Orci Talks Script, Injury with MTV

Roberto Orci spoke with MTV the other day about Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen storyline and Shia's injury. As usual he remains silent on details. Thanks to VAWitch for the link.

“You want to make a different movie, not just a repeat,” Orci said. “It’s a different kind of film that the last one. It’s not a disaster [movie] paradigm.”

What he means is that “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” won’t have multiple storylines told from different points of view all converging in one place for the climax. Instead, expect a different kind of narrative with a different emotional centerpiece.

“We didn’t have to reshoot anything,” Orci said, “but we put [an injury] in there. We wanted to make sure that we put it in so he could be protected, because he’s running around a lot and bashing into things, and he needed something to hold it like a sling [after his hand surgery]. So we wrote it into the script to explain it away.”

“I think there’s an expectation that there will be a deeper mythology where the Transformers came from,” Kurtzman said. “The key is not to get so mired in the mythology that it can’t propel the movie forward. We just touched the tip of the iceberg.”

Orci Comments on Hand, Marketing

Roberto Orci recently commented briefly on Shia's hand and promotional push for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

Michael Bay said several weeks ago that Shia LaBeouf's hand would be incorporated into the movie's storyline and Orci has verified that it has been done. "Luckily nothing has to be reshot. Yes, we were on set last week to write it into the movie, not because it's absolutely necessary, but more because we want to make sure Shia's hand is protected for the remainder of the shoot..."

He also had commented that "Starting in November, you'll start seeing the MASSIVE [marketing] push..." for TF2. While Orci makes no mention whatsoever of trailer plans, a marketing push without a trailer just seems like a waste of time to me so I think this is just further verification that November is the launch month of the first teaser trailer.

Now that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been moved to a July 17th release (making it TF2 biggest competitor next year...again), it seems to be that leaves only two movies worth releasing the trailer with - Twilight (taking 11/21 spot vacated by Potter) and James Bond's Quantum of Solace (moved yesterday to 11/14).

Transformers 2 Trailer With Eagle Eye?

Roberto Orci, the great teaser that he is, posted on the Don Murphy message boards regarding when the trailer might come out. "Maybe -- or maybe in front of EAGLE EYE... who knows."

Eagle Eye (out September 26th) stars Shia LaBeouf so it’s a natural fit but at this point I think the studio is aiming for bigger game by attaching it either to Harry Potter or James Bond. I bet some people are kicking themselves for getting something out in time for The Dark Knight considering that movie is on track to become the second highest grossing movie of all time.

Thanks to the site readers for the heads-up.

Writers Reveal Transformers Theme; No Dinobots

MTV discussed Transformers 2 with script writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. Sadly the interview pretty much confirms what we all knew was probably the case - no Dinobots. "We couldn’t quite figure out how to justify a robot that would pretend to be a dinosaur" Orci said.

When asked about the return of Megatron, Orci responded "That would be silly" suggesting maybe the "Fallen" is not Megs as many believe. Of course this could just them having fun with providing a little misinformation and hiding plans that they plan on the "silly" return of Megatron.

They also revealed the theme of the sequel. Where the first is about a boy and his car, the second according to Orci is "It’s about being away from home. It’s a few years later and Sam is going to finally go to college and he’s going to face being away from home just as the Autobots are having to deal with being away from Cybertron."

"Oh, and what about that title? Why “Revenge of the Fallen”? Orci deadpanned, “Because ‘Transformers 2′ sounds stupid.”"

The picture is from KNX1070 that shows the San Diego Comic-Con display for TF2. Link provided by JFuller.

Orci: "Stakes are a little higher"

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen writer Roberto Orci spoke with Sci Fi Wire about Transformers 2 and the story. Pretty much Orci just re-iterated information we where already aware of. Thanks to Chris and Moriah for the link.

"The humor will be similar, but the structure of the movie is a little bit more like many sequels, which is, the stakes are a little higher and the tone is a bit more sci-fi," Orci said in an interview at the Television Critics Association's summer press tour in Beverly Hills, Calif., on July 14. "It's got a little more of a sci-fi element. ... The bad guys are little more coherent in terms of what their plan is and what they're attempting to do. So it feels like more of a sci-fi battle."

The sequel will also offer a better balance between humans and robots, added Orci, who was promoting his upcoming Fox SF series, Fringe. "Maybe there's less humans," he said. "The first movie was predicated on the structure of a mystery, at which point, at the midpoint, the Transformers are revealed. This movie is structured differently in that you now know there are Transformers in the world, and therefore you can get right to them. As a result, there's kind of more Transformers throughout the movie."

Orci, who co-wrote the first movie and the sequel with partner Alex Kurtzman, remained coy about what new Transformers audiences will see. Arcee, the female Autobot who transforms into a motorcycle, "was in an early draft of the first movie, and she may make an appearance," he said. "We'll see."

But expect to see Soundwave, the Decepticon who was cut out of the first film. "Yes," Orci said. "Soundwave's in it." It's unclear whether he will transform into a tape deck, as in previous incarnations, or into something else.

Orci also declined to comment on rumors that the film will spend a bit more time on the Transformer homeworld of Cybertron.

But Orci promised that fans won't be disappointed. "If you liked the first one, you'll like this one," he said. "But if you were a genuine fan of what Transformers was and felt a little bit left behind by the first one, I think this one's going to be more for you."

Targetmasters in TF2?

In the "Hey Roberto" thread on the Don Murphy forums, of other the members of the writing triumvirate, Roberto Orci answered an interesting question:

Roberto, will there be Transformers that transform into Weapons in TF2?
yes!

Now Targetmasters is a bit of an exaggeration because in G1 toy line they where humans joined to a suit that allowed them to transform into a weapon but the concept is more or less the same. Technically speaking Transformers inherently weapons so he could just be confirming a pre-existing character trait. If the literal interpretation holds, this adds a new aspect to the film beyond the combiner ideas.

Transformers II To Have 20 Robot Cast?

In various reports online Roberto Orci, member of the Transformers II writer triumvirate, wrote on the Don Murphy boards that the TF cast will be 20 robots in total, about 10 on each side.

Who those ten will be remains a mystery. It is probably not a stretch to assume at least 7 of them (Optimus Prime, Ratchet, Ironhide, Bumblebee, Barricade, Starscream, and Soundwave). Jazz remains a question mark to me.

Orci's post is here, now that Don Murphy's site is back up.

"I'd love and think we could almost barely manage ten on each side, with some front and center and others as more supporting."

Interesting choice of phrasing in that quote. Rather then saying there is 10 on each side (for 20 total), its phrased more as a preference or desire. Basically that means the number of total TFs in the movie remains unknown with 20 just being a ballpark number.

Update: From a post today, Orci pretty much confirmed that the 20 Transformers cast was more of a wish then an exact number, "it's kinda maybe not entirely accurate whatsoever."

Orci: Soundwave in Transformers II

IGN is reporting that Roberto Orci, one of the writers on Transformers 2, has verified that fan favorite Soundwave will be in the movie. Orci remained mum on details such as what form he will take, the role in the story, and whether Ravage (rather then asking about Laserbeak for some reason) will show up.

From the interview:

Q: What's the status of Transformers 2?
ORCI: That starts shooting in three weeks.

Q: What do you want to do that builds from the first one?
ORCI: We want to follow some of our lead characters which we thought were so successful. Shia's character; where is he two years later? His girlfriend, where is she two years later? But for fans, I guess I'll address this more for the fans, because I think if you didn't know Transformers at all and you came in and you liked the first movie, you'll like the second one. However, some of the die hard fans, which we were a member of that group, felt, well, maybe it's a little light. Maybe it wasn't science fictiony enough. And I think the second one will deliver on a true Transformers story. You know, the first one, we had a limited budget for what it was. Every second of Transformer time is a million dollars or whatever the heck it is, so this time, because we were able to prove through the whole thing that it's a viable live-action movie, we have a little more freedom this time to actually learn about the Transformers, see them, hear them. It's a better balance between the humans and the Transformers.

Q: Is there one particular Transformer, good or bad, that you absolutely had to get into the sequel?
ORCI: Yes.

Q: You're not gonna tell us.
ORCI: I'll tell you. We had to get Soundwave in there.

Q: Nice. Where Soundwave goes, will Ravage follow?
ORCI: Perhaps! Who's Ravage? ... I'm kidding! You know, we had Ravage in an early draft of the first movie and Soundwave, and we couldn't do it right and I think this time hopefully we'll have the ability to do it.

Transfomers II First Draft Completed

Over the weekend Creation Entertainment held the 16th Annual Grand Slam: The Sci-Fi Summit in Burbank, CA. The event covered various Sci-Fi events and included participation from Transformers II and Star Trek XI writer Roberto Orci. During Orci's question and answer session he said Alex Kurtzman, Ehren Kruger and himself where released from "Michael Bay jail" (a Pacific Coast luxury hotel) on Friday after completing the first draft of Transformers II. He also indicated that a Transformers reference would occur in next year's Star Trek movie. Production of the film is expected to start in June. I wonder if that means more time in "jail" or if the re-write duties are now passed on the Kruger.

Orci Comments More on TF2

Roberto Orci has been commenting on the Don Murphy boards about Transformers 2 and he signed on again and provided more tidbits and teases.

From the "Hey Roberto" thread:
- Starscream will have more English lines.
- Prime "will always be central, but our structure allows the freedom to have others step up. Will know more later" in regards to which Transformer will be the focus of the sequel.
- Will be Decepticon only scenes.
- Sequel tone will be similar to TF1 but higher stakes, some humor but Transformers will more closely align with fan expectation, but reminded that could change. "Hopefully, we'll be better at modulating [the tone] this time."
- Commenting on Bay's writing comments: "Bay's statements should be taken merely as confirmation of his enthusiasm and desire to make his date. He does not want anyone to lose confidence in the project."
- Confirmed a mix of new and existing G1 characters but no specifics on who.
- No comment on whether Cybertron will be in the movie.
- No decision yet on whether Bumblebee will have lines or continuing issues with his voice box.
- Hasbro has been working with Bay on character designs over the Writer's Strike so while writing continues, more then likely the "core group is somewhat locked" but they could still add or remove characters if need to.
- In regards to different "species" from Bay: "You can also probably guess what he means in his non-fan way." (My guess is different sub-genres of TFs, ie Constructions, etc).
- An unformatted sample from first draft of TF1 can be found here. It’s to show how the writers describe action beats, "very detailed and easy to read...for everyone involved in the movie that has to understand the tone and scale of the action."
- TF2 will have different story structure then TF1, which was the three storylines coming together at Hoover Dam.
- No date on when the first draft will be turned in, have 10-12 weeks to get it together but of course Bay et all would probably like it sooner. Apparently they are hunkered down in a hotel near Bay's office so probably get a draft done fairly soon.

If you are interested in hunting for further bits from Orci, the above summary ends at page 104. Its shame can't do a similar thread with Orci and the other writers for Star Trek XI.

Orci Comments On TF 2

Roberto Orci, one of the writers of Transformers 2, popped into Don Murphy's message board and briefly posted a few comments:

So we got back to work this week and we find out Bay and production has been prepping the entire movie off of our pre-strike outline! The very one we turned in the night before the strike.

We had two weeks on the outline. We're still going through the prep schedule to find out what has been prepped so far down the road that it can be changed and what can't.

[Bay] essentially transferred our outline into screenplay format and came up with some really fun gags and a few descriptions of the kind of hardware he will need for production.

Also when asked if the robots would have lot of screen time, he said "You bet your ass." To sum - the writers' are back to work. (source)

Orci Comments on Strike, Transformers 2

Roberto Orci, one of the writers for Transformers 2, commented on Don Murphy's Message Boards about the strike and possible it may have on sequel.

An Apology (Strike Talk)

How are you?

As you know, all screenwriters are engaged in a labor dispute with the major studios and media conglomerates that subsidize much, but not all of the media content that we consume. It may go on for a very long time. All the other writers I've talked to on every level are ready to hold out FOREVER, all the while figuring out ways to make a living out of the internet without studios.

So now the hard part for me and Alex and Ehren and all fans of Transformers is that the movie may suffer (unless of course you hate the first one so much that you feel our inattention is a bonus). It may be pushed back or a host of other thing may happen to it. For that we apologize truly.

will keep you posted...

Later, in reference to a comment about scribbling down the occasional idea Orci said:

Even if we were doing that, we are contractually prohibited by the guild from handing those ideas in before the designated contract period of the initial deal. So if we signed the deal the day the strike started, we can't just hand everything in the day the strike ends. We HAVE TO WAIT the 14 weeks specified in the contract.

I have already analyzed the potential impacts the current and future strikes might have on Transformers here and here. Currently though its too soon to say if the strike will impact the release date or not. If an agreement between the studios and the guild isn't reached soon (say February to March) more then a few dominoes both related and unrelated to the movie may start to fall.

Transformers 2 Writers Signed

The LATimes is reporting that Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Ehren Kruger have officially been signed on as the screenwriters for Transformers 2. It was previously reported that they where in negotiations but now the contracts have been signed to an estimated paycheck of $8 million payday for each.

According to the article, "Producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura and DreamWorks executives had been inviting writers to propose takes on the sequel as early as May, two months before the first film's Independence Day opening. The studio has been looking at the "Transformers" property as an extended saga, with an expansive mythology built into at least two more films." This may explain the treatment that leaked online as one submitted version from an unknown writer.

Exactly when the scripts will be written and how hands-on Orci and Kurtzman will be is anyone's guess as they have a full plate with shooting for Star Trek XI (which they wrote and one assumes be on set for) starting next month. Also Eagle Eye, a film they are producing, begins at the same time. After that, the pilot for Fringe, which they wrote and exec produce, will begin shooting by year's end. How they can bounced between all those sets and write indicates to me that at least for the early drafts, most of the detail work will come from Kruger with the other two just providing the "big" ideas.

The article notes that Bay has already begun digital pre-visualization for the film from designs not used in the last film (and probably coming up with new ones along the way). In theory, strike or no strike next June, visual effects work would continue but I have my doubts.

Transformers 2 Screenwriters Announced

The Hollywood Reporter has announced the writing team for Transformers 2. Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (Transformers, Star Trek XI, Mission Impossible 3) are being joined by Ehren Kruger (The Ring 2, Brother Grimm).

Scribe Ehren Kruger and the writing team of Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are in negotiations to team to write the screenplay for DreamWorks/Paramount's "Transformers 2."

Director Michael Bay, star Shia LaBeouf and producers Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Don Murphy are back in their respective chairs, as is exec producer Steven Spielberg.

The teaming of A-listers to write such a huge project might be an industry first and could have been necessary because Kurtzman and Orci -- who wrote the $315 million-grossing first "Transformers" movie -- also are busy writing J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" movie for Paramount and producing "Eagle Eye" for DreamWorks.

But the teaming will not be a case of complete strangers being thrust together, as the three writers are working together on "Nightlife," a DreamWorks serial-killer project that sees Kruger adapting a Thomas Perry novel, with Kurtzman and Orci producing along with Neal Moritz. Kruger also adapted the Stephen King tome "The Talisman," which Spielberg is exec producing
for TNT.

Sources are pegging the writing deal, which is not yet closed, in the $5 million-$7 million range, which also might be an industry high for a nonoriginal screenplay. Reflected in the price is the pressure to perform: With the studio hoping to make the movie before a potential talent strike, the writers are going to have to type fast.

Kruger met with Bay and Hasbro president Brian Goldner and impressed the duo with his knowledge of the "Transformers" mythology. Kruger also has "Torso," a graphic novel adaptation that has David Fincher directing, set up at Paramount. He is repped by Paradigm and Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern.

Orci and Kurtzman are repped at CAA.

Torso is becoming a movie? Sweet. Brian Michael Bendis' Powers would make a fantastic franchise.

Anyway back to Transformers. That $5-7 million payday for each member of the writing team is quite nice, with a probably rush job surcharge added on with the studio trying to beat the strike deadline. The strike and because Orci and Kurtzman will probably be on set for Star Trek XI in November, is probably why Kruger was added to the team. The other two come up with the outline and the "big" ideas and Kruger is the man that cleans it up why they work on Star Trek.

Keep in mind that everyone is working against a clock right now. Not because of the strike but because of the year and more lead time that Hasbro needs to make sure the toys are ready in time for the movie. Since the movie is aiming for June 26, 2009 that means that more then likely the script (and cast of characters) along with pre-production designs must be completed by end of April (to be generous). I am thinking as a result drafts have to be slammed out by end of November at the latest. For movie scripts that is not much time at all. Hopefully the writers knew this was coming and already has started work on the script. The shooting draft doesn't have to be completed by then but the major scenes, sets, and characters have to be in place so that pre-production knows what to do in preparation.

The payday that is coming for the writers is a precursor for the large payday coming to Bay and Shia (which the article is saying are coming back). It wouldn't surprise me that when its all said and done (not including profit sharing) that about $35 million (I suspect it will be about $50 million when said and done) of the budget will go to just paydays. I think this is the movie that Shia will cross the $10 million per movie threshold. I don't think he is worth it but the studios tend to believe the hype they themselves manufacture. No idea how the paydays work the for producing team which is a carry over from the first film. The issue between Spielberg and Paramount is still rumbling around so not sure what, if any, impact that may have on the film.

Over all the takeaway is that all the major players for the first film are coming together for the sequel, with an additional writer. If you loved the first film, that's good news. If you didn't, there is a nearly $700 million gross that says too bad. Thanks to various site readers for the article.

Wizard Interview of Orci and Kurtzman

Wizard Universe has posted a transcript of a Q&A session with Transformers' writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman during Botcon a week or so ago.

The full transcript is here.

The highlights:

- Starscream's role was small due to the movie's structure with the late introduction of all the Decepticons and desire to tell the film from Sam's point of view.
- Arcee was planned for the film but dropped because of scale. Alt mode would have been a motorcycle and compared to the rest, would have been too tiny. Wreckage apparently was in any of their drafts.
- The writers would "love to be involved" in a sequel but "schedule won't allow that."
- The dog was supposed to be a pit pull but Bay decided a Chihuahua would be funnier.
- Provided a neutral answer on the multiple producer roles, basically saying Spielberg was great and Lorenzo Di Bonaventura provided the time they needed to figure out the script while under studio pressure.
- The writers do wish more time could have been spent developing the various Transformers and 2nd tier(my phrase) human characters.
- Provided an on the spot explanation, not related to any sequel, on how could add Dinobots to a sequel: "you would flashback to protoforms arriving and finding dinosaurs on our planet and trans-scanning dinosaurs and reshaping themselves into dinosaurs."

Kurtzman and Orci Post Move Q&A

The message boards over that Transformersmovie.com are hosting a post movie question and answer thread with Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman regarding Transformers. Keep in mind that these where the writers of the movie. They had input in the final product but what they put to paper and what Bay shot and edited together (ILM etc) isn't going to match up 100%.

Click here for the thread.

Here are some questions and answers already supplied, with my comments in parenthesis):
Was the Brawl/Devestator mixup on purpose, or was it indeed an editing oversight?
It's an Easter Egg for movie 2. (A joke? Hint of the arrival of the Constructicons? I vote for a joke.)

How come the Allspark created TFs were all Decepticons?
Prime intended to use the Allspark to repower Cybertron as it was intended. Megatron wants to abuse it by creating Transformers directly, which makes souless, primal Transformers. (Ah, hmm ok. So I guess the answer is yes, when "unfiltered" it creats evil Transformers).

Why did you guys make Megatron stronger than Prime? Is it simply that they are are of the same power, but Megatron is simply a little BIGGER or is Megatron just better than Prime is period? Or was Prime just having a bad fight this time?
I think a little of both. I agree that Prime should've gotten in a few good hits.

What were some of your favorites scenes that did not make it in the final cut?
Sam and Mikaela breaking into their own high school after hours with the Autobots.

What happened to Barricade & why wasn't it shown?
Threads for movie 2. (Hmm too pat an answer, I am going with cut scene)

How did Bumblebee regain his voice and why wasn't it explained?
When they Autobots land and introduce themselves to Sam and Mikaela, Ratchet explains that he's been working on BB voice and actually treats him with a regenerative plasma laser. By the end of the movie, it's worked its magic, but I agree it could've been clearer. (wha? The Doctor Who screwdriver thing Ratchet was holding in the Autobots intro? That? Yeah ok).

Was Sector 7 meant to be taken lightly? They came off a little slapstickish. I'm guessing it was just John Tututro's character.
Yes. Turturro was written that way. We didn't want to lose the fun of the cartoon, and we were already playing the military totally straight so we gambled that it would give us some freedom to go a little nuts. (Speaking of, when they going to finish the S7 website story arc?)

How sure can you be that certain eastereggs like Brawl/Devastator and Barricade vanishing will be picked up by the next script writers? What if they don't get it?
So many people from movie 1 are coming back that I'm sure they'll know. (Valid point)

After seeing Weaving doing Megatron, are you 100% happy with it or do you think Welker could have done an even better job then Weaving did?
Honestly, I think either would've worked, but I was happy. (Weaving was so generic, I preferred Welker).

Same question about the face plate on Prime, I know you were in favour of keeping it on permanently.
I think we would've kept it on the whole time. (As a Transfan, keep the mask, for general audience, I see why the decision was made to do without.)

Were these lines recorded by the voice actors?
Many lines were recorded for the movie that did not make it, sadly.

Were the lines that got cut the final Transformers lines you added?
Once we had all the voice actors hired, we wrote a few new lines for each to record that weren't in the script.
A handful of lines didn't make it to the final cut for each Transformer.

In the film we see that the "All Spark, Matrix" or whatever is really called turned whatever machine it touched into a killing bot! Why is this?
It is meant to power Cybertron, not adapt human technology. Also, since all earth's tech is reverse engineered from Megatron, maybe that affects the outcome, too.

Is there any size shifting? We see the Cube transform and shrink in size -- does Frenzy do something similar when he transforms into Mikaela's phone?
We didn't want Mass shifting for the TF's -- only for the Allspark. His head seems bigger than it is because of the shape, but it folds nicely into a phone size.

When Bumblebee is holding the Allspark after getting his legs blown off, why wasnt he healed the way Frenzy was upon his contact with it?
It might've corrupted him. (More likely a mistake, after all where did the extra body mass come from is no mass shifting?)

Bay wants an Aircraft carrier Transformer, Autobot or Decepticon, and who the hell would it be?
When he told us that, we were like, "Good luck getting the money for that!" We knew it would never make it, but we did write it into one of the intermediate drafts. (Like the scale the man was thinking on.)