Geoffrey Rush had once learned the piano up until aged fourteen. He took up piano lessons again thirty years later for this movie and also acted as his own hand double and body double.
For his performance in this movie, Geoffrey Rush became the first actor to win Best Actor at the Academy Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, BAFTA Awards and Critics' Choice Awards, as well as Best Actor-Drama at the Golden Globe Awards.
According to Scott Hicks, the title "Shine" was inspired by Pink Floyd's track "Shine on you crazy diamond", written in tribute to their first band leader Syd Barrett, another musical genius with mental illness.
Though actor Geoffrey Rush had had little experience in film, he was more than ready for the challenge of this film. Attracted to what he calls "the big, classical dimensions of the role," the Shakespearian actor recalled that "this was the first screenplay I'd read where I thought "yes, that's the role for me.'"
Dustin Hoffman expressed interest in playing David Helfgott, as his music and life story have moved him. He had previously portrayed a savant in Rain Man (1988).
Gillian Helfgott: Wearing blue and rising in the audience at the lower left screen to applause near the end of the movie.