Had its red carpet premier at the El Con Mall theater in Tucson AZ on May 8, 1981 under the title "Beauty and the Beast".
Most of the stars, including Ruth Buzzi, Martin Landau and Marianne Gordon were in attendance.
Writer and director Jackie Kong, a recent college graduate, was given a $4.5 million dollar budget from then-husband, producer Bill Osco, to write and direct a film, despite the fact that she had no professional film-making experience.
Director Jackie Kong wooed Martin Landau by pretending to be an actor interested in his theater workshop, and using the opportunity to give him her script. Impressed with her straightforwardness, he accepted the role.
In spite of the film's critical and commercial failure, The Being would gain a small cult following over the years since its release.
This film was made in 1980 as "Easter Sunday," but sat on the shelf for three years and finally received a brief theatrical release as "The Being."