Update on ‘Chasing Atlantis’ Film

Atlantis lifts off for the last time in July 2011, in this shot taken by the Chasing Atlantis team. (Melanie Godecki)

They didn’t reach their money goal, but the Chasing Atlantis team still sounds pretty pleased about the result: the independent movie-making team raised $5,610 to help with the final costs of production.

As previously reported in Universe Today, the Canadian team launched an Indiegogo campaign on Nov. 5 to raise up to $15,000 from people visiting the crowdsourcing site. Indiegogo allows teams to keep all funds donated, even if the goal is not reached.

“Thank you so much for all your support, contributions, and the belief in this film. Last night, at the conclusion of our 47-day Indiegogo campaign, we raised $5,610,” the team wrote on their official blog today (Dec. 18).

The project, which was entirely self-funded before this campaign, followed the last launch of space shuttle Atlantis in 2011. The movie will include appearances from Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s Wil Wheaton as well as Chris Hadfield, who will launch to space on Expedition 34 tomorrow. He will be the first Canadian to command the International Space Station.

The team is en route to the Canadian Space Agency’s headquarters near Montreal, Quebec today for a fresh round of interviews; the agency is hosting a Hadfield launch party tomorrow. More announcements on the film’s progress will come in the next few months.