Producer Wes Herschensohn in his book "Resurrection in Cannes: The Making of The Picasso Summer" states that the final shot was filmed in Catalina, because it resembled the shores of Southern France. Mr. Herschensohn did the sand drawings and a local man named Duke Fishman played Picasso -he bore a striking resemblance to Picasso. He was somewhat of an artist himself and briefly able to continue Herschensohn's sand drawings for the camera.
Serge Bourguignon was never officially credited as director on this film. His original footage was edited and his "cut" was deemed unacceptable for submission to Warner-7 Arts. Robert Sallin and his production company, Kaleidoscope Productions, were hired to re-shoot the film. Some of Bourguignon's footage was used in the completely re-structured final version. Sallin received the final and sole director's credit.
Ray Bradbury refused screenplay credit, unhappy with the finished movie's changes to his script. He is credited under the name "Douglas Spaulding," the protagonist in his novel "Dandelion Wine."
Never released to American theaters; its only showings have been on television. In the original unseen cut, Serge Bourguignon was credited as director. In the television version, Robert Sallin is credited as director. The film played frequently on Bravo in the mid 1990s.
While making Fahrenheit 451 (1966), Ray Bradbury discussed making this with François Truffaut. They even met up with Picasso but Truffaut declined to direct.