The Disaster Artist (movie)

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**The Disaster Artist** is a movie based on Greg Sestero's book of the same name about the The Room's turbulent production.

The film was directed by James Franco, based on a screenplay by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. James Franco also plays Tommy Wiseau, with his brother Dave Franco playing Sestero. James Franco co-produced alongside Vince Jolivette, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and James Weaver. Seth Rogen also stars as Sandy Schklair. The cast also includes Alison Brie, Ari Graynor, Josh Hutcherson and Jacki Weaver.

An unfinished version of the film premiered at South by Southwest on March 12, 2017, with the final product beginning a limited release on December 1, 2017, before opening wide a week later on December 8.

The movie was distributed by A24 in North America and Warner Bros. Pictures internationally and received largely positive reviews from critics and audiences. It was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2017, and James Franco won the award for Best Actor - Musical or Comedy at the 75th Golden Globe Awards.

## Synopsis

Tommy, an aspiring actor, faces many rejections and goes on to direct a movie titled 'The Room'. However, the failed attempt at movie-making unexpectedly becomes a profitable cult film.

## Cast

* James Franco as Tommy Wiseau
* Dave Franco as Greg Sestero
* Seth Rogen as Sandy Schklair
* Ari Graynor as Juliette Danielle
* Alison Brie as Amber
* Jacki Weaver as Carolyn Minnott
* Paul Scheer as Raphael Smadja
* Zac Efron as Dan Janjigian
* Josh Hutcherson as Philip Haldiman
* June Diane Raphael as Robyn Paris
* Megan Mullally as Greg Sestero's mother
* Jason Mantzoukas as Peter Anway
* Andrew Santino as Scott Holmes
* Nathan Fielder as Kyle Vogt
* Sharon Stone as Iris Burton
* Melanie Griffith as Jean Shelton
* Hannibal Buress as Bill Meurer
* Bob Odenkirk as Wiseau's method acting teacher
* Lauren Ash as the florist
* Judd Apatow (uncredited) as a film producer
* Bryan Cranston (uncredited) as himself
* Tommy Wiseau as Henry (uncredited; post-credits scene)
* Greg Sestero as an assistant casting director
* John Early as Chris Snyder
* Joe Mande as Todd Barron
* Charlyne Yi as Safowa Bright-Asare
* Kelly Oxford as Amy Von Brock
* Tom Franco as Karl
* Zoey Dutch as Bobbi
* Sugar Lyn Beard as an actress auditioning for the role of Lisa
* Brian Huskey as a bank teller
* Randall Park as Rob
* Jerrod Carmichael as an actor friend of Greg's
* Casey Wilson as a casting director
* Angelyne as herself

### Prologue

The film opens with a prologue where the following celebrities briefly talk about The Room:

* Kristen Bell
* Ike Barinholtz
* Adam Scott
* Kevin Smith
* Keegan-Michael Key
* Lizzy Caplan
* Danny McBride
* J. J. Abrams

## Production

In February 2014, Seth Rogen's production company Point Grey Pictures announced that it had acquired the film rights to The Disaster Artist. Tommy Wiseau had hoped that Johnny Depp would play him, but it was announced that the film's director, James Franco, would instead.

On June 8, 2014, a midnight screening of The Room was held where James Franco's brother, Dave Franco, stood up during a Q&A session and asked Wiseau, with this information not being revealed beforehand, "Tommy, how do you feel about me playing Greg Sestero in the movie?" The crowd cheered and Wiseau responded with "That's what I say: It's a good choice!" The film marked the Franco brothers' first time collaborating on a project together.

New Line Cinema sought to acquire The Disaster Artist in October 2015, around the same time Seth Rogen was in talks to play Sandy Schklair. In December 2015, the remainder of the cast were revealed two days prior to the start of shooting. In January 2016, Greg Sestero stated that Bryan Cranston had been cast in a then-undisclosed role. In November 2016, he was revealed to be playing himself.

Principal photography began on December 8, 2015, in Los Angeles, and ended on January 28, 2016. Among the locations used was The Ojai Apartments on Whitley Terrace in Hollywood.

By April 2016, the film's name had changed to "The Masterpiece", though had reverted to its original title by its South by Southwest premiere.

In August 2016, Dave Porter was announced to be providing the film's score.

It was reported on May 5, 2017, that A24 ad acquired distribution rights.

## Release

An unfinished version of the film premiered at South by Southwest on March 12, 2017, with the final product beginning a limited release on December 1, 2017, before opening wide a week later on December 8. The film also released in IMAX in selected areas.

On October 25, 2017, a billboard was mounted on Highland Avenue in Los Angeles replicating the original The Room billboard that Wiseau kept up from 2003 to 2008.

The film was released on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download on March 13, 2018. By February 20, 2019, its estimated US home media sales were $1,288,213.

## References

1. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20171208175020/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/disaster-artist-2017
2. ↑ https://deadline.com/2017/12/the-disaster-artist-james-franco-seth-rogen-box-office-breakout-1202222781/
3. ↑ https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=thedisasterartist.htm
4. ↑ https://variety.com/2017/film/festivals/james-franco-the-disaster-artist-premiering-at-sxsw-1201979745/
5. ↑ http://www.nationalboardofreview.org/2017/11/national-board-review-announces-2017-award-winners/
6. ↑ https://variety.com/2017/film/news/golden-globe-nominations-2018-nominees-full-list-1202634435/
7. ↑ https://www.vulture.com/2017/09/the-disaster-artist-is-peak-james-franco.html
8. ↑ https://www.slashfilm.com/532203/dave-franco-the-room/
9. ↑ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/james-franco-seth-rogen-take-835355
10. ↑ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/room-movie-disaster-artist-adds-844980
11. ↑ https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/bryan-cranstons-surprise-new-cameo-role-harks-back-to-malcolm-in-the-middle-20161102-gsgi9n.html
12. ↑ https://www.slashfilm.com/disaster-artist-james-franco-as-tommy-wiseau/
13. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20160407000344/http://www.thelocationguide.com/blog/2016/02/the-disaster-artist-wraps-filming-in-los-angeles/
14. ↑ https://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/04/18/james-francos-disaster-artist-gets-first-still-and-a-new-name/
15. ↑ https://deadline.com/2017/02/sxsw-midnighters-2017-pig-68-kill-trent-haaga-behind-the-mask-1201904032/
16. ↑ http://filmmusicreporter.com/2016/08/03/dave-porter-to-score-james-francos-the-masterpiece/
17. ↑ https://deadline.com/2017/05/james-franco-seth-rogen-comedy-the-disaster-artist-release-date-a24-new-line-1202094228/
18. ↑ https://editor.imax.com/movies/disaster-artist/
19. ↑ https://www.slashfilm.com/exclusive-disaster-artist-clip/
20. ↑ https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Disaster-Artist-The#tab=video-sales