Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about PTA's Films that I receive via email on a regular basis. This will continue to grow over time, so stay tuned!

Where can I purchase Paul’s short films [The Dirk Diggler Story, Cigarettes & Coffee and/or Flagpole Special] & Music Video DVD Collection?

Unfortunately, PTA's short films are owned exclusively by Paul and unless he decides to release them (highly unlikely at this time), there is no way to obtain them. Keep your fingers crossed that he will change his mind and maybe release them all together in the future. As for the music videos, the artists are on different labels so the creating an official collection would be extremely difficult. Fiona Apple’s “Across the Universe” is available on the Pleasantville DVD, Michael Penn’s “Try” is on the Boogie Nights DVD & Aimee Mann’s “Save Me” on the Magnolia DVD.

Where can I find Paul’s screenplays?

Both Boogie Nights & Magnolia are available in book form complete with introductions by PTA, deleted scenes, pictures & more. They can be purchased at most bookstores online or a local bookstore in your area. Unfortunately, Hard Eight is currently unavailable. Hopefully this will be given the same treatment as Boogie Nights & Magnolia in the future. You may come across these scripts on the Internet, but I would encourage you to pick up the “authorized” books instead.

Where can I find the soundtracks to his films?

The soundtrack or score to Hard Eight has never been released. The Michael Penn/Aimee Mann duet “ChristmasTime” which plays during the closing credits is available on the Aimee Mann Christmas single. You can purchase this directly from www.aimeemann.com. There were two separate volumes released for Boogie Nights including some of the Michael Penn score music. The Magnolia release was the most complete thus far, including a separate Soundtrack with songs by Aimee Mann, Supertramp & Gabrielle & the complete score composed by Jon Brion.

Why wasn't the Dirk Diggler Story & excerpts from the John Holmes Exhausted documentary included on the new Boogie Nights DVD? 

PTA had momentarily thought about including The DD Story, but ultimately decided against it. Exhausted ran into legal difficulties. You can read about both of these in the Boogie Nights DVD Timeline here. 

What is Clementine’s Loop?

It's the haunting music created by Michael Penn and Patrick Warren, which is featured in Paul’s first three films. It plays during the opening credits of Hard Eight (among other places), when Dirk Diggler gets beat up/Rollergirl meltdown in Boogie Nights & when Sydney Barringer loads the shotgun in Magnolia. PTA dubbed it Clementine's Loop (in reference to Gwyneth Paltrow’s character).

What's the story with the guy in the purple suit & the #9 background in the Michael Penn Try Video? PTA states on the commentary track that it's an homage to Burt Reynolds, how so?

Here's what PTA had to say in an interview with the PTA Email Group in March 2000: "There's an interview with Burt from Good Morning America. It's very hard to describe -- it's insane. He wears a purple suit and he speaks about "9" It's hard to describe."

What’s the significance of the title of Magnolia?

There has been much debate over the title of the film & PTA has said repeatedly that it should be left up to your interpretation (along with the Frog Sequence & many other elements of the film). You can read PTA's comments about this & find out much more in the Magnolia Secrets page.

Where does the quote from Magnolia, "The Books says, We may be through with the past, but the past ain't through with us", come from? Is it the Bible?

What was PTA’s involvement with Saturday Night Live?

Contrary to reports, Paul has only been involved with one episode of the show thus far. His parody of MTV´s FANatic with Ben Affleck, Molly Shannon & Jimmy Fallon first debuted on SNL, February 19^th, 2000 & has been repeated several times since.

What about the director Paul Anderson or Adult film director Paul Thomas? Any relation to PTA?

No. Paul Anderson is a British director responsible for the following films: Shopping, Mortal Kombat, Event Horizon, Soldier & Resident Evil. Ditto for Paul Thomas. It's just a strange coincidence. There are no connections to PTA, except that it might be the reason that Paul uses his full name or P.T. Anderson to avoid any possible confusion.