Alpha Dog Trivia
The film was the 2006 Sundance closing film.
To prepare for his role in this movie, actor Ben Foster asked one of his friends who was an ex-crystal meth addict for guidance. The friend introduced him to a group of people who gave Foster an all-access pass into the lifestyle.
When Wanda Haynes (Heather Wahlquist) screams "Heil" in Jake Mazursky's (Ben Foster) apartment, the entire part was improvised. When done with the line, the cast went along with it, and then director, Nick Cassavetes kept it in the film.
Ben Foster risked his sight for the movie by adding glaucoma drops to his eyes for much of the shoot to dilate his pupils, making him appear to be high. He'd hide in the bushes at night and cover his eyes between takes to keep the lights from shining into them. He would also talk to Nick Cassavetes with his eyes closed.
The tattoo encircling Jake Mazursky's (Ben Foster) neck is the original Hebrew verse from Psalms 109:14, "Let not the sin of his mother be blotted out".
The film begins with actual home video of some of the cast members when they were children. Anton Yelchin (Zack Mazursky) is the last child shown.
In a scene where they have a fight, Sharon Stone hit Ben Foster so hard that his nose started bleeding. He told her to do so, because he said the scene needed to be as realistic as possible.
During filming, Santa Barbara County Deputy District Attorney Ronald J. Zonen provided copies of virtually every document in his file on the real life case and served as an unpaid consultant to the film
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