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Here
is a little of the evolution of the film. It begins with the
book "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" written by Peter Hedges.
Excerpted with permission from Radiance: The Magazine
for Large Women.
Gloria
Cahill writes from interviews with author Peter Hedges and Darlene
Cates in the same Spring 1995 issue of the magazine
Radiance, "Gilbert Grape's first incarnation was in a dramatic
monologue that Hedges wrote for a faculty recital when he was
teaching at Bennington College in Vermont. "I liked Gilbert,"
says Hedges, and so he decided to continue exploring the character.
But because he was writing the play as a vehicle for some of
his young actor friends, he knew that casting the role of the
mother would be nearly impossible. "I had to create a parent
who isn't seen, but is talked about, and that's when I came
up with the idea for the mother. I thought, We'll just have
her inside all the time."
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This is
a black and white still photo courtesy of
Darlene Cates...big mamma...
Photo
by Peter Iovino
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During
the eventual writing of the screenplay Darlene Cates came to
the attention of author Peter Hedges. As a result of her appearance
on the Sally Jesse Raphael show the 500 pound Darlene was approached
about performing the role of mother of the Gilbert Grape clan.
Darlene says in Radiance "I was a member of a support
group called TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly). They met at my
home on Saturdays, because I wouldn't go out. The producers
of the Sally Show called the TOPS national headquarters and
said they were doing a show about fat women who didn't want
to leave their home, and they'd like somebody who was still
trying to deal with their weight. TOPS called the regional directors
and our regional director called me and said, "Darlene, do you
want to go to New York?" And I said absolutely not. In the first
place, I couldn't see how I could. They assured me that they
would take care of everything. They would rent a wheelchair,
provide all the transportation, even make me a dress to wear.
Their actual words were: Don't worry, it won't be a problem.
I couldn't see how it wouldn't be, but in a very big act of
faith, I took the step. I had some misgivings, but I also knew
that I had been asking God for help for a long, long time. And
I thought this might be where it was coming from."
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