Wow! Boarding a flight tomorrow. So glad I caught this article before checking all my gear. Thanks!

Thanks for bringing these to my attention, Luc. I've been a layman 3D animation fan, tinkering but never diving in because what I've really been in need of are programs like this one, since at heart I'm creating animatics and not animations. Awesome tip!

FINALLY!!!! :)

Michael Bay is the reason I don't buy half-gallon tubs of ice cream... Because I will eat it all in one sitting and regret eating it later. There is something magnetic about his filmmaking and infuriatingly simplistic as well. But there is no doubt that whatever he creates is usually pretty amazing to watch...and regret watching later.

The half-gorilla Hong Kong street shoots remind me of stealing shots in NYC, ducking cops and disgruntled shop owners. I was delightfully surprised to see such a mammoth film as Transformers having to shoot from the hip to get some of its shots.

The "brand new Austrian" robotic arm camera sequence in reminiscent of Alfonso Cuarón's car sequence in Children of Men... As an example of better scripts using these techniques to greater effect.

Exhaustive BTS featurettes like this one are what I like to devour when I'm in need of a little inspiration to get out of my head and into my work, regardless of the overall quality of the finished film. Its just fun to watch people makin' movies because makin' movies is fun! Now... if I could only have just 1% of Michael Bay's budget.... and that robotic arm camera!

Brilliant!

Agree all around on buying a prefab slider at this price range, but the foundations of what they're doing here is an amazing starting point for, say, a dolly+rails set-up on a miniature scale, which comes in handy for those miniature-budget shoots! I putting this one in the toolbox for future reference.

The catch with all DIY stuff in general is that for only a little more $ (sometimes) and a lot less man-hours (always) you can get yourself something manufactured, tested and reviewed. Also, unless you're shooting your own flick, showing up on set with DIY stuff does not make one look like a professional.