Trivia

On the film's very first day of shooting in the fictional "Bathtub" location outside of New Orleans, the BP oil rig explosion and the start of the massive spill occurred. For most of the shoot in nearby waters, Benh Zeitlin and his crew had to maneuver in and around the clean-up operations.

Dwight Henry owned and operated the bakery across the street from the space where the crew was working and casting. Benh Zeitlin posted a casting flyer with tearaway numbers in Dwight's bakery. After several weeks, he invited Dwight over for a read. Two days later, Dwight moved his shop to a larger space, and when the crew went looking for him for a call back, no one knew where he went. When they located Dwight 2 months later, he turned them down because he was investing all his time in the new bakery. Finally, every single person involved with the film at that point showed up at his bakery at the same time and told him he had to do the movie. Dwight agreed, as long as they rehearsed with him during his midnight baker's hours.

Benh Zeitlin gives considerable credit to Qulyndreia Wallis, mother of the movie's nine-year-old star Quvenzhané Wallis who was always on the set and helped Zeitlin explain concepts and draw emotions from her daughter to maximize the quality of her Oscar-nominated performance.

Wink reaches down in the river to show Hushpuppy how to catch a fish with his bare hand. A member of the production crew almost died swimming under water while shooting the scene.

More than half of the cast hails from Louisiana bayou country, including the film's star Quvenzhané Wallis, and five others in speaking roles.

Lucy Alibar: The film is based on a one-act play called "Juicy and Delicious" by this playwright and actress. The movie, she co-wrote with friend and director Benh Zeitlin.