(moved robot cast news & rumour posts to the robot cast thread)
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(moved robot cast news & rumour posts to the robot cast thread)
Michael Bay has recently revealed the first official promo photo of Just Another Day On The Set Of Transformers 4 (23/08/2013):
Pictured left to right: Jack Reynor; Mark Wahlberg; 2nd Assistant B-Camera Casey “Walrus” Howard; 1st Assistant B-Camera John Kairis with back to camera; B-camera Operator Lukasz Bielan; Director Michael Bay; and Director of Photography Amir Mokri. High resolution photo: http://bayhem.com/1c0euov
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Video: 'Transformers' returns to Chicago with explosions (Chicago Tribune, 24/08/2013; check out the short video with some 'splosions at the link above):
Michael Bay didn’t wait long to break out the special effects during Transformers 4 filming.
The action director delivered explosions and flipped cars on Friday, which was the first day of filming in Chicago. The scene was shot on the plaza in McCormick Place but was set in Hong Kong. The taxis, buses and Coca Cola truck parked on the streets had Chinese writing, as did the signs and advertisements in the area, including one for a Hong Kong Opera.
“Part of the movie is set in Chicago, and some of what they’re filming here is supposed to be Hong Kong,” said Chicago Film Office director Rich Moskal by email.
The many extras involved in Friday’s shoot were repeatedly asked to scream and run through the plaza at full speed. From what exactly? I’m not sure, but I’m guessing it involved destruction and was big, judging by the way some of the crowed looked up.
The best stunt, however, was saved for last.
Bay had two cars flip over and catch fire in unison as a series of explosions went off around them in the grassy area of the plaza, much to the delight of the small crowd watching from the lobby of the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place hotel.
Filming on Saturday and Sunday will take place in the Near East Side neighborhood. There is no word on whether star Mark Wahlberg, who didn’t appear to be on set Friday, will take part in the weekend shoot.
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Video: Mark Wahlberg visits Transformers set (Chicago Tribune, 24/08/2013):
What was mostly a quiet day of "Transformers 4" filming in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower Saturday, at least by director Michael Bay's standards, momentarily picked up when star Mark Wahlberg visited the set.
Wahlberg, who took over for Shia LaBeouf in the Transformers franchise, drew a crowd when he pulled up in front of the building at Randolph Street and Columbus Drive. Not surprisingly, he was greeted by an even bigger one when he exited the building 20 minutes later.
Because filming took place inside on the 50th floor — according to a building employee, who said shooting would return Sunday and again next weekend — fans and passersby were unable to watch any of that shoot. There were no signs of the live stunts and pyrotechnics mentioned in fliers passed out to local businesses and residences last week.
There was, however, an assortment of impressive sports cars parked outside the building, guarded by security and a velvet rope — and understandably so. One of the cars, a blue Bugatti, is worth well over $1 million. The yellow Camaro (or as its known to Transformers fans, Bumblebee), green Corvette and silver Lamborghini parked next to the Bugatti were nothing to sneeze at either.
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Filming of "Transformers 4" began in Chicago Friday and is scheduled to wrap Oct. 2. The Uptown Theatre in the Uptown neighborhood will be the sight of filming on Wednesday and Thursday.
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And finally, just for the fun of it, here's what Simon Pegg ("Scotty" in the last two Trek films) had to say about Transformers recently:
...Even Transformers in 2012. I think science fiction's kind of lost its way over the years, in that people suddenly think it's about the robots. It was never about the robots. It's always been about the people. And robots have been a metaphor for something. And there doesn't seem to be a metaphor now. It's literal destruction....
If you look at Transformers, Transformers is a movie version of a toy, which came out of a series about robots, which was aimed at children, and then suddenly it's a thing that's skewed towards adults, but it is just toys fighting. It's all it is. And it doesn't really say anything about us or the world. And in my experience of it, it's just mind-numbingly dull.
(If you feel so inclined, you can read the rest of the interview here.)
This was all after attendees ranked "Star Trek Into Darkness" as the worst of the Star Trek movies, during a Star Trek fan convention in Las Vegas earlier this month (link). Talk about lashing out... :rolleyes:
New article on Seibertron looks like we have a new logo for the movie.
Anyone else thinking Shattered Glass looking at the logo?
that would be interesting. but they could never do that right? just make optimus and bumblebee the bad guys... seriously how messed up is shattered optimus? O_OQuote:
Originally Posted by DELTAprime
Dude.. if that was true, that would be sooooooooo.... f-COOOL! :eek::cool::eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by DELTAprime
...
So anyways...
Mark Wahlberg films 'Transformers 4' at Uptown Theatre (Chicago Tribune, 28/08/2013, includes short vid):
One week director Michael Bay is turning the plaza at McCormick Place into Hong Kong for Transformers 4 filming, the next he's turning North Broadway Street in the Uptown neighborhood into Texas.
The Uptown Theatre, where actors Mark Wahlberg and T.J. Miller filmed indoors Wednesday, was decorated with posters that read “SXSW Music Fest Jun 8, 2002.” (South By Southwest is the annual music festival that takes place in Austin, Texas.)
On one side of the Uptown Theatre was a fake liquor store called “Star of Texas Liquor & Wine.” On the other side was Crew Bar & Grill, which was open during filming but decorated with the Texas state flag and the University of Texas Longhorns flag.
The public was unable to go inside the Uptown Theatre during filming, but a security guard described the scene indoors as “dusty.”
"This location use will help the building with some things that need to be done and is contributing to ongoing maintenance and stabilization," read a message on the Uptown Theatre's Facebook page. "Maintenance, insurance, taxes and utilities at the building are significant annual expenses even in stasis. Every film shoot and special event at the building has helped in some way."
When he wasn’t filming, Wahlberg could be seen sitting on a cooler in front of the Uptown Theatre’s entrance. Wahlberg dined Sunday at Chicago Cut Steakhouse and Monday at Centro. Bay hung out Sunday at The Underground and had dinner Monday at Tavern on Rush.
“Transformers” will continue filming in the Uptown neighborhood Thursday.
STERLING HEIGHTS: Artist leaves mark on 'Transformers 4' (Source Newspapers, 8/09/2013):
Wildlife artist David Bollman of Southpaw Studio in Sterling Heights recently finished work on the filming of the science fiction action movie "Transformers 4" in downtown Detroit in a career that has him going from taxidermy to the movies.
"Overall I am really thrilled about working with the production crew," Bollman said of his role with the movie. "It was filmed in several locations but Detroit is a major setting for a bigger part of the film."
Bollman, 57, worked on painting most of the sets that were built in "Transformers 4."
"We built a set downtown, but mainly I did a lot of finish painting," he said. "I painted specific props. And even some of the really cool props and weapons in the movie."
Bollman said much of his work during the filming in downtown Detroit in July was on various cars in the movie.
"I did Chinese lettering on the cars; hand lettering; vinyl graphics; and of course we made everything look like it's been through the mud," Bollman said. "In specific settings, the areas are dirt and muddy."
Bollman said he conducted "a lot of research to get stuff very accurate."
"There is always something that goes into making things look authentic and real," he said. "The director (Michael Bay) loves to have an explosion, so there's a lot of action in this movie.
"Mark Wahlberg is just dynamite," Bollman noted about the star in the movie. "He's going to be a phenomenal asset to the movie."
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"Transformers' blows up on LaSalle Street (Chicago Tribune, 8/09/2013):
Some people will do just about anything to get a photo of "Transformers: Age of Extinction" filming, as proven by one double-decker tour bus driver Saturday in front of the Chicago Board of Trade building. The driver pulled out her camera phone while slowly passing the set on South LaSalle Street in the Loop and held up traffic as she tried to snap a photo.
A select few — such as Cincinnati Bengals players, in town for their Sunday matchup with the Bears at Soldier Field — used their clout to get on the set and snap photos. Former Pro Bowler Terence Newman posted photos of himself with director Michael Bay and actor Mark Wahlberg on Twitter Saturday and tweeted that he played catch on the set with Wahlberg.
"Transformers 4 being shot outside our hotel in Chicago," Newman tweeted. "The cars out there are insane!!"
Most spectators, however, had to settle for listening to much of the action rather than watching it due to the barricades set up to keep people blocks away. Explosions could be heard echoing through LaSalle, but it's unclear what exactly was exploding. One production assistant claimed a Bud Light delivery truck was blown up during one scene, sending beer flying out onto the streets, but the Chicago Film Office was unable to confirm it.
Those more interested in the cars than the explosions had better luck. Several vehicles — including the semi known as Optimus Prime, a blue Bugatti and green Corvette — raced down LaSalle at high speeds for one scene Saturday. During another scene that day, the yellow Camaro known as Bumblebee sped off as terrified extras ran for their lives. The extras continued to get a workout during Sunday's filming, which featured pyrotechnics.
Chicago was well represented on the set Saturday: Abandoned Chicago taxis and Chicago police cars were on hand, as was a CTA bus featuring a very visible Blue Cross Blue Shield ad (Transformers filmed at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower in the Near East Side neighborhood the previous two weekends). Also on the set was a crushed vehicle that was trapped under a robotic-looking hunk of metal.
When he wasn't filming Transformers, Bay was spotted hanging out Friday and Saturday at the Underground and Aug. 31 at the newly-opened Parliament. Wahlberg had lunch Wednesday at Michael Jordan's Steak House in the Intercontinental Hotel.
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Mark Wahlberg Channels His Inner Peyton Manning On Set Of Transformers: Age of Extinction! (Yeah... not really news, just some sillyness. Warning: don't click on the link.)
Mark Wahlberg has been hard at work, filming the latest installment of the Transformers movies in Chicago!
But he recently got a little break in the action and decided to put his 2 Guns to good use as he treated the set like his own personal football field!
Marky Mark looked like a natural as he tossed the pigskin around and did his best Peyton Manning impression!
That is, of course, if Peyton Manning was way more attractive and had a short-live hip hop career!
Oh, wait. He did! LOLz!
:rolleyes: Yeah, sorry about that one. Quickly moving on...
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‘Transformers 4’ Set Footage Shows The Autobots In Chicago [Video] (The Inquisitr, 9/09/2013, video also here, courtesy of Seibertron.com):
A new behind-the-scenes Transformers 4 clip gives fan a chance to see the Autobots on the move.
Although the video embedded above was clearly put together by an amateur photographer, interested parties can still glimpse several vehicles from director Michael Bay’s upcoming sequel.
The footage from the set of Transformers: Age of Extinction was captured on August 26 in Chicago, Illinois. Judging from the clip, quite a few people turned up to see Optimus, Bumblebee, and their friends roll down Columbus Drive.
Try as they might, the folks at Paramount Pictures are having a tough time keeping a lid on things. Not only did a leaked call sheet reveal some closely-guarded secrets, information regarding the official title was widely discussed online ahead of its official release.
Since there clearly seems to be quite a bit of interest in next installment of the his franchise, Paramount will have to work overtime to keep this stuff off the internet. Although the clip is available as of this writing, the studio could yank the video at any moment.
Shortly after news that the Dinobots would appear in Transformers: Age of Extinction started spreading like wildfire around movie-oriented websites, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura confirmed that the characters would make an appearance in the sequel.
Although he dropped this nugget of knowledge on the folks at TFW2005, the producer didn’t give fans any concrete details. Given the amount of info that’s already found its way online, it’s only a matter of time before these secrets go public.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura also confirmed there will only be one version of the film available to the world when it hits theaters next year. Although Bay and Paramount Pictures are shooting a significant portion of the flick in China, moviegoers in the country won’t get any exclusive footage.
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'Transformers': Mark Wahlberg Confirms Two Big-Name Cameos (MTV, 10/09/2013):
With high-profile movies like "Transformers: Age of Extinction," Internet rumors are usually ignored by the filmmakers, but for the latest adventure of the Autobots, whispers of an appearance by the fan-favorite Dinobot* got an official confirmation from producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura.
But when MTV News' Josh Horowitz spoke with the star of "Age of Extinction," Mark Wahlberg, he wasn't quite ready to talk openly about the secret. "You can't say that, dude. Did you leak it? Did you leak it? You leaked it," he said. "Somebody leaked it, dude. Somebody was on the set leaked it, and it is not OK. It's not cool."
So is that a confirmation of the Dinobots from Wahlberg? Not quite. "I don't know," he said. "I haven't seen no Dinobot, so don't put that on me."
There is, however, a new cameo that Wahlberg is happy to talk about. His kids will make a brief appearance in "Age of Extinction."
"My kids just did a cameo, just scared people in the street looking up, but they did a great job. I was so nervous because Michael doesn't have time for bad performances," he said. "You have to understand; you're shooting a $300 million movie. You've got a lot going on. He's got five, six takes. If you ain't got it, you're done. I didn't want to see my kids get clipped. They were excited about, but they started to get mad at me because I'm trying to over-direct them. It went great."
Wahlberg really appreciated the lengths that Bay went to to make the cameo happen, and as he learned, the actor doesn't just text his thanks. He hugs them out.
"For him to take the time to set up the specific shot that he actually wants to put in the movie for my kids. I don't like asking for those kinds of things," Wahlberg said. "I was going to send him a text, but I just wanted to wait and thank him in person. I gave him a big hug yesterday."
*I think this is a typo and is meant to have an "s" at the end.
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Mark Wahlberg and Jack Reynor Film Scene for Transformers: Age of Extinction in Bumblebee's Chevy Camaro (EOnline, 11/09/2013):
Forget Shia LaBeouf. Bumblebee's got a new buddy and his name's Mark Wahlberg.
The 42-year-old Hollywood star is getting in gear for his role in Michael Bay's Transformers: Age of Extinction as he and costar Jack Reynor were snapped Sunday in Chicago shooting a scene while riding inside the yellow-and-black Chevy Camaro that transforms on the big screen into everyone's favorite Autobot Bumblebee.
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Not much else, click on link to see one pic.
My fan-film is meant to be a What If situation for the Transformers movies series and would act as a fan-fic TF4. I should really get on to finishing it and maybe release it around the same time as the official TF4
Oh man. is he having a laugh or something? The concept that makes Transformers different from pretty much all other form-changing robots is that they ARE the personalities. Not the squishies. WHat a silly sausage!:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Megatron
Nope, I think he was serious... :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Tetsuwan Convoy
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Chinese e-car set for 'Transformers' movie debut (Reuters, 13/09/2013):
A Chinese-made car is set to make its international movie debut in the fourth "Transformers" film next year in a product placement aimed at raising the profile of Chinese models abroad.
The Trumpchi E-jet, a sleek, plug-in electric hybrid developed by state-owned Guangzhou Automobile Group Co Ltd (GAC), will feature in "Transformers: Age of Extinction", the fourth in the popular movie franchise due for release in mid-2014, said two people close to GAC, based in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.
The "Transformers" series has previously featured other Chinese brands, including PC and TV makers Lenovo Group Ltd and TCL Corp, and Meters/bonwe, a leading leisurewear brand. The movies are among the most popular to be released in China, with "Transformers 3, Dark of the Moon" grossing $165 million in 2011.
"Product placements with "Transformers" would boost the profile of GAC's car brands both at home and abroad," said one of those close to the carmaker, which has local joint ventures with Fiat SpA, Honda Motor Co Ltd, Toyota Motor Corp and Mitsubishi Motors Corp.
Neither source wanted to be named due to confidentiality agreements they signed in connection with the upcoming film. A spokesperson for Paramount Pictures, the movie's distributor, said the company wouldn't confirm specific brands until nearer the release date. Paramount's local partner, China Movie Channel, declined to comment.
The new movie is being filmed in both the United States and China, with Chinese singer/actor Han Geng making his English-language debut, according to a blog posted on Paramount Pictures' Facebook page.
The film's producer, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, told the Beijing News earlier this month the movie would feature locally-made cars. "The world's coolest, most exciting cars will appear in the film, including Chinese vehicles, so whether you're a car enthusiast or not, it will be a feast for the eyes," he said.
It wasn't clear if the Trumpchi E-jet would be cast as an heroic 'autobot' or evil 'decepticon' - humanoid robots that turn into familiar machines and mechanical objects - or have a more limited non-transforming, drive-on role.
One of those close to GAC said the firm wouldn't want the E-jet to be cast in an evil role. Ultimately, casting will be down to the movie's director Michael Bay.
Previous "Transformers" movies have featured an 'autobot' called Bumblebee based on the Chevrolet Camaro, prompting the company to bring out a Camaro Transformers Special Edition in 2011, which sold more than 1,500 globally, said Michael Albano, a Chevrolet spokesman in Detroit, adding: "We very much look forward to Camaro reprising its role in the upcoming film."
The E-jet, which GAC showed off at the Detroit auto show in January, is a concept car, which the company currently has no plans to commercialize.
As growth slows in the world's largest auto market from break-neck speeds over the past decade, GAC aims to have exports of its Trumpchi brand account for a fifth of total sales in five years. It currently sells just a few hundred cars overseas. Last year, GAC earned a profit of 1.1 billion yuan on sales of around 13 billion yuan ($2.12 billion).
Other Chinese carmakers such as Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd, Beijing Automotive Group and Warren Buffett-backed BYD Co Ltd are stepping up their export efforts. After years of partnerships with foreign automakers, Chinese firms are promoting their home-grown brands under President Xi Jinping's "Chinese Dream" campaign.
GAC Vice President Xiangdong Huang said this year his company would target emerging markets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East with a line-up of no-frills, gasoline-fuelled cars, while pushing its "new energy" models at developed markets such as the United States.
China last year opened its market to more U.S. movies, and the country's box office grew by 36 percent to $2.7 billion, making it Hollywood's largest international market. Also last year, China's privately-owned Dalian Wanda Group, the world's biggest owner of movie theaters, bought U.S. theater chain AMC Entertainment Inc for $2.6 billion.
($1 = 6.1185 Chinese yuan)
(Link shows a small pic of a Trumpchi E-jet car displayed at an auto show in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, November 14, 2012.)
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‘Transformers 4′ filming in South Loop (Chicago Sun-Times Voices, 14/09/2013):
"Transformers 4: Age of Extinction" is filming in the South Loop until 9 p.m. tonight.
Lots of action-movie fans are catching glimpses of “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” which is filming in the South Loop today and into the night.
The Chicago shooting makes for some neat still images and surely a fun diversion if the film happens to be bad when it’s released next summer. Fans have already been treated to explosions at the McCormick Place plaza (itself a building in disguise, made to look like Hong Kong) and low-flying helicopters over the Chicago River.
You might also be lucky enough to spot stars like Kelsey Grammer and Mark Wahlberg, who has been seen around the city and even had dinner with Mayor Rahm Emanuel two weeks ago. No word on whether Wahlberg’s staying with his man crush while he’s in town, but he did get to hoop it up this week with Jimmy Butler of the Bulls:
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Click on the article link if you wanna see a few pics of vehicles on set in the South Loop, the film crew, and uh.. some wardrobe detail. Oh and a pic of Wahlberg and Jimmy Butler.
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Oh and, Paramount announced yesterday (confirmed) that Transformers: Age Of Extinction will open on June 27, 2014.