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.
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.