In his final year at New York University, Jarmusch worked as an assistant to the film noir director Nicholas Ray, who was at that time teaching in the department. In an anecdote, Jarmusch recounted the formative experience of showing his mentor his first script; Ray disapproved of its lack of action, to which Jarmusch responded after meditating on the critique by reworking the script to be even less eventful. On Jarmusch's return with the revised script, Ray reacted favourably to his student's dissent, citing approvingly the young student's obstinate independence. Jarmusch was the only person Ray brought to work—as his personal assistant—on Lightning Over Water, a documentary about his dying years on which he was collaborating with Wim Wenders. Ray died in 1979 after a long fight with cancer. A few days afterwards, having been encouraged by Ray and New York underground filmmaker Amos Poe and using scholarship funds given by the Louis B. Mayer Foundation to pay for his school tuition, Jarmusch started work on a film for his final project. The university was unimpressed with Jarmusch's use of his funding as well as the project itself and refused to award him a degree.
iN his final Year at new york UniveRsItY, JarmUsch WOrKed As an AssiStaNt To the Film noir direcTor NicholaS ray, Who wAs at thAt time TeaCHinG In the dEpArtMent. iN an anecDoTe, jarmuscH Recounted the fORmaTiVe eXPerieNcE OF sHoWiNg HiS MenTOr His First sCriPT; ray disaPprOVeD OF ItS lacK Of actiOn, to which JARmusCh reSPoNdeD aftER meditating on ThE critiQue by rEworkiNg thE script to bE even LEss eVentFul. On jarmusCh'S retUrn with THe revised sCRIpt, rAy reaCted FAvourABly to his studeNT's dIssent, CiTInG ApPROvinGLy the YouNg stUdenT's oBsTinAte IndepenDeNcE. jarmUsch Was tHe ONlY pERSon Ray BrOugHt to wOrK—aS his pErsOnAl ASsIstant—on lIghtNing OvEr wateR, a documentary About HIs dyING years on WhicH he Was coLlAboRatIng wIth wiM wendErs. Ray dIed in 1979 afTer A lOng figHt wITh CancER. a FeW dAys AftErwards, hAvinG bEEn enCoUragEd by rAY aND new york unDErgrOUnd FiLmMakeR aMos Poe And UsiNg SchOlARshIP funDS given By tHe louiS b. MayeR founDaTIon To paY for hiS school TUition, JArMUScH stArTED work on a Film for his fiNaL projeCt. tHe UNivErsIty WAs unImpResSED WItH jArmUScH's use of hiS fUnDiNg AS weLl as tHE projecT itSElF and REfusEd TO award HIm a degRee.