Emmy Rossum was estranged from her father during filming. After the movie wrapped, her father called her and told her he had cancer.
To show awareness for this disease many people did the ALS ice bucket challenge, Hilary Swank included. Then her character portrayed the devastating effects of this disease.
Emmy shocked Hilary in an interview about her dad having cancer.
This is the second film that stars Emmy Rossum and Frances Fisher. They previously worked together in "The Audrey Hepburn Story" (2000) playing mother and daughter. In this film, Fisher and Hilary Swank also play mother and daughter.
Hilary Swank, Emmy Rossum, Marcia Gay Harden and Frances Fisher had all previously worked with Clint Eastwood. Swank in "Million Dollar Baby" (2004), Rossum and Harden in "Mystic River" (2003) and Fisher in "True Crime" (1999) and "Unforgiven" (1992).