Interview: The Australian

Out to sea with the master and a mangled young man 
BY: STEPHEN FITZPATRICK October 31, 2012

Source: The Australian 

APPARENTLY not every journalist has raised the topic of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard with writer and director Paul Thomas Anderson in interviews for his long-awaited The Master.

"But that's only because I brought it up first, making it easier for them," the Californian auteur - if ever there were an apt individual for the term, he's it - says, laughing, good-naturedly deflecting the question. Anderson is famous for giving little away about his films beyond what he deems necessary.

The fact the central character in The Master, played magisterially by Philip Seymour Hoffman, is based on Hubbard and the plotline bears an uncanny resemblance to Scientology's early days has been the topic of fascinated discussion in the film world since details of the project began leaking out months ago. Anderson has expressed irritation at the focus even while acknowledging the story's origin.

Here Are Your ‘Gone To China' Contest Winners

A little over a month ago we invited readers to serenade someone with their rendition of "(I'd Like To Get You On) A Slow Boat To China" for a chance to win a copy of the soundtrack or an official "The Master" one-sheet. After days of deliberation (from the window to the wall and back again), the Cigs & Vines team have chosen our 5 favorite videos which you can view below. Feel free to share/blog/etc.

Outpour Productions:



Joslyn Jensen:



ludipjero1965:



Brandon Flyte:



Reelist1000:



Runners Up: GredalBee, Drew Nugent, ptaangel

We'd like to thank everyone who entered, we really had fun watching all the videos. Winners will be contacted via Twitter immediately. If you'd still like to make a video, go ahead and send it in and maybe we'll send a copy of the soundtrack your way. Which one is your favorite? Sound off in the comments below.

Stay tuned to Twitter and Facebook for the latest news and updates.  

Interview: Graffiti With Punctuation

INTERVIEW: Paul Thomas Anderson [Director of The Master] 
10/28/2012, Andrew Buckle
Source: Graffiti With Punctuation

On Wednesday 24^th October I was lucky enough to represent Graffiti With Punctuation in a round table interview session with the director of Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love, There Will Be Blood and The Master, Mr. Paul Thomas Anderson. He is one of the most talented and most respected filmmakers of his generation and admirers of his films (myself included) claim them to be amongst the greatest American films ever made.

Paul was in town to promote The Master, his most recent ‘masterpiece’. Later that evening he would be introducing the film at the opening of the 1^st Cockatoo Island Film Festival and the following night he would be conducting a Q&A session at the Astor Theatre in Melbourne, where the film would be screened in the desired 70mm format.

Interview: AAP Newswire

 
Transcription courtesy of Le_Ted
 

Interview: Bish's Biz

 
(Interview Begins around 8:00)

Interview: The Age

It's not about Hubbard, says Master filmmaker

Garry Maddox | October 26, 2012
Source: The Age

FIELDING questions about Scientology is nothing new for the acclaimed American filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson.

After early reports that his much-anticipated follow-up to There Will Be Blood featured a character based on L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the controversial religion that some consider a cult, there was speculation The Master would be some kind of exposé.

The five-time Oscar nominee, whose other movies include Boogie Nights, Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love described the speculation during his visit to Sydney as ''kind of irritating''.

''It's like a little fly buzzing around your head because it was not the film that we were making,'' Anderson said. ''But you can't manage people's expectations particularly when that word makes people buzz and get excited and they salivate over it and they want to know more and they want to gossip about it.

''You just have to tune that chatter out and not think about it.''

The Master, which opened the first Cockatoo Island Film Festival this week, centres on a damaged World War II veteran, played by Joaquin Phoenix, who falls under the influence of a charismatic cult leader, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman.

It's an ambitious, thoughtful drama that has been considered a likely Oscar nominee for best picture since it won directing and acting awards at the Venice Film Festival.

Anderson, who was keen for a swim at Bondi during his visit to Sydney, said it was a delight having the movie selected for the new Sydney Harbour festival.

''I can remember starting out and you just want to be part of a film festival,'' he said. ''And you're lucky to be in some sidebar way over here and you're screening at 10 o'clock at night.

''I just loved it when it was presented to me a couple of months ago to be the first film in the first year. It's so much cooler than the second year.''

Anderson is an Obama supporter but is unsure how the US presidential election will pan out.
''I have a tendency to be a thing that I'd hate if I saw it in anybody else, which is an over-confident Democrat who just sits back and thinks 'there's no way, right? We'll be all right','' he said. ''I hope everything turns out all right.''

Interview: The Film Pie

Interview - Paul Thomas Anderson Is The Master 

Friday, 26 October 2012 07:56 | Author: Matthew Toomey
Source: The Film Pie

I can’t quite describe my reaction when I heard that Paul Thomas Anderson was coming to Australia to promote his new film, The Master.  He’s my favourite modern day director and Magnolia (released in Australia in early 2000) is a masterpiece.  On 24 October 2012, I took the day off work and flew to Sydney for a chance to spend 15 minutes with Paul and ask him a few questions.  It was an honour to be in the company of such a gifted filmmaker and here’s what he had to say…

You can download an audio extract by clicking here.

 

Interview: Astor Theatre Q&A

Transcription by Nikhil Venkatesa

‘Punch-Drunk Love' Blu-ray Coming Next Year; PTA Says He's A "Huge Fan" Of ‘The Dark Knight' Series

This week cinephiles down under have been treated to their very first screenings of "The Master" as the film just had its Australian premiere at the Cockatoo Island Film Festival and another screening in 70mm at the Astor Theatre in Melbourne. Paul was on hand for both events (you can see him above with the artistic director for the Cockatoo Film Fest) and participated in a post-film Q&A at the Astor. A reader who was on hand at the latter event sent along a few notes.

• After the screening the fan approached Paul and asked about the "Punch-Drunk Love" Blu-ray. and Paul said he's working on it now and will be released "next year." No word yet on if this will be a Criterion release but it seems like it could be a possibility. 

•  When asked by the fan if he would ever record a commentary again (since he hasn't done one since "Boogie Nights") he said he might even though he doesn't necessarily enjoy recording them. Sounds like we can probably rule them out for 'PDL' and "The Master" but perhaps down the line.

•  He also talked about how he's never really been offered tentpoles but that he admires what Chris Nolan did with 'The Dark Knight' films. "I've never really been asked to do that kind of thing. You look at what Christopher Nolan did with Batman, that's like the meeting of the highest level of artistic skill & a kind of commerciality and appeal to a wide range of people which is what anybody would want. It's kind of unparalleled actually, and they don't come to me with those. And that's alright."

• Also when asked about if this auditorium was his lecture, and he was the film school professor, what film would he show. He said "Ted", that it was truly hilarious and so well written, one of the funniest/best films he's seen recently. That a film like "Ted" just takes you back to the core of what films are about, enjoyment.

The Astor Theatre was recording the Q&A so lets hope it goes online soon. (thanks Mert!) If any of our readers were recording and would like to send it along, that would be great.