The All New "Hey Roberto" Thread

[Roberto Orci]

Originally Posted by Krueger

Will the Decepticons have any scenes to themselves like the Autobots had in the first one?

Yes.

[Thankheaven]

Hey Roberto, can you say anything about the tone of the movie ?

I know you said it will have humor and smart gags but will it be any darker or slightly more serious then the first or will it be just as lighthearted ?

[Roberto Orci]

Originally Posted by Oddacidtea

Also, Roberto, can you provide any hints as to the tone of TF2? Even with a short ouline, I'm sure there is much work to be done. I'm not horribly concerned that Mike went all Batshit-crazy during your hiatus. As egomaniacial as he seems, he also seems to know his place. Perhaps I'm wrong on that.

The tone will be similar to TF1, although I think the stakes will be higher. There will still be much humor, but I think many of the Transformers themselves will be more in line with fan expectation. More serious to some degree. Again, we're early in the process.

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.

[Roberto Orci]

Originally Posted by Omnicron

Bob, are you looking to strike the exact same tone as film 1 or will the sequel be more serious and thought-provoking? Will it be a smarter film, more science-fictionny?

More "science-fictionny." Yes.

[Thankheaven]

Any possibility of a TF arrivel scene similar to the first but with decepticons this time ?

And i take it there will be a mix of new and existing G1 characters for the next ?

[Roberto Orci]

Originally Posted by Thankheaven

Any possibility of a TF arrivel scene similar to the first but with decepticons this time ?

And i take it there will be a mix of new and existing G1 characters for the next ?

New mix. Yes. No comment on Decepticon arrivals!

[Omnicron]

Roberto, I feel there needs to be some element that makes you think. After all, this is a robotic race at civil war, there needs to be something to add some kind of philosophical vibe to it. Like how The Matrix Trilogy (particularly the first one) makes you think. Whether you do it by shedding some light on why the war started or something else entirely, it's crucial if you want to appeal to those people who didn't really get much out of the first movie. Something cerebral. People on these forums tell me I'm nuts to think Transformers can be anything more than a live action cartoon, but I think the concept itself lends itself to something intelligent.

[Thankheaven]

Also Bob i would like to add, are we gonna see more of Cybertron in this one ?

Just in flashbacks or will it take place in present time ?

[Roberto Orci]

Originally Posted by Omnicron

Roberto, I feel there needs to be some element that makes you think. After all, this is a robotic race at civil war, there needs to be something to add some kind of philosophical vibe to it. Like how The Matrix Trilogy (particularly the first one) makes you think. Whether you do it by shedding some light on why the war started or something else entirely, it's crucial if you want to appeal to those people who didn't really get much out of the first movie. Something cerebral. People on these forums tell me I'm nuts to think Transformers can be anything more than a live action cartoon, but I think the concept itself lends itself to something intelligent.

Ehren and Alex and I totally agree with you. Wish us luck.

[Roberto Orci]

Originally Posted by Thankheaven

Also Bob i would like to add, are we gonna see more of Cybertron in this one ?

Just in flashbacks or will it take place in present time ?

No comment on Cybertron.

[Omnicron]

Originally Posted by Roberto Orci

Ehren and Alex and I totally agree with you. Wish us luck.

Thanks, good luck. The movie will be better for it.

[Oddacidtea]

Originally Posted by Roberto Orci

More "science-fictionny." Yes.

More science-fictiony that Giant Robots moonlighting as our mom's minivan? Is that even possible?

[Thankheaven]

Originally Posted by Oddacidtea

More science-fictiony that Giant Robots moonlighting as our mom's minivan? Is that even possible?

Well they could be mooning from your mom's minivan instead.

[Master Bruce]

Love what I'm hearing. Thanks for answering these, Roberto!

[Oddacidtea]

Originally Posted by Thankheaven

Well they could be mooning from your mom's minivan instead.

Cybertronian ass hair. Nice.

[Roberto Orci]

Originally Posted by Master Bruce

Love what I'm hearing. Thanks for answering these, Roberto!

Nice to be back in the saddle.

[Thankheaven]

So how is Bay's torture chamber turning out ?

[Sermon]

Roberto, good to have you back!

I've got a question for you:

My major problem with "Transformers" were the humans. Most of them acted like they were on a mix of speed, ecstacy and too much coffee. Their behaviour was IMO way over the top, almost like highly exaggerated comic-book caricatures. I think it wasn't so much due to the writing, but more due to the direction they were given by Michael Bay.

Was it your intention to write the human characters (Sam, Sam's parents, Simmons, the cop guy in the police station) in such an exaggerated, over-the-top way or did that evolve during filming and are there any plans to tone the humans down a little for the sequel to make them appear more ... normal and not so over-caffeinated?

[Roberto Orci]

Originally Posted by Thankheaven

So how is Bay's torture chamber turning out ?

Well, his torture chamber is quite nice actually. He put us up in a hotel near his office so he can keep an eye on us and drop by anytime for surprise inspections! And we have room service so we don't have to go anywhere! As far as torture chambers go, it's alright.

[Bloodrose]

Originally Posted by Sermon

Roberto, good to have you back!

I've got a question for you:

My major problem with "Transformers" were the humans. Most of them acted like they were on a mix of speed, ecstacy and too much coffee. Their behaviour was IMO way over the top, almost like highly exaggerated comic-book caricatures. I think it wasn't so much due to the writing, but more due to the direction they were given by Michael Bay.

Was it your intention to write the human characters (Sam, Sam's parents, Simmons, the cop guy in the police station) in such an exaggerated, over-the-top way or did that evolve during filming and are there any plans to tone the humans down a little for the sequel to make them appear more ... normal and not so over-caffeinated?

I think their over-the-top actions were liked by the audience. They gave to the humorous tone of the movie. (more than the pee joke) I don't think that was a problem, but of course, that's just me.

[Roberto Orci]

Originally Posted by Sermon

Roberto, good to have you back!

I've got a question for you:

My major problem with "Transformers" were the humans. Most of them acted like they were on a mix of speed, ecstacy and too much coffee. Their behaviour was IMO way over the top, almost like highly exaggerated comic-book caricatures. I think it wasn't so much due to the writing, but more due to the direction they were given by Michael Bay.

Was it your intention to write the human characters (Sam, Sam's parents, Simmons, the cop guy in the police station) in such an exaggerated, over-the-top way or did that evolve during filming and are there any plans to tone the humans down a little for the sequel to make them appear more ... normal and not so over-caffeinated?

We'll have to take some of the blame for that. We pitched Sam as "Marty McFly on crack." And Simmon's is pretty much the way he read on the page. But I agree that it went even further than it should've, and editing could've helped that a bit. As I've said before, tone on TF1 was the absolutely hardest thing to crack. Hopefully, we'll be better at modulating this time.

[Bloodrose]

Roberto could you tell us about the cooperation sofar? You know, you had a way to write with Alex, how did it change with Ethan? Or was it he, who conformed himself to you?

[Sermon]

Originally Posted by Bloodrose

I think their over-the-top actions were liked by the audience. They gave to the humorous tone of the movie. (more than the pee joke) I don't think that was a problem, but of course, that's just me.

Some of those were great and funny (I loved John Turturro's performance), but most of the time I was rather put-off by all the frantic human behaviour. Like I said in a previous post, it seemed to me that no-one smiled in this movie, they just all laughed hysterically. But of course, that's just me ...

[Bloodrose]

Originally Posted by Sermon

Some of those were great and funny (I loved John Turturro's performance), but most of the time I was rather put-off by all the frantic human behaviour. Like I said in a previous post, it seemed to me that no-one smiled in this movie, they just all lauged hysterically. But of course, that's just me ...

Love your ending.

[Roberto Orci]

Originally Posted by Bloodrose

Roberto could you tell us about the cooperation sofar? You know, you had a way to write with alex, how did it change with Ethan? Or was it he, who conformed himself to you?

We'd worked with Ehren before, so we knew his personality would be a good fit for "the band." We agreed to split up scenes and then pass them around to each other to make our own tweaks without anyone's feelings getting hurt -- one big jam session after which we'll hopefully have an album called TF2.