The head-crushing scene was based on a time when Lloyd Kaufman was backing a car out of his garage and accidentally hit his younger sister. Nobody was harmed, but the memory haunted him for years.
The violent-looking crushing of a child's head in the movie was accomplished by injecting a melon with corn syrup and red food dye. A wig was placed on the melon and it was fitted onto a dummy. Though cheap, the effect is highly unsettling.
While shooting in Shinbone Alley, a homeless man stole a prop gun from one of the trailers and threatened the crew.
The spinning newspapers were simply newspapers placed on a spinning cheese rack.