The Disaster Artist

The Disaster Artist is a 2017 American biographical comedy-drama film starring, directed and co-produced by James Franco. Written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, based on ​Greg Sestero's non-fiction book of the same name, the film chronicles the making of Tommy Wiseau's 2003 cult film The Room. The film stars James Franco as Wiseau and Dave Franco as Sestero, alongside a supporting cast featuring Seth Rogen, Alison Brie, Ari Graynor, Josh Hutcherson and Jacki Weaver.
Principal photography of the film began on December 8, 2015. It had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 12, 2017, and also screened at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11. Distributed by A24, the film is scheduled to have a limited release in the United States on December 1, 2017, before opening wide on December 8, 2017.
==​Plot==
In San Francisco in 1998, 19-year-old Greg Sestero befriends Tommy Wiseau in Jean Shelton's acting class after Tommy gives a protracted and bizarre interpretation of a scene from A Streetcar Named Desire. Greg is impressed by Tommy's fearlessness, though Tommy also exhibits unusual habits and mannerisms; for instance, he can afford apartments in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, but he will not discuss his personal life or the source of his wealth, and he insists he is from New Orleans, despite his pronounced European accent. At Tommy's suggestion, the two move to Los Angeles to pursue acting careers.
Greg signs with talent agent Iris Burton and regularly attends auditions, while Tommy is consistently rejected by agencies, acting teachers, casting directors and producers, and seems to think that Amber, Greg's new girlfriend, is sabotaging his friendship with Greg. When Greg's auditions begin to dry up, he shares his frustrations with Tommy, who decides to make a film for them to star in. Tommy writes the screenplay for The Room, a melodrama about a love triangle between banker Johnny (played by Tommy), his fiancée Lisa, and his best friend Mark (played by Greg, who is also given a line producer credit). They rent production space from Birns & Sawyer, from whom Tommy insists on buying, rather than renting, all of the production equipment he will need. He also decides to shoot the film on 35mm film and HD Digital simultaneously, which is another costly and unnecessary measure. The production house employees introduce Tommy to Raphael Smadja and Sandy Schklair, who are hired as cinematographer and script supervisor, respectively. Actress Juliette Danielle is cast as Lisa.
Production starts relatively smoothly, but Tommy's controlling behavior and inexperience cause the situation to deteriorate. He forgets his lines, arrives late, and refuses to supply his crew with basic needs, such as drinking water and air conditioning. No one receives a full script, and the cast and crew are baffled by the film's nonsensical plot and Tommy's inexplicable directorial and acting choices. During preparation for a sex scene, which is being filmed shortly after Greg has told Tommy that he is moving in with Amber, Tommy refuses to film on a closed set, doesn't put on a robe between scenes, and humiliates Juliette by pointing out the acne on her shoulder to the entire crew. When he is confronted about this, Tommy responds by revealing that he regularly watches the extensive behind-the-scenes footage of the production, so he knows what the cast and crewmembers have been saying about him behind his back, and he accuses everyone, including Greg, of not supporting his vision.
While The Room is still filming, Greg and Amber run into Bryan Cranston, who is in the same Pilates class as Amber, at a cafe. He says he is directing an upcoming episode of the TV show he is on, Malcolm in the Middle, and invites Greg to play a lumberjack, largely because Greg has a beard. Greg is scheduled to shave his beard soon for The Room, so he begs Tommy to delay shooting those scenes, but Tommy refuses. Greg reluctantly chooses to finish the film and give up the opportunity to be on Malcolm. On the last day of shooting, which is on location back in San Francisco, a frustrated Greg accuses Tommy of selfishness and duplicity throughout their friendship and questions his real age and origins. The two fight and Greg storms off.
By June 2003, Amber and Greg have split up and Greg has started working in theatre. Tommy has finished work on The Room in the eight months since their falling out, and he invites Greg to the premiere. Greg initially is reluctant, but Tommy convinces him to come and, to his surprise, the entire cast and crew also attend. The capacity audience reacts with bemused silence and then, increasingly, with laughter to Tommy's poor performance, script, and filmmaking techniques. A devastated Tommy storms out of the theater, but Greg brings him back and points out that the audience's enthusiastic response is something to be proud of, while reconciling his friendship with him. With renewed optimism, Tommy takes the stage as The Room ends and expresses his appreciation of the warm reception for his "comedic" film. He invites Greg to join him, and the pair receive a standing ovation.
In a post-credits scene, Tommy meets Henry, a partygoer (played by the actual Tommy Wiseau) who asks Tommy if he wants to hang out. He refuses, though he does recognize Henry's familiar "New Orleans" accent.
==Cast==
* James Franco as Tommy Wiseau, the writer, director, producer, and actor who portrays Johnny in The Room
* Dave Franco as Greg Sestero, the line producer and actor who portrays Mark in The Room
* Seth Rogen as Sandy Schklair, the script supervisor and de facto first assistant director of The Room
* Ari Graynor as Juliette Danielle, the actress who portrays Lisa in The Room
* Alison Brie as Amber, Greg Sestero′s girlfriend
* Jacki Weaver as Carolyn Minnott, the actress who portrays Claudette in The Room
* Paul Scheer as Raphael Smadja, the first DP of The Room
* Zac Efron as Dan Janjigian, the actor who portrays Chris-R in The Room
* Josh Hutcherson as Philip Haldiman, the actor who portrays Denny in The Room
* June Diane Raphael as Robyn Paris, the actress who portrays Michelle in The Room
* Megan Mullally as Mrs. Sestero, Greg Sestero′s mother
* Jason Mantzoukas as Peter Anway, the representative of Birns & Sawyer
* Andrew Santino as Scott Holmes, the actor who portrays Mike in The Room
* Nathan Fielder as Kyle Vogt, the actor who portrays Peter in The Room
* Sharon Stone as Iris Burton, Greg Sestero′s agent
* Melanie Griffith as Jean Shelton, the teacher of an acting class attended by Wiseau and Sestero
* Hannibal Buress as Bill Meurer, the owner of Birns & Sawyer, a film equipment and production space rental firm
* Bob Odenkirk as Wiseau′s method acting teacher
* James Dean as Jim Stark (archive footage)
* Judd Apatow as a film producer accosted by Wiseau
Kristen Bell, Ike Barinholtz, Adam Scott, Kevin Smith, Keegan-Michael Key, Lizzy Caplan, Danny McBride and J. J. Abrams appear as themselves in a prologue discussing The Room and its reputation. Other roles include John Early as Burton′s executive assistant Chris Snyder, Joe Mande as DP Todd Barron, Charlyne Yi as costume designer Safowa Bright-Asare, Kelly Oxford as makeup artist Amy Von Brock, Tom Franco as Karl, Zoey Deutch as Tommy's acting classmate Bobbi, Sugar Lyn Beard as an actress auditioning for Lisa, Brian Huskey as a bank teller, Randall Park as Greg's acting classmate Rob, Jerrod Carmichael as an actor friend of Greg′s, Casey Wilson as a casting director, Lauren Ash as the florist in The Room′s "Hi, doggie" sequence, and Angelyne as herself. Bryan Cranston makes an uncredited cameo appearance as himself. Greg Sestero appears as an assistant casting director, while Tommy Wiseau appears in a post-credits scene as a character named Henry.
==​Trailers==
The Disaster Artist Official Teaser Trailer HD A24|
The Disaster Artist Official Trailer HD A24|
==External links==
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*The Disaster Artist at History vs. Hollywood
*Official Screenplay
Category:James Franco films
Category:American comedy films
Category:Comedy films
Category:American biographical films
Category:Biographical films
Category:2017 films
Category:2010s films
Category:English-language films
Category:2010s biographical films
Category:2010s comedy-drama films
Category:American films
Category:2010s American biographical films
Category:American comedy-drama films
Category:Films about filmmaking
Category:Films about films
Category:Films based on non-fiction books
Category:Films directed by James Franco
Category:Films with screenplays by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber
Category:Films scored by Cliff Eidelman
Category:Films set in 1998
Category:Films set in 2001
Category:Films set in 2002
Category:Films set in 2003
Category:Films set in Los Angeles
Category:Films set in San Francisco
Category:Films shot in Los Angeles
Category:New Line Cinema films
Category:Warner Bros. films
Category:Point Grey Pictures films
Category:Films featuring a Best Musical or Comedy Actor Golden Globe winning performance
Category:Films starring James Franco
Category:Films starring Dave Franco
Category:Films starring Judd Apatow
Category:Films starring Kristen Bell
Category:Films starring Ike Barinholtz
Category:Films starring Adam Scott
Category:Films starring Kevin Smith
Category:Films starring Lizzy Caplan
Category:Films starring Danny McBride
Category:Films starring J. J. Abrams
Category:Films starring Seth Rogen
Category:Films starring Keegan-Michael Key
Category:Films starring Jacki Weaver
Category:Films starring Bryan Cranston
Category:Films starring Jerrod Carmichael
Category:Films starring Bob Odenkirk
Category:FIlms starring Zac Efron
Category:FIlms starring Jason Mantzoukas