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[Va'al]

Thanks to articles on the CBC Canada and Detroit Free Press websites, we have some more location news about the filming for Transformers 4. Two historic Boblo boats, S.S. Columbia and S.S. Ste. Clair, have been brought in to be used as settings for the film, and shooting will begin in Detroit next week, parts of which have been turned into a Hong Kong-style city, supposed to be featured in the third act of the movie. Check out the full articles by clicking on the titles below, from which some extracts and a fairly long video of one of the boats have been posted!

Boblo boats article

Two Boblo boats have landed a role in Transformers 4.

The S.S. Columbia and her sister the S.S. Ste. Clair, both docked in River Rouge, are being used as props.

The Columbia ferried people to the island amusement park from 1902 to 1991. The Ste. Clair did so from 1910 to 1991.

Filming of the movie began across Metro Detroit earlier this year.

The Columbia's ship keeper, Sam Buchanan, said the St. Clair has "a prominent role" in the movie while the Columbia's appearance is "minor."

"When the movie folks are in town, they’re always looking for unique place to shoot so these boats came into play," Buchanan said. "They’re moving right along. They’ve been shooting primarily at night. I don’t know how much more is going to be going on there but they’re not nearly finished."

Detroit full article

“Next week, we begin in Detroit on the big set we’ve built underneath the monorail,” says “Transformers 4” producer Ian Bryce, referring to the Asian-style structures that have been constructed next to Grand Circus Park — near the People Mover.

Detroit will be portraying Hong Kong for the shoot, which is expected to run through the second week of August.

Work continued Thursday on the large outdoor set, which stretches from Washington Boulevard to Bagley. Signs and decorations have been installed on some storefronts to create the look of Hong Kong streets. According to Bryce, the sequences being done there are for the climactic third act of the film.

[Doc bot]

As a Michigander, seeing the Boblo boats all rusted up like that makes me sad.

[SlyTF1]

Do they transform?

[Va'al]

Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly, we have a first look at some trademark Michael Bay action during the filming in Detroit: explosions! Take a look at two amateur videos from the sets, and read the full article here.

“He [Michael Bay] knows every single piece of everything and you just kind of watch him in awe at how he kind of has it all in his head and brings it all to life,” says Wahlberg. “He runs this huge, huge production like an orchestra. It’s insane. It’s so incredible to watch.”

[njb902]

Thanks Va'al.

[Va'al]

Thanks Va'al.

No problem, you've been credited.