FX hirings

Another report of hirings, of note is that three of em have won Oscars for special effects.

May 22, 2006

May 22, 2006

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

People hired for this and that

Update at donmurphy.com

Start building sets on location in a week
Start building sets in LA in less than a month
ILM now starting to build our CG robots
Costume Designer - Deb Scott (Titanic)
Assistant Director - Simon Warnock (Lord of The Rings)
Stunt Coordinator - Kenny Bates (Pearl Harbor)
Cinematographer - Mitch Amundsen (Eight Below, lots of Bay films)

Transformers has the Greenlight

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

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

Casting begins

Ah gots to love those weekly updates on donmurphy.net. The latest is that casting has begun with "at least one XL star" showing interest. What XL is defined as of course can be extremely variable. Technically cause of her name recognition Paris Hilton could be defined as XL star as a for instance but lets hope thats little idea dies here. Also filming is slated for June 1st.

Bay: Shooting begins in May?

Bay tossed up a post on his official boards that he is about to begin shooting the film. Apparently designing is continuing with work on the last act being a focus. The post has a lot of talk of reinventing the robots looks, how they transform and move. Its take very little stretch to know that means voices too. If have hopes that the original voices will do a reprise...forget it. At most hey might get a tip of the cap role in the film but not any main roles.

Really can't blame the film makers. New movie, new approach, lots of money, need some names in there to fill seats. Of course all the failed movies in the last few years have disproven that a named actor actually seems to help but that is neither here nor there. I just hope that in their goal to get named actors, they make sure most of the budget goes to the FX rather then the actors.

Another week, another update

Once again from Transformer movie producer Don Murphy's message boards:
"Ah yes, Transformers. A Casting Director and Director of Photography have been hired. I'll let you know who once their deals are done. Suffice it to say, this is a GREAT thing. Even though, for some reason, we don't have the full green light, hiring people makes it clear that the green is a'coming."

So the script is being worked on, people are being hired, money is being spend and budgets decided upon. Basically money is flowing out for a project that hasn't been approved.

Even odder, apparently Activision thinks there is a greenlight. They have released a press release saying they are making the game for the Transformer movie. Maybe they jumped the gun or maybe Don is out of the loop. Or, more likely, since a producer is part Circus barker, he is waiting for the right timing.