My Hollywood Circus is about my years as a filmmaker from 1978 to present day making both Hollywood and independent films. I take you behind the scenes on all these films. It’s about the blood, sweat and laughs in making a film. From Moonstruck to Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding, I made a lot of films as an Assistant Director and many as a Producer and Director.
“In this captivating memoir, Roger Paradiso shares his extraordinary journey through the vibrant world of cinema, where he has collaborated with Hollywood greats and embraced the chaotic beauty of motion picture creation as an Independent filmmaker later in his career… – Daria Trifu, Film Producer and a member of the European Film Academy, and the president and CEO of Global Film Studio
I wrote this book to document the behind the scenes adventures that most people don’t see or hear about. Every film from Stardust Memories by Woody Allen to City by the Sea starring Robert Di Niro had its share of comedy and tragedy. Some people survived the circus and some didn’t.
I will take you through the process from the boardroom of AIG, the biggest insurer in the world, when I was trying to get Pulp Fiction bonded. Behind the camera with John Huston on Annie, as he told me his method of filming Annie. The heart breaking moment in the offices of MGM as we couldn’t come together on a budget for John Singleton’s remake of Shaft. The moment in the dark hours of the night, as Norman Jewison was asking me to do Moonstruck, then an unknown little script, with an impossible low budget and an equally impossible schedule of 7 weeks shoot and 7 weeks prep. We shook hands and agreed to do it together. And we did it!
I think when we finished shooting that the cast of Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding was the best comedy troupe in New York and LA. Just look at the successful actors we had. Sebastian Stan wasjust starting out. And Mila Kunis was the leader of the pack in our film.- Paradiso
Right now, I am writing to preserve my history and the history of the films I worked on. Since turning full time to Independent artist I have seen the life of many Indie artists. It is a very difficult life. What theaters still exist probably don’t play indie films. Streaming hasn’t work out well for us. And now we have AI.
Your adventures in the circus had me reflect on my early days in show business. How perseverance, risk-taking, luck, and a can-do attitude were rewarded with excitement, fun, and money. I would like to think that it still exists for the young who are venturing into the circus. – Michael Jacobsohn Filmmaker
We can’t rely on corporate history books or commercial AI driven information to be our only source of history. So, we write independent books and do independent documentary films.
It’s the classic hero’s journey that combines aspiration, luck, resourcefulness, integrity, camaraderie, resilience, and artistic perseverance. At its core, Paradiso offers a clear message about success– whether the pursuit is artistic or commercial, and best efforts– the reward ultimately lies in having stayed true to your values, vision, and the relationships you made along the way.”
– Caren Martineau, Social Entrepreneur, Serial Creator, Bevival Founder
“A troupe of performers, especially a traveling troupe, that presents such entertainments, together with officials, other employees, and the company’s performing animals, traveling wagons, tents, cages, and equipment”.
The entire 1981 cast and crew of ANNIE at Woodrow Wilson Hall, West Long Branch NJ. Missing were Dale and Roger who were scouting. Picture courtesy of Columbia Pictures.
My independent films are in the book. I Want My Name Back is about the destruction of the original Sugarhill Gang (Rapper’s Delight) and how they get their names back. The Lost Village is about the gentrification of Greenwich Village and the displacement of many artists due to high rent. And how we can fight back. Check out Mamdani the new Mayor of NYC who will try to bring affordability to the Village, but is it too late?
Searching for Camelot are three films about how the brightest and bravest came to the White House and how they changed lives even today. And how John, Robert and Jackie survived their tragedies to live on in our history as supporters of civil rights, voting rights and woman’s rights. We also put a man on the moon. These are highly aspirational films that should inspire current generations to persevere in the fight for their rights and our democracy.
I also talk about the World Trade Center on 9/11 and how if affected our lives. And I also write about AI, streaming and the copyright fights that are going on now.
These are some of the studio films I did below. Yes, I called it a circus in an affectionate way. Most of these films below were a pleasure to make.
Biography
Stardust Memories
1979
Directed by Woody Allen
Starring Charlotte Rampling, Marie-Christine Barrault, Jessica Harper, Woody Allen and Tony Roberts
Writers Guild of America, USA 1981 Nomination for Best Screenplay
The Dogs of War
1979
Directed by John Irvin, Produced by Norman Jewsion starring Christopher Walken, Tom Berenger, JoBeth Williams
Only When I Laugh
1980
Writer Neil Simon, Director Glen Jordan,
Producer Roger Rothstein and Neil Simon
Starring Marsha Mason, Kristy McNichol, James Coco, Joan Hackett, Kevin Bacon
Academy Awards, USA 1982
| Nominee Oscar |
Best Actress in a Leading Role Marsha Mason |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role James Coco |
|
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role Joan Hackett |
Golden Globes, USA 1982
| Winner Golden Globe |
Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Motion Picture Joan Hackett |
| Nominee Golden Globe |
Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Motion Picture Kristy McNichol |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Motion Picture James Coco |
Young Artist Awards 1982
| Winner Young Artist Award |
Best Young Motion Picture Actress Kristy McNichol |
| Nominee Young Artist Award |
Best Motion Picture – Family Enjoyment |
Annie
1980-81
Produced by Ray Stark, Directed by John Huston
Starring Albert Finney, Bernadette Peters, Carol Burnett, Anne Reinking, Tim Curry, and Aileen Quinn as Annie
Two Academy Award Nominations Best Art Direction-Set Decoration Dale Hennesey, Marvin March,
Best Music Score Ralph Burns
Three Golden Glove nominations for Best Actress Carol Burnett, Best Actress Ailen Quinn, New Star of the Year Aileen Quinn
Bafta Nomination for Best Original Song “Tomorrow” Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin
I Ought To Be in Pictures
1981
Directed by Herbert Ross, Produced by Roger Rothstein and starring Walter Matthau, Anne-Margaret and Dinah Manoff
Lovesick
1982
Directed by Marshall Brickman starring Dudley Moore and Elizabeth McGovern featuring Alec Guinness, John Huston, Christine Baranski, Gene Saks, Renee Taylor, Alan King, Ron Silver, Wallace Shawn, David Strathairn, Larry Rivers
Lovesick was my first film with two legends of New York. One legend was Marshall Brickman who was a musician, a writer and a director.
Marshall is best known as the Academy Award winning screenwriter (with Woody Allen) of Annie Hall and Academy Award Nominated for Manhattan along with Woody Allen for best screenplay.
Rhinestone
1982
1982Starring Sylvester Stallone and Dolly Parton with Richard Farsworth
Directed by Bob Clark and others, Produced by Marvin Worth
Razzie Awards 2005
| Nominee Razzie Award |
Worst ‘Musical’ of Our First 25 Years |
A movie with Sylvestor Stallone and Dolly Parton can’t miss, right?
Two of a Kind
1983
Produced by Roger Rothstein, Directed by John Herzfeld
Starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John with Charles Durning, Oliver Reed, Beatrice Straight, Scatman Crothers, Kathy Bates
A romantic comedy in New York with the stars of Grease, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
9 ½ Weeks
1984
Directed by Adrian Lyne starring Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke with Margaret Whitton, David Margulies, Christine Baranski, Karen Young
Wise Guys
1985
Directed by Brian De Palma starring Danny DeVito and Joe Piscopo and Harvey Keitel, Julie Bovasso, Patti LuPone, Frank Vincent, Lou Albano
The Manhattan Project
1985
Directed by Marshall Brickman starring John Lithgow and Christopher Collet, Cynthia Nixon, Jill Eichenberry, Robert Sean Leonard, John Mahoney
Nominations Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror, USA winner of the President’s Award Marshall Brickman
Nomination for Young Artist Award, Exceptional Performance by a young actress in supporting role Cynthia Nixon
Moonstruck
1986
Directed by Norman Jewison starring Cher and a great New York cast featuring Olympia Dukakis, Vincent Gardenia, Danny Aiello, Julie Bovasso, Anita Gillette, along with Nicolas Cage, John Mahoney, and Feodor Chaliapin Jr.
Academy Award Best Actress Cher,
Academy Award Best Supporting Actress Olympia Dukakis,
Academy Award Best Writing Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen John Patrick Shanley;
Three other Academy Award nominations Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor Vincent Gardenia, Best Director Norman Jewison:,
Golden Globes Winner Best Performance by an actress in a motion picture Cher, Best Actress in a Supporting role in a motion picture Olympia Dukakis.
Three other Golden Globe nominations Best Picture, Best Screenplay John Patrick Shanley, Best Actor Nicolas Cage:
Nominations BAFTA Best Actress Cher, Best Supporting Actress Olympia Dukakis, BAFTA Best Screenplay John Patrick Shanley, BAFTA Best Score Dick Hyman.
Black Widow
1987
Directed by Bob Rafelson and Produced by Harold Schneider starring Debra Winger, Theresa Russell, Dennis Hopper, Terry O’Quinn, Diane Ladd, Lois Smith
Scrooged
1987
Directed by Richard Donner and starring Bill Murray and Karen Allen, John Forsythe, John Glover, Bob Goldthwait, David Johansen, Carol Kane, Robert Mitchum, Alfre Woodard
Nomination Academy Awards Best Makeup Thomas R. Burman, Barry Dreiband-Burman,
Nomination Academy of Science Fiction, Comic Fantasy and Horror Films Best Fantasy film, Best Actor Bill Murray and Best Special FX
Beaches
1988
Directed by Gary Marshall starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey with John Heard, Spalding Gray, Lainie Kazan, Mayim Bialik, Marcie Leeds
Winner Young Artist Award Best Young Actress in Motion Picture Comedy Mayim Bialik
Nomination Academy Awards Best Art Direction-Set Decoration Albert Brenner, Garritt Lewis;
Nomination American Comedy Awards Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture Bette Midler
Nomination for Brit Awards Best Soundtrack
Nomination Kid’s Choice Awards Favorite Movie Actress Bette Midler
Nomination Young Artist Award Best Family Motion Picture
Nomination Young Artist Award Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture Drama Marcie Leeds
Funny About Love
1989
Directed by Leonard Nimoy and starring Gene Wilder and Christine Lahti. With Mary Stuart Masterson, Robert Prosky, Anne Jackson, David Margulies
Crazy People
1989
Directed by Tony Bill. Dudley Moore, Daryl Hannah, Paul Reiser, J.T. Walsh
Soapdish
1990
Directed by Michael Hoffman
Starring Sally Field, Kevin Kline, Elisabeth Shue, Cathy Moriarty, Teri Hatcher, Robert Downey Jr., Whoopi Goldberg
What a cast and a great idea.
A Bronx Tale
1992
Directed by Robert De Niro starring himself, Chazz Palminteri, Joe Pesce, Taral Hicks and Lillo Brancato
Pulp Fiction
1993
Directed by Quentin Tarantino starring John Travolta, Harvey Keitel, Uma Thurmond and many others.
bullet
1994
Directed by Julien Temple starring Mickey Rourke, Ted Levine, Tupac Shakur, Adrien Brody, Donnie Wahlberg, Suzanne Shepherd and Jerry Grayson.
“I Ought To Be In Pictures” from left to right Jimmy Hovey camera assistant, Davey Walsh DP, me, Roger Rothstein, Dinah Manoff and Director Herb Ross. Courtesy of 20th Century Fox.