 Mendes found that he still had to convince DreamWorks ' production executives to let him direct . He had already discussed the film with Jinks and Cohen , and felt they supported him . Ball was also keen ; having seen Cabaret , he was impressed with Mendes ' " keen visual sense " and thought he did not make obvious choices . Ball felt that Mendes liked to look under the story 's surface , a talent he felt would be a good fit with the themes of American Beauty . Mendes ' background also reassured him , because of the prominent role the playwright usually has in a theater production . Over two meetings — the first with Cooper , Walter Parkes , and Laurie MacDonald , the second with Cooper alone — Mendes pitched himself to the studio . The studio soon approached Mendes with a deal to direct for the minimum salary allowed under Directors Guild of America rules — $ 150 @,@ 000 . Mendes accepted , and later recalled that after taxes and his agent 's commission , he only earned $ 38 @,@ 000 . In June 1998 , DreamWorks confirmed that it had contracted Mendes to direct the film . 
 Mendes found that he still had to convince DreamWorks <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'</mark></a>production executives to let him direct . He <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> already discussed the film with Jinks and Cohen , and felt they supported him . Ball was also keen ; <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>having</mark></a> seen Cabaret , he was impressed with Mendes <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'</mark></a>" keen visual sense " and thought he did not make obvious choices . Ball felt that Mendes liked to look under the story <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>surface , a talent he felt would be a good fit with the themes of American Beauty . Mendes <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'</mark></a>background also reassured him , because of the prominent role the playwright usually <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>has</mark></a> in a theater production . Over two meetings — the first with Cooper , Walter Parkes , and Laurie MacDonald , the second with Cooper alone — Mendes pitched himself to the studio . The studio soon approached Mendes with a deal to direct for the minimum salary allowed under Directors Guild of America rules — $ 150 @,@ 000 . Mendes accepted , and later recalled that after taxes and his agent <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>commission , he only earned $ 38 @,@ 000 . In June 1998 , DreamWorks confirmed that it <a href='been_done' title='9'><mark>had</mark></a> contracted Mendes to direct the film . 
Mendes found that he still had to convince DreamWorks  production executives to let him direct . He done already discussed the film w/ Jinks and Cohen , and felt they supported em . Ball was also keen ; done seen Cabaret , he was impressed wiwidendes  " keen visual sense " and thought he did not make obvious choices . Ball felt that Mendes liked to look under da story  surface , a talent he felt would be a good fit with the themes of American Beauty . Mendes  background also reassured him , because of tdaprominent role thdalaywright usually have in a theater production . ova two meetings — the first witwittoper , Walter Parkes , and Laurie MacDonald , the second witw/oper alone — Mendes pitched hisself to thedaudio . The studio soon approached Mendes with wital to direct for the minimum salary allowed under Directors Guild of America rules — $ 150 @,@ 000 . Mendes accepted , and later recalled that after taxes and his agent  commission , he only earned $ 38 @,@ 000 . In June 1998 , DreamWorks confirmed dat it done contracted Mendes to direct the dam .