Michael Cimino(1939-2016)

In December 1981 he was signed to direct the musical Todos a bailar (1984). Producer Daniel Melnick warned him that if the film went over its budget of $7.5 million, Cimino would have to cover the expenses himself. He agreed, but the following month, just as the movie was about to begin shooting, he asked Melnick to let him rewrite the screenplay for an additional $250.000 and to delay the start date. Melnick fired him and Herbert Ross directed Todos a bailar (1984) instead.

[11/11/96 interview in "People" magazine on how the failure of La puerta del cielo (1980) affected his life] It was really a great trauma, as everyone knows. Since then, I've been unable to make any movie that I've wanted to make. I've been making the best of what is available.