sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:Bumblevivisector wrote:Yeah, Dirge tackling Optimus actually did get animated; I remember seeing that at Botcon 2000 amidst all those extra storyboard sequences, shortened versions of which ended up on the Rhino DVD.
can you prove that?
I dont mean to sound rude, but in the 20+ years, I've seen plenty of claims of animated scenes such as the one you pointed out, but no one can ever provide any proof.
I'd be skeptical too, but since cell phone video functions weren't as common then and I still couldn't find it on YouTube just now, the closest thing to proof would be if anyone else around here remembers attending that same presentation. I know it was 2000 in Fort Wayne, since that's the only Botcon I was fortunate enough to attend. I concur with Clouudraker_Fastlane that it was right in the middle of that Op/Meg exchange; he showed more than just the few seconds of Dirge, and it seemed seamless. I'm guessing the guy with that binder with the storyboards has it, since they were in the same presentation, but I don't remember his name. Hopefully he can legally release it someday.
Incidentally, the full TFTM screening at the nearby theater that year had another few seconds of footage possibly never seen on home video: a bit of Blaster's radio mode synching up with other equipment before sending his distress message to Optimus. Everyone in the theater went bonkers, leaving us even more pissed off at an incredibly sloppy jump-edit that left a few seconds out of the Cassette-fight-to-"City-Under-Siege" transition a minute later.
sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:Bumblevivisector wrote:I think Windcharger getting torn up by Cyclonus's armada in mid air first came to light when that early draft of the script was released through the Disciples of Boltax blog,
are you sure you mean Windcharger, because he was intended to die earlier in the film.
but I'm not sure about the other stuff you mentioned in between, except that Wheeljack, Blaster and some other '84-'85 'bots stayed behind outside the ruins of the Autobot city after Galvatron's forces melted it down in that same draft.
again, those shots took place durring Megatrons attack , not Galvatrons
I'm not sure what "shot" you're referring to for Wheeljack and Blaster; the scene I'm talking about was the oddest duck in that whole draft, with no analog in the actual movie, occurring just after both shuttles are shot down in space. (I'll quote it below for clarity) Yes, Windcharger and Wheeljack both died during Megatron's attack in the finished film. I keep referring to stuff in that early script that likely got nixed long before the first storyboards, since that's what bionic_radical was referring to when he said Windcharger was thrown in the air and dissected. You know, the draft with all manner of "life-sparks" but no Matrix, the pre-Predacon Anibots who form Dragon Beast, and Unicron consistently called "Ingestor" while sucking energy out of Earth through a "straw of cold light" touching down on Autobot City.
Is that 1985 draft still available anywhere? Shame if it's not, but I found my copy, and here's a cut and paste (with a few inexplicable errors on the part of my computer that I'll leave unedited) of the part where Windcharger and Gears die next to Blaster, during the Galvatron assault which was so different as to be apocalyptic, with Autobot City being melted down:
Pages 64 and 65:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANOTHER ANGLE - GEARS
as Cyclonus swoops past and BOMBS GEARS TO PIECES, the force of
the blast THROWS tiITNDCHARGER UP and away from cover
BLAS~R
Gears ! Oh, man ..•.
(looks up)
HIS P.O.V. - WINDCHARGER
as several of Cyclonus' planes JET THROUGH HIM, ~RING HIM TO
PIECES which rain down on Blaster's position
BLAS~R
as arm, ~eg , torso of Windcharger rain down
BLASTER
I think the time has come to
hide my pride and •..•.. run!
Blaster RUNS followed by Mirage and other in Autobot party as
they dodge behind rubble and duck as WALL OF CITY COMES FALLING
in the way of their pursuers and we
CUT TO
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And here's the scene outside Autobot City's ruins later on. It's an odd dead end, as this script never does get back to Earth, which along with several hand-corrections makes me think this was at least a second draft:
Pages 91-93:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A ROADS IDE IN THE HOUNTAINS OF EARTH - NIGHT
in the distance we see the fiery glow of burning remains of Autobot
City and the COLD RAY "FEEDING STRAW" extending down from somewhere
in space. A beat and we CHANGE ANGLE TO SHOW APPROACH OF SCOURGE
AND SliEEPS in vehicular mode. Scourge is in mid-transform position,
his head sticking up from his vehicle, leading the ominous procession
which is accompanied by a BLEEPING, SCANNING NOISE as A SliEEP
ANTENNA TURNS AND BEAMS SONIC WAVES HERE AND THERE, COVERING THE
AREA. SOl~ OF BLEEPS BECOMES FASTER AND HIGHER PITCHED
ON SCOURGE
SCOURGE
Life forms sensed! Eliminate
at once!
ANOTHER ANGLE -ON SWEEPS VEHICLES
as theY suddenly RUN UP OVER SIDE OF ROAD AND TURN, OPENING FIRE
in FLAMETHROWER LIKE BLAST at LINE OF TREES AND OLD STONE FARM
BUILDING IN THE SHADOWS. BUILDING EXPLODES AND TREES BURN AND
CRACKLE as section of wall FALLS TOW'ARD CAMERA AND WE CLOSE IN ON
OLD "SKELETON" OF DECEPTICON
which is now a flaming HULK as it FALLS FORWARD AND CLUNKS APART
in a HISSING PUDDLE OF WATER, STEAM AND DEBRIS RISING as the
head SEPARATES AND AN EYE ROLLS OUT and across dirt to
SCOURGE'S HAND
where Scourge, now in humanoid mode, scoops it up and looks at
it. The Eye BLINKS back at him.
SCOURGE
One of our Troopers. He must have
been terminated yesterday.
(tosses the eye to
a Sweep)
Take it back to the spare parts
bank. A functioning unit may
have need of it!
(shouts)
Sweeps, Transform!
Scourge TRANSFORMS followed by Sweeps vehicles and they ROLL OFF.
HOLD ON ROADSIDE A BEAT then CHANGE ANGLE as Blaster pops up from
hiding accompanied by other Autobots including Sunstreaker.
92
BLASTER
Those ugly suckers '11 be back!
We got to keep rollin' until we
can put together enough muscle
to boot their bustle! Yeah!
(turns, looks off,
reacts, drawing weapon)
They doubled back to attack!
Sunstreaker and other Autobot survivors crouch, ready for battle,
weapons drawn, as SOUND OF APPROACHING VEHICLE DRAWS CLOSER
THEIR P.O.V. - SHADOWY TREES ON OTHER SIDE OF FIELDS - NIGHT
as DARK VEHICLE HURTLES TOWARD CAMERA and then almost fills screen
BLASTER (V. O. )
Mess 'em up!
ANOTHER ANGLE - SHOWING MYSTERY VEHICLE TO BE WHEELJACK
as Wheeljack TRANSFORMS to humanoid mode
WHEELJACK
Bold it!
Blaster, Sunstreaker and other Autobots react happily, adlibbing,
"Wheeljack! ... He's still functioning .....Bey, Wheeljack~" etc.
BLASTER
Wheeljack! I figured you got
incinerated in the city! I sure am
glad to be respondin' to your
image on my optic readout circuitry!
Yeah!
WHEELJACK
(grimly)
You might not be so thrilled when
you hear what I've got to say....
(a beat to regain
his composure)
I've been tracking the shuttles .
Ultra Magnus and the Dinobots .
ever since they blasted off, and .
(lowers his head)
SUNSTREAKER
Well, go on! I hate suspense! Are
they all right?
(a beat, understands, hangs head)
93
BLASTER
(to Wheeljack)
You could be wrong, Jack!
WHEELJACK
(shakes his head)
The Decepticons used moleculon
devices. There's no mistaking the readouts ....
Adlib reactions of sadness and sorrow ... "Ultra Magnus .. everybody ...
lost!" etc.
BLASTER
(a beat, then with
resolve)
I don't believe in readouts -
I believe in hope! So, far as
I'm concerned, everybody that
counts is still operational
somewhere~ Now let's get·us gone
whilst the gone-in' is good!
(shouts)
Roll, you Autobots!
ANOTHER ANGLE
as Autobots shout adlib "Roll:" "You got it:" etc. and some TRANSFORM
and start moving out as a SHUDDER GOES THROUGH THE LANDSCAPE,
the FIELDS AND HILLS UNDu~TE and there is a HUGE , SUBMERGED
ROAR AND CRACKING SOUND and then, all is still.
SUNSTREAKER
(brea thlessly)
Wha,'/O .what was that?
WHEELJACK
The earth!s reaction to the
Decepticon energy drain .....
If depletion continues at its
present rate, this planet will
self-destruct within the next
forty eight hours.
On Blaster's reaction and reaction of others, the EARTH AGAIN
UNDULATES, SHUDDERS AND CRE..2\KES OMINOUSLY AS WE
CUT TO
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, at least it acknowledged many of the Autobots who survived both attacks on the city as not simply disappearing.
Someone please tell me at least one TF fan site still has the PDF of this script! It was huge news back in 2010, so I can't believe it's already faded from fandom's consciousness 2 and a half years later.