- The title is a reference to the Ben Folds Five song "One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces." Nick Palmer choose the title not only because the song is about a teenager who has problems with girls, and is always getting beaten up, but because the song was something of an anthem to him in high school, and considering the film is based on his high school life, it only seemed appropriate.
The character of McKissick was written specifically for writer/director Nick Palmer's close friend Greg Ryan, who was originally hired on as just a grip, but ended up stealing every scene he appeared in.
Jim Briggs composed the music for the film. He worked with Nick Palmer on his previous short, "Pee Shy," and was still in high school during the film's production.
While waiting for proper conditions to shoot the coffee shop scene, an alternate version with Owen and a pet iguana was shot.
Ansel Adams' photographs were prominent in the set decoration, especially his most provocative images of a "happy" cacti and spouting water geyser in the "make out" scene.