According to Brad Jones and David Gobble on the Cheap (2005) commentary, the role of Rick Wilson was originally intended for David. However, when David moved out of town to Chicago, Brad decided to cast Jake Norvell, instead. David then got the smaller role of Ron.
Cheap (2005) is loosely based upon the film The Last House on Dead End Street (1973), directed by Roger Watkins, and this film shares its title with Midnight Heat (1983), also directed by Watkins. Brad Jones later reviewed the 1983 "Midnight Heat" as an episode of The Cinema Snob (2007), stating that the title of his film was not intended as a reference to the Watkins film.