When Shia LaBeouf walked into my roundtable room I could almost see him wanting to run the other way. In my room were Latino Review, IESB and me. In other words… three websites that try and break stories and post stuff that we sometimes shouldn’t have. And since the last time I saw Shia I asked him an Indy question that he wasn’t expecting… let’s just say I think he would’ve rather not have seen me.

But while we tried to get some new info out of him on Indy and another Spielberg project that he might be involved in, Shia has learned how to operate in the roundtable room and he wasn’t giving anything up. So we were forced to focus our attention on “Transformers” and recent 21st birthdays.

While it’s not a deep interview and Megan only spoke a limited amount… if you’re searching for some new “Transformers” content it’ll make you happy.

As always, you can download the audio of the interview by clicking here. It’s an MP3 and easily placed on a portable player.

“Transformers” opens on July 3rd

Did you end up seeing any of the Indy interview online?

Shia LaBeouf: No I didn’t see nothing man.

I don’t think you could be in enough movies this year Shia.

Shia LaBeouf: What do you want me to do about it? What do you want me to do about it?

So, your first reaction of seeing the finished products—seeing this film?

Shia LaBeouf: Yeah, bad ass. It’s a pretty bad ass movie. I think, I’ve just never seen action like this ever so just from the action stand point it’s pretty nuts. The actors are all really fun to watch. It was a good group. The crowd was really mixed as far as the actors go. You go from Tuturo to Anthony Anderson it’s like the whole spectrum with different types of styles. And the storyline is fun. It’s like we’re creating mythology. It’s a dangerous mother-fucker.

Are you guys happy to finally be able to talk about it with all the people asking “how’s the movie”? “Tell me about it”, you can finally just talk about what you think and talk about specific scenes.

Megan Fox: Yeah, when they released the comic book which reveals the ending also in the comic book so we can say anything we want now. It’s all out there.

Shia LaBeouf: Shoot. Go. Go.

Megan Fox: You asked me something specific.

I have to say you’re a real lucky man because you work with a beautiful woman in Disturbia and for Christ’s sake man, Megan. I don’t know if I want to see Optimus Prime or …wow.

Shia LaBeouf: Yeah, a lot of people. No, it’s a real pleasure to show up and yeah…

Megan Fox: We spent an entire day shooting a kissing scene which didn’t even make it into the movie which makes me think he set that shit up.

Did you guys play Transformers as a kid?

Shia LaBeouf: I did.

And out of all your toys was that a toy you played with a lot and what was it like to jump into that role and actually be in that world?

Shia LaBeouf: Its nuts. You’re playing with the triple-changer and it’s weird. It’s strange plus it’s such a different…tonally it’s the same because there’s humor but you’re not going to match….our Bumblebee and that Bumblebee is two different Bumblebees and the nostalgia factor will put you back there but it’s not the same Bumblebee. So it’s fun to see this new fruition or this whole new thing. It’s a new thing, it’s very new.

Was that a thrill when you were getting the car where the beetle was next to it and the door hit it?

Shia LaBeouf: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Shia, when we were talking to you a couple of months ago and you were describing talking about working with Michael Bay and you said you don’t want a guy who talks about your motivation, you want a guy who sets your hair on fire and all that. However, we just talked to Jon Voight and both him and Turturro said that you were responsible for the emotional thru line of this movie and now having seen this movie, yes you are. You’re character. We gotta be in your head space and follow you through all of this and we’re attached to you so a lot of acting and not just action acting came through on this. Can you talk a little bit about balancing?

Shia LaBeouf: You’re just allowed freedom. They allow freedom and we had a good script. Orci and Kurtzman wrote a good script and it was just….you work on all that stuff. It’s just a normal movie. We’re just making a movie. Michael Bay is not that far off, he’s got a lot of DJ qualities to him too, he knows how to make a movie. He knows how to work with actors. I just don’t understand, I walked into the movie and he was like fucking the devil, you know. I didn’t meet that guy. It’s pretty simple.

How physically challenging was this for you?

Shia LaBeouf: Physically challenging—it was pretty physically challenging.

Was it the most physically challenging?

Shia LaBeouf: No, Indy is. This was pretty physically challenging though. I mean, just because the differences like it’s a lot of evading. It’s like tactical where you’re just running all the time. There’s a lot of running. You’re not going to have a fist fight with a robot, so it’s a lot of running. She slipped a disc doing this one thing where we had this robot spinning us and she slipped a disc in her back so that was lame. I got a scar, nothing crazy but …nobody got hurt bad, bad.

This almost has a Star Wars feel to it, it’s so huge and fresh and what not, are you guys prepared for 2 and 3.

Shia LaBeouf: I mean I know that I’m signed on and most of the people in the cast are signed on if they make one. If it’s financially…

Constantine…they said they were going to make sequels and they’re not doing that.

Lorenzo said he is.

Shia LaBeouf: Yeah, sure he is. If the movie makes money, they’ll make another one. It’s like its show business.

Can we take a raise of hands who doesn’t think there’s going to be a sequel?

Shia LaBeouf: Of Constantine?

No, Transformers.

Shia LaBeouf: We’ll see.

Yeah, but I’ll throw it out there and I know you’re not going to talk about the story but can you talk about training for Indy?

Shia LaBeouf: No. Especially not in this room.

No motorcycle injuries yet?

Shia LaBeouf: I don’t know what you’re talking about, dude. I fucking hate you guys. You know how much trouble I’d get in? I get in so much trouble and then I’d go back to work and they’re like you won’t believe what we read. Sorry.

You’ve talked before about how you stay out of the whole Hollywood scene but now that you’re in so many movies and you’re becoming more and more popular, do you find that you’re more tempted or temptations are being thrown your way more?

Shia LaBeouf: Well, there’s different shades of Hollywood, sure. I mean, I’m working in this business but I’m not Hollywood. Hollywood is a whole different thing. If we’re talking about Hollywood like the party thing, is that what we’re talking about?

Yeah.

Shia LaBeouf: Yeah, well that’s just not interesting to me. That just seems like kind of square. Nobody really has fun at those clubs anyway. If I want to party, I’ll party at my house. You know, I probably could get away with more and probably meet nicer people. So there’s no point in doing….

How about you Megan?

Megan Fox: Yeah, I avoid that completely. It just doesn’t appeal to me at all. I see what it does to people. A, I don’t like going to clubs like that because I’m not looking to hook up with somebody so why am I going to go and dance around tables if that’s not what I’m looking for—that kind of attention.

We can’t ask Shia about his next project but can you talk about what you’re working on?

Shia LaBeouf: No, no I can’t. You can…oh, you can’t either can you? You can’t talk about it either, your thing?

Megan Fox: I’m doing a movie with Simon Peg and Kirsten Dunst. It’s based on the book, you guys probably know How To Lose Friends and Alienate People. I’m doing that in London.

Have you already started filming that?

Megan Fox: No, I’m leaving tomorrow night and flying out to London to start on Monday.

What can you tell us about your character?

Megan Fox: Yeah, she’s sort of this distraction for Simon’s character and I end up sort of torturing him and messing up his life a little bit. She’s this young Hollywood starlet who’s just sort of coming into her first bit of fame. Very parallel.

Did you get the Indy role based on Transformers?

Shia LaBeouf: They used Transformers and Disturbia and Steven just watching all the dailies for like 9 months. It was just a 9 month audition I imagine.

What were your guy’s first thoughts when you got the script, both of you? After you read it and thinking about your role?

Megan Fox: I never got the script. The script was on lock. Did you get it?

Shia LaBeouf: Yeah.

Megan Fox: You got it? I had to go to Michael’s office and sit in this room that was like all glass walls and I had a certain amount of time to read the script and then I left. That was after I booked it and right before we started filming. There wasn’t a whole lot of time.

Well, does that mean you didn’t audition?

Megan Fox: Oh, no I auditioned but there was no script to read while you were auditioning because they didn’t want it to leak onto the internet so we had sides and that was it.

When you were looking at the script were you sort of like Michael Bay--big summer movie—yeah, I’m in or were you actually…

Megan Fox: Yeah, there was no considering if I wanted to do it or not it was just if I could obtain it.

The “why Marilyn” on your arm and is it permanent?

Megan Fox: Yeah, it’s definitely permanent. What a douche bag I’d be if I had like a temporary tattoo. It’s a real tattoo and I just had an incredible amount empathy for her my whole life. I cry when I see her on camera, when I hear her voice.

Wow, why?

Megan Fox: I have theories about it now but its happened….

You’re were a baby (the rest is inaudible)

Megan Fox: I know a lot about her but I empathized with her before I knew any of those things so that’s why I was driven to actually ink it on my arm. It was between her and Kurt Cobain and I went with her.

How many tattoos do you have total?

Megan Fox: Um, 8.

Really? How about you, Shia?

Shia LaBeouf: Three.

Continued on the next page ------->

||SPLIT||

Shia, can you talk without revealing…?

Shia LaBeouf: No, I can’t.

…your first meeting with Harrison?

Shia LaBeouf: Yeah, he’s the man. He’s the man.

I’ll follow up on that. How does Harrison…does it look like he’s oh my God getting ready for this? Is he…?

Shia LaBeouf: Yeah, Harrison is ready to go. He’s jacked, he’s ready to go. He’s in shape. I’ve never seen a man that age in that type of shape.

When do you start shooting?

Shia LaBeouf: Very soon. I’m getting good at this, dude!

A week?

Shia LaBeouf: Soon, soon.

Here’s a better question are you doing Spielberg’s next movie after this by any chance?

Shia LaBeouf: He’s got a bunch of next movies.

The one about the President?

Shia LaBeouf: No.

Young Abe Lincoln?

Shia LaBeouf: No, no, no, no.

Have you had your birthday yet? I know it’s soon.

Shia LaBeouf: Yeah, yeah. 4 days ago.

Oh, ok. I knew you were kind of dreaming of going to Scotland or something I guess.

Shia LaBeouf: Yeah, I think I might have just said it just to sound cool. I don’t think I was ever planning on going to Scotland.

Well, how did you celebrate?

Shia LaBeouf: Uh, I went to like a cigar lounge in Beverly Hills and smoked cigars and drank some Scotch.

Alright.

Shia LaBeouf: It was cool.

You’re 21?

Shia LaBeouf: 21.

And you just turned 21, too right this year?

Megan Fox: Yeah, in May. May 16th.

And how did you celebrate?

Megan Fox: I was working. I was at a Maxim party in New York. It was great.

Shia, with all these movies you’re doing do you have to date anyone?

Shia LaBeouf: Yeah sure.

Are you seeing anyone?

Shia LaBeouf: I’m just dating and messing around. 21 years old, doing the 21 year old thing.

Have you dated her?

Shia LaBeouf: Have I dated…?

Her?

Shia LaBeouf: On camera yeah, sure. She’s engaged.

Oh, congratulations.

Shia LaBeouf: Congratulations.

Have you guys set a date yet?

Megan Fox: No.

Can you guys talk about the experience of working for Michael Bay and also are you guys looking forward to working for him again assuming that it makes the money.

Megan Fox: I’ll be in any movie he makes ever. He makes gigantic blockbuster films that shit-loads of people go to see and to turn that down I think I personally would be crazy. You’re in more of a precarious position than I am.

Shia, can you say…you’ve been around Spielberg for the past couple films but the fact that you’re going to be taking direction from him in the next week or so, can you talk a little bit about how you’re preparing yourself for that maybe?

Shia LaBeouf: Yeah. It’s a whole different thing. It’s a lot of pressure. You feel pressure. Because there’s a part of you that’s like this is great, I should trust him completely…Steven Spielberg you know. The modern day Elia Kazan, he knows what he’s doing. Relax. But then there’s the other part of you that goes ok, now you gotta earn this. There’s got to be a reason. I still don’t feel it makes any sense for me to be in the movie.

Do you feel you have to up your game?

Shia LaBeouf: Oh yeah. I can just see the first day with Steven behind the camera and Lucas behind the monitor and Harrison over there and Kate over there and like action! What the fuck are you about? It’s scary to me. It’s scary.

So do we have a scene with the fedora and a whip?

Shia LaBeouf: No.