Image Credit: Todd Williamson/WireImage.comThe man who can apparently do it all has done it again. James Franco’s directorial debut, Saturday Night, which chronicles the making of a Saturday Night Live episode — from the very first pitch meeting with the host (in this case, John Malkovich) to the closing credits — has found distribution home at O-Scope and will hit theaters in early 2011. The film first premiered at this years SXSW Film Festival.
What say you, PopWatchers? Are you excited to see what really goes on behind-the-scenes of SNL? How do you think Franco will fare as director?
Whatever you think of the show’s quality these days, the backstage stuff that goes on at “SNL” is the stuff of showbiz legend.
I’m interested in getting even a small peek at that.
If you’re in NYC, take the NBC Studios Tour. You do get a peek of the backstage stuff at SNL, and they take you into the studio where they film it. It’s SO much smaller than it looks on TV!
I may actually make it to NYC later this year, so thanks for the tip!
plus if you go on a saturday (provided there’s a live show that day) you can usually see them rehearsing!
Yep – I recommend this too. We went on a Saturday and saw Nelly Furtado rehearsing. The stages are teeny tiny. We also went to the Conan set (before he moved out west to replace you know who) – WAY smaller than I imagined and very very cold. It was before the days of 30 Rock, or I would have paid more attention to the NBC page who guided the tour.
Yes, it’s a great tour, but not too worth seeing in summer time when they use the studio for storage! Also A&E’s biography of SNL was an awesome look at a week in the life of the show as well as a history. I definitely want to see James Franco’s doc!
Love James Franco but I’m afraid this will feel like a really long episode of 30 Rock or Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
A theater movie? I might watch it on TV, but I wouldn’t pay to go to the theater to see it.
It probably won’t get a wide release, so DVD will probably be the best chance to see it three to six months after it comes out or perhaps On Demand.
I’d love to see this.
James Franco is a hottie!!!! Love him on General Hospital in which he has an obsessive love for Jason Morgan!
I love James Franco, and I love how he’s seems able to do everything (he’s hilarious on Funny or Die and SNL, he apparently paints, he writes, he’s a great actor…). I have a total celeb crush on him.
I’m confused… the article says his “directorial debut”, but he’s directed several films before this (“The Ape” is my personal favorite). IMDB don’t lie.
Regarding his “Saturday Night” film being picked up by O-Scope, we assume you mean that this is his “directorial debut of a film released theatrically”? He’s directed several short films, 3 of which are showing to the public (and for Academy Short consideration) this Fri, Sat, Sun at the Laemmle Sunset at 1 & 1:45pm. Check em out, and Follow @JamesFrancoNews on Twitter
gawd rhey need to get stuff right he has directed so much stuff they do him no favors..he great
Love James Franco. He’s awesome. A true artist and hilarious. I bet he does a great job with this documentary. Everything he touches is golden.