Transformers - Tyrese Gibson interview

TYRESE Gibson talks about the physical challenge of making Transformers and the reality of working with a director like Michael Bay… He was speaking at a Saturday morning round table of European journalists. I was the only UK journalist in attendance.

Q. How hard did you train for Transformers?
Tyrese Gibson: We trained with the Navy as well as the Navy SEALS. It wasn’t obstacle courses, it was more like mental training. They were giving us a whole lot of information and what it took to do our job and come off like we’re the real deal.

Q. Is it true you came down with flu before the training and took a bit of a ribbing from your colleagues?
Tyrese Gibson: Yes [laughs]. It wasn’t a good start!

Q. The film is very loud? Did you have anything to do with that?
Tyrese Gibson: That’s Michael Bay and the experience of it. He wants people to feel it. In LA, I heard he bought some extra speakers into the theatre to make sure audiences felt it. If he had his way, he’d probably buy extra speakers for every premiere. But I respect it. Everything about him is grand – just grand. Everything is as big as you can possibly think. You go to his office and he has these huge dogs. There are two of them and they’re just the biggest dogs you’ve ever seen. They’re his office pets. You get a sense of his personality. Then you get to the set having heard all these things about his reputation as a director and you understand it because there are 750 people on the set at one time. You have one man that’s supposed to know what every one of those people is supposed to be doing and how they’re supposed to be doing it, as well as the cast! But at the end of the day any great parent will tell their children to think big. That’s what my mum did with me, so at the end of the day I’m a living example of thinking big and reaching big.

Q. Would you describe Michael as an enigmatic director?
Tyrese Gibson: I would say that and I’d say he raises the bar. He brings his A-game to the table and makes you feel like you have to step up.

Q. What was the most fun you had during the shooting?
Tyrese Gibson: I enjoyed shooting the stuff out there in the White Sands. There was a lot of big energy. I’ve been in other movies before but if I never experience anything like this again, then it makes it all worth it. I was like: “Michael Bay, whatever you got, bring it on! 124 degrees in New Mexico, bring it on!” I’m like a big old kid and I want to see how he creates this big world. It’s one thing to talk about it and describe it, but it’s another thing to get out there and see it. I was looking forward to the mayhem.

I remember on the first day I got there, Michael told me: “Tyrese, there’s going to be some 2lb bombs blowing up and the sand is going to go about 40ft in the air. You have to run, don’t fall, and go as fast as you can because you’re running for your life.” So here I am with these guys that have been in wars before, Navy SEAL guys, and we have these big old rifles and bullet proof vests, it’s 124 degrees, I was just coming off of the flu, and I was like: “There’s no way any of you are going to be faster than me because Michael’s told me there’s going to be bombs!” Then came the V2 bombers and helicopters…

Q. You write as well though don’t you?
Tyrese Gibson: I’ve sold about four. I’m a man of many hats. There’s a saying that “you can’t knock it until you try” and at the end of the day I’ve even done what you guys are doing, sitting around a table and asking questions. I used to be a VJ on MTV. I try to do everything that has to do with entertainment. But I love it. I just love that people always have me in mind. Other than that, I love the fact that I can set my mind to go after something and then go for it. I wasn’t destined to do all of the things I’ve tried to do – but I’ve tried to see how it worked out.