Image via A24
In 2017’s The Disaster Artist, James Franco plays Tommy Wiseau, potentially the strangest character the silver screen has ever seen, but also potentially one of its most beloved. The film chronicles an unlikely friendship between budding actors Wiseau and up-and-comer Greg Sestero that results in the production of Wiseau’s 2003 film The Room, widely considered one of the worst films ever made. Indeed the move is a case study in the exuberance of one man’s dream, and the unlikely twists and turns through Hollywood. Throughout the course of the film we are shown the various lengths Wiseau will take to make his dream of creating a film a reality. While the film performed very well by award show standards — at the 75th Golden Globe Awards, Franco won the award for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy; the film was also nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy — I wanted to focus in on some of Wiseau’s characteristics as a filmmaker and applying it back to business.
Don’t be afraid of who you are: In many ways, Wiseau’s resilience is what makes his character so endearing. He is not afraid of being who he is and then going for the roles that he believes in, albeit he would be better off playing Dracula than James Dean, but you have to applaud the man for putting himself out there. Moreover, while his vision for The Room is incredibly “cringe” at times, he is still able to pull a cast of people together to produce (though it does help that the checks he hands out are cashing in). Despite his bizarre accent and antics, Wiseau still manages to push himself through the muck of Hollywood and finally make a name for himself. While this might not be the result he was initially hoping for, it is still admirable that he pulled off such a uniquely successful venture as a Hollywood outsider.
Keeping your friends close: One of the biggest takeaways from the film is Wiseau’s relationship with Sestero that would hold up right between the best buddy films of all-time. Wiseau tabs Sestero as his supporting lead in the film and even tells Sestero that he wrote the picture so that they could accomplish their dream of being in a Hollywood movie together. While of course there are numerous details of their relationship that are unconventional, Wiseau makes sure to stick with Sestero throughout the film’s production and beyond. Indeed having your friends be involved with business decisions can be sticky at times, but they can also be your closest confidants and the ones who will have your ear when a change needs to be made.
Making chicken salad out of chicken sh*t: I don’t want to give away any spoilers here, but long story short, the film is not well received or atleast the way Wiseau had intented. Nonetheless, The Room, has since gained a cult following and is now regarded as one of the “best bad movies of all-time”. Without Wiseau’s determination and commitment to his original idea, the film would not be shown at midnight showings around the country in the same vein as The Rocky Horror Picture Show or on Adult Swim. Indeed, this is one of the rare cases where a totally unconventional plan works out and thus gives credence to going against the grain. Sure, there are bound to be failures in this process, but you miss all the shots you don’t take.
Alright so let me know in the comments below if you think these are solid tools to utilize in business or if I left something out!
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