>> jake, the lead role is based on grisham's personal experiences as a young lawyer. >> i am young and i am inexperienced. >> studio executives balk at putting a relative unknown in the lead, until -- >> he was personally approved by john grisham. this was a big deal, because this was not a small movie. this was a big, expensive hollywood movie and the leading role was played by a guy nobody had heard of. and he was just some guy from texas. >> the marketing campaign heats up on the eve of the film's release in the summer of 1996. >> remember this name and remember this face. he's the star of "a time to kill" and his name is matthew mcconaughey. and he will bring lots of people into your theaters. [ applause ] >> 18 years later, he would describe "a time to kill" as the