The Energon Pub

Was John Rogers the original writer for the film? I am confused because the original leaked script that came out a year and some months ago or however long it was had his name on it. Now I know Orci and Kurtzman have been credited with it but who is the mind behind the original story? Of all of the clips and book, and comics I have seen and read, the original leaked script seems right in line with all of them and only some small details seemed to have changed. When Orci and Kurtzman announced the transformers that would star in the film they acted like they had chosen them but werent they already pretty much in the original leaked script by Rogers? Save for the names being different on a couple, did Orci and Kurtzman really come up with anything creatively? I hear them talk in interviews about creative choices they made but wasn't all of that stuff already in the Rogers script? If this is the case then why are these two guys being hailed with all of the credit for writing this movie when it was someone else altogether who got it all started. Seems like they just came in and tweaked it a little and thats given them multi-script deals on major upcoming movies. Can anyone clear this up for me because I could be all wrong about this.

I believe John Rogers was the one who had the template for the story first before Michael Bay got on board, if I remember correctly it wasn't until when Bay got Rob and Alex on board is when the script got re-written.

From what I remember Rob and Alex did a re-write after Bay was selected to direct. So yeah, I think Rogers is the one who was onboard from the conception of this movie before Bay jumped aboard.

Yeah and this kind of in line with the current Bay post where he states that the wrong people get credit for creativity. I just can't see what Orci and Kurtzman contributed to the story other that renaming the Energon Cube and a couple of the transformers. I know they probably tweaked the dialogue to make it more contemporary and edgey in places but I think any writers could have done that. I really think the concept of the whole story and its action should not be credited to them whatsoever if they didnt have anything to do with it. It would be like a gifted architect designing an amazing skyscraper and then Donald Trump comes in and markets the building as his own design. I guess I have a problem with this being a story writer myself.

Think of it this way:

Tom DeSanto came up with the plot.

John Rogers wrote the story.

Rob and Alex wrote the vulgar jokes, dumbass Good Burger sub-plot, and pop-culture references.

Shia LaBeouf swaggered around like someone twice his age.

Megan Fox showed 99% of her boobs, 98% of her legs, and 500% of her sweat. Sadly 0% of her panties.

Kieth David scared the crap out of you as Barricade.

and Peter Cullen pleased cheering crowds across the world.

Lord_Megatron wrote:I guess I have a problem with this being a story writer myself.

Don't. I was reading John Roger's blog back in the day when he was writing the script.

The last entry of his that I read he talked about how he was officially finished with the entire movie process and moving on to his next job. He said it was Hollywood, and he was just another step in the process, and it was very normal.

You're not a writer in Hollywood. You're a screenwriter.

sorry double post

In Hollywood, the people who do the least work, get the most credit, and top billing.