Michael Carnick's screenplay won the 50th anniversary of the Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards in 2005.
The writer, Michael Carnick, has muscular dystrophy. The story was inspired by his own struggles with social isolation while growing up with a rare neuromuscular disorder.
Though the story features a disabled character, the writer and director did not want the film to be about physical illness. Instead the focus was on creating a universal coming of age drama from the perspective of a character with a disability.
The film's production team made a conscious effort to employee people in the industry with disabilities. The writer, Michael Carnick, has Muscular Dystrophy. The lead actor, RJ Mitte (Doug), has Cerebral Palsy. Travis Flores (Kevin), has Cystic Fibrosis.
This is YouTube legend Ray William Johnson's first time acting in a movie.