Real residents of Carthage, Texas who knew the real Bernie Tiede and Marjorie Nugent appear in the film providing commentary on the events.
The owners of the Hawthorn Funeral Home in Carthage, Texas, where Bernie Tiede met Marjorie Nugent, refused to allow the film to use the name of the funeral home.
Bernie Tiede lived in director Richard Linklater's garage apartment between 2014 and 2016. Ironically in 2016 Bernie was sent back to prison again, this time for life.
Filmed in Bastrop, Texas.
Richard Linklater: Appears as one of the 5 deadbeat dads in the 'hand on a hardbody' competition. He's the one wearing a red shirt who attempts to run when the police arrive. In the newspaper article, his picture is the last one on the top row, farthest to the right.