The family of Nicholas Barclay initially declined to participate in the documentary, as they felt they had been unfairly portrayed in the media in the past, and they had lost much of their home video footage of Nicholas in a fire. They eventually consented to be interviewed, and the small amount of footage that has survived was used.
The disappearance of Nicholas Barclay didn't even make the local news. He wasn't reported missing for three days, and because he had run away in the past and had a juvenile court hearing coming up to decide if he would be sent to a juvenile facility, the police assumed initially that he had run away again. A few weeks later, the police did begin investigating and discovered that he hadn't taken any money or possessions.