FILMS DIRECTED BY MICHAEL BAY
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Michael Bay is an American born director and producer. He is known for action packed films featuring explosions, lens flares, explosions, CGI, explosions, camera movement and did we mention explosions.
Bay co-owns the production company Platinum Dunes which is known for remaking classic horror movies. |
BAYHEMMichael Bay's distinctive style is often referred to as Bayhem. This video (to the right) is a great introduction to his style and how it can be seen in his films.
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EXPLOSIONSMichael Bay creates as much action as possible on set and record in camera. This is referred to as special effects rather than visual effects created in post production. If you see a bus flip and explode from a Transformer hitting it - Bay's production team would have made that bus actually flip and explode on set.
This video (on the right) is a behind the scene from the original Transformer film. Take note of how the highway scene has been created and the go-kart camera used to make the audience feel like they are part of the action. |
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Michael Bay makes use of camera moving around the main character and slow motion in almost every film. These two techniques let the audience pause to take in everything that has just happened or get ready for what action is about to happen.
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AMERICAThe theme of America is embedded with Michael Bay films. This can be seen with the American flag placed throughout numerous films. We can also see themes of America within the Transformer films and the American Military coming to save the day. The ideas around the military aren't featured in the original Transformer cartoons - this addition has come from Bay.
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LENS FLAREWe can see that Michael Bay loves a good lens flare. The audience can see them during explosions, opening titles and during outer space sequence.
Why do you think Bay makes use of these so often? |
PRODUCT PLACEMENTBefore Michael Bay created feature films he worked in the advertising industry and creating music videos. It is no surprise that Bay makes use of products throughout his films.
This video from Screen Crush shows all the product placements in Bay's films - they count a total of 555! So why so many? The reason behind the product placement is money - companies pay Bay to have their products in his films, it is a form of advertising. |
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michael bay styleNow that we have looked at the characteristics of Michael Bay's work we can start to imagine how other films of TV shows would look if they had the Bay treatment.
Check out the Pixar movie Up and Family Guy if created by Michael Bay. |
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