Disinformation (Bayformers, etc) what's the point?

[ALF]

I mean, eventually when the books and other merchandise come out about 1 month prior to the film's release we will know everything.

So why bother misinforming the public (read: internet spoiler geeks like myself) several months beforehand when inevitably we shall spoil ourselves silly anyway?

Michael Bay is very outspoken about his misinformation campaign. Just this week someone reported to some Transformers websites about a phone survey that "revealed" plot points about TF2. Days later, someone actually asked Bay on his website if the plot points were true, and he debunked them as lies in his response.

(source)
http://tformers.com/transformers-bay-says-revenge-of-the-fallen-phone-survey-is-fake/10931/news.html

Case in point for Transformers 2. Right now we don't even know

Spoiler: Fallen

one hundred percent certain if Megatron is going to be in the film or not (the toy release doesn't matter)

. But when the graphic novels and books are sold we'll know.

I can understand keeping points a film secret, but I don't see the point to doing so up and until the last month or so. Futhermore, why is it that Bay finds in a requirement to jerk us around in regards to plot details?

The problem I have with this is that future filmmakers will see his example as a precedent. Spoil the movie falsly. Piss off the fans. Cue the rolling eyes.

On the other hand, Bay recieved death threats because he put blue flames on Optimus. That's not cool at all.

J.J. Is another example. He kept nearly every aspect of Trek a secret until recently when the trailer came out and that seems to have made an impact. But in April when the novels come out, the plot is going to be all over the interwebs.

Does Harry Potter seem less enjoyable because we know the story first? Most people I know haven't read the HP books and don't plan to. But they could... before they watched the movie. My former roommate was convinced she should read the Lord of the Rings books before watching the films. She only made it halfway through Fellowship.

Anyway. Please explain to me why a film's fine details must be kept in the highest secrecy until 31 days before it's release.

Mods, I didn't post this in TV and Media because I find the majority of the fanboy spoiler base resides in the realm of sci fi and fantasy; feel free to move it if need be.

 

[Skywalker]

Because they want people to pay money to find out the story.

 

[StarTrek1701]

Because they want people to pay money to find out the story.

What he said.

 

[ALF]

The price of a movie ticket, the price of a book. What's the difference? It's both ten bucks. They both convey the story.

The book comes out earlier than the movie.

 

[T'Baio]

It's part having fun.

Part derision for the core audience.

Part being proud of what you're doing and coming from the generation who saw films without knowing anything beforehand, and knowing the great films become magic that way, and wanting to preserve that experience.

 

[Nick Ryder]

Although what does bug me about Bay is that he likes to spread 'lies' or 'half truths' granted sure don't give away every damn detail, but don't lie to us. And about books/graphic novels. They always have scenes/details that are or aren't in the movie. And that's always part of the fun too, is seeing which parts are in the movie and which aren't. And then bitching that they didn't include that 'cool part' in the book.

Although that's part of the problem with these FX laden movies, they take so long in post production to finish that its hard to release a sequel or any high concept movie 'under the radar'. Since it may be months to almost a year before the film is finished after the actual filming is wrapped. So there's plenty of time for spoilers and 'cast reports' to leak. Part of me thinks they should just do the sequel immediately after the first one, have both scripts done and ready and then you know continuity and plot points set up in Part 1 are going to be addressed in Part 2. Sort of like how they did Back to the Future 2 and 3. They went directly from 2 into 3. Or LOTR, they did the whole trilogy straight through and then spent the rest of the time in between movies doing the effects and maybe an odd pick up here and there.

Its a big commitment from the actors, but the results would be worthwhile and hey if the first one doesn't do too well, they can release the second one right away and try to at least get some of the money back. Although I think they would do well to do what JJ Abrams did and have it screened for a select group of 'geeks' who know the source material like the back of their hand and see what they think. Because honestly, us 'geeks' are the ones that can make or break a sci-fi movie. If we like it or at least feel entertained, then that'll trickle down to others. I mean think about, who of us here hasnt' been asked by a friend/family member/coworker who knows you're 'really into sci-fi' "So what did you think of X?" before they went to see it.

My barometer for Trek XI was when Kevin Smith saw it and said it was good. Now Kevin Smith is a geek's geek. May not like the man as a person necessarily, but I respect his opinion.

Disinformation is 'fun' but I think they'd be better served by having the movie film in secrecy (Like Trek XI) then slowly release details after screening near complete versions of the movie (and that's the thing too, they don't have to show the ENTIRE movie at the screeners or the final cut) to a group of critics and 'experts'.

If Bay was smart (and I doubt he is... ba dum bump!) he'd screen TF2 to guys like the former Marvel writers and artists, Simon Furman, Frank Welker, Peter Cullen, Susan Blu, maybe some other directors and known 'big' TF fans. Kevin Smith. People that would know if he got it right. And then take whatever direction he got into consideration. While yeah they may say 'no flames on Prime' that's just a design - not who the character is. It looks cool, so what? Its his movie, and honestly I have no issues with the alt modes or the robot modes as long as there's something to visually link them to their G1 counterparts. Like Prime's head is very G1 based, the windows on his chest, the 'abs' being part of the grill work. Bumblebee's little 'antennae', the blue eyes, the stripes. Jazz's visor and head design, and even the car he was looked close enough to a classic 80s era Porsche.

But I recall them saying "Oh yeah Jazz is back in TF2" and we all know by now that he ain't.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

J.J. Is another example. He kept nearly every aspect of Trek a secret until recently when the trailer came out and that seems to have made an impact. But in April when the novels come out, the plot is going to be all over the interwebs.

There's some question that there will be a novelization of the Abrams Star Trek film. IDW has said unequivocally that there will not be a comics adaptation (they're only doing a prequel comic, Countdown, about Spock and Nero in the 24th century), but Pocket has been mum on the subject of a novelization. I know that an author was picked for the novelization, back when the film was set for a December '08 release, but there's been neither confirmation nor denial from Pocket if there's one on the schedule for May.

If there is a novelization, it will have a hard street date, like the Harry Potter books. The previous novelizations, at least since Generations, all had hard street dates and could not be sold prior to the film's release date.

 

[Hartzilla2007]

I mean, eventually when the books and other merchandise come out about 1 month prior to the film's release we will know everything.

So why bother misinforming the public (read: internet spoiler geeks like myself) several months beforehand when inevitably we shall spoil ourselves silly anyway?

Michael Bay is very outspoken about his misinformation campaign. Just this week someone reported to some Transformers websites about a phone survey that "revealed" plot points about TF2. Days later, someone actually asked Bay on his website if the plot points were true, and he debunked them as lies in his response.

(source)
http://tformers.com/transformers-bay-says-revenge-of-the-fallen-phone-survey-is-fake/10931/news.html

Case in point for Transformers 2. Right now we don't even know

Spoiler: Fallen

one hundred percent certain if Megatron is going to be in the film or not (the toy release doesn't matter)

. But when the graphic novels and books are sold we'll know.

I can understand keeping points a film secret, but I don't see the point to doing so up and until the last month or so. Futhermore, why is it that Bay finds in a requirement to jerk us around in regards to plot details?

The problem I have with this is that future filmmakers will see his example as a precedent. Spoil the movie falsly. Piss off the fans. Cue the rolling eyes.

On the other hand, Bay recieved death threats because he put blue flames on Optimus. That's not cool at all.

J.J. Is another example. He kept nearly every aspect of Trek a secret until recently when the trailer came out and that seems to have made an impact. But in April when the novels come out, the plot is going to be all over the interwebs.

Does Harry Potter seem less enjoyable because we know the story first? Most people I know haven't read the HP books and don't plan to. But they could... before they watched the movie. My former roommate was convinced she should read the Lord of the Rings books before watching the films. She only made it halfway through Fellowship.

Anyway. Please explain to me why a film's fine details must be kept in the highest secrecy until 31 days before it's release.

Mods, I didn't post this in TV and Media because I find the majority of the fanboy spoiler base resides in the realm of sci fi and fantasy; feel free to move it if need be.

On the Star Trek note we actually don't know ehwn the book comes out, we don't even know who's writing it.