Steven C. Stewart's failing health actually helped prompt the film into getting made; although he had originally written the script in the 1980's, and Crispin Glover had come across it and been meaning to direct it for some time, it wasn't until Stewart experienced a collapsed lung that Glover, Stewart, and company realized that they may have limited time to shoot the film, and promptly budgeted and shot it. Stewart was actually on his death bed only one month after filming concluded, and called Crispin Glover to confirm that production had all the footage they needed in order to edit and complete the film. After Glover confirmed that they did, Stewart allowed himself to be taken off of life support and die in peace. He never saw any of the completed film.