Editing Straight Time (section)

==Production==
===Development===
[[File:Edward Bunker.jpg|thumb|right|upright|The screenplay was adapted from the novel ''No Beast So Fierce'' by [[Edward Bunker]] (pictured)]]
The screenplay was written by [[Alvin Sargent]], [[Edward Bunker]] and [[Jeffrey Boam]], based on Bunker's novel ''No Beast So Fierce''.<ref name=afi/> [[Michael Mann (director)|Michael Mann]] served as an uncredited cowriter on the project.<ref name=afi/> Actor Dustin Hoffman originally wanted to direct the project himself.{{sfn|Zucker|2013|p=317}} According to Grosbard, he was called to take over directorial duties by Hoffman: "He'd already spent a substantial amount of the budget—and it was a small budget. He had stopped preproduction because he was waiting for the latest draft of the script...&nbsp; I saw a direction, I saw a point of view, I saw something that interested me."{{sfn|Zucker|2013|p=317}}

===Casting===
Hoffman plays the lead role in the film, with supporting performances from Theresa Russell, as well as Gary Busey, Harry Dean Stanton, and Kathy Bates.{{sfn|Zucker|2013|pages=317–321}} Russell was around 17 years old when she was cast in the film.{{sfn|Zucker|2013|p=321}} Grosbard cast Russell in the film because he felt she was "very right for the part" and had a personal background similar to that of her character.{{sfn|Zucker|2013|p=321}} Additionally, Grosbard commented that she had a "good rapport" with Hoffman.{{sfn|Zucker|2013|p=321}} In preparation for his role as a criminal, Stanton spent time sitting isolated in a [[gas chamber]].<ref name=Saito/>

===Filming===
Filming of ''Straight Time'' took place primarily in [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]], including [[Sylmar, Los Angeles|Sylmar]] and [[Burbank, California|Burbank]], with additional photography occurring in the [[Inland Empire]] in and near [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]].<ref name=afi/><ref name=Johnson>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun/169214433/|work=[[The San Bernardino Sun]]|date=April 23, 1977|p=5|title=Dustin does 'Straight Time'|via=Newspapers.com|last=Johnson|first=Jimmy}}</ref> [[Principal photography]] began on February 9, 1977, at [[Folsom State Prison]] in [[Folsom, California|Folsom]], California, near [[Sacramento]].<ref name=afi/>

In addition to portraying the lead character, Hoffman had originally been hired to direct the film, and, according to producer [[Jerry Ziesmer]], completed one day in this role.<ref name=afi/> Ziesmer recalled that the first day of shooting at Folsom State Prison consisted primarily of a basic establishing shot, and that Hoffman requested constant camera resets, resulting in not a single frame being captured by day's end.<ref name=afi/> With the studio concerned about Hoffman's ability to complete the project in a timely manner, Hoffman stepped down as director, after which Grosbard was hired.<ref name=afi/><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/t-magazine/culture/dustin-hoffman-ready-for-anything.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |last=Foden | first=Giles | title=The Tao of Hoffman| work= [[The New York Times]] | date=March 2, 2012| archive-url=https://archive.today/20231021094504/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/t-magazine/culture/dustin-hoffman-ready-for-anything.html|archive-date=October 21, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://arts.nationalpost.com/2013/01/18/actor-turned-director-dustin-hoffman-on-the-awesome-experience-of-making-quartet/ | archive-url=http://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20130203004940/http://arts.nationalpost.com/2013/01/18/actor-turned-director-dustin-hoffman-on-the-awesome-experience-of-making-quartet/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 3, 2013 | last=Knight | first=Chris | title=Actor-turned-director Dustin Hoffman on the 'awesome' experience of making Quartet | work=[[The National Post]] | date=January 18, 2013 | access-date=January 18, 2013 }}</ref>

Grosbard and Hoffman approached the filming using improvisational methods, and often worked evenings writing scenes to be shot the following day. {{sfn|Zucker|2013|p=317}}

===Post-production===
The film became the subject of litigation between Hoffman and the [[First Artists Production Company]] over creative control. Before Hoffman had finished editing the film, First Artists exercised a clause to take over the project, since the shoot had gone 23 days over schedule and approximately $1&nbsp;million over budget. Hoffman's lawsuit alleged that his right to the final cut had been violated, and that the take-over clause did not mean he forfeited all creative control. First Artists' countersuit claimed that Hoffman's "derogatory statements" damaged the film's reception and box-office performance.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kilday|first=Gregg|date=October 18, 1978|title=Dustin Hoffman Vs. First Artists|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|page=Part IV, p. 17}}</ref> The outcome of the litigation has not been disclosed.<ref name=afi>{{cite web |url=http://catalog.afi.com/Film/57025-STRAIGHT-TIME?sid=ea5a346a-bd7e-48d6-a57a-06a2f39e90c8&sr=3.4545062&cp=1&pos=0#1 |title=Straight Time |website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]] |publisher=[[American Film Institute]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110202844/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/57025-STRAIGHT-TIME?sid=7a74a8b3-bfbc-4edc-a4a7-040a8ae9bda7&sr=9.98856&cp=1&pos=0|archive-date=January 10, 2021 }}</ref>