Ian Bryce has given yet another update on DonMurphy.net, giving a few more details on the production's locations and schedule:

DM.net member Relentless asked:

Thankfully Ian responded:

See the updates here: http://www.d13satellite.com/donmurphy/showthread.php?s=&postid=457585#post457585

 

All good things so far, I''m interested about the mouth myself, they didn't bother me all that much in Galaxy Force, but then that's a cartoon... Bring the location to NY!! I want to be an extra in the film!!

 

I like how they name U.S. cities and Canada as a location. That's a pretty big location to choose from

 

I don't see the big deal with mouths. Beast Wars did an excellent job animating the mouths to match the voices, as have many CGI movies since then.

 

Yeah I agree...the mouth movement in
Beast Wars was pretty outstanding for a TV show.

 

Why is everyone so against the manifold cover? That's what made Optimus Prime....to not have that is...just...so wrong. I hate seeing Optimus Prime with a mouth, I like the fact that he has a cover and only his eyes do all the emoting. It makes him that much more of an interesting character.

 

I dont think thats an issue. The statement was that OP was going to be the easiest as he does not have a mouth to animate.

 

It'd almost be like Batman without the ears. It's silly when you think about it, but just seems wrong without them.

 

I think the concern about facial animations is more about having a metal face bending and warping like organic skin. Perhaps some people want to have a more rigid structure kind of like the robot that was in Judge Dredd (kind of had a puppet like mouth).

 

yeah

this is going to be a "realistic" approach to the machines and seeing their faces and mouths moving as if organic will seem awkward. I would think they want the mechanics to look as though they would exist and function in a realistic world. Itll be interesting to see what they do though.

 

hey i'm just hoping some of that Filming does take place in Michigan, i'll swing by the set and watch.

 

I like it too.

 

You and me both!

 

If they have wheeljack as a character he should be easy to animate..(blinking earlights)

 

"Casting will continue into shooting depending on the actor's scheules..."

Roll on the big name celebrity cast.

 

I don't see what the problem is in animating a face on a highly advanced technological creature from another planet, even if that creature is made of metal. I've never bought the idea that the Transformers are metal in the sense that we think of metal on our world. In my mind, the Transformers are/would be likely composed of nanotechnologies that form various structures and perform various functions similar to the cells of organic life. It is reasonable to presume that what looks like metal and reacts much like metal can also have the properties of a fluid.

This idea might also explain how these technologically advanced machines heal themselves and do not seem to suffer from the dents and scrapes that our earth-based metals so easily get. I mean, a shopping cart is all it takes to put a serious dent into the side of my car. I'm supposed to believe that an autobot can take impacts thousands of times greater and still have sheetmetal left to form the vehicle mode?

 

T1000, anyone?

 

i dont know why they would want to shoot in massachusetts but anywhere near me peeks my interest. and id sooooooooo show up to be an extra.

 

Prime without the mouthpiece just looks funny to me, but whatever. I guess it's easy to get over since he's been missing it in certain shows.

 

I won't repost the image, but you can see it here: http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showthread.php?p=1324117#post1324117

I'd like to see thin plating shifting on the faces. I think it would be more realistic looking than liquid metal.