Gus Van Sant created a Myspace page for open casting calls because he wanted non-professional actors for the cast. Around 2,971 people auditioned.
According to Gus Van Sant, the first draft was written in only two days and the final draft came to be only 33 pages.
This film, Gerry (2002), Elephant (2003) and Last Days (2005) form Gus Van Sant's "Death Tetralogy", which he edited himself. This film centers on the guilt when the lead kills someone by accident.
Chosen by "Les Cahiers du cinéma" (France) as one of the 10 best pictures of 2007 (#01)