Paul Thomas Anderson

So I wrote a 90-page version of this documentary.

And then I realized, well, I don't want to do that.

That's not the right format for this.

I want to write this as a fictional film.

So I did that, you know, for ten years.

I guess it was the way that I learned how to write, really, was practicing telling this story in multiple different ways.

For sure.

You know, maybe there's leftovers and you're just, I don't know, how deep is your well, I guess.

No, I never have anything good like that.

I always have like, just like, I never ever have.

I have more like facts, like, well, what really happens here?

And some steal from real life, like...

Every story was essentially the same.

It was like if the exaggerated version was the guy who steps off the bus and kind of comes to Hollywood with big dreams and takes his pants off and then the next thing you know he's a big star.

Any classic rise and fall story.

So I'm always just sort of following any steps of reality.

I mean, I don't know, I never... I get so scared of writing to a theme or having anything like that beforehand.

I can remember at a certain point

maybe needing help, like, what is the story?

And luckily enough, coming across Singing in the Rain and being like, oh, right.