 The casting process , which Kaufman described as " arduous " , began in New York City . He said teenagers from across the city wanted to audition . Academy Award @-@ winning producer Scott Rudin was the film 's casting director who found <unk> van Lidth and Linda Manz . There was no character named Peewee in the novel . Rudin had organized an interview with Manz . Kaufman and Price were present ; they all thought she had " great character " . Manz was so convincing that everyone assumed she was a real member of a street gang . Because of this , the character Peewee was specifically written for her . 
