Brian Banks, the subject of this movie, went to Long Beach Poly High School and was a part of the prestigious Jackrabbit football team. Brian was also a part of the team that played against De La Salle. This game was featured in the movie When the Game Stands Tall (2014).
Even though the film is set in Long Beach, California, it was filmed in Memphis, Tenn. Director Tom Shadyac teaches film at the University of Memphis, and in 2018, he opened a climbing gym and community center in the Soulsville neighborhood of South Memphis. Shadyac's family has a long-running history of leadership at St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis, founded by Danny Thomas, who was a family friend of the Shadyacs.
Morgan Freeman appeared in the film as a favor to friend and director Tom Shadyac. He was uncredited and spent only days on set, two of them at the Shelby County Prison, and the third at an East Brooks Road sound-stage where Brain's solitary confinement scenes were filmed. Freeman was 80 years old at the time and drove himself to set early everyday from his Mississippi farm. Many of the cast and crew asked him questions when they could. At one point, while at the prison, Freeman waved to a huge group of prisoners who recognized him as they walked by outdoors, escorted by a guard. It made them all very surprised and very happy.
The real Brian Banks and the real Justin Brooks were on set for most of the filming in Memphis, Tennessee. Their presence helped make the film more accurately portray this true story. Brian Banks would even have to leave during the filming of some scenes because it was difficult to relive many of the painful moments in his life depicted in the film.