A Tribute to the Mayor of the Valley By Ryan Patrick Aguiar

Born as a commoner in a land of royalty, one person in the San Fernando Valley has risen to become one of our best storytellers. From a young man who is taken in by a gambling master and becomes his apprentice to a tailor struggling to keep a balance of his career and his love life. This man, the Mayor of the valley, is none other than Paul Thomas Anderson. Born the son of famous television host Ernie Anderson better known as Ghoulardi, Paul Thomas Anderson saw his career start to take off after his time in college by working as Production Assistant for a variety of productions ranging from Movies to shows and music videos. According to the auteur, he came across a talent whom he admired most named Phillip Baker Hall. Paul approached the man while working on set for a PBS special and said to him “I’m gonna make you a star”. Paul's words came true and forever sealed his fate but not just with Mr. Hall, but many actors.

Anderson made a short with Hall titled “Cigarettes & Coffee” later selected into Sundance and was expanded into Anderson’s first feature film “Sydney” [Hard Eight] starring Phillip Baker Hall, John C Reilly, Samuel Jackson and Gywenth Paltrow. The film was a critical hit and got Paul’s name to whisper in Hollywood and gave him the chance to make 3 films with the similar theme of his first feature and that took place in the Valley. These films “Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Punch Drunk-Love” were successful with audiences and the critics and all shared the exposure for how beautiful the Valley is. Working with all stars such as Jullianne Moore, Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Tom Cruise, Adam Sandler and Phillip Seymor Hoffman. Paul’s style early in his career is very similar to Kubrick’s and by coincidence he has had the honor of meeting the master while working with Tom Cruise who aided him in meeting Kubrick.

After Punch Drunk Love, Paul took a hiatus from filmmaking and came back to us with his next opus titled “There Will Be Blood” adapted from Upton Sinclair’s novel titles “Oil!” starring Paul Dano and Daniel Day-Lewis who plays an oil prospector who is challenged by a local preacher and with complications in his business and his family life. The film was another success both commercially and with critics and won two Academy Awards in Best Lead Actor and Best Cinematography.

From the 2000’s til 2017 PTA made “The Master, Inherent Vice, and Phantom Thread”. His films became more personal in terms of his views of certain religious figures and his love for novel writers such as Sinclair and Pynchon [Thomas] whom he adapted from until reaching his latest film “Phantom Thread”. His second and final collaboration with Daniel Day-Lewis. Day-Lewis retired from acting with this film and it’s the most suitable role to retire to.

All of Anderson’s films are personal. They have changing themes from Powerful Father figures similar to his love for his father Ernie to commentating his love for his wife Maya Rudoplh in Phantom. During his time in filmmaking Anderson became infatuated with the Haim Band who hail from the San Fernando Valley and has even directed some of their music videos and has also worked with Thom Yorke and Netflix making a fourteen minute short film titled “Anima”.

In recent interviews he has weighed in on his views on streaming and the SuperHero genre and his kind words to both groups have been the most optimistic any master filmmaker had said. Anderson has been nothing but humble to all forms of cinema and to the fans of cinema reminding us that at the end of the day it’s not entirely about how they shot this scene or how artistic one filmmaker is than the other. “Good films feed good films” as Anderson said in Variety and it’s true. As the theaters are making their comeback and with his newest film “Licorice Pizza” coming out we must all follow his example; stay humble for all movies that are helping us come together in the theater. Whether it’s Sean Baker coming out with a new poignant film or Spider-Man swinging his way to our hearts we must all be open and optimistic for what comes to the theaters and cherish these moments forever.

Ryan Patrick Aguiar is an avid movielover and moviemaker based in Los Angeles, CA.