The Disaster Artist

[mussonman]

Originally Posted by Quality

Yet Star Wars made over 1 billion gross in 2 weeks.

I'm not sure what your point is, but I do applaud your grasp of the obvious

[Quality]

I meant there's a reason why it grossed over a billion so soon.

[directorik]

Originally Posted by buscando

Just curious, for the people who've seen Ed Wood, how do you think it compares to this?

It's a very different movie. I don't think there is much to compare.
"Ed Wood" is about the man, this is about a friendship.

[buscando]

Thanks for replying. Yes the 2 films are pretty different. But I thought a big part of Ed Wood was the friendship between Ed & Bela. Which film got you more emotionally invested? And have you seen The Room before?

[directorik]

Originally Posted by buscando

Thanks for replying. Yes the 2 films are pretty different. But I thought a big part of Ed Wood was the friendship between Ed & Bela. Which film got you more emotionally invested? And have you seen The Room before?

Good point. Maybe there is more to compare the two. Both are
about friendship and dedication and perseverance and making
a movie. One is more about a career, the other about the one
movie. I guess I'm not too good at drawing comparisons. I was
emotionally invested in both about the same.

Yes, I've seen "The Room" - twice. Once early on in its run and
then again with the director at the screening.

[buscando]

Then is it fair to say you're a fan of The Room?
I wonder if you were more invested in The Disaster Artist than I was because of that.
Had you seen any Ed Wood films before you watched Ed Wood?

[directorik]

No, not a fan of “The Room”. It's dreadful. Like many others I was
fascinated with Wiseau. What it took for someone with no talent at
all to make a film.

I had seen four of Wood's films before I saw “Ed Wood”. Unlike “The
Room” I enjoy the absurd badness of them. I especially like “Jail Bait”.
I think he actually had some talent.

[buscando]

I guess one doesn't really need talent to make a film if it's bad & if you have money. I recently read the book the Ed Wood film was based on. He did have some talent. Unfortunately he sacrificed quality for speed & cheapness. And it's unclear if he even recognized what quality was. It's a pretty depressing cautionary tale toward the end.

Have you seen the Vice documentary about Birdemic? It's about another film that people like for its awfulness, & its director can't seem to recognize how bad it is.

[Cracker Funk]

I feel like this thread is bordering on becoming nothing more than people throwing stones from glass houses.

Reminder: filmmaking isn't just an art, it's a business. Sometimes those two things go hand-in-hand. Sometimes they don't. How many producers on this forum have turned a profit? Not many.

[buscando]

It's not my intention at all to throw stones.
Are you objecting to us saying The Room is bad?
I thought that's the reason people like it.

[directorik]

Originally Posted by Cracker Funk

I feel like this thread is bordering on becoming nothing more than people throwing stones from glass houses.

I'm sorry you feel this way. I'm enjoying the conversation. I feel
it's much more than throwing stones. To me we are discussing
filmmaking. Not everyone is good at it. To me it's fascinating how
a truly bad film can reach an audience and become admired even
as it is acknowledged for what it is.

Originally Posted by Cracker Funk

Reminder: filmmaking isn't just an art, it's a business. Sometimes those two things go hand-in-hand. Sometimes they don't. How many producers on this forum have turned a profit? Not many.

I'm not sure I'm following your point. I think all of us understand that
filmmaking is a business too. Producers on this forum who haven't
turned a profit still have opinions on movies they see, so I think I'm
missing your point.

Wiseau did something remarkable. It is my opinion that "The Room"
is a truly terrible movie. I suspect it would be unwatchable outside
of the way I have seen it - with an enthusiastic audience that interacts
with the movie as it is screening.

Have you seen either "The Room" or "The Disaster Artist" CF? Did you
read the book it was based on? Any thoughts?

Originally Posted by buscando

Have you seen the Vice documentary about Birdemic?

Not until now. Thanks!

[mussonman]

Originally Posted by directorik

It is my opinion that "The Room"
is a truly terrible movie

I don't think there's a person alive (or dead) who would disagree with you

[buscando]

I think CF said he's already seen The Disaster Artist 3 times & wants to go again. So he is a fan of The Room.
So directorik, when you saw The Room, was the audience laughing & enjoying it?

I don't mean to put these films & their creators down, CF. Making a film is very hard, so people that finish, even a bad one, deserve acknowledgement, especially if they have little money. I applaud their determination to keep going when people around them may be saying it's bad. A person can seem stupid or crazy for going against everyone's advice. But sometimes you have to be like that when you're doing something new & different that people aren't used to. You need to believe in yourself & push on when things get tough.

On the other hand, this strong self belief can go wrong if you're not able to be a bit objective & be really open to people's opinions. That seems to be the case with these 3 directors in varying degrees. It's a tough balance. How can you tell who's right when you're so close to it? I like learning what I can from these examples.

To Tommy's credit, he did seem to recognize after the audience screenings that The Room is bad, & his willingness to market it that way is why it has fans.

[WalterB]

Just watched the Birdemic doc: it is hilarious, tragic and fantastic at the same time.
Haven't seen the Room or the Disater Artist, but when I watched Tim Burtons Ed Wood I did not only love tremendously, I also loved the perseverance and motivation. It breaths love for filmmaking, just like the Birdemic doc does.
And I find some kind of inspiration in it, because those are filmmakers who were not letting themselves be stopped by anything to persue their dreams. The outcome might be bad, cult or savage art, they did it. They did what most people just mention as 'one day...' and then continue with their 'normal' life.

[holing00]

I love The Room! It's definitely the best/worst movie that I've ever seen. It's life changing. Disaster Artist is great, but imho it's kinda difficult to top the room!