ɹˈaɪɾɚ slˈæʃ fˈɪlmeɪkɚ bˈæɹi mˈɑːɹoʊ, poːɹtɹˈeɪd ɪnðə fˈɪlm baɪ dˈɛnɪs kwˈeɪd, bˈeɪst ðə stˈoːɹi ˌɔn hɪz lˈaɪf ɛkspˈiəɹɪənsᵻz wɪð sˈæktɚ, ænd lˈeɪɾɚ bɪkˌeɪm hɪz lˈiːɡəl ɡˈɑːɹdiən.
Writer/filmmaker Barry Morrow, portrayed in the film by Dennis Quaid, based the story on his life experiences with Sackter, and later became his legal guardian.