In 2003, executive producer Mark Clayman, a writer and actor who had been transitioning into producing, was one of many who saw a story about Chris Gardner on “20/20.” As he recalls, “My wife and I are not avid ‘20/20’ watchers, but we caught this segment, which discussed how Chris was faced with amazing obstacles, homelessness being at the forefront. There was a scene where he revisited a bathroom at a BART station with his son and he shared how he used to bathe him in the sink of the restroom. Since we had a son who was a year old at that time, we both were moved to tears by it. I saw it not as a rags-to-riches story but as a moving father and son tale. I turned to my wife and said, ‘I’ve got to get the rights to this story.’”

Chris Gardner’s phone had been ringing off the hook the morning after the “20/20” segment aired, but Clayman commanded his attention, Gardner recalls, “because he was honest, direct, sincere, to the point.” A meeting was set up at the production company Escape Artists; the company’s three partners, Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch, had, in the past, individually been responsible for such films as Antwone Fisher, American History X, and the Oscar®-winning Forrest Gump. ”The way I saw it,” says Blumenthal, “Chris Gardner’s story was universal. It was about how far a father would go to protect his son and to keep him safe. It contained an emotional nucleus that touched everyone and we used that as a stepping stone into a story inspired by Chris Gardner’s life.”

His partner, Todd Black, was also moved — and inspired. “I immediately said, ‘My God, this is a fantastic story. It’s like Rocky — a guy who is completely beaten down and goes on to succeed.’ It was definitely a movie, and we wanted to be the ones who made it.”

Black and Blumenthal contacted producer James Lassiter, Will Smith’s partner in Overbrook Entertainment. Lassiter was also impressed by the story: “I knew it would appeal to Will both as a man and as a father.” Lassiter sent the “20/20” tape to Vancouver, where Will Smith was shooting I, Robot, and less than 24 hours later, the actor responded.

“From the moment I saw the ‘20/20’ piece, I saw this story as the embodiment of the American dream,” says Will Smith. “The concept this country is based on is the hope that any person, armed with their own will and determination, can create their life, can create their situation — from the lowest of the low to the highest of the high. Any time you see someone who displays that kind of greatness and diligence, the natural question you ask yourself is — would I have been able to do that? Would I have been man enough, father enough, husband enough to stand up and face the adversity the way that person did — the way that Chris Gardner did? These were all questions I asked myself.”