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Billy Crystal's magical experience was being touched by a giant.
In 1987, Crystal starred in his friend Rob Reiner's romantic adventure, The Princess Bride.
One of Crystal's co-stars was Andre the Giant, a beloved personality on the professional wrestling circuit. Andre, who died of heart failure in Paris in 1993, stood seven-foot-five and weighed 525 pounds.
"I only met Andre for three days but he touched my heart like few people had ever done before or since. He was unusually kind and gentle for such a huge man," recalls Crystal.
"I knew there was a film to be created around such an incredible personality. I started making notes in my hotel suite in London.
"I mentioned my ideas to Rob and he said I was really on to something but I just kept my notes locked away because they hadn't jelled into a film.
"When Andre passed away, it made me want to make the film even more. This is a movie about a giant like Andre. It is not Andre's story."
TAILOR-MADE ROLE
Crystal pulled out his notes and began creating a fictional story of a Hollywood agent and the noble giant of a man he discovers in Romania.
The agent, whose part Crystal tailored for himself, is determined to turn the giant into an international film star.
"I finally had my script but I didn't have a co-star."
Then one day a few years ago, Crystal was watching the NBA draft. Gheorghe Muresan, a seven-foot-seven Romanian, was drafted by the Washington Bullets - now called the Wizards.
"They introduced Gheorghe as the lovable giant. The crowd went wild as he approached the podium and I knew I had my movie star."
The finished product, My Giant, opens Friday.
Back in the preproduction stage, Crystal had to deal with two major problems.
Muresan, who is 27, had never acted and he spoke no English. He had been playing basketball in France so he spoke Romanian and French.
"When Billy came to see me, I thought he wanted me to do a small part in a basketball movie. I was shocked at how big a role it was," recalls Muresan.
PRAISE FOR THE BIG GUY
"Billy was not concerned that I could not speak English, so I didn't let it bother me.
"Billy went over all my lines with me, explaining each one. It gave me such confidence."
Crystal praises Muresan, saying he "has an athlete's mentality. He insists on going over and over everything until he feels it's as good as he can possible give.
"He's incredibly hard on himself but it all translates up there on the screen."
Muresan jokes that he was a smaller baby than Crystal.
"My father is five-foot-nine and my mother is five-foot-seven. I didn't start growing until I was three and then I didn't stop for a long time."
Muresan has been playing basketball since he was 14.
"Our dentist was a basketball referee. It was his idea that I should play basketball. I am so grateful that he gave such purpose to my life."
Muresan's wife, Liliana, is a former French basketball star who is six feet tall. They are expecting their first child.
"This child is my greatest dream come true."
Muresan recalls, "Billy told me every day what a great basketball player he is but he would never challenge me. He was always challenging me to acting one-on-ones but never basketball."
Muresan says he hasn't exactly been bitten by the acting bug.
"I had a wonderful time making My Giant but basketball is my life right now. I haven't played for a while because I injured my foot."
Muresan has been on the Wizards' injured list since October.
One of the tragic themes of My Giant is that because the condition places such a strain on the individual's organs, particularly the heart, few giants live past 40.
"I have had incredible medical attention almost all my life and I am careful to follow all the advice. My health is as much a concern to me as any other person's health is to them."