The Master

Production

Writing

It was first reported in December 2009 that Anderson had been working on a script about the founder of a new religious organization (described as being similar to Scientology) played by Philip Seymour Hoffman.[7][8] An associate of Anderson stated that the idea for the film had been in Anderson's head for about twelve years.[9] The idea for the film came to him after reading a quote that periods after wars are productive times for spiritual movements to start.[10]

Unsure of the direction the script would take, Anderson began writing The Master as a collection of disparate scenes, rather than one coherent outline.[10] He combined unused scenes from early drafts of There Will Be Blood, elements from the life stories of John Steinbeck and L. Ron Hubbard and from the novel V. by Thomas Pynchon, and stories Jason Robards had told him on the set of Magnolia about his drinking days in the U.S. Navy during World War II (including the draining of ethanol from a torpedo).[10] Anderson conducted research about Dianetics and its early followers.[11] While writing, Anderson sought Hoffman's feedback on the script, with Hoffman suggesting the film focus more on Freddie's story than Lancaster's.[10] After the film was dropped by Universal and failed to pick up a distributor, Anderson did several months of rewrites.[12]

Casting

Anderson has stated that he wanted Hoffman to play Lancaster Dodd from the film's inception, and that he also had Joaquin Phoenix in mind for the part of Freddie Quell.[10] Jeremy Renner and James Franco were each rumored to play Freddie before Phoenix was officially attached.[1][13][14] This was Phoenix's first screen appearance since the 2010 film I'm Still Here, a multi-year performance art mockumentary project that Phoenix attributed as a factor in limiting the roles he was subsequently offered.[15][16] Reese Witherspoon was reportedly offered the role of Peggy Dodd, but Amy Adams was later cast.[17][18] For the role of Dodd's daughter, Amanda Seyfried, Emma Stone, and Deborah Ann Woll were all considered, with the role eventually going to Ambyr Childers.[19]

Filming

Filming was to begin in August 2010, with Renner starring opposite Hoffman, but was postponed indefinitely in September 2010.[20][21] In May 2011, after securing financing, the film was given the green light and filming began in early June 2011 in Vallejo and Sacramento.[1][5][22] Shooting took place on Mare Island for a month using the wing of an old hospital and an empty admiral's mansion for some scenes.[9] Franklin Delano Roosevelt's presidential yacht, the USS Potomac, was used for shooting shipboard scenes.[23] In late June 2011, filming took place at Hillside Elementary School in Berkeley.[24]

The film was shot on 65 mm film[25] using the Panavision System 65 camera.[26] It was the first fiction film to be shot in 65mm since Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet in 1996.[27] Mihai Mălaimare Jr. served as cinematographer, making The Master Anderson's first film without cinematographer Robert Elswit.[28] The film crew used three 65mm Panavision cameras throughout filming, and at times had an assistant from Panavision on set to help with the cameras' technical issues.[29] Originally, Anderson and Mălaimare planned to shoot mainly portraits in 65mm, which constituted 20 percent of the film, but ultimately 85 percent of the film was shot in 65mm.[26] The remainder of the film was shot on 35mm using Panavision Millennium XL2s cameras, often used for scenes that required a "dirtier" look.[26] In order to maintain a consistent aspect ratio, the 65mm footage was cropped from 2.20:1 to 1.85:1 to match the 35mm footage, at the sacrifice of some image area.[26] Most of the film stocks used were Kodak Vision3 50D Color Negative Film 5203 and Kodak Vision3 200T Color Negative Film 5213 with a few scenes also done with Kodak Vision3 250D Color Negative Film 5207 and Kodak Vision3 500T 5219.[26] Because Anderson prefers working with film, he bypassed the use of a digital intermediate, instead color grading with the use of a photochemical timer.[29]

During filming, Phoenix was allowed to improvise on set.[15] Phoenix lost significant weight for the role and came up with Freddie's awkward gait.[15] Anderson compared Phoenix's commitment to that of Daniel Day-Lewis for his level of concentration, saying that Phoenix got into character and stayed there for three months.[10][16] Anderson considered the dynamic between Hoffman and Phoenix to be central to the film, likening it to the rivalry and differences in style and temperament between tennis players John McEnroe and Björn Borg or Ivan Lendl, with Hoffman playing the more controlled and driven approach of Borg or Lendl.[30] Adams stated that Anderson would have her appear on set for scenes she was not scheduled to appear in to make her presence felt, and at times she didn't know whether the camera was on her.[31]

Music

Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead composed the score for the film.[32][33] This was the second time Greenwood scored an Anderson film, the first being 2007's There Will Be Blood.[32]

The official soundtrack was released through Nonesuch Records, and comprises eleven compositions by Greenwood along with four recordings from the film's era. Performers include the London Contemporary Orchestra and Ella Fitzgerald, among others.[34] The track "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (with Anyone Else But Me)" is presented as performed in the film by actress Madisen Beaty. The Weinstein Company also released a more comprehensive score on their website as part of the film's promotion, featuring alternate versions of the tracks.[35]


This content is from Wikipedia. GradeSaver is providing this content as a courtesy until we can offer a professionally written study guide by one of our staff editors. We do not consider this content professional or citable. Please use your discretion when relying on it.