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'At eleven I was at the peak of my creative powers: I was writing stories and little plays, putting together poetry projects. I was absorbed by my 'work'. At twelve I was no longer reading or writing, just counting the days and checking them off. I was interested in survival. What is it about seventh grade? Is my experience, observation and memory of this time unique? I don't think so.
My film attempts to explore some of the realities of the transition into adulthood that this time in life throws into relief. It is not a 'coming of age' story, because I do not believe it is possible to come of age in seventh grade. The film is a comedy because that is the only way I know how to deal with excruciating torment, and I find something both funny and poignant in the struggle to endure humiliation.
Although there is no sex, nudity or violence in the movie, many parents were reluctant to allow their children to participate in the film. Ann Goulder (the casting director) and I described the material as 'unsettling', and some of the parents would retort 'sick' or 'depressing', which I took as a compliment, as that reflected the world I was trying to portray.
Ann and I spent many weekends combing the malls in New Jersey, handing out audition flyers to 11 year-old girls who showed signs of self-loathing and misery and 13 year-old boys who looked mean and like they could beat me up. For the most part, unfortunately, we found the kids were what they looked like. The role of Brandon, consequently, had to be rethought, because the dumb and ugly types I was originally seeking turned out to be just too dumb and ugly.'
- TODD SOLONDZ
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