George Miller (of "Mad Max" and "Babe" fame) and his partner in Kennedy Miller films, Doug Mitchell, optioned the script. They wanted to raise the money independently. However, after one year, they were unsuccessful raising the $1 million, and the project came back to me. I subsequently went to my friend, Peter Seaman, who did Roger Rabbit. He had loved the project and told me if it ever fell through, he'd like to do it.
Peter took the project to Universal Studios, where he had a deal to make more films. Together we went to meet Casey Silver and he loved the script. When we told him George Miller wanted to direct it, he said, "If you bring me George Miller, I'll greenlight the project." He said that he had another project he wanted George to do.
When George Miller got wind from his agent that Casey Silver wanted to do the movie, he called me at two o'clock in the morning from a Greek Island he was vacationing on. He essentially begged me not to let the project go to Universal, because he said that he would never in this lifetime or the next work for Casey Silver.
George asked me for another six months, and promised me he would raise the money.
I then went back to my friend, Peter, told him of my conversation with George, and that I believed in him. "Please forgive, me," I said. Peter gracefully bowed out. Within the month, the front page of daily variety read, "George Miller to direct 'Lorenzo's Oil'" for Universal Pictures. George wouldn't take my calls afterwards.
Danny Devito's Jersey Films is currently developing a new Marx Brother's film biography. I wish them nothing but success. Hopefully the renewed interest will help me get my movie made.
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©2005 Robert Hegyes - All Rights Reserved