Pictured: Bill Murray (left) and Lucas Black (right) in a scene from "Get Low."

“The hardest man to get in the business has no firewalls,” Director Aaron Schneider says about his Get Low co-star, Bill Murray.

According to the filmmaker, the actor has no handlers - no agent, publicist or manager. What he has is an attorney who will pass requests on, but do nothing to convince Murray to take a specific role.

Which makes it all the more sweet that Murray said yes to Get Low, but it was tough getting to that point.

“We were told we would never hear back, but we did,” Producer Dean Zanuck recalls. “Bill Murray picked up the phone and said, ‘Hi, this is Bill Murray, I’m interested in the screen play for Get Low if it’s still available.’ He left a P.O. Box and that was the message - we played it three or four times just to make sure it was him.”

They sent the script and heard nothing – again, but they still starting planning the production (particularly on the financial pitches) as if Murray was signed onboard to the cast that prominently starred Robert Duvall and Sissy Spacek. Three months Murray called, but never signed a contact.

“That’s just part of Bill’s process I think,” Zanuck acknowledges. That’s what Aaron (Schneider) and I respect so much about Bill. He called us directly, he didn’t have an agent or a manager pollute the conversation and maybe steer it in a self-interested way. He called someone he’s never met before…me…and just started talking.”

And boy is Murray aware of the impact he has. Schneider recalls the day the actor showed up on the set – and the room went silent.

“After all that drama he (Murray) said, ‘Was there and over and under on whether I’d show?’ I think he’s well aware of his legend.”

Get Low is currently in theaters.

Click onto the two media bars for:

The filmmakers comments about the first day of production when Bill Murray showed up on the set.

Why Robert Duvall and Sissy Spacek enjoyed working with Bill Murray.