Michael Bay
Interview By: Dan Portnoy
Directors at times may fluctuate and take on different genres in order to gain more knowledge about film as a whole or just to mix it up a bit. Michael Bay however, sticks to what he's good at and that's action. He is most known for directing The Rock and Armageddon in which he commanded a star studded cast. His most recent film The Island, which Bay had actually finished a mere 72 hours before this interview, is projected to bring in the action hungry audiences in droves.
The Island tells the story of an underground facility where clones are harvested and eventually destroyed. Each clone within the compound is a copy of a wealthy person living in the outside world. When that person or 'sponsor' is debilitated in any physical way, it is replaced using their clones. Once two clones Lincoln Six Echo (Ewan Mcgreggor) and Jordan Two Delta (Scarlett Johansson) discover what's really going on, they escape in order to find their sponsors, find out what's really going on, and prevent the deaths of thousands of clones. Throughout the film you question your values, and leave pondering the question that Bay intended 'When the audience leaves I want people to think; would you if you could, have a clone''
Michael Bay isn't a director who remains in the background; he's on the front line, taking the initiative and making things happen. 'I'm just not one of those directors that sits in his trailer, I don't even use my trailer'that's how I get my creative energy, I'm involved with setting every shot.' His dedication to each film and the action genre is the reason that his films generally gross such high numbers at the box office. Not to mention when he arrives at the set there's no down time, he's all about business. 'I arrive to the set about 45 minutes after the crew gets there'When I get there I wanna shoot, and I'm like that through the whole day. I like to shoot fast, because it gives me more time to improv with the actors.' In this respect he is able to extract everything that he can from his crew as well as the actors. This way each scene manifests itself from Bay's vision.
Previously when Michael Bay is creating a vision, the name of his friend and collaborator Jerry Bruckheimer is partied to it. This however, happens to be the first film in which Bay has not worked alongside Jerry. Sad, I know, but tears aside, the action and the acting in The Island may have surpassed a few of Bay's previous films. 'I care so much about the acting,' he says earnestly. This film actually had more substance then most of his other films, and where there's substance sub-par acting just won't cut it.
In making this film it was actually a challenge for Bay to not incorporate intense action early on in the movie. 'With action I keep trying to challenge myself. On this story I was trying to challenge myself by doing a much slower build to the movie. It hurt, I'm like 'I just got to do some action in the beginning of the movie' and I was forcing myself not to. I drew it out for 30 minutes and I just love how that switch happens and the movie takes off.' And take off it does. Once Lincoln and Jordan escape, the action is relentless, taking you on high speed futuristic car chases, and other nail biting situations that I won't spoil for you.
'You think is the audience going to get bored, this younger generation, do they want something faster' Hopefully they're going to like the beginning of this movie.' I assure you, as a member of that 'generation,' it's not a problem. The story is what drives the first 30 minutes of the film, giving the audience an idea of the limited experiences, day to day activities, and the overall sterility of the lives these clones lead. It does the job in gradually building up to the action that will undoubtedly occur. The action, as much as Bay loves it, actually frightens him. 'That's the scariest part of my job,' he says forcing a smile. In fact Scarlett Johansson almost lost an eye riding on one of the futuristic hovercrafts (a.k.a. 'wasps') showcased in the movie. When it's all over Mr. Bay, you can breathe again.
Coming up for Michael Bay is a 'Transformers movie' that is sure to please die hard fans as well as first timers. With the release of The Island Bay will continue to wow audiences with the action bombardment summer moviegoers certainly crave.
