Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)

In the beginning…there was hunger.

When screenwriters Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg were brainstorming potential movie ideas, one thing the duo agreed on was that they wanted to write something based on a universal concept that a broad audience could easily identify with. What they eventually came up with turned out to be a movie centered around the most basic of human needs.

“Everyone can relate to being hungry,” says Hurwitz. “Not everyone can relate to being in love or flying a plane.”

The young writing team had always been fans of the White Castle hamburger chain, and a script about the great lengths two friends are willing to go to in order to satisfy their craving for a burger seemed to fit right into the kinds of projects they had dreamed of crafting.

“The studios are always talking to writers about ‘high concepts,’ says Schlossberg, “but we thought the idea of two guys driving around looking for burgers was something a lot of young people could connect with.”

In addition to its relatable concept, the story also gave Hurwitz & Schlossberg a chance to take on what the duo views as another common shortcoming in mainstream movies – the way minorities are portrayed.

“In high school and college we always had Asian and Indian friends, and even though there were racial and cultural differences, they were the same as us in terms of attitude, dialogue and issues," says Schlossberg. "Yet, whenever we saw these characters on screen, they were usually portrayed as nerdy or downright dumb, with thick accents, and usually seen delivering food.”

Hurwitz adds, "Growing up, we really didn't see movies with people who represented us. That changed when we saw American Pie. In fact, it was in American Pie that we saw John Cho for the first time. And though he had a small part, it was memorable because he was an Asian guy who was really horny and didn't have an accent. He was just like any of our friends."

Because the writers viewed this exploration of racial stereotypes as a crucial element to making the film stand out, they went into the project with trepidation at how the development process might alter their vision.

"We always felt that studios might be scared of making a film starring an Asian and Indian character,” says Hurwitz, who credits Senator International and New Line Cinema for staying true to the core of the project. “We joked to each other that if the movie ever got made, it would end up as David and Jason Go To McDonalds. Obviously, we are pretty happy with the way things have turned out.”

The writers were not the only ones happy with the project. Executives at White Castle, a privately held company with 387 restaurants located in the Mid-West and Eastern U.S, were thrilled when they first learned of the script.

“The idea caught our attention because of its authenticity,” says Jamie Richardson, White Castle’s director of marketing. “We hear countless tales of those who love our burgers so much, they’ll do almost anything to satiate their craving for our one of a kind steam-grilled taste. It’s part of our heritage and part of who we are. In many ways, the film is truly a tribute to the millions of our Cravers around the country who understand that when it comes to craving White Castle, nothing else will satisfy.”

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