Inspired by the success ofVeronica Mars (2014)'s ability to raise funds by using the website Kickstarter,Zach Braffgave people the opportunity to invest in this movie using the website as well. He was looking to raise $2 million. Depending on the donation, people could get a video diary of the making of the movie, tickets to screenings, and for the highest level of $10,000, a credited part in the movie. The drive started on April 24, 2013 and lasted a month. Over $3 million was raised and 46,520 people contributed.
In a conversation early in the film, Aidan Bloom's daughter, Grace, makes reference to the character (and movie)Yentl (1983),which co-starred Mandy Patinkin (who plays Avigdor, Yentl's love interest), who, in this film plays her grandfather, Gabe Bloom.
Alexander Chaplin, Michael Weston, Donald Faison, Zach Braff, Bob Clendenin, and Lesley David Baker are all Scrubs alumni.
During his DVD commentary, Zach Braff says that James Avery ad-libbed his joke in the audition waiting room scene: when one of the actors says that he played Othello in college, Avery quips, "we all did."