The following written prologue appears in opening credits: “'Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by time. That is the life of men. Now, women forget all those things they don’t want to remember and remember everything they don’t want to forget. The dream is the truth. Then they act and do things accordingly.' – Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God.”
According to a 24 Aug 1986 Washington Post article, in the summer of 1984, director Spike Lee planned to film Messenger, a story profiling a bicycle messenger, which unraveled because he could not secure funding. The experience taught him to write a script that he could film within his means. Production notes in AMPAS library files state that Lee was given permission to transfer an $18,000 New York State Council of the Arts grant awarded for Messenger, to use for She’s Gotta Have It. However, a $20,000 grant he received from the American Film Institute for his earlier film was rescinded. Working cheaply with few locations, no costumes or sets, Lee was able to complete the picture without spending years trying to raise millions for a bigger production.
As reported in the 25 Aug 1986 LAT and the 1-8 Jun 2005 Time Out London, Lee collaborated with Spellman College classmate Tracey Willard to conduct research for lead character, "Nola Darling", by designing a questionnaire that was circulated among thirty-five women. A sampling of some of the questions included: “Talk about one unfulfilled fantasy. Do you feel all men are basically dogs? Does penis size matter? Are there any sexual acts you perform with one man and not another?”
Lee cast himself as “Mars Blackmon” because he could not afford to pay an actor to play the role. Production notes state that Lee employed family and friends. His jazz pianist father, Bill Lee, composed the film’s score, and had a cameo as “Sonny Darling.” His sister, Joie Lee, was cast as “Clorinda Bradford.” His brother, David Lee, handled still photography. Cinematographer Ernest Dickerson had a cameo as “Dog #8.” Actor John Canada Terrell heard about the film through word of mouth, “demanded a role,” and claimed that Lee cast him without an audition.
A 10 Aug 1986 NYT article reported that the film was shot over a twelve-day period, and listed a $175,000 budget. Lee filmed the picture in black and white with one color sequence. According to the 25 Aug 1986 LAT, he worked with a non-union crew, and without film permits or insurance. The picture was originally shot on Super 16mm but then scrambled to raise money for a 35mm blow up when the film was accepted in the Jan 1986 San Francisco Film Festival.
As noted in the 13 Aug 1986 DV, Lee went through several rounds of cuts to receive an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). Although Island Pictures had a policy of distributing unrated films, Lee believed that an R rating was key to the film’s success. He also felt that even though the movie’s instances of sexuality were on par with Body Double (1984, see entry) and 9½ Weeks (1986, see entry), the many cuts the ratings board demanded were based on its discomfort with African American love scenes.
The movie marked actress Raye Dowell’s feature film debut.
End credits state: “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston. Copyright 1937 by J. B. Lippincott Company. Renewed 1965 by John C. Hurston and Joel Hurston. Used by permission of Harper & Row., Publishers Inc.” End credits include the following acknowledgements: “Promotions: Perrier, Conrans, Nike, H&H Bagels, Tropicana, Reebok, Bunn-O-Matic Coffeemaker, North Face, Coleman Cooler, Starter Pro Sports Jackets, Northern Telecom, Cafe Bustelo, Manhattan Brewery Co., Not Just Balloons, The Well Bread Loaf, Everlast Sporting Goods, Veniero’s Bakery, Nabisco and Unique Product Placement.” Acknowledgements continue with: “Wade Baker, Dwight Brown, Gerard Brown, Barry Cohen, Carol Cooper, Barry Cohen, Carol Cooper, Brian Copeland, Dave Davidson, Dean Earl Davis, Pat Davis, Val Edmonds, Delta Sigma Theta – Brooklyn Chapter, Frank Drumwright, James Flournoy, Geneva Francais, Charles Fuller, Howard Funsch, Geoffrey Garfield, Kelvin Garvanne, Cynthia Gehrig, Nancy Gerstman, George Glee, Brian Goodwin, Ellie Hamerow, W. Christine Harrison, Ben Hill, Cheryl Hill, Argie Johnson, Warrington Hudlin, Charles Huggins, Catherine James, Jeh Johnson, Pam Johnson, Loretha C. Jones, Lisa Jones, Jay Kessel, Pat Kramish, Leonard Lee, The Lee's, Ms. Mabry, James Mack, Robert Mallet, Kendel Minter, Gail Moody, Cynthia Moore, Jared McAllister, Amy Olatunji, Eric Payne, The Praters, Pat Rampolla, B. Ruby Rich, Jeanette Ross, Renee Saunders, Mr. & Mrs. E. Donny Smith, Tony Smith, Fran Spielman, Greg Tata, Tracey Willard, Heather Williams, Patty Wilson, Barbara Zimmerman, Tico Wells;” and, “Special Thanks: Black Filmmaker Foundation, Barry Brown, Cheryl Burr, Debra Cohen, Jeff Cohen, Courtney Counts, Guy Davis, Ronnie Dyson, Ernest Dickerson, Larry Fishburne, Nelson George, Stephanie Hightower, Pamm Jackson, Bill Lee, David Lee, Hajna Moss, Mtume, Bob McDowell, Babatunde Olatunji, John Pierson, Monty Ross, Zimmie Shelton, Scott Sillers, Earl Smith, Strafe, The Strawders, Adam Troy, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Warren, John Wilson, Irwin Young, and all the Musicians.” Final acknowledgements include: “Funded in part through: the New York State Council on the Arts; the New York Foundation of the Arts; the Jerome Foundation; Brooklyn Arts Cultural Association (BACA) with the assistance of the Black Filmmaker Foundation," and, “Shot entirely in Brooklyn, New York, in the neighborhoods of: Fort Greene, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Crown Heights, and at the Ferry Bank Restaurant.” Finally stated: “This film contains no Jerri curls!!! And no drugs!!! “ Copyright information includes the statements: “Ya dig; Sho-nuff; By any means necessary.” Opening credits misspell actor Redmond Hicks name as "Redmon Hicks".