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Tommy Wiseau

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Tommy Wiseau
File:Tommywiseaucloseup.jpg
Occupation(s)Director, actor, producer, screenwriter

Tommy Wiseau (born October 3, 1968) is an American screenwriter, director, producer, executive producer, and actor. He is the founder of the film production company Wiseau Films. Wiseau is best known for his film The Room which has been described as one of the worst movies ever made and has gained cult film status. He is also responsible for the documentary Homeless in America and the sitcom The Neighbors.

Personal life

Wiseau claims to have lived in France "a long time ago";[1] grew up in New Orleans;[2] went back and forth between the United States and Europe throughout his life, and at some point moved to San Francisco, where he was employed at a hospital.[1] He prefers to be referred to as an American,[3] and speaks three languages.[4] Wiseau studies psychology as a "hobby".[5]

Wiseau was interested in becoming a rock star before turning to acting.[6] He was trained in acting at the American Conservatory Theater, Laney College and the Jean Shelton Actors Lab. He has also received acting training at the Tyler Worley Workshop and the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in Los Angeles, California. Wiseau has said that he has been influenced by James Dean,[6] Marlon Brando,[6] Elizabeth Taylor,[7] Tennessee Williams,[7] The Guns of Navarone,[6] and Citizen Kane.[6][7]

Wiseau has stated in a number of articles that he regularly feels misquoted during interviews,[2][7] and often encourages (or requires) writers to post audio of their conversation online.[6]

Career

Film

On the SDCT podcast interview, he mentioned his first film was made while in film school, a five minute short titled Robbery Doesn't Call, filmed in black and white, for which he received an A-, marks off due to editing "glitches." He is currently contemplating releasing the short. [8]

In 2003, Wiseau released his first full-feature film, The Room, which was based upon his unreleased play and unpublished novel of the same name.[1] Wiseau is credited as an actor (in the leading role of Johnny), executive producer, writer, and director. The Room has been described as one of the worst movies ever made, but despite (or because of) this, it has developed a cult following internationally. Screenings for The Room are shown monthly in small, privately owned theaters in major cities, but have even taken place at the American Film Institute [9].

In 2004, Wiseau released a documentary called Homeless in America. He later spoke of the film: "I didn't make any money on it… but I'm very proud of it because I think that people should know about it."[5] The film also included Greg Sestero, who played Mark in The Room, as an interviewer and executive producer.

Current and upcoming projects for Wiseau include a sitcom pilot called The Neighbors,[6] a book on the differences between 35mm and HD video,[6] a Broadway adaptation, 500-page novel, childrens' cartoon show, video game adaptation,[10] and even 3-D reformatting [11] of The Room,[1][5] and an untitled feature film, on which he will begin production sometime in 2009.[7] It is currently unknown whether he will be directing/writing the feature or merely acting.[7] In June 2009, he told The A.V. Club that his "next movie will be also basketball [sic], you’ll be surprised too."[12] In addition, Wiseau plans to make a vampire film (or films),[6][7] which may be shot in "Austin, Texas."[5] Wiseau has stated that he currently has two 100-page vampire scripts, and hopes to film both.[5] He has also hinted to wanting to make a film about or relating to Heath Ledger. [5]

On April 9th, 2010, during a phone interview, Wiseau mentioned that he is currently working on four other projects (including his vampire films), as well as saying "...I may release a new movie within eight months." Wiseau said he stars in it, and it's assumed he is also the director. The film, as Wiseau said, will get an "international release". He did not mention a plot line or a title for the film.[13]

In 2010, Wiseau visited Harvard University to accept the award of Filmmaker of the Year [14] from Harvard University's longest-running TV show, Ivory Tower (Harvard Undergraduate Television).

In July 2010, Wiseau announced his next project is a short film entitled The House That Drips Blood on Alex, a parody of modern horror films that was written and produced by sketch comedy group Studio8.net. The film will premiere at Comic-Con on July 24, 2010 and online via Atom.com in Fall 2010.[15][16]

After filing several claims of copyright violation against reviewers of The Room, Wiseau became a target for internet satirists.[17][18]

Television

Wiseau guest-starred in a Season 4 episode of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! entitled "Tommy", wherein Wiseau guest-directed a segment; he later told an interviewer he was merely an actor on the episode, and would work with the duo again "any time."[7] He has also portrayed Trig, the Space Trader in an episode of the online series Moonshine.[19] An interview with Tim and Eric in Wired reveals they are working with Wiseau on two series. [20]

Wiseau is also working on a sitcom called The Neighbors. A 22-minute pilot was shot in 2008, and Wiseau now claims to be "negotiating with some of the networks" for a deal.[5] More recently, at a Q & A session in 2010, he claimed to have nearly finalized a deal with Adult Swim, only to have it torn apart because they would only air one episode. He wanted at least ten and encourages audiences to campaign to Adult Swim for a release of the show.

Filmography

Film
Year Film Role Notes
2003 The Room Johnny Director, producer, executive producer, writer
2004 Homeless in America Interviewer Director, producer, writer
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2009 Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Himself 1 episode

Awards

Year Award Category Film
2004 New York International Independent Film & Video Festival Best Social Documentary (L.A. Festival) Homeless in America
(Shared with Kaya Redford)
Audience Award – Feature (Miami Festival) The Room
2010 Harvard's Ivory Tower (Harvard Undergraduate Television) Filmmaker of the Year Filmmaker of the Year The Room and other projects

References

  1. ^ a b c d Seattle Post Intelligencer article: "Is 'The Room' the worst movie of all time?"
  2. ^ a b "Interview: Tommy Wiseau « Terminal Laughter". Terminallaughter.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  3. ^ 'The Room': A Cult Hit So Bad, It's Good, Day to Day, NPR
  4. ^ The Room Q&A (Part 3 of 3) article: "The Room Q&A (Part 3 of 3)"
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Portland Mercury article: "Tommy Wiseau: The Complete Interview(s)"
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i The Onion AV Club article: "Interview: Tommy Wiseau"
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "nonTV Interview: Tommy Wiseau". nonTV.tumblr.com. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
  8. ^ SDCT podcast
  9. ^ http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/39009/tommy-wiseau-and-the-room-at-afi-silver-theatre-friday
  10. ^ http://www.willdendis.com/The_Room_Harpers.pdf
  11. ^ http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/entertainment/movies/cult-classic-the-room-may-be-coming-to-3d-20100418
  12. ^ The Onion AV Club article: "Tommy Wiseau interview"
  13. ^ Longest Tommy Wiseau Interview EVER Part 4 on YouTube: 2:40 – 3:16
  14. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEi-M5bvHQA
  15. ^ SD Comic-Con 2010: Teaser Trailer: Tommy Wiseau's The House that Dripped Blood on Alex
  16. ^ http://www.atom.com/blog/2010/06/23/get-ready-for-the-comic-con-premiere-of-tommy-wiseau-in-the-house-that-drips-blood-on-alex/
  17. ^ http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/nostalgia-critic/26252-the-tommy-wiseau-show
  18. ^ http://thecinemasnob.com/2010/07/20/brad-and-jerrid-watch-the-room.aspx
  19. ^ Moonshine episode featuring Tommy Wiseau on YouTube
  20. ^ "Wired article"

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