Major Q&A Session with Transformers producer

[angelophile]

Spent about three hours shooting the breeze with the Transformers movie producer, Don Murphy, where he was kind enough to answer an absolute raft of questions.

Here's the highlights, and even that's a lot.

Lots of news on the cast, progress in the movie and just what characters we can expect to see..

Don: When I was a kid I'd be watching Abbott and Costello or Bowery Boys films back on Ch 5 or 11 in NY.
Now my beautiful wife is awfully ill and needs taking care of.
Hey guess what- we have started to work on cool ComiCon stuff for TF- I will announce when I can.
Hey ya know, you hard core guys, I love ya, and think you are all great.
We have started some pre-visualization on the film- preliminary- looks fab.
Hasbro needs to start the toy line in the next month to make the deadline to have toys out a month before our film.


OptimusPrimeG1: Can you name ALL the transformers in the movie..
Each of the 7 core Transformers from Both sides. Autobot and Decepticon.
I hope this wasn't a waste of a question guys
Don:It is not a waste....
and No I cannot
In John's script there were only 4 on each side...
(massive intake of breath as everyone goes what the fuck?)
Now the plans are 5 main ones.
Megs...Optimus... of course
Soundwave (no longer a blender) Bumblebee (thanks to Herbie not likely a Bug) Jazz.... Starscream.... RC.....more to come....

Angelophile: Is there any significant size shifting - ie: a robot shrinking down to less than a quarter of its robot form's size when in alternative form?
Don:In the meeting on Thursday Hasbro all but DEMANDED that Soundwave mass shift.... the writers seemed okay with it....
Angelophile: I still think mass shifting is crappy, but so many people are gonna be pleased by that news.
Don:I do too...
Hasbro seemed anxious to get Soundwave into musical form to unleash Ravage even if it made no sense.
It may only be for like 5 secs the way it sounded.

Overdrive: Will the Transformers war on Earth be a hidden war with very few humans knowing about it?
Don:It is currently a hidden war.

Overdrive: I think RC means ratchet, or hope it does anyway.
Don: Interestingly Ratchet is currently there too....
The writers want to make him an ambulance...
Dreamworks doesn't....
And Hasbro actually doesn't mind if he is an ambulance or a firetruck....
Arcee is the very cool motorcycle female.

Slang73: Has Michael Bay, within the deal process, made any specific requests in terms of changes to the story, actors/actresses or anything else you think is major?
Don:Michael Bay is editing THE ISLAND.

FreakNasty: Skywarp, will he be in the film
Don:He is not currently one of the ten

jr9887: Hey Don can you give us to the best of your ablity a time table on how the will movie progress from here?
Don:Official website ASAP- literally as soon as we can....
Final ten TFs chosen- 3 weeks
Colors/Models of those ten finalized JULY 1
Prep begin Sept 1
Shoot begin Dec 1
All Tentative

Bug-Eyed Earl: Is there leeway for the script,as written, to have many other transformers in the background even if they're not named, like unnmaed grunts in a war movie?
Don:The answer is NO.

SAJse: Concerning the overall story arc (if there is one) are there any plans to keep the Quintessons or have they been ruled out of this particular universe completely?
Don:No Quintessions in Movie One.
The movie is gonna be much more of the origin film than it ever was before.

Don:FreakNasty: Can you tell us what vechicles the Autobots and Decepticons will be(Besides Megs, Ratchet, Prime...) Jazz for example..
Don:Isn't Jazz a sportscar?
Licenses being worked out now...

Overdrive:I remember reading in earlier Q&A that Hasbro wanted to have 1 non G1 character in it.
Don:No Hotshot is not in the film

coxy: can you tell us three words megatron says from the drafts you read Don?
Also, I like the idea of being not too many TF's on each side for the 1st movie, reminds me of X-Men. excellent.
Don:Yes X Men is a great model for this.
Quote...hmmmm
"Silly Rabbit, Trix are for kids!"
Or not.

FreakNasty: How does Hasbro and Dreamworks feel about having Peter and Frank on board as Optimus Prime and Megatron?
Don:Honestly guys
Dreamworks doesn't care
Hasbro doesn't care
Desanto thinks it needs to be movie stars
The writers think it needs to be movie stars
I need to get with Bay alone and hypnotize him.

megs4ever: I know i have asked this b4. With Megs being a tank will you guy's try and make his bot mode look like the G1 incarnation we all remember or something different?
Don:The weridest thing about the meeting is that ONLY because of this board was anyone trying to protect G1 or the looks of Megs and Optimus. Hasbro doesn't mind what it is as long as they know as soon as possible. Dreamworks is intent on RE-inventing the property. You guys are being heard, but it is tougher now that it was PRE Bay, and it is not Bay it is lots of people trying to get this done. There were 29 people in the room.

jr9887: is cullen and welker YOUR first choice?
Don:correct verb is ARE
and YES is the answer

coxy:Has Dreamworks or Hasbro told you to tone down the violence in this film or have they trusted the teams judgement so far in how the action of the film should be?
Don:Film will be PG or PG-13
beyond that- NO

OptimusPrimeG1: NO ONE ASK WHAT SOUNDWAVE'S ALT MODE IS....thats annoying... but hasbro want it musical apprantly
Don:Copter

FreakNasty:Not really a script question but more about how you "feel about it"
What point of view will the movie be shown through. Will it be like Iron Giant with the Human being the lead character or will it be the other way around?
Don:A TEAM of humans, ala Independence day

FreakNasty: Will the Transformers HEADS look the same as the Original G1 Cartoon/Movie?
This is so we can recongize them without their names.
Don: Don't know. (but probably)

Angelophile: Has Speilberg been particularly hands on on this project or has he just been "big studio exec" man?
Don:Ridiculously hands on
He hired Rogers
He hired Kurtzman/Orci
He grabbed Bay
Like- wtf am I doing in endless meetings with this guy?

Angelophile:A mass shifting copter ejecting cassettes?
...
Uhuh.
Don: NO
They wanted him to LATER turn into something musical
and spit CDS

Mike Cassidy: Will the Decepticons have antigravity capabilities?
Don: Currently NO

perceptor_mc: what annoys me is hasbro (although not directly) create these characters, show us these crazy stories, entire mythology, change all our lives/childhoods.
and when it comes down it, they dont give a slightest shit about any of them.
it gets my goat.
Don: Hasbro is a Corporation.
Marvel is a Corporation.
LucasFilm is a Corporation.
Corporations exist to make money.
The sooner you grasp that the more complete you will be.

OptimusPrimeG1: Don...are their any ideas who to get for the Special Effects. Any name drops?
Don:Bay will likely hire ILM
like 90%

Angelophile: So did you encourage others at the meeting to visit this sprawling, fan-centric forum and see for themselves the depth of fan feeling on many of the issues?
Or do most of those involved in the making of this movie not really care about appeasing long term fans?
You seem to be happy to walk the middle ground. Hasbro seems happy to go where it's led and Dreamworks seem to be waning to change elements that fans want untouched. Is that a fair synopsis?
Don:Actually the entire trick will be once Michael is on to get him engaged about things that MUST be kept sacrosanct.

FreakNasty:I don't quite follow.
So the Humans will be the MAIN characters ala Hero's?
It almost feels like Jurassic Park 2
I hope this isn't what you meant.
Don: I never said MAIN
I have always said X MEN was a prototype
BUT
The humans are VERY important in this film
for the 439th time this is NOT an animated movie
We probably won't know what is going on in the film and meet the TFS clearly and get it all together for like the first hour.

perceptor_mc: sounds to me like its dreamworks who we need to worry about.
Don: Clarity
Worry about NO ONE
Everyone wants to make a GREAT FILM
It is just that YOUR worries
Are NOT everyone's worries
Once again- this will be a film that reflects everything you all love while at the same time appealing to the uninitiated worldwide.

jr9887: how has this movie been different for you pesonally compared to the others you have worked on?
Don:More pressure
More People involved (2 studios)
Moving faster than anything ever has before

Angelophile: Is Bay familiar with Transformers, do you know, or is this new territory for him? Is he a fan?
Don: He likes the idea enough to commit 2 years of his life to it

FreakNasty:
Ok so, When we finally meet the Autobots, will they have their own "individuality", their own personality?
Or will it be more like, "Must kill Decepticon....." *BAM*
Don: Personalities
Characters
Beauty

SAJse: I'd like to see how the TF's interact and deal with this clash of cultures.
Even if it's just short moments I'd like to see this.
Don: You will, Stanley, you will

Flea: Any idea where the movie takes place?
Don: Southwest USA

coxy: Is the Matrix still a strong part of the story line?
Don: HO YES

FreakNasty:So can you tell us why the Autobots have been on the planet for so long(1984)
How many other background characters (Autobots & Decepticons) do you forsee towards the end of Movie one and into Movie 2 and 3?
Don: No idea about film 2 and 3
and it was sounding in that room like the Autobots may have been here since at least biblical times

Overdrive: Is bumblebee really not got be a VW beetle because of Lohan and the crappy new Disney herbie movie, or have i just lost my mind?
Don: That's what the writers said.....

Omnicron: This does not compute. Don, is there some way you can summarize this so that I can have faith in the project again?
Don: Easily
SHIT is morphing as we speak.
Ask me this next time around and I expect at least half of it will have changed again.
You will never be 100% happy
But that is life, after all!

arkanoid: So there's only 5 TF in each side... is this already set in stone?
Does any TF dies? And the humans? (just a few or lots)
Don: Nothing is set in stone till first day of shooting
I am sure a TF will die- unsure who
Lots of humans do go

Cubsfan45: All of the updates sound amazing, with the exception of Arcee, but if that is the only thing, it has to be amazing.
Don: Anyways some guys don't get it...
Like I report in on Arcee
and a lot of you HATE that
spread the HATE
please
It is NOT final
so hate= information for me= chance to change things

Raymond T. As for the questions,... How have people in the bizz been looking at you, 'producer of From Hell and Natural Born Killers', now that you have be in the public eye lately as the producer of Transformers? Something which some still view as something for nerds! (the closed minded fools)... Oh yeah and that other Marvel movie Iron man....
Don: Dude I never told you guys this?
Every studio in town passed on TF
Every one
Tom and I scratched our heads
Then.... the younger execs awakened and Paramount Dreamworks Regency and New Line all wanted in.
So no one in town was impressed by me doing this...until Bay came along....
and I am looking forward to shooting the fucker!

Rodimus Longus: My hope is that the corporate guys don't make this a 2 hour commercial to sell widgets, inasmuch as letting you have artistic license to make a movie about characters we can all empathize with... and then sell some toys after the fact.
Don: I agree with your statement.
YET
Pixar made the Incredibles film to sell tickets, toys, rides, dvds, shirts.
Not to better mankind.

Kontraz: you know what would be awesome? Maybe at the beginning... or in the middle in some flashback type scene or something, we get to see the war taking place on cybertron... and we get to see pretty much all our fav tfs one way or another. I mean,just put as many tfs as possible into about 2 or 3 minutes of the film while describing the TF's past about the war and all.
Don: It's been there in every draft at least verbally and I always assumed a director would make it visual

Dad-2-Quintessa: My only question is this: Are Soundwave's minions included in the desepticon count or are they more so a part of him?
Don: They are part of him

Angelophile: If Don's fighting our corner with Bay to get Cullen and Welker we can't say fairer than that, or do more than that. Unless you think a letter writing campaign would be more "immediate" than the views on here Don?
Don: I don't think letters will help
I need to sift through and come up with the Top 5 things Fans have to have (Voice actors, morphing noise)
and then drill that into him if I can

Christonomist: With all these changes and 29 cooks in the kitchen and infidelity to G1/Cullen-Welker/Beetle, etc., how are you feelin' about this? Are you, by any chance, starting to get a little personally frustrated?
Don: I am feeling that we are in the last few weeks of talking and bsing
that everything will start to congeal and we will make the best and biggest film of 06
and that you guys will be happy
it is just well, this is how it happens
Everything I said today is true (no leg pulling) but it could change tomorrow... or in August.

Comments

[shadow-weaver.livejournal.com]

don is scary! I REALLY REALLY hope they don't screw BB up and not make him a bug. HE HAS TO BE A BUG!! =

[angelophile.livejournal.com]

He should be, yeah.

But VW HAVE to license the Beetle for the production team to be able to use him. They've refused for toys in the past, because VW don't want to associate themselves with "war" toys. Understandable when your company was started by Hitler.

It's not looking good for the 'bee.

Don's not scary, he just has a very cynical sense of humor. That I can appreciate.