Transformers Movie Related News on Seibertron.com

Roberto Orci setting the record straight

Date: Saturday, October 15th 2005 6:21am CDT
Category: Movie Related News
Posted by: Raymond T. | Credit(s): www.donmurphy.net

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Views: 32,537

Roberto Orci, one half of the current writing team for the Transformers Live Action movie to be released July 4th 2007, has had a few things to say on the official board of Don Murphy. The following are direct quotes from the posts made by Roberto Orci.

"Hey Everyone,

We're still having a great time and learning a lot reading everything on this message board. Let us answer a couple of things:

1.) In regards to our interview discussing Transformers as a toy line, you should know we made that statement surrounded by cynical reporters. We meant that it would be easy for a screenwriter to come in and think, "I don't have to do a hell of a lot because it's just a toy line, and I can just make a giant commercial, with giant robots fighting, instead of having to come up with a good story." We were merely expressing our intention not to fall into the trap of thinking we could be lazy just because the toy line is so successful.

Alex and I were both fans when we were kids, we both saw the movie back in the day, although I'll admit the toys my parents gave me were GOBOTS and VOLTRON!

2.) On mass shifting: No matter where you fall in this debate, you should at least take heart in the fact that we have all been debating the issue as diligently and seriously as the supreme court weighing constitutional law. No matter how it turns out in the end, both sides will hopefully see that the decision was not taken lightly, and that our choices were not arbitrary and were made in service of a cool story. We are still reviewing arguments on both sides, and we may even have a solution that satisfies both sides. You will be the ultimate judges.

3.) We've chatted with Don about the voice casting, and you can rest assured we're still writing it with the original voices in mind.

4.) We were surprised by the reaction against Arcee. I myself never had a bias against her, figuring if the Autobots are all male, it would be logical that there would have to be a female. However, given the strong reactions we've read, the matter is again under "judicial review".

Thanks again for all the input. Don't worry about insulting us. We know it's all in the service of the finished product."

"In all of the genre work that Alex and I have done, we have tried to learn how to do humor that comes organically from the situation -- humor that is not merely for humor's sake, but that comes from being true to the characters.

The short answer is yes, but the humor, hopefully, will not "jump the shark" as they say".

Screenwriters Care?

Date: Monday, October 10th 2005 3:18pm CDT
Categories: Movie Related News, Rumors
Posted by: Raymond T. | Credit(s): www.donmurphy.net

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Views: 37,156

Over at the Don Murphy Board a poster named fflashfusion has claimed to be Roberto Orci, one of the current script writers to the upcoming Transformers Live Action movie. He posted the following post;

Roberto Orci here, in probably Alex and my one and only post, to tell you that we do care what the fans think, and we have been paying attention. We appreciate all the input, and if we are lucky enough to have our script cut the mustard and get this movie made, it will have been with your help.

May all of our mojo go to whatever is best for the Transformers.

Chances are that this is another hoax, but you can never know. It wouldn't hurt to express your personal views here, as Don Murphy and his men do indeed read all the posts on the board.

Update:
Don Murphy himself has confirmed that the poster claiming to be the writers duo, was a fraud. He closed the thread and posted the following;

This poster (who somehow joined under Robert's email address) was NOT Robert.

This poster is gone and the thread locked.

Robert has been invited along with Alex to come say hi, and he just might. He still has a script to finish, but hopefully they will pop by.

In the meantime, hang tight.

Kurtzman and Orci Interviewed again.

Date: Wednesday, August 17th 2005 9:54am CDT
Categories: Movie Related News, People News, Digital Media News
Posted by: Raymond T. | Credit(s): www.the-trades.com

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Views: 40,836

The writing duo of Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci have been spotlighted once again on the net. The Trades sat down with the script writers of the the upcoming Dreamworks produced Transformers movie

The article talks mostly about them breaking through in Hollywood with their writing skills. But mention of the Transformers movie is not left behind.

"It’s a live action and super special effects heavy, but the robots have to be characters, and they have to interact believably with humans. It takes out of the box thinking"

"A lot of the requirements of film storytelling are very different from the requirements of comic book storytelling. If you look at movies like X-Men, they find an amazing way to balance and vary the two worlds. That’s totally what we’re going for"

The duo is planning on adapting the story for Transformers into a workable script. But as was reported previously, they are currently working on the script for Mission: Impossible III.

BUMBLEBEE name secured at last?

Date: Tuesday, August 9th 2005 10:47am CDT
Categories: Cartoon News, Movie Related News, Toy News, Rumors
Posted by: Seibertron | Credit(s): Prime Nova

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Views: 72,694

According to Prime Nova, one of our fellow Seibertronians, "Hasbro has finally secured the rights to the name Bumblebee!

"Minicon Sparkplug will be released under that name in the first or second wave of Minicon Battle Packs to secure the name on store shelves. Hasbro is also looking into releasing the G1 toy somewhere. I'm told there are also designs for TWO new Bumblebee toys as well. One for the Alternators and a second for the tail end of Cybertron.

"I think they're serious about keeping the name this time. :)"

Thanks for the information Prime Nova! Keep the rumors coming!!!

---

EDIT BY SEIBERTRON:

Thanks to Nevermore, we've found out that there's some additional information regarding whether or not "BUMBLEBEE" is an official name. Apparently this has been part of some long standing debates at the other TF sites.

Some information from the United States Patent and Trademark Office:
http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=76634431

A thread has been started at Transfandom.com by Aerosurge regarding this back on July 20th, 2005: http://forums.transfandom.com/invboard/index.php?showtopic=30197 and a thread was started by Nevermore at TFArchive.com back on April 7th, 2005: http://www.tfarchive.com/community/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29877.

The reason this is in the Sludge Report and not in the News section is because it's a rumor - plain and simple. Please keep that in mind when reading this page. When Hasbro or the Government says "no dice" on this name or someone says the name can apply to our favorite yellow Autobot, then it's news. Until then, it's a rumor which has been posted purely for entertainment purposes. Please remember that a rumor is a piece of unverified information to which we make no claim to the validity of this information. Is this information about the "Bumblebee" name fact or fiction? We provide this entertaining rumor so that YOU can decide ...

Since the writers have included Bumblebee in the story for the 2007 Transformers movie from Dreamworks, I don't doubt for a moment that Hasbro and/or Dreamworks are actively trying to secure this name especially if Volkswagen happens to come around and decide that they'd like the Beetle (new or old) featured in the movie. If they want the name "bumblebee" badly enough, Hasbro and Dreamworks might just get it. Just about anything's possible when money is involved.

Keep your fingers crossed ... we might just yet have a BUMBLEBEE once again just around the corner.

Movie News: Original G1 Voice Actors Unlikley for New Movie

Date: Monday, July 25th 2005 8:50am CDT
Categories: Cartoon News, Movie Related News
Posted by: Alex Kingdom | Credit(s): TFW2005

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Views: 39,501

Lorenzo di Bonaventura, a producer on the forthcoming Transformers Live Action Movie has has told The Movie Reporter it is unlikley original voice actors from the G1 cartoon series will reprise thier roles in the new movie:

No, I don't believe that is going to happen, I don't know why you would want the original voice over actors. Here you go, this is going to be the process, we are going to meet a lot of people for the voice over's and those guy's might end up being it but making the assumption going in [that the original actors will be used] is I think kind of silly actually. I think people want the best actors to do it. The best Optimus Prime and the best you know, all these characters, you know you want , hmm, I understand I grew up with them too, so you want to be true to characters. I think what's important is being true to them. I don't think being true to them means in literally using the same voice over actors. Some of those guys are TV cartoon guy's. I want get better characters if we can. Some of them might be able to do that and some may not, I am sure that they will get the opportunity.

See the entire interview here at IESB.net

Some small information about movie sketches ...

Date: Wednesday, July 20th 2005 10:41am CDT
Categories: Movie Related News, Rumors
Posted by: Seibertron | Credit(s): Hayden

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Views: 35,386

I'm not sure that we really gain much from this message from one of this site's long time visitors, Hayden, but it makes for a very interesting read nonetheless. I wasn't sure where to place this info so I decided to put it in the Rumors section for now.

Hi there. I am a long time reader, but first time poster to this site.

I have a bit of interesting news from inside the halls of Dreamworks. My friend works there and actually got his hands on the first set of sketch books for both the Autobots and Decepticons. He said there were DVDs with the books too but he wasn't able to see those. He made the comment that the first sketches look a bit different than the original look from G1. He made the comment that they look much more moderized, and have a terminator style look. Again he pointed out the sketches were the first ones and only concepts.

He also did mention though that while he heard the original script only called for about 4 Autobots (Prime, Bumble, Jazz, Ratchet) there was a "pink" colored autobot character that he forgot the name of in the sketches that looked "chick" like. However he also said that ALL the robots would be non gender specific anyway. So Im not sure what that all means.

Anyway, [my friend] is a good guy and I trust what he says. Much of this info is probably not a big deal, but I just thought it was interesting that he said the first set of sketches were done [and] on their way over to the execs very soon!

Hope you find the info as interesting as I did!

Thanks for sharing this information with us Hayden and thanks for continuing to be a visitor of SEIBERTRON.com!

SDCC Optimus Primes Number Plate is Stolen!

Date: Thursday, July 14th 2005 11:01pm CDT
Categories: Movie Related News, Event News
Posted by: Alex Kingdom | Credit(s): Atomsk, SKowl

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Views: 36,022

Its not all good news at the San Diego Comic Con, it appears that some unscrupulous fellow has swiped the number plate reading 'PRIME-1' from the large red transport truck OPTIMUS PRIME parked on the conventions floor to promote the forthcoming movie! A reward is being offered for it safe return by the movie makers Dreamworks.
Read the messageboad post posted by Admin member Prime here and the new story here at the official Movie and Comic Con Website TransformersLive.com

New Transformers Movie forum @ The Energon Pub

Date: Wednesday, July 13th 2005 11:24pm CDT
Categories: Site News, Movie Related News
Posted by: Seibertron

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Views: 24,558

Hey everyone! I added a new forum to the popular Energon Pub message board tonight. Due to all of the excitement surrounding the upcoming movie and with Dreamworks doing some fun promotional stuff regarding the movie, I thought now was as good a time as any to launch the all new Transformers The Movie (from Dreamworks) Forum forum at the Energon Pub. If you want to talk about the Movie, who should voice your favorite characters, talk about the movies that the TF Movie staff has already worked on, or anything else related to the Dreamworks Transformers movie, visit the all-new Transformers The Movie (from Dreamworks) Forum today!

SHOCKWAVE to be in Dreamworks' Transformers The Movie?

Date: Wednesday, July 13th 2005 5:50pm CDT
Categories: Movie Related News, Rumors
Posted by: Seibertron | Credit(s): ComingSoon.net

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Views: 35,929

Amidst all of the other Transformers news that occured today, I wanted to make sure that the first reference of SHOCKWAVE being in the movie wasn't overlooked. Ol' one eyes certainly deserves his time in the spotlight. This might actually make sense why we've seen a couple other Shockwaves (Shockblast, Laserwave - whatever name you want to use) appear as toys in the past year.

Here's the specific quote from

You can read the full article ComingSoon.net.

Today's "most uncomfortable" quote of the day:

"The first question you have to ask yourself is what's the movie? We sat down with Steven Spielberg, and we said that the action scenes in this movie are a given, but he said that that it's the story of a boy and his car and that he wants to bring back the old Amblin movies. It's 'Back to the Future'…great! We're in! It's a real challenge, because the key to making those movies work--and I totally think it's why 'War of the Worlds' works so well--is to be so invested in the people and to maintain the subjectivity of the humans. If you start 'Transformers' with giant robots sitting in a spaceship flying through space, your movie is dead in the water. It's all about keeping it at a human level, and seeing the amazing things that are going on through the eyes of the characters."

Hopefully this will be clarified so we all don't freak out for the next 2 years. I'm sure the movie is in good hands.

Other related links:

JoBlo.com Movie News: Transformers/MI:3 news

Hasbro's Transformers Comic Con Q&A

Date: Wednesday, July 13th 2005 5:30pm CDT
Categories: Movie Related News, Event News
Posted by: Seibertron | Credit(s): Hasbro

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Views: 26,368

Transformers.com released a Q&A regarding the massive Transformers presence at this weekend's San Diego Comic Con in California. Their Q&A answers a lot of questions from what they'll be showing at Comic Con (including new Alternators), whether or not the new Transformers will be for sale at the Comic Con, what's up with the Dreamworks movie and finally an official date for the Burger King Transformers promotion which begins August 8th. Check out the full Q&A here at transformers.com.