Budget discussion anyone?

[Psion]

I havent seen a real central thread that discusses the budget of this film, since Bay have been promoting the fact that this movie is damn cheap that looks expensive comparing to the other blockbusters.

I think he did a great job, lower the cost is always good. But lets discuss the specifics. really, how did it cost so LOW?? to superman returns 272million, Pirates and Spider 3 300 million. and even Evan Almighty 180 million.

I mean WOW, Bay made a 300 million looking film with 150 mil. Amazing.

I know he said, he definatly saved money by shooting in LA, and 30%cut and free cars and stuff.

I know for sure one reason, is the cost of actors in this movie WHICH is NOTHING. I remmeber Shia said in a interview long ago, that no one made over 70,000 dollar for salary. therefore whole cast probably cost under a million (CHEAP!!!!!) comparing to Toby or Depps 20-30 million.

I guess that save alot of money. Lets just assume that Bay and Producer fellows including Spielberg himself probably costed around 50 million.

So, that leaves 100 million left for production and effects.

I know ILM cost atleast 20million, for the R&D on this movie probably cost it 40-50million. so the actual production is probably around 40-50 mil

Still cheap. I just thought that the fact was there was minimal green screen, there was barely any sets built other then the DAM that held Megatron.
I mean, Superman Returns, everything was a set. Everything, even the city itself.

Transformers was just local LA locations. some houses, and downtown.
Could that be the reason being so cheap? real sets? instead of building sets for every scene.

or I heard some people said the whole recycling Pearl harbor shots and stuff.

If you are interested, lets discuss the money. If it hits, would trans 2 cost go up like Spidey and Pirates, where the first movie was around 90-130 million, and the second one 250 million and the thrid one 300mil

I am hoping that Bay actually keeps all the sequels within 150mil so it dont blow up like Evan Almighty, bombed and bombed.

Maybe it was the lesson from the ISLAND. Quality not Quantity of the shots.

 

[Asgard]

Are you sure he said that he saved money by shooting in LA?

I read the article where he talked about the budget, and I think he said that he offset the extra costs from shooting in LA by giving up part of his paycheck, as well as those of 2 of the producers. I think if he had shot the movie in Australia like Singer did with SR, he would have saved a lot of money.

Im not sure how costs are negotiated with ILM or the city or whatever, but Bay is said to be really efficient with his filmmaking especially when he's shooting large action scenes, so that factors into lowering the costs of the movie.

Also, I think Ive read a few posts about CGI being easier to use to create non-organic things so maybe using that technology to create machinery costs less than using it to create Superman or Spider-man.

Im pretty sure if they keep Bay on for sequels he's going to try and make the films under budget because I remember reading that he prides himself in doing things that way.

 

[Kap]

As MB stated, he shoots very very fast. And once he gets on the set things start rolling pretty fast. He's very clear about his vision and since he's been sticking with basicly the same filmcrew for ages they know what he wants and how he wants it. That's were the money was saved in keeping the movie in L.A rather than moving the production to Australia and exchanging members of his crew.

I also belive that Shia helped alot in saving cash with his improv skill. I can emagine he nailed the shots pretty much spot on without the need for many reshoots.

 

[Psion]

wow, true that. Although Bay is an a-s-s on set, but seriously, many filmmakers should follow his way. I mean, you can sit on your butt, and direct for 3 hours and waste more time.
Just by being effcient, saved the movie to 150mil What the hell is Singer doing??? strolling around the set?? while money is being burn away?

problem with movie these days, is that the whole 300 mill thing is nuts. Yes, Pirates and Spidey made it back, but I cant imagine movies becoming like 500 million for just budget. We the people just keep paying up to 20-30 bucks a movie. The system will crash.

Seriously, this is the pattern to follow. Make a movie cost 150 mill to look like 300 mil and not 300mill looking like cheaper i.e. Pirates 3, which I still feel even with the last Maelstrome sequence, it can not cost THAT much.

Star Wars around 110 and LOTR around 90 per movie. Great deal.

King Kong was damn expensive tho, althought it look like how much it spent. 217

 

[Dotten]

He stated that he saved around 3 million by using GM cars instead of all the original cars. So I forgive Jazz not being a Porsche etc

It's insane that he spent the same amount of bucks as Nolan used on Batman Begins. But then again, the actors were cheap. But in a sequel, you will not get Shia for peanuts. So I doubt they will manage to keep it under 150 million. But as long as Bay and Spielberg is involved, it will be cost-effective. But then again, there may come in another director for a sequel.

 

[blind_fury]

The studios keep only 55% of the WW box office.

If Transformers makes over 700 m WW the studio gets 385 m.

Subtract the production and marketing budget of 200 m and you get almost 190 m before dvd sales. That's a bigger profit than SM3 and AWE will likely have. Not bad for a movie based on a "silly toy commercial".