The main problem was there was not a lot of money to produce it, and it was set in the 1950s. The only thing to do was to modernize the script. I also wanted to put back things I liked about the book.

Don't just work for the money; that will bring only limited satisfaction.

I took the script and the book to the beach a couple of years ago, and I liked the material so much I decided I had to do it.

We had no permits to do the picture. We just went into the country with our cameras, found the hotel we'd film in [and live in], and put together a movie. For the crew, we couldn't afford to hire anyone but film-school graduates.

We'd like to get the money in their hands now, if we can.

I think we more than hold our own with the big money.