If you enjoy inspirational success stories that make you want to sit up a little straighter in your rocking chair, this one’s a doozy. The story unfolds with all the essential elements which include friendship and rejection and buffalo and stubbornness and multiple instances of “Well, that shouldn’t have worked… but it did.” So pour yourself a glass of sweet tea and settle in, because this tale is proof that sometimes the impossible just needs someone too determined to quit.
The Manuscript That Almost Stayed in the Envelope
Michael Blake spent several years writing a Western story that focused on a Union Army lieutenant who discovered the frontier while discovering unexpected truths about human nature and Lakota tribal traditions.
He mailed the manuscript to his friend Kevin Costner, who, like most of us with a pile of mail on the counter, almost didn’t open it. The film, which stands as one of the best Western movies from recent times, almost vanished when someone placed it beneath a pile of supermarket flyers.
Hollywood Says “No Thanks,” Again and Again
Blake created the story as a screenplay, which he wrote first. But Hollywood took one look and said:
- Too long
- Very weird
- Too risky
The rejection I received forced me to leave the building, while I started doubting my entire path through life.
Costner, being a good friend, offered a simple suggestion:
“Turn it into a novel. Sometimes it’s easier to sell a book than a script.”
Blake followed through with his plan by working as a dishwasher during daylight hours while he wrote his story at night before sending his book to publishing houses which turned it down almost thirty times until one publisher finally accepted it.
The book? Dances with Wolves.
Costner Reads It… and Everything Changes
Costner realized the novel needed a film adaptation right after he finished reading the complete story.
He bought the rights to the property and planned to direct the project himself.
The fact that he lacked any directing experience did not matter to him. All the small parts need to be taken into account.
The Hollywood executives responded to the idea with disbelief because they found it impossible to imagine a musical production that would take place on the lunar surface.
The Movie That “Couldn’t Be Made”
Let’s appreciate what Costner was proposing:
- A three-hour Western
- Dialogue in Lakota
- Subtitles
- Filming on the open plains
- Hundreds of horses
- Thousands of bison
- A first-time director
Hollywood clutched its pearls.
Costner even asked several famous directors for advice. They all said the same thing:
“You can’t make this movie.”
So Costner did what any stubborn dreamer would do.
He made it anyway.
Filming Begins… and So Does the Chaos
The production team received a $15 million budget, which proved to be an impossible amount for a project of this scale because it resembled someone trying to purchase a ranch through their pocket money.
The production started filming in South Dakota with a cast that included:
- 3,500 bison
- 300 horses
- 2 wolves
- 42 wagons
- 36 teepees
- 500 extras
- 130 crew members
The place felt more like a migrating nation than a typical movie set.
Costner devoted sixteen hours each day to his work while he mastered bareback riding, and he experienced a horse fall during the buffalo hunt scene. When the money ran out, he put in three million dollars of his own money.
The Hollywood community found the project amusing, so they gave it the nickname:
“Kevin’s Gate.”
They figured his career was about to go down in flames.
Then the World Saw It
Dances with Wolves premiered on October 19, 1990.
The initial stage brought positive critical responses. The following stage brought large numbers of visitors. The financial success arrived in the form of $424 million in revenue.
The movie became the highest-grossing success that Orion Pictures had ever achieved.
The 1991 Oscars awarded this film 12 nominations, which led to 7 wins, including these major categories:
- Best Picture
- Best Director
Costner received an estimated $40 million from this project while he became an honorary member of the Lakota Nation.
The movie received better than expected results even though nobody wanted to watch it.
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Porch-Swing Wisdom to Take Home
The entire story serves as an inspirational success story that teaches us this essential lesson:
People who say “That’s impossible” actually refer to their own restrictions instead of your actual capabilities.
The next time someone doubts your dream because it seems too large or unusual or dangerous, you should smile while drinking your sweet tea and continue your path.
If You Want To Learn My Story Go Here
❓Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this considered an inspirational success story?
Because it shows how persistence and belief can turn a rejected idea into an Oscar-winning masterpiece.
How many times was the book rejected?
Almost thirty publishers refused the book until a single publishing house decided to accept it.
Did Kevin Costner really fund the movie himself?
Yes — he invested about $3 million of his own money when the budget ran dry.
What’s the lesson from this story?
Your dreams should stay beyond the reach of other people’s limitations because you need to maintain your path even when the entire world refuses to accept your existence.
