The film was directed by Paul Schneider, and broadcast on PBS's WonderWorks children's anthology television series.

Sam Rodia spent 33 years single-handedly creating the Watts Towers.

[2] The script was based on an UCLA doctoral thesis, research and imagination.

During their research, the producers discovered that Rodia was a "cantanerous guy", who had a habit of yelling at people.

The working title was "Ask Columbus", because of Rodia's fascination with Christopher Columbus, but they finally settled on Daniel and the Towers "to convey the program's theme more clearly and make a more direct reference to the story's unique setting".