First Footage From ‘The Master' To Unspool For Critics At Cannes Tomorrow

Well, we're kicking ourselves after all for not making plans for Cannes this year as it looks like The Weinstein Co. is planning to unveil the first footage from "The Master" to critics tomorrow night at the fest. Thanks to a tweet by First Showing, we now know that footage from the film will screen alongside selected bits from Quentin Tarantino's (still filming) "Django Unchained" and David O. Russell's "The Silver Linings Playbook," both also highly anticipated projects. 

THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY

Invites you to celebrate
The 65th Cannes Film Festival

Monday, May 21st 2012
Cocktails from 7-9 pm

To introduce FIRST LOOK footage of
The highly anticipated films

THE MASTER
THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
DJANGO UNCHAINED

This is obviously a big deal as it's the first time any frame of film will be seen publicly, well, outside of a few frames. So far Paul has only been showing the film (or bits of it anyway) to friends/family in his inner circle who have said it's both "great" and "incredible". While First Showing isn't sure yet if they'll be allowed to discuss their reactions to the presentation, we'd have to imagine that showing press (as opposed to buyers) a bunch of footage would probably be for the express purpose of not keeping a lid on it. It should go without saying that if any Cigs & Vines readers are able to attend and pass us along a detailed report of what you see, that would be just fantastic.

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PTA Joins Robert Downey Sr. In Conversation For The Criterion Collection

Sometimes when it rains, it pours. After quite an eventful morning that saw Mr. FortyFPS and myself awake at 3:20am to decipher the cryptic email from Paul, we've been passed another little jewel. According to a post on The Criterion Collection Facebook page, PTA shot a series of videos with Robert Downey Sr. which they'll be unveiling in the coming weeks.

For those of you who don't know Robert Downey Sr. is (yes, Jr.'s father and also) the writer and director of a some truly bizarre and wonderful films including the satire "Putney Swope" which has long been a favorite of PTA's. (Fun fact: Buck Swope from "Boogie Nights" was named as a nod to the film!) Paul said the film showed him “you could be really punk rock in a movie. You could do anything. It didn’t have to make sense. As long as it was funny or funny to the guy who was making it, it would come across as exciting.” This video series is presumably to help promote Criterion's upcoming 5 film set of Downey's work entitled Up All Night with Robert Downey Sr. We'll keep our eyes peeled for those videos and post them here as they arrive as I'm sure our eagle-eyed readers will be the first to let us know. (Thanks @HybridVigorFilm!)  

Update 5/17: You can now watch the first video below:

 

Update 5/16:  During a completely unrelated Downey Sr. interview with the Projection Booth podcast (about the 38 minute mark), the subject of PTA came up when he was asked about filmmakers who have been influenced by his work. "Well, Paul I've known a long time," Downey Sr. said. "I knew him before he made a feature. In fact, he's going to do the interview with me for the [Criterion] box set. Yeah, he's a good guy. I've seen 90 minutes of his new movie ["The Master"] too, it's great." Looks like PTA is continuing to show the unfinished film to his close circle of friends as you'll remember Emily Watson had seen 30 minutes back in December. This also means the film is probably running quite a bit over 90 minutes as it seems unlikely everything but the final few minutes would've been screened. (For reference TWBB: 158 min, PDL: 95 min, MAG: 189 min, BOOGIE: 156 min, H8: 102 min.)

Continuing his kind words about Paul he said, "He's an interesting character. He's actually the West Coast Marty Scorsese in a way, he knows every film that was ever shot. He's one of those guys...In fact he asked me if he could use the firecracker scene [from "Putney Swope"] in "Boogie Nights," I said 'Of course.' I like that film." Also of interest is that a few years ago Paul had apparently been talking to Downey about potentially writing something based on events from his life. "He was interested in my teenage years when I was in and out of prison and the army. And I think he thought at one time that that kinda stuff might be interesting. He's heard a lot of stories from me. I remember talking about that. He's talked about it other times but he's got a lot of thoughts on his mind, he's always thinking." You can listen to the entire thing over at The Projection Booth. (via xixax).


Oh and for those of you who are curious we posted this (slightly better looking) blow-up of that 65mm frame to Twitter where you can just make out The Master dancing into the next room while bystanders clap for him. To the side is a piano & a woman playing an upright bass. Much more to come.


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EXCLUSIVE: 65mm Filmstrip Reveals First Look At Philip Seymour Hoffman As ‘The Master'; Film Still Being Edited

Just when you thought your May 15th was going to come and go without a kick: We here at the Vines can pass along the first official update on The Master direct from Paul Thomas Anderson as well as the first image of the film, kind of...the floor is yours, sir:

CJ -
good evening.  it's been so long
and you've been so patient, thought
i'd fill you in on where we're
at with it now: 

 

These shots include our lovely
Negative Cutter, Simone, imported
all the way from France to cut 65mm
negative.   She does it all with a pair
of scissors from Staples.  

I'll have more to share in the
coming days/weeks/months.  Hope
you're well. Thank you for all the support. 

See you soon.
paul.

Click any of those thumbnails to see the full sized versions.

And, because hitting CTRL + OPTION + APPLE + 8 takes alot of effort, I have close cropped the 65" filmstrip and reversed/color corrected it into an educated guess at the look. The image appears to be a Phil Hoffman as the Master.

So it seems the film is still being worked on, or these were archival images to get you pre-heated for whatever is dropping next, which you will find here first. Follow us on Twitter and we'll warn you ahead of time about things and reward you in various ways.

American Cinematographer Looks Back At ‘Boogie Nights' & ‘Magnolia' With DP Robert Elswit

The latest issue of American Cinematographer has an interesting little article called "Tales Of Ordinary Madness" in which cinematographer Robert Elswit looks back at the making of "Boogie Nights" and "Magnolia" with Paul. No real news but a good fun read anyway and as you can see above, an excellent picture of PTA in his pajama bottoms. Highly complimentary quote from Elswit below:

“Paul is one of the few people I’ve worked with that has a poetic temperament. That allows him to do things in his films where you know the result will be more than the sum of its parts. It’s a combination of the way we shoot it and light the picture, the way it’s performed and edited, the way everything resonates with everything else.Each scene is doing more than just telling a story; it’s doing something you can’t put into words. And that puts him, I think, in the land of people like Bergman, Kurosawa, Ozu and Ford.”

 You can read the whole thing if you're a magazine subscriber. (Thanks to our readers @jblots, @damitago, @mertsrocket for their help!)

All quiet on "The Master" front except for this nifty fanmade poster that recently came across our desks by illustrator Alex Fellows... unless someone closer to production than we are wants to drop us a tidbit. Our inbox is always open. 

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‘The Rules Of Daniel Day Lewis' By Paul F. Tompkins

We caught very funny comedian/podcaster/"There Will Be Blood" cameo-maker Paul F. Tompkins a few months back taping his comedy album at the beautiful Bell House in Brookyln. While the comedian had countless hilarious bits, two should be of particular interest to Cigs&Vines readers. One was an extended anecdote about a table read for "Magnolia" where he was seated next to the biggest movie star in the world while the other features Tompkins talking about briefly sharing the screen with Daniel Day Lewis as Prescott in 'TWBB' (which you can watch a preview of below).

Comedy Central Stand-Up
Get More: Jokes,Joke of the Day,Funny Jokes

Tompkins was kind enough to reach out to the site and let us know that his new comedy special "Laboring Under Delusions" airs tomorrow night, Saturday at 11pm on Comedy Central. If you like the special you can also purchase it at Amazon for just $9.99 which includes stuff not in the broadcast version (like his hilarious "Magnolia" table read story.) Tompkins also performs a regular show at Largo, tapes a very funny monthly podcast (The Pod F Tompkast) and should he come to your town, it would be well worth your while to check him out.

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

‘The Master' NOT Playing Cannes

After weeks of speculation, the Cannes lineup was finally announced this morning and "The Master" was nowhere to be found. Hate to say we told you so but we assumed that May would be a little too early to let the cat out of the bag and most of you on Twitter and Facebook seemed to agree with us. We'd like to say we knew it all along but have to admit we got a little bit freaked out towards the end when we started to hear substantial rumors saying otherwise. The NYTimes profile arriving the day before the announcement certainly didn't help us sleep last night and neither did that cryptic tweet from 'Master' producers Annapurna Pictures saying only "Cannes." So what were they on about, then? That was to hint at two of their other films which are both in competition: "Lawless" (formerly "The Wettest County In The World") from director John Hillcoat ("The Proposition") and "Killing Them Softly" (formerly "Cogan's Trade") from director Andrew Dominik ("The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"). So that's settled and it looks like thankfully the Cigs & Vines team will not have to figure out last minute arrangements to France.

Well, for now. While it's still possible the film could be added as a late addition to the fest, it seems even less likely at this point. While that may be disappointing news for those readers attending, we're sure you'll have a great time anyway. The lineup features new films from David Cronenberg, Wes Anderson, Jacques Audiard, Michael Haneke and Jeff Nichols among many more. For the rest of us, there are only 175 days to go until October 12th.

Check out our "The Master" cast and follow the entire history of the project here.

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The NY Times Talks ‘The Master'

We're not sure what prompted them but the NYTimes have just posted an article on "The Master," despite having very little new information on the film. The main thrust seems to be the parallels to Scientology -- which isn't exactly news since the first screenplay has been floating around for years -- but there are a few juicy second-hand sources that make it a pretty good read. Paul is still declining to speak publicly about the film and security around the production is very tight.

Somewhere in Los Angeles Mr. Anderson, 41, is now finishing what will be his sixth feature film. Fiercely protective of his process, he has declined to speak publicly about the movie. But the details suggest a story inspired by the founding of Scientology, and that has provoked industry whispers. With that church’s complicated Hollywood ties and high-profile adherents like Tom Cruise, a film even loosely based on it will guarantee discussion upon its release, on Oct. 12, by the Weinstein Company.

Even the headline, "Filmmaker’s Newest Work Is About ... Something, Paul Thomas Anderson Film May Be About Scientology," is hilariously vague but we've parsed out there are a few bits of info for those of you (like us) who are news starved on the project.

‘The Master' Playing Cannes? Not So Fast...

We didn't think we'd have to address this since we've already written about it a few times on Twitter but there still seems to be some confusion floating around out there so here we go. Earlier this week the supposed lineup from Cannes was "leaked"early and put online as reported by a handful of other outlets. We were skeptical from the outset and it was indeed quickly confirmed as a fake by Cannes head Thierry Frémaux. So, while it's still possible "The Master" will play Cannes, we won't know for sure until April 19 when the full lineup is announced. Until then, count the days until October 12. (191).

Updated 4/5: Roger Friedman at Forbes (via The Playlist) confirms our suspicions that the film will not be ready in time for a Cannes debut. "“The Master” is certainly not ready, I am told," he says cryptically. Though again, we won't know for sure for another 2 weeks.

Updated 4/17: Variety says "Paul Thomas Anderson's 'The Master,' is eyeing a fall festival bow" & won't be heading to Cannes.

Check out our updated "The Master" cast and follow the entire history of the project here.

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

The Festival Route: We Run Down The Odds

We now know that "The Master" will receive a October 12th release, most likely limited opening in NY/LA before expanding wider in the following weeks. It'll be going up against the Ryan Gosling noir "The Gangster Squad" and a Kevin James comedy called "Here Comes The Boom." As far as history is concerned this date puts it in the company of films like "Punch-Drunk Love," "The Social Network," "A Serious Man," "Where The Wild Things Are," "The Skin I Live In," "Martha Marcy May Marlene" and "Rachel Getting Married," all recent examples of challenging fare that doesn't strike us as your typical awards bait. So while we know where we'll be lining up on October 12, what we don't know yet for certain is whether the film will have its premiere at a festival (or several) along the way. With 196 days to go, we thought we'd run down the list of possibilities and what the odds are of "The Master" showing up on the festival circuit.

Cannes Film Festival (May 16 - 27)
The Vibe: Arguably the most prestigious film festival in the world. A mix of World Cinema auteurs (Von Trier, Haneke, etc.) and splashy Hollywood premieres ("Midnight In Paris," "Pirates of the Carribean").
The History: "Hard Eight" played Cannes (after it had premiered at Sundance) and "Punch-Drunk Love" had its World Premiere here back in 2002.
The Odds: Many have speculated (maybe just wishful thinking?) that "The Master" will show up on the Croisette this year but we think it's unlikely. The full lineup won't be announced 'till April 19 but we think May is awfully early for the film, which as of February was still being scored. And with all the secrecy surrounding the project we find it hard to believe they'd want to let the cat out of the bag this early.
Verdict: Long shot.

Venice Film Festival (August 29 - Sept 8)
The Vibe: Yet another long-running prestigious international film festival, Venice is also heavy on auteurs from around the world but in recent years has become home for films looking for the first stop on the Fall awards circuit. Last year's fest held premieres of "Shame," "The Ides of March," and "Tinker Tailor Solider Spy" among others.
The History: None of PTA's films have premiered here.
The Odds: Though he doesn't have a history with the fest, we wouldn't entirely rule out "The Master" showing up for a Venice premiere. Not only would it be a nice little vacation for the crew but would help to build the buzz stateside making U.S. critics envious of their international counterparts. However August/early September is still a little early if PTA intends to keep his packaged unwrapped as long as he can.
Verdict: Possible.

Telluride Film Festival (August 31 - Sept 3)
The Vibe: A festival that caters mainly for press and industry types features a mix of Awards contenders and more esoteric fare though the lineup is kept secret until the festival begins.
The History: Unless we're mistaken none of his films have played here though a 20 minute reel from "There Will Be Blood" was shown in 2007 as part of a Daniel Day-Lewis tribute.
The Odds: Though films like "Slumdog Millionaire" and "The Descendants" have received a huge boost from playing Telluride, we just don't see this as a proper venue for "The Master" premiere. Telluride is mainly thought of as a fest for rich folks and that just doesn't strike us as PTA's style.
Verdict: Long shot.

Toronto International Film Festival (Sept 6 - 16)
The Vibe: One of the largest film festivals in the world. This is where many critics and audiences get their first look at the films that will be coming out over the next few months. It may not be the first festival to play them but the range and quality of films showcased here is extraordinary.
The History: "Boogie Nights" premiered here and "Punch-Drunk Love" played here after its Cannes premiere.
The Odds: It might be a no-brainer to bring "The Master" here a few weeks before its theatrical release but with a lineup that includes over 300 films all vying for awards attention, it can be easy to get lost in the shuffle. The most buzzed about film to play during TIFF back in 2010 was a film that didn't play the fest at all. "The Social Network" famously had a critics screening in NYC during the festival where journalists flew from Toronto to New York and back in the same day just to catch the film, which could make holding back the film an even smarter play.
Verdict: Possible.

Fantastic Fest (Sept 20 - 27)
The Vibe: Genre festival started in 2005 by Tim League of the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX that showcases horror, sci-fi, fantasy, action and cult films from around the world.
The History: "There Will Be Blood" famously had its World Premiere here as a Secret Screening back in September of 2007. Harry Knowles from AICN is closely linked with the fest and was able to book "Magnolia" at his first ever "Butt-Numb-A-Thon" 24 hour film festival back in 1999.
The Odds: Though "The Master" doesn't appear to fit into any of those genres, neither did "There Will Be Blood" despite the horror influences. We suspect that the decision to book the fest was a last minute decision to show it off in front of famously enthusiastic Austin film fans and not necessarily a strategy that they'll employ twice.
Verdict: Long shot.

New York Film Festival (Sept 28 - Oct 14)
The Vibe: A mix of favorites from Cannes and the Fall festivals that take place beforehand, the NYFF's relatively small lineup (about 30 films in the main section) and highbrow leanings make it a good place to have a splashy premiere and not feel like you're going to be lost in the shuffle.
The History: "Boogie Nights" played here after premiering at TIFF and "Punch-Drunk Love" closed the festival in 2002 after playing at Cannes and TIFF.
The Odds: Despite some WTF selections ("Hereafter"? "My Week With Marilyn"?) and omissions ("Black Swan," "There Will Be Blood"), NYFF is still thought of as a prestigious festival to be a part of and they have had a history of playing his films so it might make sense to roll it out during the fest right before a NY/LA opening. However, 'TWBB''s curious omission from the 2007 lineup (and surprise screening in Austin around the same timeframe) might mean they have other plans.
Verdict: Very possible.

Of course, the other option is to skip the festival route altogether. "There Will Be Blood" sidestepped all the major Fall festivals and still went on to being PTA's highest grossing and most acclaimed film. "The Master" isn't going to have any trouble stirring up attention and traveling the festival circuit also runs the risk of 'peaking too early.'

If the team behind the film just decide to have a couple of screenings (like they did for "There Will Be Blood" at The Castro in San Francisco and secretly in Austin), that would be just fine with us. With the curiosity surrounding the film - it appeared on nearly every site's Most Anticipated list for 2012 despite not even knowing at the time that it would be released this year - the festivals probably need the film more than it needs them. What do you think?

Check out our updated "The Master" cast and follow the entire history of the project here.

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