Page "Sixteen Candles" Paragraph 32

John Hughes had asked his agent for headshots of young actresses, and among those he received was Molly Ringwald's.

Inspired by it, he put it up over his desk and wrote the film just over a weekend with her specifically in mind for the lead role.

For the male lead in the film, it had come down to Schoeffling and Viggo Mortensen.

For the part of Ted, Hughes saw a number of actors for the role: " Every single kid who came in to read for the part ... did the whole, stereotyped high school nerd thing.

You know-thick glasses, ball point pens in the pocket, white socks.

But when Michael came in he played it straight, like a real human being.

I knew right at that moment that I'd found my geek.