Editing Latter Days (section)

==Production==
''Latter Days'' was written and directed by C. Jay Cox after the success of his previous screenplay, ''[[Sweet Home Alabama (film)|Sweet Home Alabama]]'', gave him the financial resources and critical credit to write a more personal love story.<ref name="ZapInterview">Szymanski, Mike. [https://web.archive.org/web/20071125163007/http://movies.zap2it.com/movies/features/scenes/story/0%2C1259%2C---20348%2C00.html 'Latter Days' Director Gets Personal.] Movies.zap2it.com (February 3, 2004). Retrieved January 29, 2011.</ref> Cox based both characters&nbsp;– Christian and Aaron&nbsp;– on himself. He was raised as a Mormon and served a mission before coming out as gay, and had wondered what the two halves of himself would have said to each other if they had ever met.<ref name= "Belief"/> 
''Latter Days'' was filmed in several locations in Los Angeles in 24 days on an estimated $850,000 budget.<ref name="budget">[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0345551/ ''Latter Days'' (2003) - Box office / business] IMDb.com. Retrieved November 16, 2006.</ref> After Cox had financed the search for initial backing, funding was acquired from private investors who wanted to see the film made. However producer Kirkland Tibbels still faced several bottlenecks, as financing the whole film remained difficult.<ref name= "DVD">''Latter Days'' DVD behind-the-scenes featurette.</ref> It was distributed through [[TLA Releasing]], an independent film distributor, who picked it up through its partnership with production company Funny Boy Films, which specializes in gay-themed media.<ref name="MCN">[https://web.archive.org/web/20080611045405/http://www.moviecitynews.com/Notepad/2004/040120_pr.html National Theater chain says "NO" to latter days.] MCN Press Release (January 20, 2004). Retrieved January 29, 2011.</ref>

Despite coming from a Mormon background, Cox had to research details of the excommunication tribunal, which is held after Aaron is sent back to Idaho. Former Mormons told him about their experiences and provided Cox with "a pretty accurate representation, right down to the folding tables."<ref name= "ZapInterview"/> According to Cox experienced actress Jacqueline Bisset also added valuable suggestions for improvements to the story.<ref name= "ZapInterview"/>

Casting for the two main characters did not focus on their sexuality, but their ability "to show vulnerability".<ref name= "ZapInterview"/> In a behind-the-scenes commentary, Steve Sandvoss explains that he did not want to play his character as a gay character, and Wes Ramsey emphasizes that the love story aspect of the film to him was detached from the character's gender.<ref name= "DVD"/> Due to several nude and kissing scenes, ''Latter Days'' was released unrated.<ref name= "ZapInterview"/>