Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why did you decide to make the film?
Director Carrie Coaplen has always loved documentaries, and is a non-fiction writer and academic. She wanted to make the film to understand her own obsession with the Galactic Starcruiser as someone who had first approached it as a casual fan of Star Wars. Lead researcher Carly Kocurek came to the project as a historian who specializes in the study and preservation of games and media with an investment in documenting the experience as a game. They actually connected about the project in a Facebook group where Carrie had posted asking if anyone was interested in making a documentary. Since those initial conversations, the team has expanded, including Executive Producer Ben Daughtrey; Director of Photography, Editor, and Sound Editor Kenzie Greer; and Writer and Associate Producer Jonathon Hawpe. Other team members include Jon Beachy, composer; Sarah Speights, marketing/public relations; Beth Fitzgibbons, swag genius. More detailed information about our production team is available here.
Q: Did Disney give you permission to film aboard the Halcyon?
Yes. We sought and received permission from Disney public relations to shoot for a feature-length documentary. They conveyed, and we followed, existing filming rules.
Q: Why are you fundraising?
Generally, documentary films cost between $2000 and $4000 per minute to produce. Many of the costs of documentary production – ranging from legal consultation fees, gear purchase and rental, software licensing, festival applications, marketing and promotion, and even accounting – are hidden.
To date, most expenses have been self-funded or covered by donations received through the fiscal sponsorship of The Louisville Film Society(LFS). Every donation has been absolutely vital, enabling us to have paid our co-editors fair wages so that they can focus on the film full time.
Q: How did production go?
We began production in August 2023, and completed the film in October 2025. During production collected nearly 100 hours of footage, including events, interviews, and point of view attraction video, all of which needs to be reviewed, organized, and edited. Early on, we produced a teaser trailer with an original score and two full scenes cut within eight months of our first shoot. And we were accepted into the Louisville Film Society Fiscal Sponsorship Program. Since them, we showed selections and our preview at a fan conference, and have submitted the completed film to over 35 festivals as of November 2025, with several more in sight.
Q: Where will we be able to see the film?
We will announce any scheduled festival screenings via social media. We are also pursuing both theatrical and streaming distribution opportunities.
Q: What and who have you been filming?
We have filmed on-board the Halcyon, at multiple public events, and in pre-arranged interviews with fans, experts, and industry insiders. In addition to following documentary best practices, we have and will continue to consult with an entertainment lawyer, as well as experts in fair use and and media rights.