The Disaster Artist (D: James Franco) S: Franco, Rogen (making of cult film The Room)
#1
DVD Talk Godfather
Thread Starter
The Disaster Artist (D: James Franco) S: Franco, Rogen (making of cult film The Room)
http://www.avclub.com/article/james-...-making-107617
James Franco To Direct Movie About The Making Of Tommy Wiseau's Cult Favorite The Room.
There are movies that are bad, and then there's "The Room." Like a modern day "Plan 9 From Outer Space," Tommy Wiseau's 2003 passion project went from horribly reviewed, self-released indie to something of a contemporary cult classic, with the movie still screening frequently, often with audience participation encouraged with everyone shouting out memorable lines ("You are tearing me apart, Lisa!") and throwing spoons at the screen (if you've seen it, you know what that means). And now, "The Room" is getting a touch of James Franco.
The actor/writer/whatever has optioned "The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room" as a directorial vehicle, with his buds Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg on board to produce (though on Instagram recently, Franco said he and his brother Dave Franco will also star). Co-written by Greg Sestero, the actor who starred in and also helped write "The Room," the book chronicles the extraordinary making of the movie, and Franco has been a big champion of it. And in his review for Vice, he name dropped four movies that it reminded him of, which we suppose may be an inspiration in how this story is brought to the big screen:
The book reads like the combination of two Paul Thomas Anderson film scripts: Boogie Nights in its focus on a group of optimistic outsiders trying to be artistic with a project that defies all artistic pretentions, and The Master with its arrangement around a bizarre mentor-pupil relationship. The other references that come to mind, and they are mostly film references because it is a book about film and the film industry, are Sunset Boulevard, with the masterful way it takes on Hollywood as a vehicle to talk about the blurred line between reality and performance, and The Talented Mr. Ripley,the Anthony Mingella film (as well as the Patricia Highsmith book) in the way that Tom Ripley transforms himself, or attempts to transform himself, in order to infiltrate a social world that he would otherwise be locked out of.
But moreover, Franco appreciates how "The Disaster Artist" gives insight on the various people trying to make a name for themselves.
As the authors of The Disaster Artist have chosen to alternate the book’s focus, it touches on two of the major components of being an artist, in Hollywood and everywhere else: trying to “make it,” and bringing your artistic vision to fruition. Here we get a wonderful narrative of attempting both in Los Angeles: the small apartments, the auditions, the weird projects one does just to be able to work. The more personal chapters that follow the making of the movie give us a look at an extreme version of movie-making, one where there is an inexperienced dreamer at the center who obviously needs help but refuses to ask for it because he has been let down so many times before. He is a bull with his vision, forcing it onto everyone because he has learned that the only way he’ll get anywhere is by independence.
Frankly, James Franco making a movie about a cult movie that's also about making movies in general seems like the perfect kind of meta-narrative he's drawn to. So, yeah, we'll see how this one goes, but "The Room" getting a fresh look from the perspective of James Franco almost makes perfect sense.
James Franco To Direct Movie About The Making Of Tommy Wiseau's Cult Favorite The Room.
There are movies that are bad, and then there's "The Room." Like a modern day "Plan 9 From Outer Space," Tommy Wiseau's 2003 passion project went from horribly reviewed, self-released indie to something of a contemporary cult classic, with the movie still screening frequently, often with audience participation encouraged with everyone shouting out memorable lines ("You are tearing me apart, Lisa!") and throwing spoons at the screen (if you've seen it, you know what that means). And now, "The Room" is getting a touch of James Franco.
The actor/writer/whatever has optioned "The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room" as a directorial vehicle, with his buds Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg on board to produce (though on Instagram recently, Franco said he and his brother Dave Franco will also star). Co-written by Greg Sestero, the actor who starred in and also helped write "The Room," the book chronicles the extraordinary making of the movie, and Franco has been a big champion of it. And in his review for Vice, he name dropped four movies that it reminded him of, which we suppose may be an inspiration in how this story is brought to the big screen:
The book reads like the combination of two Paul Thomas Anderson film scripts: Boogie Nights in its focus on a group of optimistic outsiders trying to be artistic with a project that defies all artistic pretentions, and The Master with its arrangement around a bizarre mentor-pupil relationship. The other references that come to mind, and they are mostly film references because it is a book about film and the film industry, are Sunset Boulevard, with the masterful way it takes on Hollywood as a vehicle to talk about the blurred line between reality and performance, and The Talented Mr. Ripley,the Anthony Mingella film (as well as the Patricia Highsmith book) in the way that Tom Ripley transforms himself, or attempts to transform himself, in order to infiltrate a social world that he would otherwise be locked out of.
But moreover, Franco appreciates how "The Disaster Artist" gives insight on the various people trying to make a name for themselves.
As the authors of The Disaster Artist have chosen to alternate the book’s focus, it touches on two of the major components of being an artist, in Hollywood and everywhere else: trying to “make it,” and bringing your artistic vision to fruition. Here we get a wonderful narrative of attempting both in Los Angeles: the small apartments, the auditions, the weird projects one does just to be able to work. The more personal chapters that follow the making of the movie give us a look at an extreme version of movie-making, one where there is an inexperienced dreamer at the center who obviously needs help but refuses to ask for it because he has been let down so many times before. He is a bull with his vision, forcing it onto everyone because he has learned that the only way he’ll get anywhere is by independence.
Frankly, James Franco making a movie about a cult movie that's also about making movies in general seems like the perfect kind of meta-narrative he's drawn to. So, yeah, we'll see how this one goes, but "The Room" getting a fresh look from the perspective of James Franco almost makes perfect sense.
#5
Re: James Franco To Direct Movie About The Making Of Tommy Wiseau's Cult Fave The Roo
I'm still waiting to see his re-make of Cruising (don't think it was the entire movie, just certain scenes).
#6
DVD Talk Hero
Re: James Franco To Direct Movie About The Making Of Tommy Wiseau's Cult Fave The Roo
Meh. I think this'd be a good way to kill a joke that is already long in the tooth at this point.
#7
DVD Talk Hero
Re: James Franco To Direct Movie About The Making Of Tommy Wiseau's Cult Fave The Roo
#8
DVD Talk Legend
Re: James Franco To Direct Movie About The Making Of Tommy Wiseau's Cult Fave The Roo
The making of story might just be better than the actual movie!
#9
DVD Talk Legend
Re: James Franco To Direct Movie About The Making Of Tommy Wiseau's Cult Fave The Roo
I hope Tommy Wiseau plays himself, he doesnt look any different since The Room was made.
#10
DVD Talk Legend
#12
DVD Talk Special Edition
#13
Re: The Disaster Artist (D: James Franco) S: Franco, Rogen (making of cult film The R
Zac Efron is re-teaming with his Neighbors cohort Seth Rogen for The Disaster Artist, New Line’s making-of movie about the 2003 drama The Room, widely considered one of the worst movies of all time.
Rogen is one of the stars of Disaster Artist and is producing it with his Point Grey Pictures partner Evan Goldberg, Vince Jolivette and Good Universe.
James Franco is directing and also starring in the movie, which is based on a 2013 book by Greg Sestero, who starred in Room, and Tom Bissell.
New Line’s movie is planned as a buddy comedy about two outsiders who embark on a delusional journey to make their dreams come true.
Franco is starring as the eccentric Tommy Wiseau, the director and star of the 2003 drama, which developed a strong cult following, including among celebrities who loved it in a "so bad it's good" way.
Wiseau had no filmmaking experience when he set out to write, direct and produce The Room, which centers on a man named Johnny whose fiancee, Lisa, cheats on him with his best friend, Mark.
Dave Franco is playing Sestero, the actor who played Mark in Room.
The movie began shooting Monday in Los Angeles, adding Ari Graynor, Jacki Weaver, Hannibal Buress and Andrew Santino.
The movie is also attracting high-profile celebs who are fans of Room, with Josh Hutcherson and Kate Upton already on board for parts.
In a cameo, Efron will play a drug dealer.
Rogen is one of the stars of Disaster Artist and is producing it with his Point Grey Pictures partner Evan Goldberg, Vince Jolivette and Good Universe.
James Franco is directing and also starring in the movie, which is based on a 2013 book by Greg Sestero, who starred in Room, and Tom Bissell.
New Line’s movie is planned as a buddy comedy about two outsiders who embark on a delusional journey to make their dreams come true.
Franco is starring as the eccentric Tommy Wiseau, the director and star of the 2003 drama, which developed a strong cult following, including among celebrities who loved it in a "so bad it's good" way.
Wiseau had no filmmaking experience when he set out to write, direct and produce The Room, which centers on a man named Johnny whose fiancee, Lisa, cheats on him with his best friend, Mark.
Dave Franco is playing Sestero, the actor who played Mark in Room.
The movie began shooting Monday in Los Angeles, adding Ari Graynor, Jacki Weaver, Hannibal Buress and Andrew Santino.
The movie is also attracting high-profile celebs who are fans of Room, with Josh Hutcherson and Kate Upton already on board for parts.
In a cameo, Efron will play a drug dealer.
#14
Re: The Disaster Artist (D: James Franco) S: Franco, Rogen (making of cult film The R
Reviews out of SXSW seem very positive.
#15
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Disaster Artist (D: James Franco) S: Franco, Rogen (making of cult film The R
Good reviews for a Franco-directed flick? I call shenanigans!
#16
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Disaster Artist (D: James Franco) S: Franco, Rogen (making of cult film The R
When is the movie coming out, and under what studio?
#17
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Disaster Artist (D: James Franco) S: Franco, Rogen (making of cult film The R
Also did Wiseau pull all screenings of The Room until after this movie comes out or something? All the screenings in Kansas City seemed to have stopped.
#18
Re: The Disaster Artist (D: James Franco) S: Franco, Rogen (making of cult film The R
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rir1WzZqwxE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
#19
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Disaster Artist (D: James Franco) S: Franco, Rogen (making of cult film The R
I saw the Room on Friday night at a local theater, I am hoping for a double feature screening with it this December.
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Disaster Artist (D: James Franco) S: Franco, Rogen (making of cult film The R
This is going to be amazing.
#23
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Disaster Artist (D: James Franco) S: Franco, Rogen (making of cult film The R
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VOUJjYsU1NQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>