Michael Bay says he saved money on Ambulance by sweet-talking the police

Nothing is ever low-key when it comes to Michael Bay. But with a budget of just $40 million, his latest film, Ambulance, is a little more down-to-earth than his five Transformers movies, or even his Netflix project, 6 Underground. Bay made the most of his slightly smaller budget, and Ambulance is still full of shootouts, explosions, car chases, and action. But it was more than clever filmmaking that helped Bay stretch his budget. He claims he also has a hidden talent that helped him get the perfect shots, while also saving a bit of money.

“Listen, one great skill I have is talking to cops. Cops love my movies around the world. I mean from Italy to Paris, whatever. They would give me a lot,” Bay told Polygon during a phone interview.

Bay got the chance to flex this skill on one of Ambulance’s first days of shooting. The film centers on a heist gone wrong, which leaves two desperate criminals and two hostages racing around Los Angeles in an increasingly battered ambulance, pursued by the LAPD and the FBI. As a small crew was filming coverage of the ambulance driving along a freeway at regular speed, several police officers pulled up behind them. This was just the regular escort crew assigned to the film, Bay explains, but it was also an opportunity.