DETROIT, MI - Michigan Motion Picture Studios in Pontiac is preparing up for another Hollywood closeup.

The production venue that was home to the hit Sam Raimi-directed film "Oz the Great and Powerful" will also host crews for Michael Bay's "Transformers 4" this summer.

Set building for "Transformers 4" - expected to get an official title soon - has already begun at the 535,000-square foot facility and has Michigan Motion Pictures Studios chief operating officer Tony Wenson excited.

"They are in the process of pre-production right now," Wenson told MLive Detroit, when asked if Bay's film crew is in town. "They are filming in several other states, too. The majority of their shooting, I believe, will be done in the state of Michigan.

"In addition to working on our stages, they’ll also be working throughout the state at different locations. We’re really excited that they’re here. We’re looking forward to the opportunity to service another film.”

Wenson declined to say specifically when filming for "Transformers 4" will begin, but disclosed it will happen "early" this summer.

That appears the earliest time when Bay and film cast members are expected to be in Metro Detroit for work.

Set building for "Transformers 4" comes at a time of good PR for the Michigan Motion Picture Studios because Raimi, a Royal Oak native, recently praised the facility as being one of the most state-of-the-art the film industry has ever seen.

In fact, Raimi mentioned in a WJR radio interview that Pontiac's studio is so impressive that Disney has told him the company wants to come back and produce more films there.

Others associated with the "Oz" film, including executive producer Grant Curtis, told me at the Royal Oak premiere of the movie they also heard Disney is interested in returning to the facility.

Work on "Oz" in Pontiac has definitely appeared to pay off. The film took the No. 1 box office spot during its first week in theaters and reportedly earned $80.3 million in revenue in the U.S. and Canada. The revenue overseas during the first week was reportedly $69.9 million.

Wenson appreciates the compliments about his Pontiac facility and believes the high profile recognition could open plenty of doors in the future for it and Michigan's film industry as a whole.

"We know we have a first-class facility when it comes to purpose-built stages throughout the world," Wenson said. "When 'Oz' came to us, it just let everybody know it’s real. Oz was great for us; they utilized our entire facility. It was a 100 percent stage production - which is very rare.

"You don’t really see 100 percent stage productions usually. Obviously a lot of movies use locations. There were no other locations with 'Oz,' so it was a huge, somewhat anomaly that we had 100 percent stage production.”

Bay's "Transformers 4" will receive incentives from the state of Michigan for its production.

The Michigan Film Office confirmed those incentives last month and mentioned in a press release the film is expected to use several locations in Metro Detroit and beyond.

“It speaks volumes about all Michigan has to offer that Transformers is returning once again to our state,” said Margaret O’Riley, director of the Michigan Film Office in a press release. “This project will shine another bright spotlight on Michigan and provide tremendous opportunities for our cast, crew and support services.

Transformers 4 was awarded an incentive of $20 million on $81,933,992 of projected in-state expenditures. The project is expected to hire 368 Michigan workers with a full time equivalent of 339 jobs.

A rundown of the "Transformers 4" plot mentioned in a Michigan Film Office press release:

As humanity picks up the pieces, following the conclusion of Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Autobots and Decepticons have all but vanished from the face of the planet.

However, a group of powerful, ingenious businessman and scientists attempt to learn from past Transformer incursions and push the boundaries of technology beyond what they can control – all while an ancient, powerful Transformer menace sets Earth in his crosshairs. The epic adventure and battle between good and evil, freedom and enslavement ensues.

Transformers 4 is the third film in the series to use Detroit as a backdrop. The first Transformers, released in 2007, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon, released in 2011, also filmed in metro Detroit.

In Fiscal Year 2013, 13 projects have been awarded a total of $30,962,806 on $120,172,305 of approved production expenditures for the year. These projects are expected to create 1,190 Michigan hires with a full time equivalent of 559 jobs.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Film Review Committee, comprised of senior MEDC staff including the Michigan Film Commissioner, reviews all completed applications using the statute to guide approval decisions.

Bay confirmed last month on his Twitter page that "Transformers 4" will be screed in 3D. He also confirmed some cast members, including Mark Wahlberg, and a June 27, 2014 release date.

http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/detroit/index.ssf/2013/04/michael_bays_transformers_4_se.html