Michael Bay had to scale back his usual blockbuster look for his latest film, “Pain & Gain.”
While his last “Transformers” installment reportedly cost nearly $200 million to make, the director was forced to minimize with just $25 million for the Mark Wahlberg-led action flick.
“[I went] back to my ‘Bad Boys’ roots,” Michael told Access Hollywood’s Scott Mantz of working with “Pain & Gain’s” low budget at CinemaCon 2013 in Las Vegas. “It’s the lowest budget I’ve had since my first movie.”
The director said he was anxious to do a film at the opposite end of the effects spectrum, where performances carried the story.
“I wanted to do a movie where it was just actors acting and me with a camera,” he explained. “It was just balls to the wall. We had to shoot very quick because of the budget, but it was good.”
WATCH IT NOW: Michael Bay Talks ‘Pain & Gain’
Adding, “I liked the budget because it kind of restrained the whole movie. Great performances in the movie. It’s just this twisted tale.”
As for his next film with Mark Wahlberg, “Transformers 4,” Michael said he has high hopes for upcoming movie.
“I think it’s going to be the best one yet. It will take place exactly four years from the last movie,” he said, adding, “We’re the first movie to film in IMAX 3-D.”
“Pain & Gain” hits theaters on April 26; “Transformers 4” is slated for theatrical release on June 27, 2014.
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