Feature-film screenwriter Paul Tompkins' oldest screen-writing student, Olga Vesta Button, at 85 had survived heart surgery. She gave him a check for $2,500 and told him, "Make a movie with this." Thinking it would be impossible and not wanting to hurt her feelings but afraid it might be too daring for her, he showed her a short script he had written a few years ago. She read it and said, "Do it. People will learn from it." Two weeks later the film was shot.