The Bill Simmons Podcast Paul Thomas Anderson on Pursuing Filmmaking, Loving Adam Sandler, and Making 'Boogie Nights' (Ep. 306)
Dec 27, 2017
Paul Thomas Anderson, acclaimed filmmaker behind Boogie Nights and There Will Be Blood, talks filmmaking beginnings, the indie boom, and how Boogie Nights changed his career. He recalls working with Burt Reynolds and Adam Sandler, intense sets like The Master, and his writing habits and tools. Short, candid stories about craft, collaboration, and balancing film life with family.
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Success Breeds Creative Confidence
- Confidence as a filmmaker often arrives after a visible success that proves your instincts to yourself and audiences.
- Paul says Boogie Nights gave him that boost and let him aim for bigger risks like Magnolia.
Why He Chose Adam Sandler
- Paul decided to work with Adam Sandler after appreciating Big Daddy's blend of sincerity and absurdity.
- He found Sandler's mix of goofball and genuine emotion compelling for collaboration.
Still Fond Of Buddy Road Movies
- Paul says he still enjoys broad buddy/action comedies and might make a road buddy movie, citing Midnight Run as formative.
- He hasn't abandoned comedy and sees potential in revisiting that formula with modern actors.