Russian filmmaker Alex Orlov had originally titled the script "Happy Days," but cast members pointed out that there was already a very popular American sitcom by that name. The first day of shooting occurred in a bookstore and required Iris and Nick to be reading duplicate copies of the same book. When the actors pulled twin paperbacks of Michael J. Wallach's "How To Get Arrested" from the stacks, that became the new title of the film.
Actress Ingrid Sonray was asked to play the role of Iris less than 12 hours before the first day of shooting began.