The idea for the short film was inspired by a real event that became the basis for the kitchen scene climax. Interestingly enough, at its first screening, an audience member told Jim, "That happened to me and my father."
When Rick first read the script, he told Jim that he would agree to direct it after "four or five rewrites". Writing together for twenty months, they went through nine endings and over one-hundred-thirty rewrites.
Jim began writing the short after two events - visiting his dying father, then going to the Sundance Film Festival for the first time.