The filmmakers were originally asked by the producers of Donnie Darko to create a production diary for the Director's Cut DVD. As a symbol of their love for the film (and wanting to give fans a little something unexpected for the DVD extras), they also decided to create the #1 Fan mockumentary without any of the cast, crew, or producers' knowledge of what exactly they were doing. Only upon seeing the completed film did Richard Kelly agree to put it on the DVD, finding it an odd satirical look at the film, the fans, and himself.