Michael Bay talks Transformers Dark of the Moon in the Hollywood Reporter

Michael Bay, director of all three Transformers movies, appears with fellow director (and creator of the two highest grossing films of all time) James Cameron in the new issue of the Hollywood Reporter. The pair speak about shooting in the new 3D medium, only two years after Michael Bay branded 3D technology as a ‘gimmick’.

The pair speak of the technicalities involved with shooting in 3D. The press release from the Hollywood Reporter on the article is as follows:

Directors James Cameron and Michael Bay: How to Build a Better Blockbuster

NEW YORK, May 27, 2011- James Cameron and Michael Bay speak exclusively with The Hollywood Reporter about the world of 3D blockbusters in the new issue hitting newsstands Friday, May 27th. It was only two years ago that the Transformers’ Michael Bay called 3D a “gimmick”. Now, he’s just finished his first 3D picture, Transformers: Dark of the Moon. What caused the once hesitant director to branch out into the 3D genre? James Cameron. Bay recalls being on the fence about shooting the new Transformers in 3D when Cameron advised, “You gotta look at it as a toy. It’s another fine tool to help get emotion and character and create an experience.”

Bay found his first shoot, a scene on the moon, using Cameron’s 3D technology incredible. The start wasn’t as auspicious as it seemed- the following morning Bay received a call from his producer saying that all the footage from the first day was lost. Putting that behind him, Bay went on to use the 3D technology in ways that had never been done before. A 3D camera was put on base jumpers who dove off Chicago buildings at speeds of 150 miles per hour. One person caught by surprise by this was Shia LaBeouf who was eating breakfast in his underwear at the Trump building when he saw four men fall by his window.

More insights including how Cameron tested the technology (on the bottom of the Atlantic!) and the challenges that are to come, can be found in The Hollywood Reporter on newsstands May 27th and now online.