US$6 billion man Bay honoured by Hollywood

LOS ANGELES: Michael Bay sank his hands and feet into the forecourt of Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre on Tuesday as he was honoured for a moneyspinning movie career that has netted almost US$ 6 billion.

The 52-year- old Los Angeles native is known for directing some of history’s biggest effectsladen blockbusters, from “Bad Boys” (1995), “Armageddon” (1998) and “Pearl Harbour” (2001) to the “Transformers” franchise.

“It brings back your childhood because I remember as a kid I came here. And this is where I went to the movies with my parents, this was the place where I saw ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,’ when I decided I want to become a director,” he told AFP.

Bay, who now calls Miami home, worked as an intern for George Lucas’ special effects company Industrial Light and Magic before kickstarting his directing career with commercials and music videos for Tina Turner, Lionel Richie and Meat Loaf.

His fi rst feature fi lm — “Bad Boys,” starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence — marked the beginning of a string of collaborations between Bay and veteran producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

“It’s bizarre as a kid to think, this was always untouchable to me, you know,” he said of being honoured by Hollywood.

“You don’t ever think that’s possible, so it’s kind of a bizarre thing having your hands printed here.”

Known for high octane action, Bay’s movies have made US$ 5.8 billion, allowing him to indulge a passion for aviation and motoring, according to Rolling Stone magazine, snapping up a US$ 50 million Gulfstream jet and a fleet of luxury and sports cars.

Bay, who directed all five instalments of the smash-hit “Transformers” franchise about huge robots that turn into cars and hit each other, said he never reads his critics.

“They can say whatever they want. It’s all about the fans. I think it’s a real epic movie,” Bay said at a preview of “Age of Extinction” in Miami.

Bay’s fi fth instalment, “Transformers: The Last Knight,” is scheduled for release on June 21 and an untitled sixth movie is due 12 months later, although a director has not been announced. — AFP