TF3 Detroit: Downtown With The Big Gun And Bayhem

The area around the Farwell Building in Detroit and the Clifford and Woodward area was invaded today by Transformers 3 production. Most of the Autobot vehicles showed up along with the gigantic gun/jet prop, and the cast. Part of the filming appears to be a continuation of the scene from last week with Shia and Rosie on the prop sharing a hug then later that night which brought some more Bayhem boom to the set (video below). Thanks to J1000 and Surge29 we have two galleries of pictures and videos to enjoy from the day. The set report, first set of pics and last videos are from J1000. The second set of pics and 1st video is from Surge29.

Lots of great stuff going on today; Shia and Rosie were filming on the TF Jet prop (which now appears to definitely not be an "arm" or anything like that, as it was sitting street-level as they climbed on and off of it in front of the deli/liquor store set on Clifford. They were also shooting at the Farwell building with probably close to 100 (maybe more) extras running to the center of the intersection, as they were preparing to blow out a store front there. Towards the end of the evening, as the guys that haul the Autobots around were packing them up for the night, they were very cool and gave me a chance to get some pics of my son with Bumblebee and Sideswipe; then, one of the guys gave my son a NEST logo sticker that they actually us on the vehicles! What a cool souvenir! As you can see in the pic, he's super excited about that! I also noticed the classic silver Mercedes in the hauler that has been seen on other sets. I had my wife and kids with me, and we even got a mention in the local paper (Detroit Free Press), who was there covering some of the goings-on.

J1000

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TF3 Detroit: Transformers At Central Station

J1000 returns with more pictures and video of Transformers 3 production in Detroit. Today brought cast and crew, along with basically all of the Autobot Transformers vehicles including the Wreckers, Twins, Ironhide, Prime (with trailer), etc to Michigan Central Station. At same time the crew was putting the finishing touches on the Clifford and Woodward faked store front set while adding the huge Transformers jet thingy prop from last week. J1000's report, pictures and 9 videos below speak for themselves.

Things are full speed ahead in Detroit now! They were filming at Michigan Central Station most of the day, followed by a quick trip over to the Packard Plant in the late evening for some other shots. The downtown sets should be shooting tomorrow; the Deli/Liquor store they've been setting up at Clifford and Woodward now has the Transformer Jet prop assembled in front of it; they were putting it together around lunch time (the engines were still at Packard at that point), and had it assembled when I came back by around 5PM. At Central Station, they were filming Shia, and I think Duhamel and Tyrese and possibly Hardcore Eddie, as well.

The Wreckers were being filmed racing across the front of the Station, while Ratchet was positioned at the left side door, and tires could be heard squealing inside the station. They were shooting closeups of the NEST squad and Shia on the right side of the station. After they wrapped at Central for the day, I heard a crew member's radio say they had to rush over to Packard; I got some great HD video shots of them leaving, and then arriving at Packard. I caught a glimpse (and pic) of a second Optimus cab inside the gates (I've seen doubles of the other cars, but not Optimus yet). As they were filming at Packard, there were a few small explosions. Tyrese's Chevelle drove by, and a bit later, Ironhide and the Twins finally arrived on a car hauler! Exciting day here in Detroit! Stay Tuned!

J1000

Tyrese Not Wrapped On Transformers 3

It seems my assumption that Tyrese Gibson might be wrapped on Transformers 3 and moved onto Fast and Furious 5 was incorrect. Based on last few days of tweets he is in fact now commuting between the two sets, the TF3 set in Detroit and the FF5 in Atlanta.

Late Monday night he tweeted "Back in Detroit.. More robots to chase in the AM.. #TF3". Minutes later this was followed up with "Wearing heavy gear while I save the world from these evil Decepticons!!" along with link to a picture of Josh Duhamel and him.

Finally Tuesday night he tweeted, "Just finished another day of shooting Transformers 3.. Headed BACK to the AtL tomorrow to get more action on Fast & Furious 5." I assume that means he was at the Packard Plant filming whatever all the smoke was for.

TF3 Detroit: Smoking On Set

Transformers 3 production continues in Detroit. Thanks again to J1000 we now know they have returned to Packard Plant complete with video (below). He also provided some details on continued set prep and what he was able to spot at the locked down location.

They were filming most of the day at the Packard Plant again; it looks like the ship prop is back near the train wreck again as well. I saw the Wreckers there today, as well as the rest of the Autobots that have been here the last few days. Downtown, the Farwell building set looks like it's pretty close to finished, as well as the building at Clifford and Woodward. There are now fake deli signs in the window advertising specials, etc, as well as a new damaged sign being hung up. The streets are starting to get blocked off, and there is lots of video/power cables run all over. At Central Station, preparations continue as well, with "rubble" now leaned against the front of the station, and on top of the Chicago cabs to appear like it's collapsing somewhat. There is a lot of cabling run around the perimeter of the building externally here as well, so I assume they'll be filming at these spots in the next couple days. At the lot where all the damaged cars and rubble are being stored, I saw them loading up some rubble and trucking it off to a set. Looks like they're going to be really busy shooting the next few days. I've got some video of some of the smoke/fire, etc at the Packard Plant today as well.

J1000

Drift #2 Preview

Transformers: Drift #2 will be hitting comic book stores tomorrow. Seibertron.com has posted the covers and a five page preview of the issue that you can find here.

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 • $3.99USD • Expected in-store date: 9/29

TF3 Detroit: Set Prep And Transformers

J1000 is back on the case with information, pictures and video of the various shooting locations being used as production continues its possible final week in Detroit. It seems the Transformers 3 performed more infrastructure repair as several abandoned locations have been spruced up to look like stores fronts for filming. If missing a look at your favorite Autobot, he also has that covered with a few pictures of Prime, Bumblebee, and few others.

Today, I got to "Roll out" with Optimus and Ratchet, as I followed them from the Packard Plant to a new location [video below] (The Connor Creek Detroit Edison Plant; nothing really to be seen here, as it's fairly well isolated from the surrounding area. It's the large plant with two smoke stacks in the pics). I got a chance to get some great pics of all the Autobots that were present as well. There were two Bumblebees, two Sideswipes, two Ferraris, and two of the Benzs. They were being washed and prepped for shooting. They were also filming at the Fisher Building downtown today.

There's a set being finished up at Clifford and Woodward, where they've built what looks like a fake subway entrance/stairwell type thing in the street, and have been decorating a building for a few days. Today they painted "Park in Rear" and some arrows on it. Right next door to it, they have decorated the vacant former Michigan National Bank building to look like a lingerie store window front (presumably something that matches Chicago). The building is vacant/empty if you look in through the front doors. I'm not sure if the "Cobras Club - Gentleman's club" is part of the set or not, though it may be, as the name is spelled wrong on one side of the sign). Also, Central Station was getting A/V/Power cable wrapped all around it as they prepped it for shooting on the outside (they've been doing interior work for at least a week now). Filming will be taking place in several areas over the rest of the week.

J1000