Equally as important to earning his degree, while attending film school he met casting director Don Phillips, who would introduce him to Dazed and Confused director Richard Linklater.
Richard Linklater was looking for an older, slacker-type to play the role of David Wooderson in his upcoming film Dazed and Confused.
Upon meeting McConaughey, Linklater thought he was just too good looking to play the part.
Upon hearing Linklater's thoughts, McConaughey grew his hair longer and grew a mustache.
He got what was to be a very small bit part, but turned into an over 300 line part because Linklater found that he really liked McConaughey's ad-libbing and improvisational skills.