House of Sand and Fog (film) - Production

Production

Shohreh Aghdashloo was a respected actress in Iran before emigrating to the United States. When the film roles offers were limited to terrorists and other assorted villains, she turned to a career in the theatre. This film marked her return to the screen after nearly two decades.

Jonathan Ahdout, whose previous acting experience was limited to school plays, was cast as Esmail Behrani two days prior to the start of filming. His original audition had not impressed Vadim Perelman, but when he began to have doubts about the actor he ultimately had hired, he reviewed the audition tapes and saw something in Ahdout's performance he felt he previously had overlooked. He called him back and had him meet and perform with Aghdashloo. The chemistry between them convinced Perelman the boy was right for the part. Aghdashloo and Ahdout would also play a mother-son pair in the TV series, '24'

Establishing shots were filmed in San Francisco, Carpinteria, Pacifica, San Mateo County, and Santa Clarita, but the house of the title actually is located in Malibu.

An original soundtrack album, featuring James Horner's film score and songs by Mohammad Heydari and Elton Ahi and lyrics by Leila Kasra, was released by Varèse Sarabande.

In the scene where Massoud speaks with Lieutenant Alvarez about Lester's threat, author Andre Dubus III has a non-speaking cameo as the Lieutenant's aid.