eyes. The one I liked the most had the iris of the eye looking like a turbine engine. Very mechanical, but like a camera shutter it appeared that he could dilate the "pupils." There were metal slats around his eyes as well that looked like they could slide over each other to give the area around the eyes specific movement and life. The other option was exactly the same, but the iris had what looked like wires instead of slats (turbine engine thingys). It was very pretty and mimicked the look of a human iris a bit more, but felt out of place in the robotic skull.

We talked a bit about the beginning of the movie. It starts in the Antarctica with a man chipping away at a giant ice wall. Something happens, his dogs run away and ice wall opens, the man falling into an icy cave, sliding down into the earth. When he stops, the camera pulls back and shows him resting in a giant robotic hand, half in and half out of the ice. I saw this piece in production art and it was very atmospheric with giant shapes in the surrounding ice walls and the tiny man resting in the palm of a robot.
Bay later revealed that although this is the beginning of the movie, it isn't the first thing we see. Bay's words were, "We will actually see Cybertron," which is the planet where the Autobots hail from.

[Liquidmark]

Awwwww YEAH!

Wanna see. WANNA SEE!

I hope they keep the theme intact somehow. Maybe a remix or something. It's almost like it's the 80's all over again. I know what I'M seeing in 2007 now.