10 Things You Didn't Know About Paul Thomas Anderson's Movies

9. Three Paul Thomas Anderson Movies Began Life As Short Films

Not all directors are fortunate enough to get the green light for their movie ideas first time around - most of the time, in fact, a young aspiring director needs to prove himself by producing a short film or two before financiers would even consider handing over any cash. Sometimes these short films end up being expanded upon into features, and in the case of Paul Thomas Anderson three of his films began life as shorts. His early short film from 1993, Cigarettes And Coffee (not to be confused with Jim Jarmusch's Coffee And Cigarettes) transformed into Hard Eight. His homage to porn star John Holmes, The Dirk Diggler Story, became his major breakout movie Boogie Nights, while another short called Flagpole Special would end up on screen as Magnolia, significantly revised and expanded. It just goes to show what a lot of perseverance - and no doubt talent - can do for the aspiring director who starts out working on a low budget.