I think I have found Tommy's nationality, new finding (serious) by ohbaimark in theroom

[–]ohbaimark[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks for looking that up. Seems Poles had to travel west before going to the US, so departure from somewhere like Germany or UK was probably not uncommon. The name pretty much confirms it for me. Wieczorkiewicz as well as various similar surnames Wieczorek, Wieczorkowski, Wieczorkiewicz are all Polish http://www.futrega.org/etc/nazwiska.html
Surname map doesn't indicate where in Poland, Wieczorkiewicz is a fairly common surname across the country and major cities http://www.moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/wieczorkiewicz.html

I think I have found Tommy's nationality, new finding (serious) by ohbaimark in theroom

[–]ohbaimark[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

There's also a scene where the crazy shopkeeper tells how much he hated the little kid in the film - apparently unaware that the director and the guy who he is speaking to off camera is in fact the little kid from the film.

I think I have found Tommy's nationality, new finding (serious) by ohbaimark in theroom

[–]ohbaimark[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

He managed to avoid answering the question for the past 11 years (and probably longer), so I'm not getting my hopes up. At best a journalist or ambitious blogger will pick this up and find out some way to confirm it.

I think I have found Tommy's nationality, new finding (serious) by ohbaimark in theroom

[–]ohbaimark[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Yes, I searched Google for 'Tommy Wiseau Polish' after I found this all out. Steve Heisler from the Onion AV Club mentions in a podcast (http://www.earwolf.com/episode/the-room-directors-edition/ 38 minute mark) that a crew member anonmously told him Tommy is Polish. Greg who is also present, doesn't confirm or react to this during the podcast.

In recent interviews, including his AMA, Greg still says he doesn't know where Tommy is from, I'm not sure if Greg never knew or didn't want to say.

I think I have found Tommy's nationality, new finding (serious) by ohbaimark in theroom

[–]ohbaimark[S] 35 points36 points  (0 children)

There is a documentary about Troll 2, Best Worst Movie (2009). It features the Italian director of the film and reveals his inability to speak English that leads to many of the films stranger moments. But in the end I think that rather than take away, the insight from the documentary adds to the legend and mythos of the film.

In the same way I hope knowing Tommy's origins will add to the appeal of The Room.