Several aspects of the movie are taken directly from the real life events, such as "Little Man" being ratted out by a trusted friend. "It is a shocking fact that a good friend of Kevin's was a DEA informant," David said, which was another motivation to make the movie. David did take creative license on some realities, such as making "Little Man's" mother addicted to OxyContin and dying of an overdose. Toolen's mother died in 2000 but had been suffering from leukemia. Also, the police informant's death in the movie is fiction. "There was no murder, but if I were the guy that ratted everybody out, I'd be concerned," said David.