In an article attempting to give movie critics credibility (and to me doing just the opposite), Slate.com posted a few new ways that Transformers was number one (US only) at the box office last year. As always, it€™s just how you play with the numbers.

The thrust of the article is that if you calculate the income of a movie by a per theatre or per screen basis, you better a better idea of its performance and through the author's calculations, good reviews can add dollars to the per screen average for a film. "Almost any way you slice it, if a majority of critics like a movie, chances are it will do better at the box office than a similar film the majority of critics don't like."

On this I call BS. Being a journalist (and therefore needing to justify his declining importance), he neglects to remember the common man that goes to these movies, talks to friends, posts blog and forum comments and basically through the wonderful world of "word of mouth" probably has a far greater impact on a film then the collective of critics ever will. It€™s the one thing that publicists and movie studios forget about...the public sharing their opinions is probably the most important factor in a movies success. So in that regards, yes "quality matters" but then I think pretty much everyone already knew that. The goal is always quality, sadly movies just fall short.

Anyway, thanks to his calculations, we have new ways to declare Transformers number one and really that is all that matters. So out of 237 films for 2007, Transformers was number one with a per theatre take of $12,366. However, theatres play movies on multiple screens Transformers is number one there too with $8,887 per screen average. So the take away of this little thing is Transformers is Number One...depending on how you play with the numbers. Thanks to Josh for the link.

Rumors of the use of a new version of the Hummer continues. Previousily it was that Ratchet might change into the Hummer H3 and now it appears the Hummer H4 or the HX concept vehicle is also in the film. Back to early June, a picture of a vehicle labeled NEST was used in filming at Bethlehem. According to GM Hummer, that vehicle is a Hummer H4. Could this be what all the Hummer news is about and Ratchet will remain an H2? Thanks to Russell for the link.

ENI has posted the first image of the re-issue of the DVD of Transformers. Under the promotion title of "Transformers Bring Home a Hero Promo", the one disc sets will come with either an Optimus Prime or Megatron face mask. The two discs will also be re-released with a transforming Megatron package. Finally, on the same date will be the Blu-Ray edition of the movie. The sets will be released on September 2, 2008.

Seibertron.com found the poster to the left that could be a teaser poster for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Where the picture came from, where the poster was found, and really anything that could help in validating it is not available. Also the tiny size is all that is available so trying to figure out details is difficult. Basically there is a whole lot of nothing for something that is supposed to be the real deal. I figure its fake because if its not that is not going to do a whole lot to get people excited for the sequel. Thanks to Russell for the heads-up.

In an interview with Collider.com, Jon Voight said he will NOT be in Transformers 2, contradicting a statement that he would be from Tyrese. I guess at that point Tyrese thought he was still going to be in it but that changed as since then Voight accepted the role of the villain for season 7 of 24 which will occupy an unknown amount of his time. This begs the question of who his "replacement" will be for the purpose of access to military assets.

The interview was conducted after the 2008 Saturn Awards where Transformers won Best Special Effects. The video interview is here. Thanks to Russell for the link and post title.

The highlights:
- "I am not in Transformers 2."
- Started 24 work that day, joined the show because fan of the show and Kiefer Sutherland.
- Knocked out by the finished work on Transformers and not surprised by its success.
- Impressed by the CGI, "fantastic, just fantastic."
- Praised Michael Bay for his work, "attention to detail...impressive imagination, a great sense of humor. He's got enormous personality on the set. It gets great results, gets everyone going..."

From Jolin and Jester, the team that brought you the Jetfire concept art, comes the below Transfan made concept art of Trailbreaker. His vehicle mode is a Chevy Tahoe Offroad Edition. Whether or not Trailbreaker is going to be in TF2 is unknown but this piece of work makes a good argument for his inclusion.

Russell has once again found another video, this one from when Transformers 2 was filming at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. The video takes about 7 seconds before images show and then you can see Shia Labeouf and I think Megan Fox as they are discussing a scene near the SR-71 Blackbird (Jetfire).

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has ended its first half of shooting. A planned hiatus was built into the schedule but when it ends is not known. My best guess is early October. Here is my reasoning.

Part of the reason for the hiatus was because of the probably SAG strike that is coming around July 8th. Even if a miracle happens (say firing SAG President Alan Rosenberg) so an agreement can be reached, the month of July is wash. Whether the strike lasts a day or an agreement is reached before the 8th, all the studios pretty much operated on the assumption that no work would occur for the month of July.

This brings us to August. Same reason, the strike might be long so no point in scheduling things then either. There are other reasons too though for skipping August. The main one is most of the filming is expected to occur on the West Coast in Arizona, at Holloman Air Force Base, Edwards Air Force Base and so forth. Since some of those locations are desert and a lot of the action is going to be outdoors just like in the first movie, it€™s safe to assume its going to be very hot. Filming actors sweating through their costumes and looking like they are going to pass out in the heat is probably not the heroic image Bay would be looking for. Another reason is they would have to stop production again anyway for Shia LaBeouf.

Now to September. On September 26th, Shia's next movie, Eagle Eye (trailer below) is scheduled to come out. It also stars Michelle Monaghan, who I have a bit of a crush on. Anyway, assuming the strike is over, Shia will be spending pretty much the entire month promoting the movie so he will not be available for Transformers. Also, Josh Duhamel is currently filming "When In Rome" (with Kristen Bell and Alexis Dziena, the lucky ...) so unless his role is really small, he may still have to complete his commitment to the film. It doesn't make sense financially to start production, stop it, start it, and then stop it again. It is better to stop, wait until all current commitments are complete and then start up again.

That leaves October. Also, regards to shooting at Holloman Air Force Base, "Fall" is the repeated time frame and October fits in nicely for that. Hopefully I am wrong but we shall see. I just hope between now and then some character design sheets and the like are leaked for us to enjoy.

Eagle Eye Trailer

Michael Bay, now home from the first month of Transformers filming, posted on his blog about "Frenzy".

What that picture is - that is not a complete Transformer. We use detailed puppets for effects for sizing and color - the real effects are later completed but the robots are much more complicated.

I will post soon to tell you all about the shoot.

Michael

I keep using "Frenzy" in quotes because it at least invokes a mental image and size that isn't confusing but I seriousily doubt its the same Transformer. A lot of people are theorizing Lazerbeak or Rumble.

According to Nanobyte, Transformers 2 is expected to shoot at Edwards Air Force Base on July 10th and 11th. The source also indicated there is an extras casting call for military personnel for the shoot. Edwards was used for the last movie and it was pretty much confirmed to be in the sequel, it€™s just not known exactly when or for what purpose. As far as strike concerns, so far no SAG strike call has gone out so it€™s possible to go in and shoot the scenes without concern if it€™s only for a few days. I guess time will tell.

Update:
Optibotimus.com found a listing on lacasting.com (that requires membership to see) that lists a search for extras for July. Maybe related, maybe not. Thanks to Riah for the link.

Project Name: Transformers 2
Project Type: Film & TV
Format:
Rate/Compensation:

Message:
Looking for extras to work sometime in July to play Egyptian/Jordanian solders. Must have short hair.

Role Role Type Gender/Age/Ethnicities Description/Note
Transformers 2 Background Male / 20 to 40 / All Ethnicities, AfricanAm, Am-Indian, Asian, Caucasian, East-Ind, Hispanic, MidEastern, Mixed, PacificIsland To work sometime in July to play Egyptian/Jordanian solders. Must have short hair.

According to Star Magazine, apparently the reason that nothing but blondes has been cast in the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is because of an edict from Megan Fox:

Megan is definitely the star of the sequel, and she wants to keep it that way. It€™s fine with her if there are hot blondes in the film, but she€™s made it clear that she doesn€™t want any brunettes.

I don't know if its true but considering the things you hear Hollywood starlets in general demand and rumors of Megan's ego I have to say it sounds plausible.

The picture (one of the best ones I have seen of her) and info from TOB. Thanks to Russell for the link.

In an article from the NJ Times, it was revealed that as part of the plot for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Sam Witwicky is "enrolled at a fictional East Coast school with an Ivy League feel." The natural next question is why a fictional school when Transformers 2 just finished filming at two distinguished institutions of Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania. It€™s a question that UPENN students have also asked and started a public Facebook page on the subject.

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.

The group already has 200 members and amazingly got a response from Bay via "Nelson" who is a webmaster for Bay and been a reliable source of information.

Michael has indicated to me that neither school gave him permission to use their names. There was a very funny €œmom€ scene were both felt it did not represent the school.

So there you go, now you know why its a fictional school. It seems the school officials have some explaining to do. Considering the movie is probably going to be PG-13 and I am assuming (maybe incorrectly) that Julie White is the Mom is question, then I think its safe to say the scene will probably be hilarious.

If I was a booster for either college I would be very angry at this news for the school official€™s essentially pissed away god knows how much free advertisement for their schools. Sure, some people will know the schools where used for the movie but nothing like seeing the schools name on the big screen to get the curiosity and interest of the public. You can't buy that kind of attention. Nor the money and students it could bring in.

To bad Bay didn't choose my alma mater (UGA), they probably would have been okay with it. Besides, honestly I have to agree with the Facebook group, the Sam character is just not an "Ivy League" guy, he is a University guy. Nothing against Princeton but between the two schools, UPENN just €œfits€ the character better.

Thanks to RiahRiddle for the link.

Update:
From the comments, it turns out the University of Pennsylvania is an Ivy League school. I didn't know that and so far I have not spoken to any one that did (even two people form PA). I don't know but that strikes me as something like that should be common knowledge. So based on that, then Sam doesn't fit at either school because he simply doesn't strike me as Ivy League material based on how he was established in the first film. Sadly a comedy moment was missed as they could have had it so Sam didn't know UPENN was an Ivy League school and had to be corrected by Professor Colon (where Rainn would have had fun with various ways of doing that). Nice thing is the scene would have been funny and told millions and millions of people that UPENN is Ivy League. Oh well, too late now. Now I wonder if UPENN as one of those secret fraternity (or even better a sorority) that the other Ivy Leagues schools are rumored to have.

LA Times is reporting that the strike threat has Hollywood on edge as the countdown continues to June 30th when all SAG actors are likely to strike as talks between SAG leadership and the studios have failed to reach an agreement.

The talks have become so continuous that the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) broke away from SAG after more then 25 years of co-representation and where able to reach an agreement modeled after those reached with the Director's Guild of America (DGA) and Writers Guild of America (WGA). SAG has refused a similar agreement citing it not going far enough to meet their demands.

This disagreement with handling of this issue extends beyond the AFTRA to include the SAG membership itself with many members expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of progress and the hard line that SAG leader Alan Rosenberg has had. The heart of the disagreement is DVD residuals, cut of advertisement fees used within a project, and fees for their images being used online. Essentially they want more then already agreed on with the DGA and WGA and as a result the studios are balking.

The actually strike is not expected to start until after July 8th. In part because of the July the 4th holiday but also because on July 8th, AFTRA's membership is expected to vote in support of the reached contract. If that occurs it could put a major dent in SAG's position. Despite that, 90% of SAG€™s membership fuels the TV and movie industry so a strike would bring Hollywood to a near standstill.

SAG has granted waivers to 350 independent films (those made outside the studio system) but major studio projects have not been granted waivers as a result this directly impacts Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen which has built-in hiatus to plan for the event. The length of this hiatus is not known and if the strikes goes past the planned schedule that could prevent the movie from meeting its release date.

So to sum, SAG doesn't appear close to an agreement. If a strike occurs it will likely start July 8th or shortly after. Transformers 2 production is already shut down and when they return is unknown. The impact on current and future projects will pretty much be immediate.