Justin Chatwin based his character as a combination of Elvis Presley, Vanilla Ice and Justin Bieber, especially the latter's mugshot photo.
Justin Chatwin, who isn't a singer, had his songs dubbed by other performers, which director Jeffrey St. Jules liked as it brought a sense of unrealism with his character.
Costume designer Sarah Millman looked to Ann-Margret's character in Viva Las Vegas (1964) on how to dress Stepphy's character, in addition to referencing Lula magazine a lot.
Some of the influences for the film were Douglas Sirk's All That Heaven Allows (1955), Todd Haynes' Far from Heaven (2002), Jacques Demy's The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964), Vincente Minnelli's An American in Paris (1951), David Lynch and old Elvis Presley films.