Charlotte Wells stated in a recent interview that during the two weeks rehearsal period that the cast and crew had on set in Turkey, there were two read-throughs of the script with just Wells, Paul Mescal (Calum) and Frankie Corio (Sophie). Wells also added that these scripts purposefully did not contain scenes which Mescal has alone, which focus in detail on the depression Calum is experiencing, so that Corio's performance was naive to these facts, just as Sophie is.
According to Paul Mescal (Calum) in a recent interview, he and Frankie Corio (Sophie) spent two weeks prior to filming in a hotel resort on holiday together to form the bond that was needed to portray the father-daughter relationship once filming began.
Aftersun (2022) is loosely based on Charlotte Wells' own personal experience of a holiday she went on with her father.
According to a 2022 interview, Frankie Corio (Sophie) stated that her on-screen father Paul Mescal (Calum) became very close during filming and still face-time each other to stay in contact.
Director Charlotte Wells auditioned over 800 girls for the lead role of Sophie, before landing on newcomer Frankie Corio.