Brit McAdams, writer and director of the film Paint starring Owen Wilson, speaks out on how Bob Ross’s hair inspired Wilson’s character. Wilson plays Carl Nargle, a Bob Ross-inspired painter who broke down when a young artist emerged, enthralling his circle and his run as the number-one painter on public television in Vermont.

The IFC Films release, starring Stephen Root, Michaela Watkins, Wendy McLendon Covey, Lucy Frayer, and Ciara Rene, hits theaters on April 7. This is a big moment for McAdams, who started coming up with the idea over a decade ago. The script was blacklisted in 2010.  McAdams describes Wilson as a “gift” to the production.

The Hollywood Reporter wrote an article where they spoke with McAdams. McAdams speaks on Wilson. “He’s just a good, smart person,” McAdams said. “He just does things better than I do in life. He drinks nice water while I drink junky Gatorade. He reads, and I’m on my iPhone. He’s really good with words and scripts. We spent months going through it and talking through all the beats. He’s also just a good guy.” About those guns, McAdams explained that they saved money by renting cars on Craigslist for filming, and some vehicles needed tune-ups. Wilson wasn’t above shouldering the weight.

Wilson has also spoken about taking on the role of Carl Nargle in the film. Wilson has told the public how he figured the script out quickly thanks to his father, who ran a PBS station in Dallas. THR writes Wilson’s discussion: “When I first read the script, I just thought it was funny, and all of it felt kind of familiar even though it’s set in Vermont. There’s something universal about PBS and the pledge drives and everything,”

Watch Owen Wilson in Paint this April. Below is the trailer for the film.