When he co-wrote the song "Suicide is Painless" - he was 14 years old at the time - for the film MASH, he told producer Ingo Preminger that all he wanted in return was a guitar. Preminger insisted that Altman would be compensated in the regular manner and drew up a contract for his services. As it turned out, with Altman receiving royalties every time the song is played, he wound up making far more than the $75,000 his father was paid to direct the film.