Todd Matthy has held an interview with the writer of the 1986 Transformers: The Movie, Ron Friedman, which he has posted onto his blog.  The interview coverd Friedman's approach to writing the movie script, reveals his reservations about killing off Optimus Prime and more. Click here to read the full article.  Below you will find Todd's introduction to what is a very interesting piece

In the summer of 1986, children were traumatized when Optimus Prime sacrificed himself to stop his archrival, Megatron. But it wasn’t Megatron who pulled the trigger, it was a writer named Ron Friedman.

Ron Friedman wrote Transformers: The Movie. He wrote the five-part miniseries that launched GI Joe. He is close friends with Stan Lee and helped Stan develop The Marvel Action Hour, featuring Iron Man and Fantastic Four. He has written episodes of All in the Family, Happy Days, and Fantasy Island. In addition to his writing credentials, Ron is an architect and a teacher at Chapman University.

In 2014, Ron plans to chronicle his experiences as a writer in the memoir, I Killed Optimus Prime. The book promises a fascinating look behind the scenes of the shows that defined our childhood.

I had the privilege of speaking with Ron about his career, his friendship with Stan Lee, what he thought when he first saw the Transformers, how Orson Welles became Unicron, and why he didn’t want to kill Optimus Prime.

So, to kick off the 30th Anniversary of the Transformers, Ron Friedman, the man who killed Optimus Prime.

Jim Sorenson has updated his blog, The Disciples of Boltax, with a new Ark Addendum entry entitled "The Ark Addendum - The Core part 1 and Ron Friedman scripts".  Jim blogs that "since this seems to be working out pretty well, I've decided to do another incomplete Ron Friedman script, with accompanying designs.  This week, it's The Core." and as well as including some more model sheets Jim has also uploaded the script from the episode to MegaUpload that you can download here.

Jim Sorenson has updated his blog with an entry entitled The Ark Addendum - A Prime Problem and Ron Friedman scripts which focuses on the Generation One episode A Prime Problem, where the Decepticons clone Optimus Prime and attempt to lead the Autobots into a deadly ambush.

Jim also includes a link to the original Ron Friedman script which includes some additional scenes.  You can download the script from MegaUpload.

Jim Sorenson has posted part 6 of his Ron Friedman auction - Hasbro Briefing Binder series of blog updates with the following update:

"As promised, the last part of the Hasbro Briefing Binder.  These pages were loose and in the front of the binder. 

DELUXE VEHICLES (No information as yet)
Tank
Helicopter
Jeep

BATTERY OPERATED VEHICLES
4 Wheel Drive
Remote Control Jeep

The Helicopter and Jeep became Roadbuster and Whirl, from the SPECIAL ARMORED BATALLION DORVACK line.  Presumably, then, that would make the tank the VT-61 LC Bonaparte Tulcas. It's a pretty funky looking vehicle, so it's not hard to imagine why they left it off.

As for the 4 Wheel Drive and the Remote Control Jeep, your guess is as good as mine.  Do we know more about the company behind this? I feel like I've heard this before.  Perhaps there's some extra information in here that can give us more insight into the Transformers toys that weren't. Surely they were developed by some other company and (nearly) licensed. 

Anyway, that concludes the Hasbro Briefing Binder.  I'll do my best to bring you more next week.  Until then, adieu.

"

As part of our continual and leading coverage of the Ron Friedman auctions I thought I would bring you details on the final prices of each of the lots along with a quick round-up of who some of the winners are.

First up the winners.  Jim Sorenson and co won 6 auctions that will be scanned and made available on both The Allspark and TFWiki.  They raised a total of $1608 some of which will go to charity.  The auctions they won were Lot 93265, 93266, 93267, 93268, 93276 and 93279.  These auctions include scripts for Season 1 of Transformers, several scripts from season 2 of Transformers, the Habro briefing document (that I personally will be very interested in seeing) and the final draft script for Transformers: The Movie.  Other winners include Monzo, Kjeevah and G1son sho all one "yet-to-be-confirmed" items.

Here is the breakdown of every auction that ended, along with the final price including the "Buyers Premium".

Lot 93264 - Transformers Animated Series Script Collection - $334.60
Lot 93265 - Transformers Miniseries and Episodes #1-6 Script Collection - $507.88
Lot 93266 - Transformers TV Series Episodes #10-16 Script Collection - $262.90
Lot 93267 - Transformers Sunbow/Hasbro Briefing Book in Red Vinyl Three-Ring Binder with Related Photographs, Designs, and Model Sheets Group - $836.50
Lot 93268 - Transformers TV Scripts in Red Vinyl Three-Ring Binder - $215.10
Lot 93269 - Transformers TV Scripts in Red Vinyl Three-Ring Binder with Ultra Magnus Toy Prototype Snapshot Photo Group - $262.90
Lot 93270 - Transformers TV Series Audition Dialogue and Character Notes - $1015.75
Lot 93271 - Transformers: The Movie Revised Script Treatment (Sunbow Productions, Inc., 1984) - $1314.50
Lot 93272 - Transformers Character Guide Sheet Group - $1195
Lot 93273 - Transformers Character Sketch Photocopy Group - $836.50
Lot 93274 - Transformers TV Series Poster - $657.25 (This item normally sells for just $40)
Lot 93275 - Transformers First Season Script Group - $262.90
Lot 93276 - Transformers TV Scripts in Red Vinyl Three-Ring Binder with Related Material Group - $262.90
Lot 93277 - Transformers Fact Book in Red Vinyl Three-Ring Binder with Related Promotional Material Group - $687.13
Lot 93278 - Transformers: The Movie Final Draft Screenplay with Outline - $597.50
Lot 93279 - Transformers: The Movie Revised Final Draft Script - $448.13
Lot 93280 - Transformers: the Movie Script Group - $2005.21
Lot 93281 - Transformers Series Bible - $836.50
Lot 93282 - Transformers: the Movie "Arcee" Painted Cel Model Sheet Group - $507.88
Lot 93283 - Transformers: the Movie "Galvatron" Painted Cel Model Sheet Group - $507.88
Lot 93284 - Transformers: the Movie "Sweep" Painted Cel Model Sheet Group - $448.13
Lot 93285 - Transformers: the Movie "Decepticon" Plane Painted Cel Model Sheet Group (Cyclonus) - $478
Lot 93286 - Transformers: the Movie "Blurr" Painted Cel Model Sheet Group - $334.60
Lot 93287 - Transformers: the Movie Wheelie Painted Cel Model Sheet Group - $262.90
Lot 93288 - Transformers: the Movie "Old Kup" Painted Cel Model Sheet Group - $227.05

 So that is a total of a whopping $15,305.59!

Well the Ro­n Friedman auctions are over for Internet Bidding on Heritage Au­ctions.com have now ended and it I'm sure we'll find out shortly whether Jim Sorenson, The Allspark and TFWiki attempt to snap up everything has worked.  Half an hour ago the total stood at $6170 but now the cost weighs in at $8140, not too bad for Mr Friedman.  Remember this is not the final price so things could go even higher as people can still bid in person

As previously mentioned you can view a high-resolution mirror of all of the images here but here is a break down of the final prices

Auction #1- $130
­­Season 1 Original Scripts for "Heavy Metal War" and "Plague of Insecticons".
Season 2 Original Scripts for, "City of Steel", "Changing Gears", "Traitor", "Attack of the Autobots", "The Immoblizer", "The Autobot Run", and "Atlantis Arise".

Au­ction #2 - $220
Photocopied scripts for the original "More Than Meets the Eye" mini-series as well as revised drafts of the first 6 episodes immediately following.

Auction #3 - $95
A ring binder that includes photocopies of the scripts for episodes #10-16.

Auction #4 - $260
A binder with photographs, designs, and model sheets. This includes several lists of characters that changed name between the design and the final  drafts.

Auction #5 - $80
Scripts for "Day of the Machines," "Enter the Nightbird," "A Prime Problem," "The Core," "The Insecticon Syndrome," "Dinosaur Island, Part 1 and 2, "The Master Builders," "Auto Beserk," and "Megatron's Master Plan Part 1."

Auction #6 - $110
A binder including images of prototype Ultra Magnus as well as scripts for "Fire in the Sky," "S.O.S. -- Dinobots," "Fire in the Mountain," "War of the Dinobots," "The Ultimate Doom Parts 1-3," "Countdown to Extinction," "Heavy Metal War," and "Plague of Insecticons".

Auction #7 - $850
More character design sheets, notes and bios, as well as audition dialogue for the Season 2 characters.

Auction #8 - $550
A 53-page revised story treatment for the 1985 feature film

Auction #9 - $505
Two sets of photocopied character guide pages compiled for the first season of Transformers, including thirty-eight 8" x 14" color guides, and another set of eighty-nine 8.5" x 11" black and white pages.

Auction #10 - $500
A set of four large black and white photocopies of Transformers characters including Wreck-Gar

Auction #11 - $375
Transformers: The Movie poster that hung in Ron Friedman's office

Auction #12 - $160
Photocopied scripts for "Transport to Oblivion", "Roll With It", and "Divide and Conquer" with hand-written changes, from writers Dick Robbins and Bryce Malek, Douglas Booth, and Don Glut, with revisions from Ron Friedman.

Auction #13 - $220
Photocopied scripts "Blaster Blues", "A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court", "The God Gambit", "Make Tracks", and "Microbots."

Auction #14 - $160
A  binder that includes various Transformers Facts including Hasbro notes, toy photographs, a copy of Transformers#3 (guest starring Spider-Man), scripts for "Desertion of the Dino Bots, Parts 1 and 2," and "Megatron's Master Plan Part 2."

Auction #15 - $375
This is the final draft for Transformers: The Movie. It included a 179-page revised draft and 17 page character notes

Auction #16 - $375
Transformers: The Movie Revised Final Draft Script (Sunbow Productions, Inc., 1985).

Auction #17 - $550
Transformers: the Movie Script Group (Sunbow Productions, Inc., 1984-85). This was Ron Friedman's original unproduced first draft script dated November 12, 1984 (132 pages), plus two sets of revisions including the complete revised script dated February 13, 1983 (184 pages).

Auction #18 - $700
The G1 Series Bible.  This contains character design pages and information on all of the original character from the show.

Auction #19 - $325
Coloured character sheets for Arcee in robot and vehicle mode.

Auction #20 - $375
Coloured character sheets for Galvatron in robot and vehicle mode.

Auction #21 - $375
Hand coloured character sheets for Scourge in robot and vehicle mode.

Auction #22 - $400
Hand coloured character sheets for Cyclonus in both robot and vehicle mode.

Auction #23 - $140
Hand coloured character sheets for Blurr in robot and vehicle mode.

Auction #24 - $130
Hand coloured character sheets for Wheelie in robot and vehicle mode.

With approximately 30 minutes remaining I thought I would bring you an update on the current prices that the Ro­n Friedman (one of the head writers for the first two seasons of Transformers Generation One and Transformers: The Movie) auctions over on Heritage Au­ctions.com are standing at.  Jim Sorenson is leading a consortium of bidders to try to buy the entire set and it looks like if they do they will be paying a fair amount of money.  Currently the total bids stand at $6170 with individual auctions ranging from $55 to $850.

You can view a high-resolution mirror of all of the images here but here is a break down of the prices

Auction #1- $100
­­Season 1 Original Scripts for "Heavy Metal War" and "Plague of Insecticons".
Season 2 Original Scripts for, "City of Steel", "Changing Gears", "Traitor", "Attack of the Autobots", "The Immoblizer", "The Autobot Run", and "Atlantis Arise".

Au­ction #2 - $160
Photocopied scripts for the original "More Than Meets the Eye" mini-series as well as revised drafts of the first 6 episodes immediately following.

Auction #3 - $55
A ring binder that includes photocopies of the scripts for episodes #10-16.

Auction #4 - $220
A binder with photographs, designs, and model sheets. This includes several lists of characters that changed name between the design and the final  drafts.

Auction #5 - $75
Scripts for "Day of the Machines," "Enter the Nightbird," "A Prime Problem," "The Core," "The Insecticon Syndrome," "Dinosaur Island, Part 1 and 2, "The Master Builders," "Auto Beserk," and "Megatron's Master Plan Part 1."

Auction #6 - $110
A binder including images of prototype Ultra Magnus as well as scripts for "Fire in the Sky," "S.O.S. -- Dinobots," "Fire in the Mountain," "War of the Dinobots," "The Ultimate Doom Parts 1-3," "Countdown to Extinction," "Heavy Metal War," and "Plague of Insecticons".

Auction #7 - $850
More character design sheets, notes and bios, as well as audition dialogue for the Season 2 characters.

Auction #8 - $475
A 53-page revised story treatment for the 1985 feature film

Auction #9 - $400
Two sets of photocopied character guide pages compiled for the first season of Transformers, including thirty-eight 8" x 14" color guides, and another set of eighty-nine 8.5" x 11" black and white pages.

Auction #10 - $500
A set of four large black and white photocopies of Transformers characters including Wreck-Gar

Auction #11 - $325
Transformers: The Movie poster that hung in Ron Friedman's office

Auction #12 - $80
Photocopied scripts for "Transport to Oblivion", "Roll With It", and "Divide and Conquer" with hand-written changes, from writers Dick Robbins and Bryce Malek, Douglas Booth, and Don Glut, with revisions from Ron Friedman.

Auction #13 - $80
Photocopied scripts "Blaster Blues", "A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court", "The God Gambit", "Make Tracks", and "Microbots."

Auction #14 - $70
A  binder that includes various Transformers Facts including Hasbro notes, toy photographs, a copy of Transformers#3 (guest starring Spider-Man), scripts for "Desertion of the Dino Bots, Parts 1 and 2," and "Megatron's Master Plan Part 2."

Auction #15 - $375
This is the final draft for Transformers: The Movie. It included a 179-page revised draft and 17 page character notes

Auction #16 - $200
Transformers: The Movie Revised Final Draft Script (Sunbow Productions, Inc., 1985).

Auction #17 - $180
Transformers: the Movie Script Group (Sunbow Productions, Inc., 1984-85). This was Ron Friedman's original unproduced first draft script dated November 12, 1984 (132 pages), plus two sets of revisions including the complete revised script dated February 13, 1983 (184 pages).

Auction #18 - $700
The G1 Series Bible.  This contains character design pages and information on all of the original character from the show.

Auction #19 - $180
Coloured character sheets for Arcee in robot and vehicle mode.

Auction #20 - $375
Coloured character sheets for Galvatron in robot and vehicle mode.

Auction #21 - $130
Hand coloured character sheets for Scourge in robot and vehicle mode.

Auction #22 - $220
Hand coloured character sheets for Cyclonus in both robot and vehicle mode.

Auction #23 - $80
Hand coloured character sheets for Blurr in robot and vehicle mode.

Auction #24 - $90
Hand coloured character sheets for Wheelie in robot and vehicle mode.