The first draft of Waterworld was written by Peter Radar, a Harvard graduate who wanted to get into the film business. He knew a man by the name of Brad Kevoy, an assistant for Roger Corman. Corman is known for making films very quickly, on a very low budget. They liked to give young talent a chance to direct and write their own films. Kevoy told Radar that if he could write a Mad Max rip off, he would arrange financing and let him direct his own film.