Shia LaBeouf stated that during filming, an FBI agent told him and the cast that one in every five phone calls someone makes is recorded. To prove this, the agent had him listen to a phone call he made two years prior to filming.
According to Shia LaBeouf, in order to become emotional for the funeral scene, he listened to Judy Garland's "Over The Rainbow." He stated that he "breaks down" when hearing that song.
The film takes place in January because this is when the State of the Union address, key to the plot of the film, is traditionally held every year.