Principal photography in Canton, Mississippi, used several private houses for the Morris and Jenkins homes, among others. A diner with a false exterior served as the Dixie Theatre where Willie and Rivers have their first unofficial date; an old gas station became a bus depot; and one of two local baseball parks became the football field where Willie and Skip first join together to earn respect from Big Boy, Henjie and Spit.

The relaxed Southern landscape became integral to the story of a slow-changing youth. "Part of the romance of great movies is that they transport you somewhere else. I remember as a kid just loving movies that took me into a world I didn’t know about, one I got to understand and explore through those movies," recalls producer Hancock.

In the end, "My Dog Skip" takes its resonance from the timeless relationship between a boy and his dog. Says director Jay Russell, "I want audiences to leave this film thinking about their best friends, their family, their relationships."

Alcon Entertainment Presents A Mark Johnson/John Lee Hancock Production: "My Dog Skip," starring Frankie Muniz, Diane Lane, Luke Wilson and Kevin Bacon. The music is by William Ross; the production designer is David J. Bomba; and the director of photography is James L. Carter. The editors are Harvey Rosenstock, A.C.E. and Gary Winter. The executive producers are Jay Russell and Marty Ewing. The film is produced by Mark Johnson and John Lee Hancock and by Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove. The screenplay by Gail Gilchriest is based on the book by Willie Morris. "My Dog Skip" is directed by Jay Russell and distributed by Wanrer Bros., A Time Warner Entertainment Company.