Trivia

The production team had only one week to shoot all the prison scenes.

This film was restored by the Academy Film Archive and the UCLA Film & Television Archive. Funding was provided by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Sundance Institute, UCLA Film & Television Archive, and the restoration premiered in 2024 at the UCLA Festival of Preservation.

Saul Williams's son was born just before filming began.

Bonz Malone was originally considered for the role of Ray before Saul Williams was cast.

Author Ta-Nehisi Coates has a small role as one of the slam poetry night attendees.