The real inspiration behind this film was the result of producers Joshua D. Maurer and Alixandre Witlin's first visit to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico in March, 2006 when they took their eldest daughter Sofia (then almost two years old) to see the collection. Maurer and WiltIn were visiting Sofia's grandparents in Santa Fe and it was her grandmother who made the suggestion that her first museum should be that of famed artists Georgia O'Keeffe. Sofia was so enthralled by the images and so captivated by what she saw, that it gave Maurer and Witlin the idea that to try to portray O'Keeffe's life as a film. As they were leaving the museum, Maurer pitched the idea to Witlin, who is also his producing partner and she agreed but felt the casting of Georgia had to be perfect otherwise it would not work. She asked Josh who he felt would be the ideal casting and Maurer immediately said - "Joan Allen" - and Alix agreed it was a perfect choice. Next Witlin asked him who would buy for development such a film and Maurer immediately responded back - HBO. Witlin agreed. As the Maurer, Witlin and Sofia were leaving the museum, right outside the front door... Maurer immediately called Joan Allen and pitched her the story as Josh and Joan had previously worked closely together on another film project for HBO that unfortunately did not go forward and were looking for another vehicle to collaborate. Joan listened carefully and reported back she loved the idea. Josh told her to hold a beat. He then immediately called Kerri Putnam at HBO and pitched her the idea with Joan attached to star and produce and HBO said yes on the spot. They informed Maurer that this story had been previously pitched over two dozen times but it never felt right to them both in terms of the creative approach by the producers and the casting - but this time it felt perfect. Maurer and Witlin, holding Sofia in their arms, then called Joan back and told her the positive news. Thus began an intensive and passionate development process with HBO and writer Michael Cristofer that resulted in a brilliant screenplay. Maurer, Witlin and Allen visited Santa Fe a few times to do extensive research and took Sofia with them. HBO then had had the project greenlit but when HBO president Colin Callender left the company the project was unfortunately put in turnaround. Disappointed but not defeated, 45 minutes later, Maurer reached out directly to Lifetime Television and sold the project to them in turnaround and then brought on Sony Pictures Television as their deficit financing partner. When the film was officially screened in Santa Fe... Joan Allen spoke and asked Sofia (now aged 4) to stand up and take a bow and the entire audience gave her a standing ovation.
