The script served its diversionary purpose, and the Coens put it aside: ""Barton Fink" sort of washed out our brain and we were able to go back and finish "Miller's Crossing"." Once production of the first film was finished, the Coens began to recruit staff to film "Barton Fink". Turturro looked forward to playing the lead role, and spent a month with the Coens in Los Angeles to coordinate views on the project: "I felt I could bring something more human to Barton. Joel and Ethan allowed me a certain contribution. I tried to go a little further than they expected."