Interview: PTA & Mike Figgis

Paul Thomas Anderson & Mike Figgis
February 2000


How does Forrest Gump have sex? Paul Thomas Anderson's `Boogie Nights', a story about LA's porn movie industry and its stars, caused a storm when it was released two years ago. Fellow director Mike Figgis talks to him about sex on the screen, who it's made for and why

MIKE FIGGIS: I thought Boogie Nights was fantastic.

PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON: Thank you.

MF: One of the best films I've seen in a long time, just the whole way you made it. So, is it something you'd been with for a long time?

PTA: Long, long time. When I was 17, I wrote a short film called The Dirk Diggler Story, and shot it on videotape. I was a big fan of Zelig and Spinal Tap and it was that format, fictional documentary. Also I was completely immersed in watching porno, in a horny-young- boy way but also in a filmmaker's way. I wanted to make movies and here were these terrible movies, but I also got off on them, they were so goofy and bad. Plus I lived in the San Fernando Valley, which is the capital of porn production. So it was always peripherally around me.

There were warehouses near where I went to high school; some of them had signage, then there'd be one that didn't but it had a ton of expensive cars parked out front. So you're thinking, "What the fuck is going on inside of that one with no sign?" It's because they were making porno movies. So the story obviously stuck with me for nine or ten years. I was 25 or 26 when I made Boogie Nights.

Interview: Madison Magazine

Madison Magazine
January/February 2000

Chutzpah

What does it take to get a movie made in Hollywood that runs longer than three hours and stars Tom Cruise and Jason Robards? Jess Kornbluth talks with 29-year-old director Paul Thomas Anderson and thinks he has the answer.

After the screening, I was supposed to meet friends for dinner and a concert. But Magnolia didn’t end. An ex-boy genius (William H. Macy), a game show host (Philip Baker Hall), a sex guru (Tom Cruise), his dying father (Jason Robards) and his young adulterous wife (Julianne Moore) and a mushy policeman (John C. Reilly) – all these characters (and many more) showed up on the screen in what seemed like real time.

February 21, 2000

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

Great News today from the Berlin International Film Festival where Paul Thomas Anderson was awarded the prestigious Golden Bear for Magnolia. As you know, I try to keep my own opinions off the site, but I am very happy for Paul & I'm thrilled to see the continued critical success of the film. It was also great to hear how enthusiastic the German audience received Magnolia. Here is a link to a short clip (QuickTime or RealPlayer) from German television showing Paul receiving the award & I have posted quite a few pics below (more to follow soon in the PTA Photo Gallery). 

I got word that PTA directed one of the few funny bits on Saturday Night Live. It was the parody of MTV's Fanatic with Ben Affleck, Jimmy Fallon & Molly Shannon (Thanks Will!

SNL FANatic (2000)

A very funny parody of MTV's FANatic complete with slow motion, rock tunes in the background & lots of emotion.... PTA is a fan of SNL, Fiona was performing & he's good friends with Molly Shannon, so he thought it would be fun to put something together for the show.

February 16, 2000

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

As I'm sure you have all learned by now, Magnolia was nominated for three Oscars. It's nice to see Paul, Aimee & Tom get recognized. Hopefully we will have a few winners this year. The Oscar telecast will be on March 26, 2000. On a related note, the Chicago Film Critics Association recently unveiled their nominations & Magnolia received 4 nominations (Picture, Director, Screenplay & Supporting Actor).

Interview: ICG Magazine

International Cinematographers Guild Magazine, Written By Andrew O. Thompson
February 2000

P.T.A. Meeting

Taking Five with Paul Thomas Anderson

Self-schooled moviemaker Paul Thomas Anderson first came to the fore with Cigarettes and Coffee, a 24-minute short that debuted impressively at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival. That recognition led to a stint at the Sundance Lab where he developed the screenplay for his first feature, Hard Eight (a.k.a. Sydney), a stark, neo-noir set in the seedy underbelly of Reno's gambling arena. But it was Boogie Nights - a sweeping scan of degradation and delight amid the late-70s to early-80s adult entertainment industry - that brought the 30-year-old writer/director brand name credibility and a host of rave reviews. Though echoing Robert Altman's Nashville in narrative form, its technique most mirrors that of Martin Scorsese, a likeness most apparent in the opening shot, which weaves its way through the Hot Traxx nightclub - an homage to GoodFellas' famous "Copacabana" sequence.

February 14, 2000

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

It appears that the new Boogie Nights DVD will be released in June & it's looking like a 2 DVD Set! This is great news as it means there should be plenty of new supplemental material. Here is the info:

This June, look for four new titles from New Line Home Video, including three platinum series collections: Next Friday, Boogie Nights and Seven. There are no details as of yet on the exact release date and features other than the fact that Boogie Nights and Seven will be each be two-disc sets.

Courtesy of DVD.com

Sorry for not posting an update these past few days, but things have been very hectic. Anyway, don't forget the Oscar Nominations will be announced tomorrow morning so let's hope for at least Cruise, Save Me, & Best Original Screenplay. Hopefully there will a few surprises as well! 

Aimee Mann will be on The View on Wednesday so check your local listings. 

Here's a small article on Paul's recent screening of Magnolia at the Harvard Film Archive on 1/19/00. I  previously mentioned the upcoming Berlin International Film Festival & since then I have learned that Paul will be attending. He has been very busy promoting the movie in Japan, France & concluding at the Festiva

February 9, 2000

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

Magnolia will be one of the films in competition at the upcoming Berlin International Film Festival. Among the attendees will be Julianne Moore. I'm not sure if Paul will be attending. My understanding is that Magnolia will be shown on February 15th & 16th.

February 7, 2000

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

Great news today as it looks like the Magnolia Score will finally be released on March 14, according to the L.A. Times (see the link above). Now let's hope for an Oscar nomination for Jon Brion's incredible score....

Interview: Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone, Written By Mim Udovitch
February 3, 2000

The Epic Obsessions of P.T. Anderson

In Demand with Tom Cruise and in Love with Fiona Apple, the director of Magnolia calls himself a lunatic work freak

Paul Thomas Anderson is barreling through the darkened streets of the San Fernando Valley in his Mercedes Wagon. "It's what all the big-shit directors drive - say what you want," he announces. The just-- turned-thirty-year-old director and screenwriter is wearing a rumpled, button-down shirt and black pants, and looking, as he tends to, like he is part graduate student, part twelve-year-- old, and emanating, as he tends to, the focused, all-consuming enthusiasm that both halves of that simile suggest. Anderson is practically levitating with enjoyment as he punches his fist in the air in time to the song blasting from the car's CD player, which happens to be "Limp," by his girlfriend, Fiona Apple. "That's my girl!" he says. "Listen to that voice."

February 3, 2000

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

I can't hardly believe it but the site had its 50,000 hit tonight! It's really come along way in such a short amount of time & I just wanted to thank all of you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to stop by & check it out. 

SAG nominees were announced. Magnolia nabbed three nominations in the following categories: 

Best Ensemble Film - Entire Cast

Best Supporting Actor - Tom Cruise

Best Supporting Actress - Julianne Moore

The winners will be presented on March 12, 2000.

February 1, 2000

Archived update from Cigarettes & Coffee, run by Greg Mariotti & CJ Wallis from 1999-2005

You may have heard that New Line has their own auctions, where they sell movie props & merchandise to the highest bidder. There are three interesting Magnolia items up for bid that are worth a look (here, here and here). You can click on the image below to link to New Line's site if you would like to place a bid