Trivia

Mark Ruffalo lost 20 pounds before filming began to play Dominick. After shooting those scenes for 16 weeks, he took a six-week break to gain 30 pounds to play Thomas. He ate whatever he wanted, including large amounts of fast food, donuts, mashed potatoes and oatmeal.

Gabe Fazio, who plays Shawn Tudesco, is the same height as Ruffalo and also served as his acting double, portraying whichever twin Ruffalo wasn't. During Ruffalo's weight gain, he lost 30 pounds to stand in as Dominick.

From the outset, Wally Lamb was convinced that the property would work better as a TV mini-series. He envisioned Mark Ruffalo in the lead and so sent him the book. Ruffalo immediately responded that this was a part that he really wanted to play.

When he came to play his scenes as Thomas, Mark Ruffalo would frequently have to be coaxed out of his trailer. Being a Method actor, he got into the same mindset as Thomas who is nervous and terrified of the outside world.

A car dealership being used for a period set was a total loss, including a dozen vintage cars when a fire broke out overnight after a day of filming.

Wally Lamb had such faith in Mark Ruffalo and Derek Cianfrance, he told them he didn't need to see the final scripts.