The master of explosive action movies, Michael Bay, had a long journey in the movie industry. Like his movie heroes, the Transformers director is not a man who holds his punches. Long before Bay became a blockbuster filmmaker, he worked at Lucasfilm filing storyboards for a Steven Spielberg movie. Bay, 15 at that time, thought the legendary director’s iconic movie was going to “s*ck.”
He recounted the entire incident in a 2007 interview with Entertainment Weekly. The Pearl Harbour director further reveals how Spielberg’s influence played a pivotal role in shaping his career.
Michael Bay Had Doubts About One of Hollywood’s Most Iconic Franchises
When Michael Bay was just 27, he got a call from his agent about a meeting with none other than Steven Spielberg. By this point, Bay was doing a great job with some fun commercials and he sent some of the reels to Hollywood production houses. One such commercial caught the eyes of Spielberg. In his first meeting, the 6 Underground director unveiled an old truth talking to the ET director:
“You know, when I was 15, I worked at Lucasfilm and I filed your Raiders of the Lost Ark storyboards. I saw the entire movie in storyboard form and I honestly thought it was going to s*ck.”
But he admits to Spielberg that once he saw the Indiana Jones film in theaters, he was mindblown and wanted to do the same with his films. It was this chance encounter with the legendary Jurassic Park director that not only changed Bay’s perspective but also set the stage for a highly successful collaboration and a box-office triumph.
Spielberg’s Influence Turns Michael Bay’s Doubt Into a Blockbuster Franchise For Himself
Instead of being offended, Spielberg laughed, and it was a moment that broke the ice and marked the beginning of a fruitful mentorship. Spielberg demonstrated his genuine interest in Bay’s career. They spent time together in Bay’s “war room”, discussing shots and sequences for Bay’s projects:
“We would sit in my war room and I’d say, ”Oh, Steven, I got this scene and I want to do it like this and shoot like that.” And he knows what I’m talking about. He goes, ”Oh, what if you do that?”
The Schindler’s List director understood Bay’s creative decisions and offered insightful suggestions. Bay remarks that amidst their creative discussions, Spielberg’s competitive gears were also turning for the next installment of the Indiana Jones franchise.
Source: Entertainment Weekly Archives
