$5,000 of the production money was raised though an IndieGoGo crowdfunding campaign. Director Tricia Lee said it took three months of full-time work and "bugging everyone I'd ever met since kindergarten."
Although Tricia Lee had previously directed a few short films, Silent Retreat would serve as her first feature film.
Feature film debut for Chelsea Jenish. It was the first of only two film roles in her career.
Chelsea Jenish said that before filming this, she had no real interest in horror because it "scared the living daylights out of me!" But she loved making the film and all the blood, guts and screaming was a lot of fun.
Director Tricia Lee said she got the idea for the film in December 2011 when she went on a silent meditation retreat for 10 days where there was no talking, no eye contact, no gestures, and no contact with the outside world. She had carpooled with some people and when it was time to go home they couldn't find one girl. Lee asked around and the girl's roommate told her that she was sent home early. When Lee told her writing partner about it, they thought that the retreat was a great place for people to disappear. With no eye contact or talking, guests never got to know the people or even their own roommates. So if they leave a note saying they went home, no one would know if it were true or not. That was the genesis for the film and the environment it takes place in.
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