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Would Michael Bay remember you?

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Michael Bay, the #11 box-office earning film director, testified for the prosecution in the Phil Spector trial Monday. His appearance sent a shock of excitement through the ice-cold courtroom; I swear even Dominick Dunne perked up.

Michael Bay said he remembers Lana Clarkson. He knew her from his days directing videos and commercials for Propaganda, back when he was the kind of guy who had to direct TV ads instead of blowing shit up, patriotically, on the big screen. So anyway, in 1998, Michael Bay directed Lana Clarkson in a Mercedes commercial.

He’s remembered her ever since. “She was one of the few that would send me chocolates and whatnot when Christmas came around,” he told the jury. He never would have dissed Lana Clarkson at the 2003 party, he said, contradicting the testimony of Lana’s friend Punkin Pie: that Michael Bay didn’t recognize Lana when she approached him, driving her to leave the party in tears.

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Bay, who has a reputation for being kind of a prick, seemed pretty damn affable in court today. Guess that shows how abrasive trial attorneys are.

But is Michael Bay really the amiable and sweettalking guy he appeared to be in court? Have you crossed his path? If he saw you at a party, would he be friendly and say hello? If he dissed you, would it be enough to make you cry, or quit the business, or hurt yourself?

Being as he is going up the box office charts with a bullet, feel free to use the anonymous "guest" option in the comments.

Transformers set photo via MichaelBay.com

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