April 2, 2000

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

News Askew, the site devoted to all things Kevin Smith, turned into a PTA site yesterday (complete with graphics "borrowed" from my site). To see what the site looked like, click here. This was fairly elaborate (& they left it up all day), but when will this idiotic Kevin Smith vs. PTA crap end? It's nice to see PTA take the high road & not comment publicly after all Kevin Smith's remarks regarding Magnolia (See Latest News January Archive if you really want to revisit this). Although the News Askew joke was in jest & did not appear mean spirited, hopefully this is the end of this topic.

The second joke was done through the PTA mailing list/email group by its manager. He redid the Internet Movie Database complete with headlines about PTA's "next project", A Midget Musical starring Adam Sandler. This was quite inspired with "quotes" from Joanne Sellar & PTA. Click here to follow the link: (The story is on the right hand side).

March 29, 2000

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

In addition, PTA is in pre-production on Fiona's latest video, "Paper Bag" which should begin shooting next week.  Paul promises that it will be "a really special video". Hopefully they will decide to release a Fiona DVD Collection sometime later this year.

Finally to wrap up the music video news, it doesn't look like there will be a video for "Wise Up". Originally, I had heard there were plans to release the video using existing footage from the film. It sounds like those plans are off for now. I will post any updates to this as soon as I hear them.

March 27, 2000

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

I'm sure you all know by now that Magnolia came up empty at the Academy Awards last night (Didn't Julianne Moore look stunning!). It was nice to see Aimee Mann perform "Save Me" live & it was great to see PTA's facial reaction to Alan Ball winning Best Original Screenplay for American Beauty. His exaggerated surprise was in good fun, as he knew that Alan appeared to be a lock for the award

March 19, 2000

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

Last night I had the opportunity to see Fiona Apple live in my hometown of Seattle. She put on an incredible show as she alternated between center stage and sitting down & playing the piano. Two of her band members were from Seattle, so there were many friends and relatives in the audience. PTA was on hand to see her as he moved from backstage to stage left during "Fast as You Can". 

After the show, I had a chance to speak with PTA for a few minutes & catch up on the latest happenings. Here's a brief rundown:

6th Annual From Concept to Sale Conference: 
PTA was there to answer questions from attendees after the screening of Hard Eight (which was incidentally shown on DVD).

Saturday Night Live
: PTA will be contributing to additional shows as he has made good friends on the show & really enjoyed the experience. More specifics as soon as I find out.

Jonathan Demme Project: 
This was recently reported in the New York Times & confirmed by PTA last night. Jonathan Demme & PTA are serving as Executive Producers on Forest Hills Bob a new film written & directed by Robert Downey, Sr. "It's the story of a widower coming to terms with the next chapter in his life," producer Peter Saraf (Ulee's Gold) told New York Times. While the lead hasn't been chosen, expect quirky ensemble casting from the Chelsea-based Clinica Estetico production.

Magnolia DVD
: We talked briefly about the DVD & looks like there might be a documentary on making the film that will be included. (This is subject to change).

Boogie Nights DVD
: PTA confirmed that this will be a 2 Disc set (Disc 1 for the movie & Disc 2 for the supplementary content). I am not able to release all the info provided at this time but here is the latest features that PTA is working on. 

Please remember that things can change quickly & some of these features may change. I will update this info on this page & the Special DVD Page:

This will remain PTA's Theatrical/Director's Cut. All deleted scenes will remain as supplementary material on the 2nd disc.

The Dirk Diggler Story will not be included on the DVD.

Additional deleted scenes will include Becky & Jerome & hopefully more.

Additional commentary track by Melora Walters, Luis Guzman & more!

A simple menu navigating system (PTA thinks that many of the new DVD menu screens are getting too complicated).

I will be conducting an interview with PTA a little closer to the release of the date of these incredible new DVD's. Stay tuned for more info...

Interview: USA Today

USA Today, Written By Stephen Schaefer
March 15, 2000

Telling Their Stories Their Way

When Oscar put the spotlight on 1999's best Hollywood writing talent, the motion picture academy found itself saluting not just writers, but writers who direct. Of the 10 nominated screenplays, seven are directed by their writers.

By any measure, writer-directors have found a cheering section in the industry.

Interview: Esquire Magazine

Esquire Magazine, Written By Todd McCarthy
March 2000

The Next Scorsese

The most talented new generation of film directors since the '70s is upon us. They won't all last. They won't all leave a great body of work. And they won't all continue making ambitious movies. Which one of them will become the next Scorsese?

Andrew Sarris nominates...Kevin Smith

Kenneth Turan nominates...David O. Russell

Todd McCarthy nominates...Paul Thomas Anderson

Tom Carson nominates...Alexander Payne

Elvis Mitchell nominates...The Wachowski Brothers

Martin Scorsese nominates...Wes Anderson

March 15, 2000

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

I hope you all went out yesterday & picked up the incredible new Magnolia score by Jon Brion. It's great to see this finally released. There's a nice introduction/liner notes by PTA & after hearing this, it just reinforces my original thoughts of how the hell this did not get nominated by the Academy. 

PTA & Tom Cruise were among the nominees who attended the annual Oscar luncheon on Monday in Los Angeles as we inch closer to the show on March 26. Here's a picture from the event:

Today I added a piece from Esquire Magazine entitled "The Next Scorsese". Although it's ludicrous to make comparisons, it's fun to see who some of the top film critics selected. There is also an online poll on their site where you can cast your vote. Currently PTA resides in 2nd place behind Wes Anderson.

PTA is also featured prominently in the USA Today Life Section cover story on Oscar nominated writers who direct. I have included the article below. 

Finally, Aimee Mann's appearance on Saturday Night Live has been pushed back to a later date & the latest Magnolia Box Office numbers are posted as the number of screens in the U.S. is down to 56. 

Interview: The Age

The Age, Written By John Patterson
March 12, 2000

When all the simmering conflicts finally come to a boil in Paul Thomas Anderson's 70s porn-industry epic Boogie Nights, protagonist Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg), porn star and possessor of a much-coveted 13-inch penis, issues a perfectly inarticulate, impassioned, if ultimately useless declaration of independence.

Dirk's erectile capacity has been badly eroded by his coke intake and he knows at best he only has a 20-minute window of tumescence to exploit before his talent turns once again to, well, to ashes in his hand. But director and father-figure Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds) isn't ready, and there's a big fight that turns nasty. Before long they're being pulled off each other by the crew members as Dirk screams, "You're not the boss of me, Jack! You're not the king of Dirk! I'm the boss of me! I'm the king of me. I'm Dirk Diggler! I'm the star! It's my big dick and I say when we roll!" Anderson is 30 years old. He's made three movies, Hard Eight, Boogie Nights and now Magnolia, each of which has been called a masterpiece. He is routinely heralded as one of the great hopes of the American cinema, someone who got started early and who may have a lifetime of great movies inside him.

March 11, 2000

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

Just some quick revisions to the Events in the PTA Universe calendar. PTA will not be involved with this weekend's Saturday Night Live as previously reported. I have also added tons of new Aimee Mann appearances above as she will be invading your television leading up to the Oscars. She will be performing "Wise Up" on MTV's 120 Minutes this Sunday, then hitting VH1 & Rosie O'Donnell on Thursday, Saturday Night Live next Sunday & Letterman on the 22nd!