 Mardik Martin (qv) wrote the most traditional, linear script for  the film (more of a traditional Jake La Motta biography), but backed  off on the project due to exhaustion after months of research.  Paul Schrader (I) (qv) made several changes to the script,  including making, Joey La Motta, Jakes brother, the second most  prominent character (by combining his actions with that of Jakes  friend, Peter Savage (qv)) and starting the story in the middle of  La Mottas career rather than at the beginning. Although they kept  Schraders overall structure, Martin Scorsese (qv) and  Robert De Niro (qv) spent 5 weeks rewriting his version of the  script until they had exactly the film they wanted (Scorsese and De  Niro are uncredited as screenwriters for the film).