 In 1997 , Alan Ball resolved to move into the film industry after several frustrating years writing for the television sitcoms Grace Under Fire and Cybill . He joined the United Talent Agency , where his representative , Andrew Cannava , suggested he write a spec script to " reintroduce [ himself ] to the town as a screenwriter " . Ball pitched three ideas to Cannava : two conventional romantic comedies and American Beauty , which he had originally conceived as a play in the early 1990s . Despite the story 's lack of an easily marketable concept , Cannava selected American Beauty because he felt it was the one for which Ball had the most passion . While developing the script , Ball created another television sitcom , Oh , Grow Up . He channeled his anger and frustration at having to accede to network demands on that show — and during his tenures on Grace Under Fire and Cybill — into writing American Beauty . 
 In 1997 , Alan Ball resolved to move into the film industry after several frustrating years writing for the television sitcoms Grace Under Fire and Cybill . He joined the United Talent Agency , where his representative , Andrew Cannava , suggested he write a spec script to " reintroduce [ himself ] to the town as a screenwriter " . Ball pitched three ideas to Cannava : two conventional romantic comedies and American Beauty , which he <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> originally conceived as a play in the early 1990s . Despite the story <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>lack of an easily marketable concept , Cannava selected American Beauty because he felt it was the one for which Ball had the most passion . While developing the script , Ball created another television sitcom , Oh , Grow Up . He channeled his anger and frustration at having to accede to network demands on that show — and during his tenures on Grace Under Fire and Cybill <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>—</mark></a> into writing American Beauty . 
In 1997 , Alan Ball resolved to move into the film industry after several frustrating years writing for da television sitcoms Grace Under Fire and Cybill . He joined the United Talent Agency , where his representative , Andrew Cannava , suggested he write a spec script to " reintroduce [ himself ] to the town as a screenwriter " . Ball pitched three ideas to Cannava : 2 conventional romantic comedies and American Beauty , which he done originally conceived as a play in the early 1990s . Despite the story  lack of an easily marketable concept , Cannava selected American Beauty cuz he felt it was the one for which Ball had tdamost passion . While developing thdacript , Ball created another television sitcom , Oh , Grow Up . He channeled his anger and frustration at havin to accede to network demands on dat show — and during his tenures on Grace Under Fire and Cybill ——ed into writing American Beauty .