DeSanto and Murphy off of Transformers 2?

[Crimson King]

Sure sounds like it. This is from Michael Bay's blog:

The movie is over.

Wow that was a hard one, but I must tell you it was so much fun. The most difficult actors I’ve ever worked with, besides Bruce Willis, are Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. They took every single one of my days for a year. But they are well worth the work. I’ve just traveled 36,000 miles around the world (in two weeks) and had the most amazing premiere at the Taormina film festival in an ancient, Greek-built theatre that existed well before the birth of Christ. I loved seeing the reactions to the film from so many different cultures. This movie really travels around the world. I’m so excited for everyone to see it. Thanks to all you that supported me on this film.

Just so I set the story straight, my budget started a $145 Million it crept to $150 and some change – I’m very proud of that – the fact that we are half the cost of all these other summer blockbusters. I see people doubt that out on the net, but anyone want to challenge me I’ll put a ten thousand dollar bet down on the table right now.

Even when the studio tried to ship me out to Canada or shoot down with Aussies - I looked but I knew we were dead up there. I needed my crew that I have been loyal to for years, they are the best in the world. Besides I believe American movies that portray America, should be made in America. I cut my fee 30% so I could make this at home. I knew this was right for the movie so I asked the other producers to join – Ian and Lorenzo did, and the two others (that came attached to the project) Tom Desanto and Don Murphy did not. That was my introduction to them – they did not want any part of their fee going to make a better movie. Things like that don’t usually sit well with me.

Now that the movie is done I get strange questions from the press. Like “how did Tom control the set”? What? “ How did Tom and Don control you?” What the ****. “How was it working with Tom and Don who knew Transformers so well?” “We heard Tom wrote the story – he had a 90 page treatment, right?” Okay stop. Let me take you back in time. Tom and Don are very nice guys, but let’s get some facts straight.

Tom had one creative meeting with me for one hour and ten minutes to be exact about a year ago. He told he was the über fan boy and was going to protect me from the minefields. The type of minefields on the Net like “Damn you Michael Bay” “You wrecked my childhood Michael Bay” and other various web death threats I received. Tom proceeded to tell me how much he had problems with the robot designs and script issues. I realized he was worlds apart in my vision. I said thank you very much, and then showed him my office door - I never really spoke to him again other then to mutter hello. He would occasionally come to the set with guests like it was some theme park. I never spoke creatively with Don. I read his notes kind of trashing the script and making me and the writers feel like a big **** pile. But during production Don was nice to me, he knew I was not going to talk creative with him.

One day not too long ago, the writers of our movie Alex and Bob called me in a panic saying all of a sudden after the movie was almost finished in post that Tom was applying for writer's or story credit. I was appalled because neither the writer’s nor I ever saw any treatment. Well, he applied for credit, but the Writer’s Guild shot him down, denied him.

But what made my blood curl was something that was on the Net with Tom at the Saturn awards on IESB.net where they interviewed him about the movie – a movie I might add he had not seen yet. He acted very much like he did. Check it out as he vamps through the questions, and how Hugo put his “thumb print on it”. Give me a break the guy was lying through his teeth - he had seen nada, nothing until the press screening.

So that’s the real truth, I had to say it, cause I'm tired of answering these questions.

What these guys did do was stuck with a ‘silly toy movie’ and pushed it around town and kept the faith after everyone turned them down, always with the hope that maybe someone somewhere would make it. Now I commend them on that. Hats off to them, but trying to taking creative credit in the press let me just say it – irks me. Too many credits are given to too many people who had nothing to do with the movie. Hell even investment bankers with not the slightest idea of how to make a movie all of a sudden are big producers in town.

I guess that’s how it goes in Hollywood.

Bay

 

[tviceman]

You know, despite all the Bay haters out there, I do appreciate that he speaks his mind and gets straight to the point instead of trying to sugarcoat everything.

Just by reading that, although he and Tom disagreed and hardly spoke, Bay isn't straight up bashing the guy and calling him a laundry list of names; he's calling him out on the amount of creative work put into filming the movie and on some of the comments made in the past few months.

 

[CFlash]

I have gained a newfound respect for him for this candidness. I may not like all the changes he made, but I'm glad he squashed Don Murphy and the other producers--- because these type of producers usually ruin a movie not help it... (although I'm not sure about DeSanto... I thought he was pretty good?).

The "Suits" (Entourage reference). F* 'em! Good for you, Bay!

 

[Figs]

You know, despite all the Bay haters out there, I do appreciate that he speaks his mind and gets straight to the point instead of trying to sugarcoat everything.

Just by reading that, although he and Tom disagreed and hardly spoke, Bay isn't straight up bashing the guy and calling him a laundry list of names; he's calling him out on the amount of creative work put into filming the movie and on some of the comments made in the past few months.

I agree, too but a lot of haters will come on and say "OH my god! He's sooo arrogant!!"
In this day and age with so many people being a bunch of sensitive spoiled brats it shouldn't surprise me that people will confuse confidence and straightforwardness(even a word? lol) with arrogance. Oh well....at least with a lot of the reviews saying this is his best movie, maybe he is improving as a director. Just needs to get better writers.

 

[AyeCapn]

Good for him. That was a well written post

 

[deathshead2]

Well I don't always agree with Bay, and I hate his movies. But I like that he fought the producers to keep the movie in America. Not many huge films do that anymore. Its also neat to see that he took a pay cut to do so.

 

[tviceman]

But I like that he fought the producers to keep the movie in America. Not many huge films do that anymore. Its also neat to see that he took a pay cut to do so.

Oh yeah, I meant to say that too. Good work!

 

[Theweepeople]

If Don Murphy won't be involved with the sequels then that's wonderful news. I have mixed feelings about what to think about Tom Desanto after learning that he wouldn't cut any of his fee. I have more respect for Bay now. I hope that both he and Spielberg work together on all the sequels.

 

[xwolverine2]

ouch...
but true.

i respect the part where he gave up 30%... that was cool

 

[deathshead2]

ouch...
but true.

i respect the part where he gave up 30%... that was cool

Yeah that was cool, not alot of diectors do that. Well he still got payed a crap load of money though.

 

[Hunter Rider]

I think it's more likely Bay will be leaving and DeSanto and Murphy will be staying

 

[xwolverine2]

I think it's more likely Bay will be leaving and DeSanto and Murphy will be staying

hhhhhh.....

 

[cosmicherosa]

If bringing Ratner aboard for X3 was any indication, they would be friggin' smart to get his ass for the sequels. I mean....no one does action like him.

Plus with the small amount of budget, and the TONS of freakin' bank they will be making with this film, puts him in a favorable position.

I hope they don't go the route of different directors like Harry "Puthy" Potter".

 

[Symbiotic]

great blog, Bay.

 

[CFlash]

I think it's more likely Bay will be leaving and DeSanto and Murphy will be staying

Oh god no. I will turn into the biggest Bay defender if that happens. I don't mind Desanto so much, but Don Murphy will ruin Transformers just like he's ruined everything else he's been allowed to exert control over.

 

[Figs]

Oh god no. I will turn into the biggest Bay defender if that happens. I don't mind Desanto so much, but Don Murphy will ruin Transformers just like he's ruined everything else he's been allowed to exert control over.

Just curious, how do you think Don will screw up Transformers. I'm not disagreeing at all since I know how League turned out. Just wondering some ideas of how you think things would turn out for Transformers with him on board. I just don't follow producers to much since the real important people for movies are the actors and directors.

 

[xwolverine2]

I hope they don't go the route of different directors like Harry "Puthy" Potter".

Harry potter got better and did better with every new director

as for ratner i liked him

 

[Figs]

Harry potter got better and did better with every new director

as for ratner i liked him

With Ratner the movie could have had better use of scenes and dialogue like with Singers. On that not I did like X-3 because Ratner got the action from the comics that Singer missed.

 

[DorkyFresh]

Oh god no. I will turn into the biggest Bay defender if that happens. I don't mind Desanto so much, but Don Murphy will ruin Transformers just like he's ruined everything else he's been allowed to exert control over.

i thought i'd never see the day t:

 

[Forever is over]

Say what you want about Bay but the man has got some balls to publicly trash two producers before the movie even comes out. I think that is awesome. You always hear horror stories from directors years after the fact about how someone screwed up a movie or tried to, but you never hear it before the movies release. I wish more directors would show that kind of sack and stop being so damn political. Bay may not ever win "Best director" but at least he seems to have artistic conviction as well as courage to back it up.

 

[xwolverine2]

With Ratner the movie could have had better use of scenes and dialogue like with Singers. On that not I did like X-3 because Ratner got the action from the comics that Singer missed.

i liked all the dialoge... xavier and megs... wolv and jean... mystique
the one thing that hurt it for me is that it missed some of the drag the singer gave X2 ...but the action made it for me.

i thought i'd never see the day

you wont cuz bay wouldnt dare to leave TF to Don

 

[blind_fury]

Boot Don Murphy (resents and attacks any TF fan who disagrees with him) and keep Desanto.

I doubt Peter Cullen would be in the movie if we didn't have at least one G1 purist on as a producer.

 

[CFlash]

Just curious, how do you think Don will screw up Transformers. I'm not disagreeing at all since I know how League turned out. Just wondering some ideas of how you think things would turn out for Transformers with him on board. I just don't follow producers to much since the real important people for movies are the actors and directors.

I dunno. I think producers are very important. They meddle. Often to a film's detriment. I think they're more important than the Director because they're responsible for keeping EVERYBODY on the same page. Obviously some producers are allowed to exert more influence than others.... and Bay wisely shut Murphy out. Thank god.

As for Don Murphy, I direct you to this book: http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,289436,00.html
Anybody that's as low-class as this guy shouldn't be making movies. No wonder Quentin Tarantino punched him in the face for ruining his Natural Born Killers script and for sending fake letters to magazines claiming to be Tarantino's business partner.

 

[blind_fury]

Say what you want about Bay but the man has got some balls to publicly trash two producers before the movie even comes out. I think that is awesome. You always hear horror stories from directors years after the fact about how someone screwed up a movie or tried to, but you never hear it before the movies release. I wish more directors would show that kind of sack and stop being so damn political. Bay may not ever win "Best director" but at least he seems to have artistic conviction as well as courage to back it up.

Bay isn't some innocent victim. He has more pull with the Paramount execs at this point and he's using this opportunity to get rid of the producers he didn't agree with.

His problems with DeSanto and Don Murphy seem petty. It's easier to cut 30% of your salary when you know your going to get a bigger percent from royalties and you're already the 2nd richest person on the crew. Then he bashes them because they had the audacity to insist he stay true to the source material even though he acknowledges himself it didn't effect his movie.

and they call G1 purists "crybabies".

 

[YÅ«gi's BM]

Wow. And I thought Star Trek had all the behind-the-scenes fueds!

Good for Bay, authenticity is an virture...right?