Writer James Strouse, director Steve Buscemi, and one of the film's producers were at the theater for a question and answer session after the film. Hometown star Casey Affleck couldn't make it, but mother Affleck was in the crowd.

Buscemi had planned to leave the theater after the first ten minutes, and make his return shortly before the credits as he's seen the film hundreds of times before. He told the crowd that he stayed in his seat for the whole movie due to the audience reaction. Normally I'd say he's only trying to get a "cheap pop" from the audience, but I was there and the audience laughed at every joke almost on cue.

Turns out the film which started out as a short story is somewhat biographical as the writer James named the main character and all the family members after his real family. Almost like a home movie from another dimension, they shot most of it in Jim's real house. The factory is his parents real owned and operated factory. The two girls that played his brother's kids in the film were his brother’s real kids. James says that the little girls team that his brother coaches has still never won a game, although unlike the movie they do score quite a few points.
Steve was the producer’s first choice to direct. He got the script through his agent, read it and loved it instantly.

"I like good scripts and like to work with good actors," said Buscemi. "I like this script because it’s not just about one person. The story is just told through them, and a simple way. It's these type of stories I want to tell."

Originally budgeted and financed at 3 million dollars, the production lost its financing a month before the shoot. Indigent stepped in with a half million dollars but forced them to shoot on mini dv.

"We got the best quality camera, but they're still little cameras," joked Buscemi. "It looks a lot better than I expected it to look."

Buscemi didn't call cut because the video tape was so inexpensive. He believed this helped the actors achieve better performances versus the start stop of a normal film set. They shot for 18 days on location with up to three cameras running simultaneously for some scenes. Buscemi says that he would sometime pick up a camera and shoot some of the footage, which he never would have done if they were shooting film.

Steve likes to rehearse before the shoot, and see what the actors create and "then set the shot according to the performance."

Buscemi revealed that he was originally slated to play Uncle Evil but quickly stepped out of the part because he knew the Boon could do a better job.

"If I don't have to act in a film, I don't. When I started directing TV, I just realized this is fun. Not going to wardrobe, makeup, learning lines..."

Casey Affleck was cast after Steve had seen his performance in Gus Van Saint's Gerry. Buscemi cast his friend Liv Tyler, who he met on the set of Armageddon. "She read it and loved it."

As for the unlikable character Casey plays, Steve says that the character was originally much worse.

"You'd never know but we took stuff out in the editing room," revealed Buscemi. "We just thought we could afford to make him who he is."

"He's basically a good guy, just young and selfish," Buscemi snapped back. "I like movies where the main character really has problems and you're not sure if you like him or not."

When an audience member asked if he had any plans to write a novel, Steve answered "I'd love to be a writer but I'm not that disciplined and don't get too many ideas."

Guess he'll just have to stick to acting and directing. I don't know about you, but I'm completely fine with that.

They have an opening night party tonight, which I can't attend due to Boston's horrible excuse for public transportation, which ends it's commuter service before midnight. This will be the case for the next three nights.