The Disaster Artist

My Life inside 'The Room', the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made

By: Greg Sestero, Tom Bissell

Narrated by: Greg Sestero

Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Nineteen-year-old Greg Sestero met Tommy Wiseau at an acting school in San Francisco. Wiseau's scenes were rivetingly wrong, yet Sestero, hypnotized by such uninhibited acting, thought, "I have to do a scene with this guy." That impulse changed both of their lives. Wiseau seemed never to have read the rule book on interpersonal relationships (or the instructions on a bottle of black hair dye), yet he generously offered to put the aspiring actor up in his LA apartment. Sestero's nascent acting career first sizzled, then fizzled, resulting in Wiseau's last-second offer to Sestero of co-starring with him in The Room, a movie Wiseau wrote and planned to finance, produce, and direct - in the parking lot of a Hollywood equipment-rental shop.

Wiseau spent $6 million of his own money on his film, but despite the efforts of the disbelieving (and frequently fired) crew and embarrassed (and frequently fired) actors, the movie made no sense. Nevertheless, Wiseau rented a Hollywood billboard featuring his alarming headshot and staged a red carpet premiere. The Room made $1,800 at the box office and closed after two weeks. One reviewer said that watching The Room was like "getting stabbed in the head".

The Disaster Artist is Greg Sestero's laugh-out-loud funny account of how Tommy Wiseau defied every law of artistry, business, and friendship to make "the Citizen Kane of bad movies" (Entertainment Weekly), which is now an international phenomenon, with Wiseau himself beloved as an oddball celebrity. Written with award-winning journalist Tom Bissell, The Disaster Artist is an inspiring tour de force, an open-hearted portrait of an enigmatic man who will improbably capture your heart.

©2013 Greg Sestero and Thomas Carlisle Bissell (P)2014 Tantor

Critic reviews

"This downright thrilling book is a lot like watching Tim Burton's Ed Wood: it's sometimes infuriating, often excruciating, usually very funny, and occasionally horribly uncomfortable, but it's also impossible to look away from." ( Booklist, Starred Review)

Wow!

Magic! If you've even heard of The Room, you need to hear this performance. I'm glad I got to hear this amazing take on one of the strangest moments in cinema.

A Great Listen

No offense to Of Human Bondage (which I'm halfway through and needed a break from), but this extremely entertaining memoir offered an unexpectedly delightful diversion over the weekend. You don't need to be an obsessed fan of The Room to enjoy this hilarious and touching case study in disastrous indie filmmaking. Greg Sestero's revealing characterization of Tommy, coupled with a pitch perfect impersonation, resulted in me finishing the audiobook in two days. Greg's cowriter, Tom Bissell also deserves mention for what I'm guessing were his many contributions to the eloquent prose and compelling story structure.

The most fascinating man ever recorded

What can I say that countless others have already said. A fantastic book, great narration by the author, & a peak into the bizarre world of Tommy Wiseau.

I highly recommend the audiobook over the physical book for the sheer fact that Greg's Tommy Wiseau impression is spot on.

Greg and Tommy: The Odd(est) Couple

Sestero's performance was okay - mostly monotone. I feel like he could have injected more feeling into it at times, especially since the majority of the book is deeply personal to him. I would have given this a lower rating in the "performance" category had it not been for his impression of Tommy. It's entirely perfect, capturing Tommy's breathy voice and odd form of English perfectly.

I watched The Room a couple of years ago with a friend. I had never once watched a "so bad that it's good" movie before. My friend and I found ourselves laughing hysterically, constantly pausing the movie and saying to each other, "WAIT, WHAT?...." This movie is so incredibly perplexing that you can't help but wonder about Tommy Wiseau, its writer/director/star. What is going through this guy's head? Does he realize what he's doing? Did he SET OUT to make the worst movie of all time, somehow knowing that it would catch on as a cult classic, with midnight screenings all over the country?

Greg Sestero, co-author of this book who also "stars" in The Room, answered many of my questions. Greg was taken in by Tommy, and they were friends for a few years before and during the filming of The Room.

This book is a fantastic, deep portrait of the man behind (and in front of) The Room. He is a complicated person full of contradictions. His outward appearance is one of a carefree immigrant, blending in with the counterculture of San Francisco. At heart, he is a frightened man who has been deeply hurt (both physically and mentally) and misunderstood by the world. He often comes off as creepy. Though he tries desperately, no one ever taught him how to fit in or how to keep a good head on his shoulders. Though clearly a foreigner, he reveres America, and does his best to be American. This is the #1 theme in Tommy's life - he tries incredibly hard and gives his all. He refuses to listen to or trust anyone, and that just leaves him unwittingly clueless. When his dreams of becoming a movie star are not realized, he decides to do it himself. Isn't that quintessentially American? Tommy is always looking out for Greg, though he is at times incredibly frustrating and domineering.

Tommy's worst qualities are most evident during the filming of The Room. Amateur and pig-headed to the extreme, Tommy will absolutely NOT let the film stray from his vision and script, despite innumerable pleas and suggestions from the producer, assistant director, the actors, set director, the cameramen, and his best friend Greg himself - who ends being both line producer and actor in the film. If Tommy had taken the advice of any of these people, this would have been a better (i.e. less amateurish) film. Though I would argue, a better film would not have been nearly as enjoyable to watch. I won't even talk about the creepy sex scenes.

Tommy's current fame (such as it is - cult infamy) is exactly what he deserves. He could have obtained it no other way, and he basks in it. We don't know if he realizes the joke's on him, but we love him. We love Greg too for having the gumption to write this realistic and heartfelt portrayal of a complicated man. Tommy Wiseau, you are in my heart.

What A Story, Mark!

Would you listen to The Disaster Artist again? Why?

It's incredibly funny and would be unbelievable but for the existence of The Room. The way Sestero reads Tommy's quotes makes what could be very cruel words seem strangely endearing. The whole story is funny but poignant for anybody in entertainment.

What did you like best about this story?

The parallel narratives, which keeps listening consistently fresh. That, and the explanation for just how all the weirdness in The Room came to be.

Which character – as performed by Greg Sestero – was your favorite?

Tommy, obviously. His Tommy impersonation is incredible, not just getting the accent, but also the sincerity mixed with total lack of self-awareness.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Ha Ha Ha! What a Story, Mark!
or
Journey to the Worst Film Ever Made

Any additional comments?

Sestero's standard narration tends to be a bit flat, but his Tommy voice more than makes up for it.

Great Book

Fascinating behind the scenes glimpse at one of the most bizarre film productions. Entertaining and well read.

It’s rare that the audiobook is better than print.

Sestero’s narration provides life to Tommy more than the printed word could. It’s less of an impression than it is a second person simultaneously telling the story.

Fantastic performance of an excellent work about a fascinating movie and fascinating people.

Brilliant

Greg Sestero offers a performance and impression of Wiseau that rivals (if not trumps) James Franco's. In addition to a fantastic reading of his book, Sestero seems to have a near perfect recollection of the events that unfolded leading up to the Room's premiere. Sestero is a brilliant writer, and offers up more than just a backstage memoir of The Room's filming--that is to say, in this book, you may also find an impressive portrait of Los Angeles in the early 2000's, and a deeply honest depiction of an aspiring actor's journey through the relentless oppressors of the Hollywood film industry. The book is beautifully written, and stands alone as a story--but, I highly recommend the audio book if you have any admiration for the performing arts. I decided to download the audio book a few weeks after watching the motion picture adaptation, and immediately became immersed in all of the details that the film adaptation couldn't include. Now, if only Tommy would release his version of the story, and narrate his book...

Amazing

I did not want it to end I want a second one and I want it to be about tommys life what happened to his parents. Y is he so exotic. Thank you for this masterpiece

It takes work to make a movie this bad.

What made the experience of listening to The Disaster Artist the most enjoyable?

To those who have seen "The Room" with a zealous midnight crowd, talking to the screen, throwing plastic spoons and having a great time (the only way one should see it) - this inside making-of story is absolutely fascinating. But even if you haven't seen the movie, the story of eccentric mystery director, Tommy Wiseau, and his weird friendship with author/actor, Greg Sestero, is equally as entertaining.

What other book might you compare The Disaster Artist to and why?

The closest I can think of is "Ed Wood: Nightmare of Ecstasy (The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood, Jr." - in that it explores the life of a bad movie maker and their "art."

Which character – as performed by Greg Sestero – was your favorite?

Sestero reads his own story and does a vocal impression of Tommy Wiseau throughout the read that I thought helped paint a vivid picture of his unique experience (I've met Tommy and Greg's impression is pretty good).

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. I listen as I drive and looked forward to the story resuming each time I got in the car.

Any additional comments?

I love stories about movie-making. This story is a fun ride - effortlessly humorous and written with great clarity. In the history of Hollywood movie-making, director Tommy Wiseau is a one-of-a-kind personality. The fact that his lousy movie became a phenomena is a beautiful miracle, illuminated by Sestero's recollections.