“More Than Meets the Eye”: Transformers and the Complexities of Franchise Film Production in Contemporary Hollywood

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Notes

1. Schatz, “The Return of the Hollywood Studio System”, in Conglomerates and the Media, 74.

2. Welkos, “Producers of ‘Batman’ Sue Warner,” in Los Angeles Times.

3. Johnson, “The Lawsuit of the Rings,” in New York Times.

4. Dargis, “Car Wars with Shape-Shifters ‘R’ Us: Review of Transformers,” in New York Times.

5. Schatz, “The New Hollywood,” in Film Theory Goes to the Movies, 34.

6. Schauer, “Critics, Clones and Narrative in the Franchise Blockbuster, “ in New Review of Film and Television Studies, 193.

7. Johnson, “Franchise Histories: Marvel, X-Men, and the Negotiated Process of Expansion,” in Convergence Media History, 14.

8. Ibid.

9. Ibid, 22.

10. Gutis, “Trying to Run a Bigger Hasbro,” in New York Times, C5.

11. Bainbridge, “Fully Articulated: The Rise of the Action Figure and the Changing Face of ‘Children's’ Entertainment,” in Continuum, 833.

12. Ibid, 834–835.

13. Saltzman, “Tonka and Hasbro Ready for Toy Wars with $8 Million Budgets” in Adweek; “Top 100 Eke Out 2.7% Ad Increase,” in Advertising Age, 3.

14. Stevenson, “The Selling of Toy ‘Concepts,” in New York Times, A33.

15. Kiefer, “Plastic Robots from Japan Changing the Shape of the Toy Market,” in Christian Science Monitor, 19.

16. Sinclair, “The Transformers: Changing the Shape of Christmas,” in Washington Post, C1.

17. Monroe, “How to Transform a Toymaker,” in Newsweek, 72.

18. Ibid.

19. Bainbridge, Fully Articulated, 837.

20. Harmetz, “Video Alters Economics of Movie Animation,” in New York Times, C19.

21. O'Leary, “Pressure from Judge Could Bring FCC Action on Toy Marketers' TV Tie-ins,” in Adweek.

22. Harmetz, Video Alters Economics, C19

23. “Ad Growth Sluggish for 100,” in Advertising Age, 4; “Top 100 Eke Out 2.7% Ad Increase, “ in Advertising Age, 3.

24. Reed, “Trouble in Toyland,” in Marketing.

25. Carter, “Don't Look Now, ‘Bot They're Back and with a Dark, Violent Tone,” in Ottawa Citizen, B5.

26. Quoted in Petersen, “Griffin Bacal Takes Hasbro's Transformers to the Movies.” Mediaweek, 3.

27. “Hasbro to Relaunch Transformers,” in Adweek.

28. Ibid, 15.

29. Ibid.

30. Ibid.

31. Richmond, “New Season Has Diverse Makeup,” in Variety.

32. Quoted in Gardner, “‘Transformers'” Rolling Out in Live-action Pic, in Hollywood Reporter, A1.

33. Ibid.

34. Graser, “Hollywood's Toy Ploy,” in Variety, 1.

35. Smith, “Hasbro Banking on ‘Transformers’ Change,” in USA Today.

36. Bainbridge, Fully Articulated, 839.

37. Quoted in “Spielberg to Transform Toys to Film,” in Sunday Mail, 11.

38. Quoted in LaPorte, “Dream Machine Gets a Facelift,” in Variety, 1.

39. Chaney and Goldsmith, “Studios Tap Equity,” in Variety, 11.

40. Quoted in Waxman, “DreamWorks Deal Played Like a Drama,” in New York Times.

41. Holson, “Fans Get to Talk About “Transformers,” and the Knives Are Unsheathed,” in New York Times.

42. Ibid.

43. Halbfinger, “How a Fan of Comic Books Transformed Himself into a Hollywood Player,” in New York Times, B7.

44. Quoted in Finke, “‘Transformers’ Michael Bay Lays on Blame,” in Deadline Hollywood [quote from a deleted website post].

45. Quoted in Holson, “Whose Movie Was It?” International Herald Tribune, 13.

46. Quoted in Ibid, 13.

47. Quoted in Fuchs, “Transforming ‘Transformers,” in Hollywood Reporter.

48. Quoted in “‘Transformers’ a GM Ad in Disguise” in Associated Press.

49. “How GM Scored One of the Largest Product Placements Ever in ‘Transformers,” in Screenhead.

50. Quoted in “‘Transformers” a GM Ad.”

51. Ibid.

52. Ibid.

53. Omans, “Rise of the Chevy Autobots,” in Kevin Omans' Blog.

54. Halliday, “GM's ‘Transformers’ Tie-In Extends Beyond Big Screen,” in Advertising Age.

55. Lotz, The Television Will Be Revolutionized, 167.

56. Ibid, p. 170.

57. Quoted in “‘Transformers’ a GM Ad.”

58. Quoted in “Transformers and GM Form Power Partnership,” in Comingsoon.net.

59. Quoted in Hinds, “GM Hopes Movie Roles Transform Cars into Sellable Stars,” in USA Today.

60. Brodesser-Akner, “How Ford Snared Starring Role in ‘Knight Rider’ TV Movie,” Advertising Age, 22.

61. Bunkley, “G.M. and Toyota in a Close Race in ’07 Sales,” in New York Times.

62. Quoted in Brodesser-Akner, How Ford Snared, 22.

63. Kavilanz, “Hasbro Hints at ‘Transformers’ Sequel,” in CNN Money.

64. Burke, “Transformer Toys Buoy Hasbro Profits,” in International Herald Tribune, 17.

65. “Hasbro Rolls Out Wide-Range of Transformers Merchandise Around the Globe in Support of First-Ever Live-Action Feature Film Due Out July 4,” in Business Wire.

66. Kavilanz, Hasbro Hints.

67. Quoted in Ibid.

68. Graser, “Hasbro Closer to Hollywood,” in Variety, 45.

69. Marr, “Transforming Paramount?” in Wall Street Journal.

70. Zeitchik, “Par Raises Its Profile at Viacom,” in Variety, 1.

71. Goldsmith, “Pic Pumps Viacom's Profits,” in Variety, 2.

72. McClintock, “Majors Celebrate $1 Billion Year,” in Variety, 1.

73. Quoted in Cieply, “Remark Creates Rift at Viacom,” in New York Times, C1.

74. Waxman, “Paramount Tightens Its Belt. Blame DreamWorks,” in WaxWord.

75. Fritz, “Paramount Pictures Sued By Financing Partner for Fraud,” in Los Angeles Times.

76. Quoted in Abrams, “Melrose II Fund Sues Paramount over Profits,” in Variety, 1.