Eighteen years earlier, Jill Clayburgh had co-starred in another movie, which like this one, was also based on a novel by Dan Wakefield, Starting Over (1979).
Ben Affleck's character of "Gunner" was inspired by the life of Ted Steeg, who also appears in the movie as the Minister. Dan Wakefield, the film's screenwriter (and author of the adapted novel) also appears briefly in the film (as Farmer #2). Wakefield and Steeg were friends in Indiana, who later roomed together in New York City's Greenwich Village. Wakefield chronicles this halcyon period in his book, "New York in the Fifties," which was also made into a documentary in 2001.
Going All the Way (1997) was written by Dan Wakefield, based on his 1970 novel of the same name. The film was shot on location in Indianapolis, Indiana, the setting of Wakefield's autobiographical novel.
Going All the Way (1997) was nominated for two awards at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival, winning a "Special Recognition" for production designer Thérèse DePrez. Rose McGowan, who attended Sundance to promote the film, has alleged that Harvey Weinstein raped her while at the festival that year.