Production began in 1972. However, Steve Krantz had not yet paid Bakshi for his work on "Fritz the Cat". Halfway through the production of "Heavy Traffic", Bakshi asked Krantz outright when he would be paid, and Krantz responded that "The picture didn't make any money, Ralph. It's just a lot of noise." Bakshi found Krantz's claims to be dubious, as the producer had recently purchased a new BMW and a mansion in Beverly Hills. Because Bakshi did not have a lawyer, he sought advice from directors he had become friends with, including Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Steven Spielberg, asking them how much they made on their films. Bakshi soon accused Krantz of ripping him off, which the producer denied. Bakshi began pitching his next project, "Harlem Nights", a film loosely based on the "Uncle Remus" story books. The idea interested producer Albert S. Ruddy during a screening of "The Godfather".