Welcome Mr. Roberto Orci, you may ask him questions

Discussion in 'Transformers Movie Discussion' started by Tr4nce, Jun 18, 2008.

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  1. RHansen

    RHansen Veteran

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    don't freak out, he doesn't want to confirm characters nor deny them.
     
  2. AutobotMarine

    AutobotMarine Banned

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    Hey Mr. Orci, you forgot to answer my questions. :) 
     
  3. Nevermore

    Nevermore It's self-perpetuating a parahumanoidarianised!

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    Oh hey, Bob.

    Got some more questions about the development of movie 1:


    1) Could you confirm the following working names for characters from leaked scripts?

    a) Blackout was at one point supposed to be named "Grimlock".

    b) He was also at one point supposed to be named "Vortex".

    c) Frenzy and Barricade were at one point conceived as one and the same character, named "Soundwave", who infiltrates the CIA headquarters (instead or Air Force One) as a portable stereo, then turns into a Humvee and attacks Sam.



    2) Also, in what order did those name/identity changes occur?

    a) Blackout - working names "Soundwave", "Vortex", "Grimlock", "Incinerator", "Devastator", "Blackout"

    b) Barricade - "Soundwave" (not distinct from would-be-Frenzy yet), "Brawl", "Barricade"

    c) Frenzy - "Soundwave" (at one point the same character as would-be-Barricade), "Boombot", "Soundbyte"
     
  4. Hiro Prime

    Hiro Prime Cybertronian Guru Veteran

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    I'd like to add a question if I may.

    What did you think about the Movie toys the first time you saw them? I mean it's one thing to create a character for the big screen, but it's got to feel weird to hold one in your hands. And if I can add to that question, do you have a favorite toy from the movie line?
     
  5. RHansen

    RHansen Veteran

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    Just a casual question, how you been doing man? Everyone is asking and whining about movie questions, I want to ask how your day was.
     
  6. luca_frontino

    luca_frontino Well-Known Member

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    1. Why did you make alien robots acting like humans and like Gremlins (Frenzy)? Wouldn't they be more realistic if they were non-speaking and without personalities?
    2. Why all those ugly faces, with horrible mouths?
    3. Why the use of a comedy tone for the major part of the film? It makes it look like it doesn't take itself serious at all.
    4. Why Megatron acts like a stupid old movie bad guy? Couldn't you made him smarter and working behind the curtains, like Hades from Saint Seiya?
     
  7. Nevermore

    Nevermore It's self-perpetuating a parahumanoidarianised!

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    The studio actually wanted that. Hasbro vetoed it. Guess why.

    It's called "Transformers", not "generic alien robots".
     
  8. Fit For natalie

    Fit For natalie tfwiki nerd

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    I don't know if you ever noticed, but the film was Transformers, and these alien robots known as Transformers (or Cybertronians) have always had human-like personalities. That's the whole point.

    Saint what?
     
  9. Rayzilla Prime

    Rayzilla Prime I RIP ALL MY RAZE!

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    Saint this I believe -



    Hey, Bob - I assume you've seen any new designs? If so, are any of the designers basing ideas on some features (weapons, abilities, colors, etc.) from some of the TV show characters?
     
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  10. Bob Orci

    Bob Orci Well-Known Member

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    1.) Yes. In our first draft, before we even brought Bay on board, he was named Vortex. Don't remember him going through many other names.

    2.) don't recall Frenzy turning into a humvee in any of our drafts.
     
  11. Bob Orci

    Bob Orci Well-Known Member

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    It was really strange. Particularly liked the Bumblebee MP3 player.
     
  12. Bob Orci

    Bob Orci Well-Known Member

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    Thanks... not bad... kind of a slow week in hollywood since everyone is out on vacation.
     
  13. Bob Orci

    Bob Orci Well-Known Member

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    1.) Yes, it would perhaps be more realistic to have non-speaking automatons, however the source material prescribed sentient alien robots with personalities.

    2.) I'm sure we look ugly to them.

    3.) We were emulating the style of movie from the old Amblin days, like Back to the Future and Gremlins, which if you watch today are still very funny. Also, the cartoon itself was quite funny. Also, comedy makes things more accessible to a larger audience.

    4.) We portrayed Megatron as a monster because we didn't want there to be a whole lot to scheme about behind the scenes. Also, he was frozen through most of it, so he didn't exactly have a whole lot of time to scheme.
     
  14. AutobotMarine

    AutobotMarine Banned

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    DAMNIT! Why aren't my questions being answered?
     
  15. MGX

    MGX Well-Known Member

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    Longtime, no write...welcome back...

    I have some questions...

    How do the TF's refuel? With no Cybertron or no ships...Is energon (power or fuel) even an issue for the moviebots?

    Speaking of spaceships, will the Autobots have a "base" to hang out in or are they content to stay parked outside in vehicle mode through rain and snow? In the first movie I noticed that Optimus seemed to stretch when transforming into his robot mode when he introduced himself to Sam and Mikaela. Do they get "bored" of staying in alt mode when they don't have to? Do the moviebots have a culture that includes buildings or secret bases?
     
  16. MGX

    MGX Well-Known Member

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    Got another question...

    Since Jazz is dead, who's the NEW second-in-command for the Autobot forces? Presumably, it would be Ironhide...
     
  17. Nevermore

    Nevermore It's self-perpetuating a parahumanoidarianised!

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    Hmm. "Devastator" and "Incinerator" come from here. It's possible those working names were only used at the design stage. Dunno.

    Hmm. I got this alleged script on my hard drive, which I'd like to point out was forwarded to me AFTER the movie had come out, so it's possible that it's a hoax made by someone. But I don't see why someone would go through the effort to fake an early draft of an already existing movie.

    Here's some specifics from the script:

    - According to the details attached to the document, it was originally leaked to the internet in October 2005 and got three comments at the time it was saved as a Microsoft Word document. (according to the file info, I received it on October 10, 2007)

    - It still starts with Captain Witwicky's discovery of Megatron (the scene that was shown as a flashback at a later point in the final movie - the comic adaption still has it as the opening scene).

    - The base is already located in Qatar, but named "Centcom". Lennox has his final name, Figueroa's first name is "Tom". They travel in an 18-wheeler. Epps and Donnelly (final names) are riding in a Humvee.

    - Mahfouz has his final name.

    - The helicopter Decepticon is named "Grimlock". He launches Scorponok (spelled "Skorponok").

    - A shrapnel hits Figueroa and wounds him badly.

    - Sam's home city is identified as "Tranquility, Nevada", like in the IDW Prequel comics.

    - Sam's teacher is named "Mr. Murdock".

    - Bumblebee also has Moustache Man as his holo-driver (like in the Movie Storybook by HarperEntertainment).

    - Maggie's last name is "Marconi", like in the Movie Storybook.

    - Maggie's first scene has her in in a taxi cab on her way to the "Heritage Foundation", a think tank led by a "Dr. Turner". She is too late and calls Glen to hack into the traffic system and give her green lights. From the Heritage Foundation, a helicopter takes her to the Pentagon.

    - Miles' last name is "McCullough". He complains about Bumblebee being yellow (like in the IDW comic adaption). Sam has a deli platter with him, Miles points out the party at the lake is a barbecue.

    - The Cars' "Who's Gonna Drive You Home" is specifically asked for in the script.

    - Instead of Marvin Gaye's "Secual Healing", the script asks for Barry White's "I'm Ready For Love."

    - Mikaela notices an "aluminum stoker block engine" like "what they use in race cars" under Bumblebee's hood.

    - Instead of "Baby Come Back", the script asks for Aerosmith's version of "Baby Please Don't Go."

    - When Sam returns Mikaela home, the door is locked, so she uses a paper clip to pick the lock.

    - Mahfouz' father is named "Akram". He gives the soldiers an old truck in return for bringing his son back.

    - Soundwave infiltrates the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia in the form of a portable stereo. He kills NOBODY, exits unnoticed after Maggie has causes the sever hardlines to be cut, scans a Humvee and transforms into a replica of it.

    - Soundwave detects Bumblebee as he sends out the signal to the other Autobots.

    - Maggie takes a subway to Glen's place rather than a taxi.

    - Scorponok is taken out by a mere grenade, which dissolves him on a molecular level. There's no air strike at all. Lennox and his crew don't establish contact with the Pentagon yet.

    - Sam specifically runs into Mikaela outside "Burger King" as he's speeding away from Bumblebee.

    - The scene with Maggie and Glen analyzing the signal is much longer. Glen claims that only "R2-D2" could hack the Pentagon the way Soundwave did, and Maggie links it to a weird signal relayed by the Voyager probe as it left the Solar System.

    - Soundwave/Humvee tracks down Bumblebee and identifies Sam as his owner. He attacks Sam, but Bumblebee interferes. As he escapes with Sam and Mikaela, Soundwave uses a flamethrower on them. Bumblebee responds by using a grappling hook to hurl Soundwave around.

    - As Soundwave and Bumblebee fight, they trash the construction site of a house.

    - Bumblebee finally takes out Soundwave with a street lamp and impales him in a construction pit. Soundwave oozes "green liquid gel" from his chest.

    - The line about "a super robot, probably Japanese" is followed up on by Sam remarking that his dad would never let him "buy foreign".

    - Sam hastiliy tries to introduce himself to Bumblebee.

    - Bumblebee responds with Elton John's "Your Song".

    - Lennox and his crew are still in the desert by this point.

    - Sam and Mikaela directly witness Optimus Prime scan the truck and transform into a replica, like in the IDW comic adaption.

    - Ratchet is simply identified as an "ambulance", Jazz is simply an "exotic car".

    - Arcee is still in in the script. A boy witnesses her land in his parents' pool and then turn into a motorcycle. She has a leather-clad holo-driver.

    - The script specifically asks for Optimus Prime to scan "Google".

    - Sam's ancestor is named "Archibald Amundsen Witwicky", his ship is named the "Discovery".

    - Optimus Prime identifies himself as a descendant of "Primus, Lord of Light".

    - ´Jazz's first line is "Hail, Adolescent Bi-Peds".

    - Arcee was "forged in the Tri-Peninsular Torus states of Praxus."

    - Ratchet scans Sam and Mikaela. The script specifically asks for them to be revealed in their underwear. Afterwards, he comments on Mikaela being in the "fifth state of puberty", and Sam only in the fourth.

    - Bumblebee lost his voice in the "Heavy Metal Wars at Vector Sigma".

    - The Allspark is still called the "Energon Cube".

    - Lennox and his crew are STILL in Qatar at this point. They finally make contact with the Pentagon from an internet cafe.

    - Sam left his glasses at school, so the Autobots take him there.

    - After Keller asks Maggie and Glen for help, Glen does some computer magic and annoys everyone with music downloaded via "LimeWire".

    - In order to allow Sam and Mikaela to break into their school, they Autobots distract a security guard by racing around on a football field.

    - At the same time, Simmons and his Sector Seven crew arrive at the Witwickys' house.

    - Mikaela picks another lock at school using a paper clip. It's then that Sam learns about her past.

    - Arcee distracts the security guard again with a hologram of herself.

    - The Sector Seven guys arrests Sam and Mikaela as they want to leave their school.

    - Lennox and his crew are FINALLY picked up in Qatar by a military helicopter by this point.

    - Trent (Mikaela's boyfriend) stumbles across the impaled Soundwave just as he comes back to life.

    - The Decepticons arrive on Earth at this point. They scan a Jeep, a "Piranha 3" mortar artillery vehicle and a mobile missile launcher at the Fort McKinley War Museum. Their names are given as "Brawl", "Frenzy" and "Onslaught". Other Decepticons are "Octane" (turns into a tanker truck), and three jets: Blitzwing, Starscream and Devastator (cargo plane, 747 jet and F-16 fighter; script doesn't say which is which).

    - The script is unfinished (allegedly "50% finished") and ends just as Mikaela cuffs up Simmons.

    Does any of this sound familiar?
     
  18. Laser_Optimus

    Laser_Optimus Currently no longer giving a shit about the MCU. TFW2005 Supporter

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    I have a copy of this script and the friend whom sent it to me stated that it was before Robert and Alex were brought onboard as writers for the first movie and possibly while the movie was still in the initial post production phase. Not sure how true that is, but that's what I remember being told about the script. Perhaps Mr. Orci could enlighten us to the reality of this?
     
  19. Poho

    Poho That's MISTER Poho to you

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    hmmm...if they kept this idea for number two, that could explain the multiple motorcycles/riders that were spotted/photographed!
     
  20. Bob Orci

    Bob Orci Well-Known Member

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    Tell me what's in the script and I'll tell you which draft it is. How does it start?
     
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