In the book, the story of Rose is told alternatively without text but with graphics to allow the readers to experience Rose's story in the same way she felt escaping to New York City through her eyes and the silence of her life.
Newcomer Millicent Simmonds sent a recording of her audition to the director Todd Haynes, who in turn sent it on to Julianne Moore, who instantly approved of the 14-year-old. Millicent, who is realistically deaf, had to communicate on-set primarily through American Sign Language interpreters.
Millicent Simmonds, who plays Rose, had no professional acting experience. She was given the role after winning over Todd Haynes and casting director Laura Rosenthal through her silent audition tape, where she introduced herself and shared her thoughts through sign language, followed by a poster containing the translation.
Director Todd Haynes had some of the hearing cast go on a walking tour of New York City with noise-canceling headphones to relate to Rose's story and experience some of their other senses heightened.
1927 is the year often remembered as the point in history where sound was introduced to film with Warner Bros.' Le chanteur de jazz (1927).