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In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, popular director Michael Bay revealed his thoughts on some changes in the Hollywood industry. The director mentioned that he was on a conference call with James Cameron, and both directors had a chat about no one giving a green light nowadays and the slow pace of business in the industry.
“I just had a conference call with Jim Cameron and we were both commiserating about Hollywood. No one can greenlight anything anymore. It’s just so slow. It’s a very different business.”
Michael Bay is reportedly moving to independent filmmaking. He presented his latest documentary, We Are Storrer, at the SXSW in 2025. The Transformers director revisited his time in Hollywood in the 90s when he started his career.
Bay mentions that during the 90s, Hollywood business encouraged expediency rather than drawing development like it does today. Bay recalled that while working on his movie Armageddon, he discussed the movie with a writer and a NASA expert for two or three weeks and then got a green light.
He also narrated to The Hollywood Reporter his visit to Joe Roth's (former Disney Chairman) office to discuss Armageddon. Roth left him wondering whether the movie was given a green light or not!
"We go into [former Walt Disney Chairman] Joe Roth’s office. This would be my third movie. And Joe, he’s like a real old time, cool studio executive,” He goes, ‘That’s going to be my July 4th movie. I want to name it ‘Armageddon.” We walk out and we’re looking at each other. ‘Did he just greenlight that movie?’ That doesn’t happen now. But that’s how it used to happen.”
Bay emphasizes the fact that it has now become very difficult to get a green light from anyone in Hollywood.
Michael Bay's latest project
Michael Bay's latest documentary, We Are Storrer, is the story of some free-running athletes moving freely around the world and garnering millions of views on YouTube. The seven athletes have been recording their experiences for around 18 years.
The documentary uses old and new palms footage to tell the story of two roof-hopping brothers (in their 30s) who steadily realize that their bodies can no longer perform with the same strength. The documentary is expected to be a mix of thrill and emotions.
In an interview with Hollywood Reporter, Bay mentions his inspiration behind the documentary. The director saw 60 minutes and started looking for the best parkour team in the world. That is how they started working on the documentary.
"'Get them in my office.' I asked them, ‘Would you like to fly through Chicago in Transformers … 3?' Or 4? I think it was 4. Then we were making [his 2019 action thriller] 6 Underground and I said, 'Find the best parkour team in the world.'"
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With this documentary, Bay explores the world of elite athletes who aren't just any random wanderers on YouTube. It delves deeper into their struggle, techniques, character building, and a bundle of emotions that run through the athlete's mind.
He mentions that as a director, he wants to keep shooting and exploring different genres and projects and not limit himself.
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