Official OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND Thread - All things OSotW he

[ToddBaesen]

I doubt if Bogdanovich mean this years Cannes festival, since that is clearly impossible, but whenever the film is completed, which probably would take a minimum of at least one year, or a maximum of (as we all know) 30 years!!

The good news seems to be that Frank Marshall is on board and helping to try and get the deal done, and Showtime still appears to have faith in the project.

[Lance Morrison]

I'm posting here for the first time in 5-6 years. It is enlightening to read my posts from back then, as they seem to reflect my rather unstable state of mind from those days; indeed my usage of the word PEACE shows me how much i needed it then. But things are so much better now! Thanks to all of you kind folks from those days. I'm grateful to Wellesnet members for making it possible for me to see Chimes at Midnight, Othello (original American release), Fountain of Youth, Immortal Story and F for Fake, The One Man Band---films i admire now more than ever. Of course, the availibility of Welles films is better than is was, but still not great

Last night i had the opportunity to attend J. Rosenbaum's presentation of "The Unknown Orson Welles" here in Columbia MO. He only showed familiar stuff---FoY, the cinema scene from Don Quixote, and Filming Othello---but it was wonderful to experience the positive audience reaction to these pieces. It was also quite nice to hear him speak, for he has an excellent and pleasing manner in person. I didn't ask him all the questions i would like to, but was able to have him talk about the TOSoTW a bit. He said that he has visited Oja in Croatia within the last year, and that according to her Bogdonovich had ceased working on the film, for reasons that weren't clear to her. Perhaps he has resumed his efforts since then, if we are to believe the Variety article.

He also expressed that Oja is rather regretful about what happened with the Spanish release of Don Quixote. He seemed to be optimistic that she is going to have access to the full materials of the film perhaps soon here in the future, and that she intends and do right by it the next time.


Best Wishes,
Lance

[RayKelly]

Michael Phillips has a reflection in his Chicago Tribune blog on OSOTW. He seems to think that Bogdanovich and company might screen the film at Cannes THIS May. (I know, I know).
Here is his two cents: http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/talking_pictures/2009/03/discovering-orson-welles-as-chicago-critic-and-scholar-jonathan-rosenbaum-wrote-in-the-introduction-to-his-terrific-di.html

[ToddBaesen]

Thanks for that link Ray.

It's nice that to have people talking about the film, but it's also sort of maddening to read a piece which is so totally inaccurate.

Which leads of course to more wild rumours that the film WILL be appearing at Cannes, when there is absolutely NO WAY the film could be shown at Cannes this year.

Several Bloggers have already leaped on this story, reprinting these rumours as if they were fact:

http://termiteart.blogspot.com/2009/03/ ... annes.html

http://theplaylist.blogspot.com/2009/03 ... de-of.html

It's now much easier to see how Welles was tagged as a director who always went over budget.

[Glenn Anders]

Todd: Larry French and I were talking about this matter the other night. We took a look at the actual wording in Variety:

"'Showtime is willing to pay for [the completion of THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND], but they want to make sure the materials are there,' Marshall says. 'The negative is in a lab in Paris, but we can't get the estates together to get us into the lab to confirm that the negative is in good shape.'

"Marshall says he checks on the status of the legal entanglements every month.

"'It used to be weekly, now it's monthly,' Marshall says. 'We'll see what happens.'

"Bogdanovich is more optimistic.

"'It's going to happen in the next month or so," he says. "We're aiming for Cannes. Everybody wants it. It's film history. It will be something for it to finally be seen after all these years.'"

*****

Much of our palaver on this thread is careless and unnecessary. It is very clear that Frank Marshall is is talking about receiving word from "the estates" [Beatrice's reps and Oja's reps] that agreement has been reached, and that, when that happens, he and Peter Bogdanovich will be able to go ahead on the Showtime deal to complete THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND. Bogdanovich is confident that the agreement will come within the next month.

Obviously, Bogdanovich's remark that "We're aiming for Cannes" refers to a showing of the completed film there in the Spring of 2010.

We've established that it would be absurdly illogical to expect to edit TOSOTW in time for a Cannes premiere, in May of THIS year!

Bogdanovich may be over-optimistic, as he was when we interviewed him last Spring, but the fact that Showtime is still on board, and that the parties are still talking, is heartening. I'm surprised, Todd, that Larry hadn't told you about the recent conversation we had, which immediately straightened out the confusion.

Glenn

[etimh]

Several Bloggers have already leaped on this story, reprinting these rumours as if they were fact:

http://theplaylist.blogspot.com/2009/03 ... de-of.html

That is just the least of the crimes of the turd who runs this blog--don't patronize clowns who post the "drunken Welles" video clip as some great revelatory insight into the man's character and life. Lame perpetuation of bullshit myths.

Tim

[nextren]

I thought Oja's nephew was locked in an editing suite, furiously digitizing and logging all those clips (which Welles pre-logged, with tags like "the wall" and "the light" LOL). Hope against hope, maybe the workprint is done? And the negative could be cut next month? And Cannes would accept a last-minute entry? Nope, nope, and nope. Oh well, let's raise our glasses in anticipation of 2010!...

[The Night Man]

It is very clear that Frank Marshall is is talking about receiving word from "the estates" [Beatrice's reps and Oja's reps] that agreement has been reached, and that, when that happens, he and Peter Bogdanovich will be able to go ahead on the Showtime deal to complete THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND.

Might the estate of the Iranian investor possibly be involved as well? Or is there inside info that it's B & O that are holding things up, Glenn?

[Glenn Anders]

Night Man: My understanding is that Les Films de l'Astrophore and SACI were satisfied with the Showtime arrangements for THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND -- it has been over 35 years, after all -- and that the argument between the Oja Kodar group and Beatrice Welles was the main hitch. I do remember that Peter Bogdanovich, in his interview with Larry French, was very careful to word a reply which suggested another party, perhaps, might have objections. He said then, as he has just recently, that he did not think that problem was insurmountable.

You might want to ask Larry French, who during Stefan Droessler of the Munich Film Museum's most recent visit to San Francisco, a few weeks ago, did speak with someone who had actually been working on TOSOTW project in LA.

Glenn

[The Night Man]

Night Man: My understanding is that Les Films de l'Astrophore and SACI were satisfied with the Showtime arrangements for THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND -- it has been over 35 years, after all -- and that the argument between the Oja Kodar group and Beatrice Welles was the main hitch.

Thanks for the clarification, Glenn. If true, it's sad to see that squabbling continue.

[ToddBaesen]

***

There is an interesting piece on THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND by "The Night Editor" at his movie blog here:

http://thenighteditor.blogspot.com/2009 ... -wind.html

Apparently he and many others who have contributed to help save Wellesnet received a copy of the script... so now that the script is out there, what do people think?

A masterpiece to stand tall alongside CITIZEN KANE or
a mess of a movie to hide in the shadows with MR. ARKADIN?

***

[Glenn Anders]

Todd: A wind does seem to be rising! Which side of it you, Mr. French, and I are on may be a problem.

You and French have seen more of THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND than I have, but on the basis of my viewing, I should say that, unless Bodanovich and his crew have the same genius that those working on CITIZEN KANE had, the long anticipated film will resemble MR. ARKADIN. That is not necessarily "a mess," but I see see no John Houseman around to put THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND into that perfect balance it will need.

Let's hope that Peter Bogdanovich, Frank Marshall and Joe McBride -- the young knights of Welles' later life are up to the task.

Keep Larry French cranking out those copies of the script!

Glenn

[Lance Morrison]

I rarely enjoy reading screenplays/scripts, but i must say that i really enjoyed reading this. I think it made for a far more complex reading experience than any of the Welles films as released would in written form. It seems like a much different creation than anything he had done, but still identifiably his. My interest is piqued still more. *thumbs up*

[Joshua]

I must say, I'm a bit hesitant to read the script simply because I don't want it to influence the experience I will have watching the film. That having been said, of course I may never get to see the film, or it may be years before I see it, so since I currently have the script in my grubby little hands I probably won't be able to resist---unless of course we get a firm release date for OSOTW--I'm not holding my breath.

[Alfred Willmore]

Glenn Wrote

Let's hope that Peter Bogdanovich, Frank Marshall and Joe McBride -- the young knights of Welles' later life are up to the task.

According to his book, McBride has been cut out of all input on The Other Side of the Wind