The screenplay for the film by Hull born writer Gill Adams is based on her stage play 'Jump to Cow Heaven' which debuted at the 1997 Edinburgh Festival and won the Fringe First of the Firsts Award for the best new play at the Festival that year, before transferring to Hull Truck Theatre and the Riverside Studios in London in the autumn of that year. Martin Freeman played the role of Frank's minder John in the original production, before he found wider fame in television and film roles. The other cast members were Josh Richards who played Frank and Sarah Parks as Lisa. Director William Kerley also directed the original production.
Rebecca Long (Producer) saw the play at the riverside studios she was just completing her MA in Arts from RADA. She wanted to produce it as her first film. When she finally had the opportunity to produce the film she decided to adapt the play and worked with Gill as the screen writer intensely for over a year. She decided to attach Will as Director because he loved the characters and knew the story inside out. Rebecca with producer Stella secured a large house and created their own mini studio in order to shoot the film and maintain production value. During their research Rebecca discover the parole board was set up shortly after Frank Mitchell's death.