Austyn, Jocelyne, and Ashley all met through musical theater. Prior to acting onscreen together, they worked in a local theater production of Annie the Musical: Austyn as Oliver Warbucks, Ashley as Grace Farrell, and Jocelyne as Lily St. Regis.
The family chemistry is authentic because the Yoshida Family are real siblings off screen.
At 17 years old, this is Ashley Mei's screenwriting and directing debut. She was 3 months away from turning 18 (hence the title); the coming-of-age theme reveals her generation's conflict between growing up too fast or sticking to traditional family values.