Transformers 3 Official Chicago Filming Details

Collecticon.org has provided a new update on the filming details when Transformers 3 invades Chicago, IL and more or less closes the Magnificent Mile for three days from July 15th to July 19th. DW Studios Production has sent out a four page document to local businesses detailing Transformers 3 plans for the area which the website has images of. The production perimeter is not open to the public, partly to allow for smooth filming but also for safety reasons. If you live in the area, probably just best to not attempt to drive anywhere that weekend as traffic is going to be ugly.

The highlights:
- Portion of Michigan Avenue will be closed starting at 8pm on July 15th until 5am on July 19th.
- Filming is expected to occur from July 16th to 18th from 7AM to 7PM.
- Scenes will include exterior shots with special effects and "low flying helicopters."
- "The special effects will include but are not limited to gunfire, spark hits, explosions, fireballs, and black smoke."
- "The Michigan Avenue Bridge will be raised and lowered for filming." It will be closed to traffic from 8pm on July 16th to 5am on July 19th.
- The "main filming location is the traffic circle north of the bridge and surrounded by the Wrigley Building, 401 N. Michigan Ave, and Pioneer Court.
- Portions of the River Walk will be closed and boat loading zones will be relocated.
- The filming will use precision skydivers on July 17th and July 18th.
- Additional filming:
July 19th-21st at the Hotel 71 on Wacker Drive
July 24th-August 1st at 35
East Wacker Drive and nearby streets
July 27th at Trump Plaza

Hubcat, Breacher, Skyfire, Dinobot Video Reviews

Peaugh is back with more video reviews of new Transformers. Two are from the upcoming The Hunt for the Decepticons sub-line and two are currently Japanese exclusive Henkei (Classics) figures. The first video is for Scout class Hubcap whose alt mode is a classic 1930ish car (I am guessing on that). For a scout figure it actually isn't bad and probably one of the few scout figures I actually want to get mostly due to the alt mode. The second video is for Seaspray's "partner" Breacher, also a scout figure. This one is typical of scout classes, probably only worth it if already getting Seaspray.

As far as the Henkei toys, we have Dark Skyfire and Dinobot. The figure is a repaint of the Classics Jetfire mold from a few years ago. The new purple and black paint scheme looks great. I don't know if it’s coming stateside but kind of hoping it does as part of the Generations line or a store exclusive. Last is new inductee into the Transformers Hall of Fame. Dinobot is a repaint of the previously released Beast Wars toy but this time more cartoon accurate paint job. Sadly Dinobot, while a cool character, remains a clunky Transformer. He is only worth getting if a fan of the character.Read More »

Transformers: War for Cybertron Walkthrough

Thanks to RolandGamingHD here is a video walkthrough for Transformers: War for Cybertron that shows off the single player game. There are plenty of spoilers but if are on the fence about buying the game then watching a few random videos might just be what you need to pull the trigger as they show a fun action filled game.

The walkthrough is broken into two segments, one for the Autobot campaign and another for the Decepticon campaign with 6 plus hours of footage, across 45 videos of around 11 minutes each. One of YouTube's best features is its playlist so can check it out after the break or use the links to look at the individual videos to "like" the videos and comment (to bad YouTube doesn't allow the same for playlists).

A final note, High Moon Studios is offering double experience points this weekend for anyone playing the multiplayer matches online via PC, 360 or PS3. The Double XP starts at 9:00PM and ends whenever they feel like it (but probably after the 4th).Read More »

2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara

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The Grand Vitara is a small SUV and it ain't ashamed of that. The nameplate has been around for a while and Suzuki is making it better, or at least trying to. Bumper2Bumpertv found some thinks we liked..what do you think/

2010 Lamborghini Supercar Cnossus Concept - Lamborghini Sports Car

This here is the Lamborghini Cnossus. The Lamborghini Cnossus Concept was designed by Russian student Victor Filipchenko with the help of his Portuguese colleague Nelson Simoes as part of their final thesis project at Italy’s Scuola Politecnica di Design.

2010 Lamborghini Supercar Cnossus Concept

Every Lambo needs a bull theme, and this supercar design study for a supercar concept named after the ancient Greek city of Cnossus (Knossus) on the island of Crete. The designers claim to have been inspired by the Lamborghini Countach, though it is evident that the edgy styling of the limited production Reventon special also played a role in the design of the Cnossus Concept.

 

Presenting a bold vision of what the firm’s future flagship could look like, the concept takes inspiration from Lamborghini models past and present, including the Countach and Reventón.

 

It boasts many classic cues such as telephone-dial wheels lifted from the Countach, scissor doors and gaping air intakes in front of the rear wheelarch. At the rear, the thin strip of LED lights with inverted arrows at the end is a clear nod towards the Reventón’s jet-fighter theme, while the diffuser looks more like something you’d find on a Le Mans prototype racer than a road car.

Botcon 2010 Panel News

Botcon 2010, the official Transformers convention, was held this weekend at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Hasbro, Activision, IDW, Peter Cullen and more held panels that provided updates on the toys, new cartoon, and more. One of these years I will get to attend but thankfully the other Transformers websites did and reported back. This post is for the panel news and the other for the toy galleries.

Transformers Hall of Fame - Trophy | Display | Dinobot Case
This year's Botcon is also the first year for the Transformers Hall of Fame the inaugural class including is Bob Budiansky (more or less father of much of the Generation One mythology and character personalities), Peter Cullen (needs no introduction), Hideaki Yoke (engineered the transformation concept in toys, TF designer), Kojin Ohno (designer of many Transformers), Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron, Starcream and Beast Wars' Dinobot (chosen by the fans). If you are not sure why Dinobot won, you should watch the last two seasons of Beast Wars.

Botcon 2011 Location
Botcon 2011 will be held at the California Pasadena Convention Center on June 2nd to 5th, perfect for taking advantage of any promotional efforts from Paramount and Hasbro for the release of Transformers 3 later that month.

Transformers Toy Panel
Attended by a few Hasbro employees, this covered Hasbro's toy release plans for the remainder of the year, including a list of all the toys and classes they plan to release (at the link). No new Robot Heroes are planned. Hasbro aware of quality control issues and working with manufacturers to fix it (not sure what this was exactly in reference too).Read More »

Botcon 2010 Galleries Linkfest

Botcon 2010, the official Transformers convention, was held this weekend at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Hasbro, Activision, IDW, Peter Cullen and more held panels that provided updates on the toys, new cartoon, and more. One of these years I will get to attend but thankfully the other Transformers websites did and reported back. This post is for the toy galleries, the other is for the panel news.

Dealer Room
What is a convention without a big room to buy stuff? If you have the money, you can probably find that Transformer you have been looking for and many you may not have known existed. If I ever won the lottery, this would probably be one of my first stops.

Power Core Combiners - One | Two
Images of the various 2-pack and 5-pack combiners that will start hitting shelves as early as July 1st but already seen reports that a few Toys R Us stores have started stocking them.

Hunt for Decepticons & Generations - Video | One | Two | Three | Four | Five
Lots of images that show off even more toys hitting toy shelves very soon to accompany Power Core. The Hunt for Decepticons sub-line has lots of repaints but also new molds while Generations is basically a big kiss to Generation 1 and War for Cybertron fans. Blurr also is shown off (repaint of Drift) but likely not scheduled to hit shelves until September.Read More »

News Report from Milwaukee Transformers 3 Casting Call

This morning Transformers 3 held an extras casting call for Transformers 3 at the Hilton at the Milwaukee City Center. It was setup by TF3 casting director Maryellen Aviano who is looking for "trendy executives" when production comes to the city in July. As the below video from WISN, the call had a good turnout. (via AllSpark)

War for Cybertron Reviews and Accolades Trailer

Transformers: War for Cybertron has been out for a few days now and most of the reviews are in. Overall, the average score is more or less a B with an average numerical score of 80. Activision has out together an "Accolades" trailer (below) to highlight some of the positive reviews for the game. Below are few of the reviews with a few sentences grabbed from each that summarizes the site's view on the game.

1Up.com (B+)
A couple of cool set pieces, cut-scenes, and well produced dialog between the characters help (Peter Cullen is Optimus Prime), but it's the art and character models that do an admirable job of masking the repetitive level design. But even if the levels themselves are generic, there are a host of features in place to save the game from spiraling into mediocrity. ...the multiplayer aspects also add a lot of value to this package. War for Cybertron is an entertaining game that's just as enjoyable as it is playable.Read More »

Transformers Linkfest

Time for another "linkfest". More galleries of upcoming toys from Hasbro and Takara including Generations, Buzz Lightyear and Ghost Starscream. Also videos of the War for Cybertron credits and Hound fan art.

Official Transformers Generations Gallery
Click the link to view a gallery that shows off the 3rd wave of Transformers Generations toys. This wave, due on stores more or less now, is W4C Megatron, W4C Soundwave, Classic Red Alert and Darkmount (based on G1 Straxus).

Dreadwing and Smokescreen Gallery
A look at new additions to the Transformers (minus ROTF) line that is hitting stores soon. Dreadwing is voyager sized and based on the Generation 2 toy. Smokescreen is a shuttle that can attack to Dreadwing's ship mode. Mostly I just like the shade of blue but beyond that think will wait for a review before determine if worth buying.Read More »

Transformers 3's Chicago Brings Traffic

It seems that the six week visit to the city of Chicago by Transformers 3 will bring an unintended gift of increased traffic problems for an already congested city. The Chicago Tribune reports of a news conference held yesterday by the Office of Emergency Management and Communications about the TF3 shoot that is scheduled to run from July 10th to August 19th to tell people about the possible traffic problems the shoot will cause. As a non-Chicagoan, the important part to me is the bit about how the shoot is expected to exceed in scope what The Dark Knight filmed in the city a few years ago.

OEMC Executive Director Jose Santiago said the closures on LaSalle Street (8 p.m. July 9 to 5 a.m. July 12), the Michigan Avenue bridge (8 p.m. July 16 to 5 a.m. July 19) and Upper Wacker Drive (9 p.m. July 18 to 5 a.m. July 22) will have the most impact on traffic. He added that most of the movie's filming in Chicago will take place during daylight.

“It's an ambitious production … but we and the producers are committed to mitigating the disruptions and addressing community concerns,” said Chicago Film Office Director Rich Moskal.

What can Chicagoans expect from filming — besides traffic?

Moskal said recently a few “scenes they're planning could match if not exceed the spectacular stuff ‘The Dark Knight' production pulled off.”

Yes, he's talking about the 2008 Batman film that featured an 18-wheeler getting flipped over on LaSalle Street and a massive explosion that leveled the old Brach's Candy building on the West Side.

“Flying debris, flipping cars, stunts, that's the kind of stuff you'll probably be seeing here,” added Moskal.

2010 Infiniti M37

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Infiniti is very worked up about the changes made to the flagship sedan the M37. We saw a quick look at it during the 2009 Los Angeles Auto show. Now Bumper2Bumpertv takes a deep dive inside to see what all the fuss is about!!

Transformers 3 Promotional Hats

Below are four images of Transformers 3 promotional hats that I wouldn't mind having. Especially the one with the Autobot logo cubed. I can't decide if the other hat is TF3 or TF³ but I suspect the cubed version will be common way of internally referencing the film until an official, number-less title is determined. Thanks to an anonymous source for the pictures.

Images removed per request of manufacturer.

Transformers Exodus Four Chapters and Review

The novel Transformers: Exodus, the "official history of the war for Cybertron", is now out and Hasbro has posted the first four chapters of the novel here. Hasbro description of the novel:

TRANSFORMERS: EXODUS written by Alex Irvine takes fans deep into the secret lore of the TRANSFORMERS universe, charting the creation of the DECEPTICONS and the AUTOBOTS—and chronicling the civil war that divided them. At the center of this thrilling history are OPTIMUS PRIME and MEGATRON, the ultimate hero and the ultimate villain, whose destinies are entwined with that of their home planet, CYBERTRON. Developed in close partnership with Hasbro, this is a canonical TRANSFORMERS tale that also relates to, and expands on, the story being told in the newly released video game, TRANSFORMERS: War for Cybertron, from Activision. Fans will not want to miss all of the details that can only be told in novel form, the moment OPTIMUS gains “PRIME” status, MEGATRON becomes his arch enemy and leader of the DECEPTICONS and their great civil war begins.

AllSpark.com has posted their review of the book. The result is lackluster, about on par with previous Transformers books. "Transformers: Exodus" is not a great book. It is however, an important book. It is not so much a novel as it is a foundation - a foundation for what, is yet to be fully revealed by Hasbro. But it is safe to say that though "Exodus", all facets of the Transformers multiverse has been tied together in a way no Transformers fiction has tackled before."

It seems the book is probably something fans will want to read, if only to know what the new Hasbro sanctioned history of the Transformers universe is now that the inspiration of Generation One has been combined with the movie universe additions to create a new official continuity. A continuity that will continue to likely evolve with Transformers 3 and the Transformers: Prime cartoon series. Of course how important this novel will be in the grand scheme has yet to be determined as it will mostly depend on how future writers use or discard elements from it in their own stories. To get the full review details, click here.

Transformers 3 Heading to Detroit

Freep.com is reporting that Transformers returns to the Motor City once again in August. The franchise last visited Detroit, Michigan for the first Transformers film, primarily at Michigan Central Station. Filming will be for two to three weeks but no specifics on locations that production will be using. Detroit joins other locations Transformers 3 plans to visit including Washington, DC, Kennedy Space Center, Chicago and Milwaukee.

Transformers Exodus: How Bumblebee Lost His Voice

Transformers: Exodus should be hitting stores soon if it hasn't already and writer Alex Irvine provided MTV Movie Blog with a new short story that is not part of the novel. Hasbro considers the Transformers: War for Cybertron as canon for the early origin of "The Great War" and the relationships formed during it. I assume that could also apply to the book and the short story that explains exactly how Bumblebee lost his voice. The story also indicates that the movies and this origin are all part of the same continuity as there are references to the 13 Primes, AllSpark and more. Click here to read the entire story or below for a quick summary. (via AllSpark)Read More »

First Look at Transformers 3 Set Video

MSN UK has posted a video that shows the cast and crew filming at the tilting office set at Playa Vista in LA. It looks like it was taken around the same time as the set images yesterday were taken. The one minute video shows Shia LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley as they run from a Decepticon. The video can be found here. Update: The MSN video no longer available but a mirror of it can be found here.

Shia, Tyrese, Rosie On Tilting Office Set

JustJared.com has posted a few images from the Transformers 3 set that apparently was taken while Tyrese Gibson, Shia LaBeouf and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley were filming a scene from the tilting office set at Playa Vista in LA. Thanks to Schellenbach and Craig for the link.

SPOILER: This specific scene had Shia, Rosie and military troops being chased by an evil Decepticon, who tips the building over. For this shot, one floor of an entire office building was built on a giant platform, which tilted at an angle while “tipped over."

Transformers: War for Cybertron Out Tomorrow

The long wait for video game Transfans is over as Transformers: War for Cybertron will offically be released tomorrow. Below are the various prices I was able to find from common retailers. So far Target has the best deal with Buy 1 Get One 50%, perfect if you are interested in the two DS games. If you find any good prices, feel free to add to the comments and I will try to update the main post with the info.

Amazon
Bonus: Demolisher (pre-order bonus only) & $10 video game credit
360 & PS3: $59.99
Wii: $49.99
DS: $29.99
PC: $36.99

Best Buy
Bonus: Jazz
360 & PS3: $59.99
Wii: $49.99
DS: $29.99
PC: $39.99Read More »

2010 Cadillac Sports Cars Concept SRV Concept Cars

This is the concept of next Cadillac. This concept is an idea from its Wayne Cherry who is responsible in making design concept. After a distinguished career at General Motors that culminated in his being appointed only the fifth vice president of design in the company’s history, he decided to build a concept car of his own.

2010 Cadillac Sports Cars SRV Concept

Wayne Cherry has always loved concept cars. Then you take a close look at Cherry’s VSR street rod, at the hardware, the workmanship, and, most of all, the design, and you realize it could easily take center stage as a concept car on the GM stand at the next international auto show.

"You just can't stop designing, you just can't stop being involved with cars," Cherry explains. "You start to do something like this, and it turns into a concept vehicle." He makes it sound like a winter garage project that got a little out of control, which at a basic level perhaps isn't a million miles from the truth. 

Then you take a close look at Cherry's VSR street rod, at the hardware, the workmanship, and, most of all, the design, and you realize it could easily take center stage as a concept car on the GM stand at the next international auto show.

He joined GM in 1962, straight out of California’s Art Center design school, and was assigned to the advanced design studio at the Tech Center, where, among his first assignments, he assisted on a project that became the first Oldsmobile Toronado, one of the high watermarks of Bill Mitchell’s stint as GM design chief.

At Vauxhall, he worked on the gullwing XVR, the brand's first-ever concept car, which was unveiled at the 1966 Geneva show. His wild, mid-engine SRV, shown at the 1970 Earls Court Motor Show in London, was a four-door, four-seater that stood just 41 inches tall. 

The Equus, one of the star concepts of 1978, was a crisp, state-of-the-moment roadster that rivaled the best from Bertone and Pininfarina. "That's the most uncompromised design I've ever worked on," Cherry said at the time.

2010 HSV Sport Cars HSV 20 Years Of Clubsport Limited Edition

HSV ClubSport 20th Anniversary Edition Launched. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ClubSport, Holden Special Vehicles has launched today the HSV 20 Years Of Clubsport limited edition model. The HSV sports car 20 Years Of Clubsport will be equipped with the company's performance suspension, 20 inch Pentagon wheels in Millennium silver and leather seats as standard. The HSV sports car 20 Years Of Clubsport will also wear a unique decal on the rear window showing a modern iteration of the original VN CS ClubSport badge.

 

2010 HSV Sport Cars HSV 20 Years Of Clubsport Limited Edition

“With this level of value add at no additional cost we anticipate the 100 vehicles will move very quickly and good luck to the person who manages to grab No.1 in the model build,” said General Manager of Sales, Darren Bowler. “City Motors HSV in Perth recorded the highest HSV sports car vehicle sales in 2009 and have been rewarded with the privilege of retailing the No. 1 vehicle to the lucky HSV buyer.”

The The HSV sports car 20 Years Of Clubsport also comes with LED daytime running lights, and various other styling accents.

The HSV 20 Years Of Clubsport price starts at $66,690 AUD for the manual version and at $68,690 AUD for the automatic and only 100 units will ever be available. The first unit of the HSV sports car 20 Years Of Clubsport will probably be the most valuable one. The sales of the new limited edition model will start this month.

Holden Special Vehicle - HSV sports car Press Release:

Australia’s high performance car manufacturer, Holden Special Vehicles, has launched a limited edition model to help celebrate 20 years of its most successful and enduring nameplate – the ClubSport.

The ClubSport brand first appeared as a permanent fixture within the HSV sports car range back in June of 1990 as a VN HSV ClubSport. Featuring a 5.0 liter engine boasting 180kW and 400Nm only 410 VN series ClubSports were built. The model has evolved today to become the highest selling vehicle in the HSV sports car line-up.

General Manager of Marketing and Communications, Tim Jackson, said this milestone was worthy of celebration for the company. ”If we step back 20 years to 1990, this really was a watershed year for the HSV sports car brand. Not only did we introduce our first ClubSport model in June but 1990 also represented our first Bathurst, victory with the Holden Racing Team, who are also celebrating 20 years of success this year."

”The ClubSport has such great history and meaning within our business, and it has always been our purists vehicle - bringing track focused performance and handling to a road vehicle,” Tim Jackson said.

For that reason HSV has taken a ‘back-to-basics’ approach with the 20 years of Clubsport model producing a feature packed high performance vehicle for the true HSV collector. The 20 Years of ClubSport model will receive as standard HSV’s performance suspension, 20 inch Pentagon wheels in Millennium silver and leather seats for no additional cost.

It will be identifiable by a unique decal on the rear window, which the HSV enthusiast will recognise as a modern iteration of the original VN “CS ClubSport” badge, to commemorate the anniversary of the model.

General Manager of Sales, Darren Bowler, said he expected the car to be well received within the HSV Dealer network and amongst HSV’s strong customer base. “With this level of value add at no additional cost we anticipate the 100 vehicles will move very quickly and good luck to the person who manages to grab No.1 in the model build.

“City Motors HSV in Perth recorded the highest HSV vehicle sales in 2009 and have been rewarded with the privilege of retailing the No. 1 vehicle to the lucky HSV buyer,” Darren Bowler said.

The 100 limited edition 20 Years of ClubSport models will start appearing in HSV Dealers show rooms across Australia from late June. The vehicle will come with an RRP of $66,690 for manual and $68,690 for automatic.

HSV ClubSport Fast Facts:

- The ClubSport model has been exported to both the UK and the Middle East markets.

- The best build year for ClubSport was 2003 with over 2200 being built.

- When the first ClubSport went on sale (VN), its RRP was $33,320 (man) and $34,140 (auto), and a total of 410 were built. Its engine was a 4987cc    V8 producing 180kw ' 400Nm.

- The ClubSport model has had four different engine variants over its lifespan including the original 5.0 litre then the 5.7 litre LS1, 6.0 litre     LS2 and the current 6.2 litre LS3.

Video Confirms Sideswipe Convertible Alt Mode

Based on the video below from nando323, it seems the image of a Chevy Corvette Centennial Convertible is the new alt mode for Sideswipe in Transformers 3. The brief video was filmed in downtown Los Angeles at 4th Street and Main and shows a red Ferrari 458 Italia, Bumblebee Camaro and the grey Stingray convertible driving away without its top. Thanks to Mike G for the link.

Transformers Linkfest

Transformers: Generations Red Alert Gallery
Hit the link to get a look at the Classic 2.0 mold repainted to look like Red Alert. It is a repaint that has already been done about 4 times from that mold but I think most Generation One fans will be happy to see. The rather odd colored figured in the images is for Breakdown, a nod to the Generation 2 toy that was produced for Botcon 2010.

Voyager Banzaitron in Package
A front and back look at the figure in its packaging. The figure is simply a repaint of Bludgeon. Like many Transformers repaints, the color scheme strikes me as superior to the original release. I don't have a clue on when this figure will hit retail. Read More »

Prime, Bumblebee, Ferrari on Set Images

TFW2005 member Cyclonus86 has posted three images from a Transformers set. I assume this occurred at or near Playa Vista in LA. The images show Bumblebee, Optimus Prime and the Ferrari 458 Italia vehicle that Bay revealed would be an Autobot in the movie.

Transformers 3 Heading To Milwaukee

Transformers 3 will be packing its bags to head to Milwaukee, Wisconsin according to OnMilwaukee.com and The Business Journal. TF3 production will bring 150 cast and crew to the Milwaukee Art Museum and and Tower Automotice site on July 12-13. No details on exactly what is being filmed or with what cast members.

A casting call will be held Saturday, June 26, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center in the Wright Ballroom on the fourth floor. If you're a female or male "trendy executive type," 18 or over, you're invited to show up (with a pen, please).

"We're really excited to showcase the Art Museum in what will be one of the most anticipated blockbuster films for next summer," said Milwaukee Art Museum Director Dan Keegan.

"The film will give the venue worldwide exposure during our 10th year anniversary celebration of the Santiago Calatrava designed Quadracci Pavilion."

The Tower Automotive site on Capitol Drive will also be utilized, but don't bother showing up at either location. The sets are closed to the public and the museum will be closed to the public on July 12.

"We are thrilled that Milwaukee can host the cast and crew of 'Transformers 3' and we recognize the economic benefits and pride of place that blockbuster movies bring to Milwaukee and Wisconsin," said Dave Fantle, from VISIT Milwaukee and president of the Film Wisconsin board.

"Logistical planning for the film began last November, and the cooperation between the city, the county and the private sector has been tremendous."

Sideswipe Goes Convertible?

A few months ago Bumblebee was rumored to have become a convertible due to a change in design for the Chevy Camaro and now its Sideswipe's turn. In Revenge of the Fallen, Sideswipe's alt mode was the Corvette Stingray Concept car. Corvette Blogger was posted an image of a convertible version of the concept car spotted near a Transformers 3 set that suggests that Sideswipe might get an upgrade. Since the vehicle has yet to be released by Chevy, I am sure they wouldn't mind the current model making an appearance in the movie. It way too early to say this is an accurate assumption as we don't even know if the character is in the movie. This is a very sleek looking ride so it might be a welcome alteration to the character. Thanks to Christopher for the link.

Transformers 3 Brings Economic Boost To Chicago

An article from the Chicago Sun Times discusses Transformers 3 impending invasion of the city starting from July 10th to August 19th. According to the article, the six week shoot is expected to "pump $20 million into the local economy and create 200 jobs, including 10 internships for inner-city students."

“You’re gonna see a little bit of mayhem. You know, I mean it wouldn’t be ‘Transformers’ without it,” Di Bonaventura said. “Hopefully, it’ll be fun. What we find is, people really end up enjoying the spectacle of what we’re doing.”

[Mayor] Daley said a certain degree of mayhem is fine with him so long as “safety comes first. . . . They’re very conscious of that. You don’t want to say where you can go, where you can’t go. They replace everything. They don’t destroy buildings,” he said. “This is all about creativity. They have to figure out their audiences. . . . Younger people are attached to this.”

Seventeen-year-old Montel Williams certainly is. A student at North Lawndale College Prep, he’s one of the film-loving Chicago Public School students lucky enough to be hired as an intern for the filming. “I have a passion for film. It’s in my heart deeply. . . . I’m ready for hands-on,” Williams said. “This is my career. I’m looking for anything out there that’s gonna benefit me and my career.”

IDW September Transformers Comics

IDW Publishing has released their publishing plans for September. The month will bring four Transformers comic books and one trades. If you are interested in the books, just let your local comic book store know. For the full details of IDW's TF and other books including GI Joe, Star Trek, Angel and more click here.

Transformers: Drift #1 (of 4)
Shane McCarthy (w) • Alex Milne (a & c)
What was it that caused one of the DECEPTICON’s most ruthless soldiers to turn his back on them? And what ancient secret lies hidden deep within an alien planet? All this and more as the origin of the newest AUTOBOT, DRIFT, is finally revealed!
• 32 pages • $3.99 • Expected in-store date: 9/15

Transformers: Drift #2 (of 4)
Shane McCarthy (w) • Alex Milne (a & c)
What is the secret behind DRIFT’s startling rescuers? How is it they came to be on the isolated, desert planet and what does this have to do with DRIFT’s future? As DRIFT uncovers answers, he’s suddenly faced with a decision that could alter his life forever!
• 2 covers, shipped in 1-to-1 ratio • 32 pages • $3.99 • Expected in-store date: 9/29Read More »