The lighting equipment would be rented on Friday, because the rental company wasn't open on weekends. This meant they could pay for one day, and get it for three.
Co-cinematographer Roger Avary later said of the film, "Had we ever finished the film it would have looked something like a sloppy version of She's Gotta Have It (1986); a miracle considering the budget. Contrary to legend, the rest of the film was not 'lost in a lab fire'. It was simply never finished due to loss of steam."
Actor Allen Garfield was teaching Quentin Tarantino acting at the time, and that is how he also became involved in the project. Filmed over three years, from 1984-1987.
Craig Hamann said that the film was shot on an "even-then-ancient 16 mm Eclair, using a car battery to power the camera."