Sean's inspiration for his film largely stemmed from his fascination with capturing the essence of childhood and adolescence, particularly the emotional turbulence and vulnerability that accompany these stages. He mentioned being influenced by movies like "Stand By Me" for their portrayal of friendships and the "400 Blows" for its storytelling 00:07:30 to 00:07:55. Additionally, he wanted to depict the multicultural community he grew up around and the early internet era, including MySpace and Facebook, which he felt had not been accurately represented on screen before 00:09:00 to 00:09:24.

Furthermore, the film-making process itself was inspired by a sense of camaraderie and fun among friends, as Sean aimed to create an environment reminiscent of a summer camp rather than aiming for an Oscar-winning movie. This was an effort to ensure that everyone had a good experience and enjoyed the process 00:28:00 to 00:28:24.

So, Sean's film was inspired by a combination of personal experiences, a desire to depict genuine adolescence, and a collaborative, enjoyable filmmaking process.