 <unk> found that he still had to convince DreamWorks ' production executives to let him direct . He had already discussed the film with <unk> and Cohen , and felt they supported him . Ball was also keen ; having seen <unk> , he was impressed with <unk> ' " keen visual sense " and thought he did not make obvious choices . Ball felt that <unk> liked to look under the story 's surface , a talent he felt would be a good fit with the themes of American Beauty . <unk> ' background also <unk> him , because of the prominent role the playwright usually has in a theater production . Over two meetings — the first with Cooper , Walter <unk> , and Laurie MacDonald , the second with Cooper alone — <unk> pitched himself to the studio . The studio soon approached <unk> with a deal to direct for the minimum salary allowed under Directors Guild of America rules — $ 150 @,@ 000 . <unk> 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 <unk> to direct the film . 
