Writers Wednesday: The Disaster Artist

When the book, 'The Disaster Artist', was announced, I honestly couldn't wait. For those of you that have never heard of or have never seen, "The Room', it is a masterpiece of bad filmmaking, earning a spot among the 'elite' of , 'it's so bad it's good.' Full of unintentional humor wrought with bad dialogue, plot holes you could drive a truck through and some very interesting acting choices, in my opinion, is tied with Future War, as the best worst movie ever made. But none of these movies have what, 'The Room' has. Tommy Wiseau. There is an aura about the film and it's enigmatic writer/director/producer (more on him later).

The Room premiered in June 27, 2003. It played for two weeks at two theaters before begin pulled grossing $1,800. Most of the movie goers reportedly asked for their money back after twenty-thirty minutes into the film. 'The Room' almost came and gone without anyone noticing, destined to go to film purgatory and never to be heard of again BUT when Michael Rousselet from 5SecondFilms caught one of the films showings, he started to spread the word about the movie about how the film was full of unintentional humor and on the last showing over 100 people showed up. From there word spread about the film and soon Tommy was touring from city to city with the film and it developed into a cult classic. These live screenings involve a lot of fan interaction including the audience throwing spoons at the screen. 
The Room still plays in various theaters around the country and it's popularity  has spawned a stage play and even a video game.

In May 2011, it was announced that Greg Sestero would be writing a book about his experiences making, 'The Room' and Simon & Schuster would publish. The book was published in October, 2013. I wondered how much Greg could know about making, 'The Room.' As it turns out, he knows a helluva lot. Not only did Greg act in the film but he was Greg friends with Tommy, was roommates with him when Tommy was crafting the script and a makeshift UPM (Unit Production Manager) on set. The book was everything I had hoped for, plus some.

The odd chapters tell the story of making, 'The Room' while the even chapters focus on Greg as he works his way through Hollywood and meeting Tommy for the first time. The book is broken down into the following chapters;

Chapter 1 - Oh, Hi Mark!
Chapter 2 - La France a Gagne
Chapter 3 - Do You Have Some Secrets?
Chapter 4 - Tommy's Planet
Chapter 5 - People Are Very Strange These Days
Chapter 6 - Too Young To Die
Chapter 7 - Where's My Fuckin Money?
Chapter 8 - May All of Your Dreams Come True
Chapter 9 - You Are Tearing Me Apart, Lisa!
Chapter 10 - Do You Have the Guts to Take Me?
Chapter 11 - I'll Record Everything
Chapter 12 - I'm Not Waiting For Hollywood
Chapter 13 - Leave Your Stupid Comments in Your Pocket
Chapter 14 - Highway to Hell
Chapter 15 - God, Forgive Me
Chapter 16 - Don't Be Shocked
Chapter 17 - This is My Life

I'm not going to go into detail to each chapter and spoil the fun for you but the stories you'll hear about the ever revolving door of Cinematographers (DP), constructing then demolishing then reconstructing sets, on set fights and even something special that Tommy had installed on set just for him. Also we get to the question that has plagued, The Room fans for years, is Tommy really a vampire?
All of these stories add to the allure of the Room and we finally see all of the elements that made this film what it is. Again if you haven't seen the film or read the book, I won't spoil it.

And now James Franco has signed on to produce and direct an adaption of the book. My hope is that this movie has a star studded cast like the, "Ocean Movies" but everyone works for scale to ensure a smaller budget. While no one has been cast yet, my dream cast would be:

Tommy Wiseau: Nicholas Cage (I've heard that Franco may cast himself to play this part)
Greg Sestero: Jean Durjardin  (I've heard this will be played by Dave Franco)
Juliette Danielle: Sasha Grey
Philip Haldiman: Stephen Geoffreys 
Carolyn Minnott: Betty White
Dan Janjigian: Brad Pitt
Sandy Schklair: Jeff Garlin
Kyle Vogt: I assume this will be Seth Rogen

The film has the potential to be really great, that unique film that comes along that hits on all fronts from critics to film buffs. It reminds me of what Tim Burton's Superman could have been. (Side note my friends and fellow filmmaker Jon Schnepp is making a documentary about Tim Burton's Superman film called, "The Death of Superman Lives").


Over the years, Tommy has become a enigma. Nobody knows where he's from, where he got the money to make the Room or generally anything else about him. The book does give details behind him but still there is a level we're not accessed to because Greg himself doesn't know.
I sincerely hope, Tommy Wiseau makes another film of some kind. Anything. I've heard he wants to make a vampire trilogy. I hope he crowdfunds every one of them. Could you imagine that? The pitch video alone would enough to sell it. Seriously... put me down for $100, right now...

- Dave
http://DaveBullis.Com


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