The film was shot in the same neighborhood that Wash Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer (the film's writers and directors) live in, and the community turned up to help out by loaning their houses, providing technical advice, supplying clothing and acting.
Because many members of the cast were not members of the Screen Actor's Guild, Chalo González had to hand in his SAG card before he could play the role of Tio Tomas.
The character of Tio Tomas was based on writer/director Wash Westmoreland's great uncle.