Movie Starscream Protoform Pics

An Ebay user has pics up of the Protoform or Entry Mode version of the Starscream toy for Transformers the movie. Its validity is unknown but it does match previous pictures of this toy. Sadly the face is still of the Waspinator's brother variety. As just a Transformer, even independent of the movie, it doesn't exactly excite me. Its probably one I will pass on unless the price is good. How much, if any screen time, this model has in the movie is unknown.(source)

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Make Prime Speak Contest Finalists

The 30 finalists have been selected for Transformers "Make Prime Speak" contest. Sadly, originality took a back seat to familiarity. If the filmmakers wanted to save some money, they could just choose 10 phrases from the cartoons and remastered movie coming out next Tuesday and reuse them without the time and expense of recording new dialogue.Not that its the filmmakers fault. The contest was a great idea and much appreciated. Sadly the fans (me included) didn't take it seriously enough and because of that we get the lackluster list of finalists. It does prove a point. You can pretend y

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Spider-Man 3 Trailer with Casino Royale

Sony has announced that the second Spider-Man 3 trailer will play with Casino Royale on November 17th with the third starting on Feb 16th with Ghost Rider.This then raises the question of what the Transformers team counter move would be. I had assumed that the TF trailer would premier with the 007 movie also as its one of the few major release movies coming out this season that is likely to be seen by a large audience that the producers are likely to target. Will we get both with the same movie or will they wait till December and maybe release it with some other major marketed movie. Possi

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Transformers Movie Prototypes Toys in Blister Packs

ACToys.net has posted multiple pics from Pumaking of the movie version of Optimus Prime and Starscream prototypes both in and out of their blister packs. Whether these are actually real prototypes are a fan created mockup is unknown. Neither for instance look nothing liked leaked versions of his design unless the gimmick is pre-Earth modes or something. Thanks Garry M. for the link.More pics are here.Update: Turns out based on AICN and also reading the back of the packages (see below pic) which I didn't do, the design of the toys show the "Protoform" for Optimus Prime and Starscream. Now

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Make Prime Speak - Voting Begins

Phase 2 of the Make Prime Speak contest has begun. The voting phase ends November 9th. When voting, please vote for those that created original Optimus Prime statements rather then those that just repeated phrases from the cartoons and the animated movie. Now I wish I had tried to submit something due to the overall lack of originality. So click here to vote and please reward those that tried to be creative.Also just discovered that to vote in phase 2, you had to have participated in phase 1. Since I didn't submit a line, I am not able to vote.

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Update from Don Murphy

Transformers Producer Don Murphy posted another missive on his forums Sunday. No real news is reported except to confirm wrap of shooting and that the leaked Megatron design is not confirmed as final:The Sunday PostingIn Which I RambleYou know- no one from the production ever confirmed anything that was leaked to Ain’t It Shit News. So it may have been actual photos or it may not have been. The bad poet Diabetes has reported on here that Megatron’s head will be changed. From what? Did we ever release an official pic of Megs? No sir we didn’t. I CAN tell you that Megs’ head will not look like

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More USS Shoup Pics

Below are 5 more pics from the USS Shoup shoot props for Tranformers movie. Many thanks to the person that provided these fantastic pictures.

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My Apologies

I just pulled a political post that I accidentally posted on this blog. I apologize for the error as it simple doesn't belong here. I strive to keep this blog mostly on topic and in this case has a brain fart and posted to wrong location.This blog is about the Transformers movie and things TF and that is a joy (or source of distress) that surpasses political boundaries. I will strive to not repeat that mistake, but if I do, please email me and let me know and I will yank it. Once again my apologies and once some news of note breaks, will return to Transformer stuff we all know and love.

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"The Bots Are Back" and Set Pics

The Boston Globe gave Transformers movie a bunch of free advertising by with its front page article today titled "The Bots are Back". The articles covers the history of Transformers, its new toys lines and the movie coming out next year along with transfans comments. The article writer mostly got everything right to my knowledge meaning they either are fans themselves or got their info from a knowledgeable source as this article doesn't have the usual inaccuracies nor disdain that most toy-centric articles tend to have.Highlights of sorts but no movie news:- Transformers are third largest s

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First Look at the Energon Cube?

Shoot For The Edit forums have posted two pics showing Shia LaBeouf running if a black cube in his hands. The Energon Cube that is the object that both factions of the Transformers are hunting for cause its brings life or ends it. Basically its the McGuffin of the film to have things go boom. I would have thought the cube would have been all blue just like the Optimus Prime head so that special effects could be added later to give it that otherworldly power look.(source)

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Optimus Prime's Head Prop

The flickr movie pic pool has posted a all blue Optimus Prime prop. The blue is for bluescreen purposes so the CGI effects can be put over the head. What the prop itself was used for during shooting though I have no idea. Best guess is for scenes where Shia had lines where he was sitting on Optimus. Generally speaking, if the actor touches something, a real prop has to be built or the CGI would be less convincing to the eye. The pic pool is here but no idea which page for the head.(source)

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Producer Tom DeSanto Interview on Transformers

IESB.net has landed another video interview with the makers of Transformers. This time its with Producer Tom Desanto (who also produced the X-Men Trilogy). The highlights:- Filming almost finished, still have some days to do in Alaska (probably for the discovery of Megatron by Sam Witwicky's ancestor). Once Alaska shoots finish, shooting will be completed (unless pick-ups later).- Leaked designs are not final, still being worked on but producers have heard the complaints (as many Don Murphy posts have indicated). - Final designs will be tweaked up to the movie release date, but I say befo

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Stan Bush on Transformers Soundtrack?

Seibertron.com has posted a message received from Stan Bush regarding the possibility of working on the Transformers movie soundtrack. For those that don't know, Stan Bush wrote several of the songs used in the animated Transformers: The Movie including "The Touch" (You have the touch/You have the power...). The note is:Hi Ryan,I wanted to let the legions of Transfans know that my Producer and I are in the studio mixing a new track for a certain upcoming live-action movie directed by Michael Bay ... I think you know the one!It's a BIG song, with 70+ tracks at this point!We hope to submit th

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Pics From USS Shoup of Transformer Props for Filming

A Navy Sailor from the USS Shoup is reporting that Transformers film crew is coming on board Monday to film additional footage for the film. Whether this includes the actors themselves not sure. As can see below, its looks like a crashed plane, currently in many ports. If not for the lack of faction insignia, I would almost think it was blown up Transformer bits. The source wishes to remain nameless for privacy reasons, but many thanks for the information and pictures.Update with spoilers: Based on speculation from the web including solid evidence here, appears that some of the parts could be

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Attack of the Show Botcon '06 Video

The G4 cable channel, Attack of The Show has posted its video report of Botcon 06. Nothing major revealed, just summarizing that new toys and movies are coming out but does have a few bits with Peter Cullen tossing out some Optimus Prime lines.The video is here.

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Michael Bay Interview on IESB

IESB.net has posted a video interview with Transformers director Michael Bay. The highlights:- Transformers finished shooting last night (10/5/06)- No decision yet if Frank Welker will play Megatron- The CGI effects will shows "thousands of moving parts when the robots transform"- Bay clearly doesn't like the boxy design of the original Transformers, a comment on the critics of the leaked designs.- Bay asked what would the interviewer like to see and like many, couldn't articulate what she wanted.- Bay didn't want to do a toy movie, wanted it grounded in reality.- "Giant Fucking Robots Are C

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Detroit Shoot Pics

MH.2 has posted many pics of shooting for Transformers in Detroit, MI on flickr. Looks like much pyrotechnics went boom and fun was had.The pics are here.In addition the Detroit News covered the shot, describing the film and that around 100 local Michigan residents where used as extras. Apparently being an extra means an extra $50 in your pocket, free food, and a few stories to tell. Filming was done at the Michigan Central Depot. I am betting much to the movie producers chagrin, the article refers to the live action movie as "Transformers: The Movie" and the cartoon movie as "Transforme

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Snarky LA Set Report with Video

TheJay.com has posted a report of a visit to the LA set of Transformers with lots of pics, especially of robot Bumblebee. Its also includes to videos (see below) of two scenes shot with Michael Bay directing. The video is mostly of people running and driving haphazardly down the shoot in what I assume is panic from Transformers that will be inserted later. The photo and videos are courtesy of TheJay.com.The full report, with lots of snarky comments, many more pics, and video is here.

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Movie Shoot Reports from DC and Boston

Michael Bay and company has been traveling here and there to finish the shooting for Transformers. Several reports have appeared online including from official Michael Bay sites. Nothing new is revealed but check them out if bored.Michael Bay blog has pics from the DC shoot here and here with Bay and various members of the shoot. For whatever reason, someone went into overkill to soft light the pic for Rachael Taylor so just skip to avoid eye strain.Also is a report from an extra at the Boston shoot from Jester (he of the alternate fan made trailer, worth viewing). Exteriors where shot a

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Transformers 20th Anniversary Features

Sony BMG has issued a press release announcing the features Transformers: The Movie 20th Anniversary Edition will have. It looks interesting with lots of goodies for TF fans and sounds like it may be worth getting even if already own a copy of earlier releases.Features:- Lenticular cover by Don Figueroa- 16x9 Widescreen presentation - not seen since movie appeared in theatres- Fullscreen edition also available.- Autobot Matrix of Knowledge track - gives pop up facts during the movie, some of which was provided by Transformers fans. Over 100 "fun facts" will be provided.- Behind the Scenes

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Make Prime Speak Contest

The official website is running a contest called "Make Prime Speak". Full text details:The name is Peter Cullen - the voice of TRANSFORMERS’ Optimus Prime.And now fans will be given the opportunity to put words in the mouth of Optimus with the “MAKE PRIME SPEAK” contest!Paramount Pictures announces the “MAKE PRIME SPEAK” contest, a bold initiative that will supply what fans demand – Optimus Prime speaking their words. Fans can submit a line of dialogue that they would most like to hear Optimus Prime say in the film.First place winner will have his/hers phrase spoken by Prime, in the new Trans

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Botcon 2006

Botcon 2006 was held over the weekend in Lexington, Kentucky. Botcon is the main Transformers convention held once a year to celebrate everyone's favorite toys. Even Hasbro shows up to show off their wares so it basically has unofficial official status. Sadly, as far as movie news, a whole lot of nothing. There was a movie related video presentation with a blurb from Michael Bay but no new information was revealed.Most of the news is all Transformers toys related, with plenty of info on the new Transformers Classic line, re-issues, the final Alternators, and confirmed their intent to rel

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