Summary
The Disaster Artist, by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell, details the chaotic making of the cult film The Room. Sestero recounts his journey as an aspiring actor and his unexpected partnership with Tommy Wiseau, known for his enigmatic character. The narrative covers the challenges and unusual aspects of the film's production. Initially a failure, the film later became a beloved cult classic. Sestero's friendship with Wiseau offers insights into the unique quirks that contributed to the movie, often referred to as a "so-bad-it's-good" film.
Plot
The Disaster Artist by Greg Sestero details the tumultuous creation of The Room, known as a cult classic. The narrative focuses on Sestero's relationship with Tommy Wiseau, a figure whose distinctive behavior influenced the film's production. Their acquaintance begins in a San Francisco acting class, where Wiseau's dramatic style makes a strong impression on Sestero.
Wiseau, driven by ambition, decides to produce The Room. He uses his mysterious financial resources to make decisions like purchasing filming equipment instead of renting and shooting in both 35mm and HD formats. His unconventional filmmaking approach contributes to a chaotic production with frequent script changes and tense interactions. A notable instance involves Wiseau needing 60 takes to deliver his lines for a scene.
The book examines Wiseau's enigmatic character, suggesting connections to Eastern Europe and unexplained American wealth. Although initially overlooked, The Room gains recognition for its inadvertent humor. This leads audiences to call it the "Citizen Kane of bad movies."
Sestero's memoir provides insight into Wiseau's ambition and eccentricities, showing how the chaotic production of The Room resulted in its transformation into a cult cinema legend.
Characters
The Disaster Artist centers on Greg Sestero and Tommy Wiseau. Sestero narrates his experiences as a young actor intrigued by Wiseau's unconventional world. Wiseau, the director and star of The Room, is characterized by his unique accent and filmmaking style. His enigmatic presence heavily influences the film's direction and Sestero's journey.
The memoir also presents key supporting characters. Jean Shelton, Sestero's acting teacher, connects Sestero with Wiseau. Iris Burton, Sestero's talent agent, is part of his early career struggles. The interactions with the production crew and cast of The Room reveal the chaotic and comedic nature of the film's production. These figures contribute to the unpredictable environment that shaped the movie's creation.
Friendship between Greg Sestero and Tommy Wiseau
The Disaster Artist recounts the friendship between Greg Sestero and Tommy Wiseau, characterized by admiration, dependency, and conflict. Their bond began in a San Francisco acting class in 1998. Greg, an aspiring actor, was drawn to Tommy's eccentric demeanor and mysterious background. Tommy, older and enigmatic, encouraged Greg's Hollywood ambitions.
Their relationship featured complexities. Tommy often acted controlling and possessive when Greg found success or formed new connections. Tommy's peculiarities became challenging for Greg, particularly when Tommy expressed a desire for control. A tense exchange occurred when Tommy reacted defensively to Greg discussing him with others, indicating a fear of betrayal.
Despite challenges, Tommy significantly influenced Greg, offering unconventional support during Greg's career. Their relationship, nurturing yet restrictive, underscores the memoir, depicting a unique, sibling-like bond that endures despite difficulties.
Production anecdotes
Dual Set Usage: Tommy Wiseau made the unconventional choice to film The Room in both 35mm and digital formats. Despite having access to real locations, he constructed elaborate sets, including a fake alley. Greg Sestero noted the alley set was built at significant cost next to a real one.
Numerous Takes for Simple Lines: During production, capturing a simple rooftop scene was difficult for Wiseau, who struggled with the line “Oh hi, Mark.” The scene required over 60 takes to complete, underscoring the shoot's disorganized nature.
Set Disputes and Rebuilds: Wiseau frequently ordered unnecessary dismantling and reassembly of sets. This erratic management delayed production and confused the crew.
Eccentric Audition Methods: Casting involved unconventional methods, with Wiseau shouting instructions to test candidates' immediate reactions. This attempt aimed to assess their spontaneity in acting.
Script Loyalty and Line Amnesia: Wiseau insisted on strict script adherence yet often forgot his lines, necessitating multiple takes. His difficulty with a 13-second scene illustrated the extended production times that typified the shoot.
These anecdotes illustrate the chaotic production of The Room, contributing to its cult classic status.
Themes
The Disaster Artist by Greg Sestero addresses ambition, friendship, loneliness, and the nature of art and creativity. The book explores the pursuit of dreams against significant obstacles. Tommy Wiseau's drive to create The Room reflects his persistent ambition. Despite lacking experience and facing skepticism, Wiseau remains committed to his vision, amid ridicule and potential failure.
The narrative explores friendship through Sestero's relationship with Wiseau. Their bond, characterized by support and tension, resembles a brotherly connection. Wiseau consistently encourages Sestero, even as the industry rejects their efforts. Sestero manages the chaos of the film set while acknowledging their mutual reliance.
Loneliness is another theme, particularly evident in Wiseau, who seeks connection through his art. His work on The Room represents a quest for validation and acceptance, aiming to overcome isolation through creative expression.
The Disaster Artist also provides a perspective on art and creativity, questioning traditional success metrics. It suggests that the emotional impact of creativity determines its value, rather than adherence to conventional standards.
Quick facts
Greg Sestero met Tommy Wiseau in a 1998 acting class, starting an unusual friendship marked by Wiseau's eccentricities.
'The Disaster Artist' details the chaotic production of 'The Room,' famously described as the 'Citizen Kane of bad movies.'
Tommy Wiseau mysteriously funded 'The Room' with a seemingly unlimited budget, reportedly spending around $6 million.
The audiobook version narrated by Greg Sestero, praised for his Tommy Wiseau impression, received an Audie Award nomination.
'The Disaster Artist' won Best Non-Fiction at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards and was a New York Times bestseller in 2013.
James Franco directed and starred as Wiseau in the 2017 film adaptation of 'The Disaster Artist,' receiving critical acclaim and a Golden Globe win.
Wiseau preferred Johnny Depp to portray him but accepted James Franco, who stayed in character even while directing the film adaptation.
The film, produced by Seth Rogen's company and co-starring Dave Franco, premiered at South by Southwest in 2017 and received an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
'The Room' gained a cult following through interactive midnight screenings, with audiences humorously reacting to its flaws by throwing plastic spoons and footballs.
The film adaptation of 'The Disaster Artist' featured cameo appearances by well-known actors and received praise for celebrating Wiseau's determination without mockery.
Greg Sestero provided consultation and photos for the film adaptation to ensure authenticity, highlighting the real-life bond between him and Wiseau.
Tommy Wiseau insisted on uniquely filming 'The Room' using both high-definition digital and 35mm film formats simultaneously, reflecting his unconventional production choices.
Film adaptation
The adaptation of The Disaster Artist, based on Greg Sestero's memoir, mirrors the unique story it tells. The film premiered at South by Southwest on March 12, 2017. James Franco directed, co-produced, and played the lead role, portraying Tommy Wiseau. Franco maintained his Wiseau persona while directing, which brought authenticity to his performance.
The film effectively combines humor with an examination of Wiseau's complex character. This mix of emotion and humor connected with audiences and contributed to its success. The Disaster Artist earned a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It received praise for its sincere, comedic narrative about the making of The Room. Franco's performance won him the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. The film's screenplay also received an Academy Award nomination, reflecting its faithfulness to Sestero’s story.
About the author
Greg Sestero, from Walnut Creek, California, has a diverse career linked to the cult film The Room and its creator, Tommy Wiseau. Initially successful in modeling in Milan and Paris, Sestero shifted to acting. He appeared in films such as Gattaca and Patch Adams and played a key role in Retro Puppet Master.
In 1998, Sestero met Wiseau in an acting class, leading to his role as Mark in The Room. Though the film did not initially succeed, it inspired Sestero's memoir, The Disaster Artist, which recounts the film’s production challenges.
Sestero leveraged the memoir’s success to write and produce dark comedies like Best F(r)iends and directed the horror film Miracle Valley. His career includes varied film roles and an ongoing association with Wiseau.
