With exclusive access to his family materials, Byer teamed up with independent filmmaker Edward Landler who had been working with the Watts community groups for several years.
The story was filled out by recent interviews with relatives, neighbors and other witnesses who have come into close contact with the Watts Towers, including artist John Outterbridge and historian Mike Davis.
Filmmakers Byer and Landler conceived a hip-hop song incorporating Rodia's own voice as lead vocal, backed up by jazz vocalists Dwight Trible and Logan Johnson Jr., set to music by Michael Abels.
I Build the Tower has been praised by documentary filmmaker Ken Burns as "wonderful, lyrical and compelling", and by film critic Leonard Maltin as "heartfelt and fascinating... a real discovery".
[citation needed] Robert Koehler wrote in Variety that it is the most complete visual account of Rodia and the history of his towers.