Inspired by the naturalistic performances in the films of Mike Leigh, Ken Loach, and Abbas Kiarostami, Ramin Bahrani rewrote the original script for CHOP SHOP based on improvisations staged with his lead actors. Excerpts of those taped rehearsals, featuring Alejandro Polanco, Isamar Gonzales, Rob Sowulski, Ahmad Razvi, and Carlos Zapata, provide insight into the way key moments in the film were shaped before production began in summer 2006.