 While working on Heavy Traffic , Bakshi received a call from Krantz , who questioned him about Harlem Nights . Bakshi told Krantz : " I can 't talk about that " and hung up . The next day , Krantz locked Bakshi out of the studio , reportedly tapping Bakshi 's phone because he was wary of his loyalty as an employee . After Krantz fired Bakshi , he began to seek a replacement director for Heavy Traffic , calling several directors , including Chuck Jones . Arkoff threatened to pull the film 's budget unless Krantz rehired Bakshi , who returned a week later . During the film 's production , Krantz attempted to maintain some level of control by issuing memos to Bakshi and other artists requesting various changes . John Sparey remembers being issued a memo asking Sparey to stop posting caricatures of Krantz on the middle of his door . 
