When Lynch's first feature film, "Eraserhead" (1977), brought Lynch to the attention of producer Mel Brooks, he soon found himself in charge of the $5 million film "The Elephant Man" (1980) for Paramount. Though "Eraserhead" was strictly an out-of-pocket, low-budget, independent film, Lynch made the transition with unprecedented grace. The film was a huge commercial success, and earned eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay nods for Lynch. It also established his place as a commercially viable, if somewhat dark and unconventional, Hollywood director. Seeing Lynch as a fellow studio convert, George Lucas, a fan of "Eraserhead" and now the darling of the studios, offered Lynch the opportunity to direct his next "Star Wars" sequel, "Return of the Jedi" (1983). However, Lynch had seen what had happened to Lucas and his comrades in arms after their failed attempt to do away with the studio system. He refused the opportunity, stating that he would rather work on his own projects.