THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND Thread - 2015-2017

[Wellesnet]

From Cracked.com's "6 Weird New Movies You Should Be Way More Excited About"
http://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/6-we ... -about_p2/

#1. The Other Side of the Wind: A 2015 Found Footage Film By Orson Welles, About Orson Welles

Orson Welles was last seen as a planet-eating monster fueled with the rage of centuries. Also, he was in the '80s Transformers movie. But if the Wellster was known best for anything, it was making movies that were totally about a real person while totally pretending not to be. And it just so happens that we might have missed his final opus ... at least, until now.

The film is called The Other Side of the Wind, and it follows an old-school aging director (hint) struggling to make a comeback amongst the swell of "New Hollywood" (hey, hint) while dealing with a series of hanger-ons and annoying journalists that in no way (but totally do) resemble Orson Welles's own surroundings at that time. Starring John Huston, Susan Strasberg, and Dennis Hopper, the director only managed to work out a 45-minute work print of the film before shuffling off. And so it remained a shelved prospect, until a company called Royal Road Entertainment bought the rights to it with the hope of completing the film using Welles' notes and the magic of technology.

We know, you insufferable film pricks: taking an Orson Welles film and rejiggering it digitally sounds about as offensive as turning it into a found footage film -- which just so happens to already be the case, as the film was originally made to appear as if it was compiled of "footage shot by the TV and documentary filmmakers -- and also the students, critics and young directors who happened to bring sixteen and eight millimeter cameras." Yep. Turns out that all the way back in the 1970s, Orson Welles knew that shaky found footage was the next big thing. Were he alive today, he'd probably be helming a War of the Worlds cinematic universe in 60 fps or some shit.

[Wellesnet]

For all news on the completion of "The Other Side of the Wind". The Wind front has been quiet lately, but we hope to hear something soon.

[tonyw]

As long as this "Immortal Story" does not wait until April 1?

[Le Chiffre]

The rumor going around through the grapevine is that, if THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND project collapses, the consolation prize will be a major rerelease of NECROMANCY.

[Wellesnet]

Two interesting comments for the article:

Avix:
1970s? Hell, Welles used the 'documentary footage' trope in 'Citizen Kane' (1941) itself!

Redstick:
Not to mention "The War of the Worlds" broadcast in 1940.

[Wich2]

>Not to mention "The War of the Worlds" broadcast in 1940.<

Alas, considered by most to be much inferior to the 1938 production...

[Le Chiffre]

RKO probably would have preferred that the 1940 WOTW had been Welles's first film.

Wiki makes the interesting observation that the "found footage" genre - mostly horror and sci-fi in the movies - has a literary precedent (found literature?), particularly the "epistolary novel", which includes one of Welles's favorites, Bram Stoker's DRACULA, Dostoyesky's first novel, POOR FOLK, and CS Lewis's THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistolary_novel

[RayKelly]

No surprise. The Other Side of the Wind will not be completed in time for Cannes. I didn't see how it could be done within six months:
http://www.wellesnet.com/the-other-side-of-the-wind-taking-longer-than-expected/

[tonyw]

As you've posted elsewhere, we are all used to this by now. Rather than a rushed schedule that affected the theatrical version of PAT GARRETT AND BILLY THE KID, more time is needed for this very important task.

[Le Chiffre]

It's a shame to miss the centennial, though, when they could have received maximum publicity for it. It'll probably be OK if they can get it done sometime in 2015, but after that, it may seem like an afterthought. I hope not.

But maybe it's just as well that there's more emphasis this year on CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT, which is one of Welles's proven masterpieces. TOSOTW is not a proven anything yet.

[admusicam]

A 2016 issue could also be a quite good publicity: With all the 2015 centennial celebrations, everybody will speak about this issue and make a public waiting for it. To open the new "2016-2115 century" (!!) Welles's films life with TOSOTW issue could be a beautyful symbolic message...

[Jay]

I'd rather them take their time and do it right than rush it for the sake of publicity.

[tonyw]

Welles and his films are important any time. As mentioned above, it is important that the task of editing is metculous and not rushed since there are so many, "I told you sos" out there.

[Le Chiffre]

Welles and his films are important any time. As mentioned above, it is important that the task of editing is metculous and not rushed since there are so many, "I told you sos" out there.

Yes, that' quite true, Tony, but I find myself wondering what caused the delay, and why it's taken so long to acknowledge it. After the NYT announcement last October (with stated goal of May 6, 2015 completion), we've received almost no information whatsoever from anyone except for this statement from Ray's recent article:

Four months after news broke that The Other Side of the Wind would be completed in time for the Welles centenary, producer Filip Jan Rymsza detailed the process of sorting through the 18 or 19 hours of negative footage in Paris. At the Sedona International Film Festival on Feb. 27, he described the creation and following of a blueprint, using five linear feet of scripts and treatments – "a huge amount of information and that's the first stage to just create a work flow for ourselves."

A statement that suggests that editing has not begun yet. If the delay has been caused by the complicated decision-making needed to put the film together properly, fine. I have no problem with that. But if they're missing the centennial because of the same bullshit legal/political wrangling that has put the film in limbo for four decades, then that' a shame...on whoever or whatever is causing it. But Rymsza's statement also suggests that the film is at least finally being worked on, so I'm fine with that.

A 2016 issue could also be a quite good publicity: With all the 2015 centennial celebrations, everybody will speak about this issue and make a public waiting for it. To open the new "2016-2115 century" (!!) Welles's films life with TOSOTW issue could be a beautyful symbolic message.

Admusica,
Yes, I suppose 2016 could work too, since that is the 75th anniversary of CITIZEN KANE. Maybe they could release them together, and call it "Welles 101 - The first and last films."

[RayKelly]

A statement that suggests that editing has not begun yet. If the delay has been caused by the complicated decision-making needed to put the film together properly, fine. I have no problem with that.

It's a logical assumption that editing has either not begun or only recently started. Joseph McBride and Jonathan Rosenbaum, who have revealed they are advisers on the editing, have given no indication that they have been called in yet to provide feedback. The producers have yet to publicly name the editor of TOSOTW.
We know for certain that agreements were reached with all of the interested parties and the negative is in excellent condition. (Thank God).
Pulling together 40-year-old materials, working out a blueprint, obtaining financing and distribution deals and assembling the right team is no easy task.