Tom DeSanto on Transformers the Movie

[Impactor returns 2.0]

DeSanto: "Yeah. Whether you're doing a small-budget documentary or you're doing a big crazy Hollywood summer movie, it's about 'what's the story?' It's always about what is the journey and are people going to care - what's it about, you know, because with something like Transformers at the end of the day you get to create some cool effects and have cars transform and give you some real great trailer moments, but if you don't care about the characters, that's the key. That's why there's an X-Men 2 and an X-Men 3 or there's Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi - because you care about the characters. You know, there's a lot of great visual-effects extravaganza movies that make a lot of money, but there's not a continuing story to tell, and that come through great characters."

hmm... - its that whole not caring about the characters bit that worrys me most.

[spiderfrommars]

I think he makes a very good point actually.

Of course the downside is an increased human element, but thats to be expected. I just hope as much effort goes into the TFs personalities.

Where's the quote from?

[Scraplet]

Is Tom DeSanto working on the movie, or were these comments connected to something else?

[spiderfrommars]

He's also a producer I believe.

[Impactor returns 2.0]

yeah sorry, full story here :
http://dvd.ign.com/articles/668/668433p1.html

[spiderfrommars]

Ah, moving to news then...

[Impactor returns 2.0]

yeah thought it should go here to be honest but i failed

[Predabot]

Am I the only one that thinks he's talking about the actual Transformers-characters?

E.g Bumblebee.

[Brendocon]

I'm kinda missing his point.

He seems to be saying "the key to a franchise is having characters you care about and a continuing story" but at the same time, he's saying that not caring about the characters is important.

Maybe it's just my pre-coffee early-morning brain that's not getting it...

[Bouncelot]

I'm kinda missing his point.

He seems to be saying "the key to a franchise is having characters you care about and a continuing story" but at the same time, he's saying that not caring about the characters is important.

Maybe it's just my pre-coffee early-morning brain that's not getting it...

Maybe when he says

if you don't care about the characters, that's the key.

he meant to write

if you care about the characters, that's the key.

That would make it make sense.

[Metal Vendetta]

Maybe when he says

if you don't care about the characters, that's the key.

he meant to write

if you care about the characters, that's the key.

That would make it make sense.

It should probably read:

if you...care about the characters, that's the key.

[BB Shockwave]

or, "If you care about the key characters, that's the story"

[sprunkner]

Or, in the case of TFs, "If you key the character, that's not much of a story."

[Shanti418]

Or, in this case, thank God they finally took out Arcee.

Move scribe Roberto Orci writes:

I hope that all those who hate Arcee will be gracious to those who love her. And to all those who wanted to see her, you should know the decision was not based on a mere dislike of the character, nor an attempt to defeminize the franchise. The decision is, at this point, story driven.

[Best First]

yay.

[spiderfrommars]

Fan-bloody-tastic!

[Legion]

story driven

those two words are very promising!

[Impactor returns 2.0]

They mean 'money driven' - boys dont buy pink toys. but yeah, story driven