"The Disaster Artist"

The Crest Theatre, 1262 Westwood Blvd., is featured prominently for a premiere during the last fifteen minutes of "The Disaster Artist" (New Line Cinema / A24 Films, 2017). The film stars James Franco, Dave Franco, Ari Graynor, Alison Brie and Seth Rogen in the strange tale of aspiring film director Tommy Wiseau and the making of his film "The Room." James Franco directed. The still of James and friends outside the Crest is one that was used by the distributors to promote the film.

Dave Franco plays Greg Sestero, an aspiring actor who wrote the book the film is based on. We start in San Francisco and when Wiseau and Sestero move down to Los Angeles we get a drive-by of the Music Box/Fonda Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. Later we get some shots inside and out at a small NoHo legit theatre where Sestero is appearing in a show. 

 James and Dave Franco in the lobby of the Crest Theatre. It's a shot from the sequence near the end of the film during the premiere of "The Room." 

James Franco heading down the aisle. 

A look into the house before the film begins. 

Introducing the director of "The Room" to the premiere audience.

James Franco as Wiseau coming onstage.

Another look to the back of the auditorium.

James Franco in front of the theatre's title curtain.

Thanks to Chris Willman for the tip about the Crest's appearance in the film. Thanks to Mike Hume for several of the screenshots. Visit Mike's Historic Theatre Photography site for thousands of great photos of the many theatres he's explored along with tech data and other historical information. 

See the pages about the Crest and the Music Box/Fonda on the Los Angeles Theatres site for information about those two theatres.

On IMDb: "The Disaster Artist"