The talented, young filmmaker Palmer LeVake and his mom Rebecca (that's me!), are teaming up to create The Chance: A Star Wars Story. Why are doing this? Because we love to tell stories. And even more, we love to tell stories together. We'd like to invite you to join us on this journey that takes place a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

UPDATE:

The dust has settled from the flurry of production activity this summer, accounts have been balanced, and bills have been paid, and we have come up short. Even as the post-production process is well under way, we are still in need of funds to cover production costs. That is kind of a bummer for us, but it is good news for you. It means that it is not too late for you to be a part of The Chance.

Here are the benefits of being a donor:

1) Your name will be in the credits.

2) You will be invited to a premier event.

3) You will get periodic updates and insider information.

4) You will be given access to the daily reels from our days on set. We will not otherwise be publishing any film footage until the trailer is released (and that will be awhile!) so the only way to get a look at the awesomeness now is to come on board as a donor. We'd love to have you along for the ride!

As you are thinking about how much to donate, want to hear more about the story and how this whole thing came to be? Then read on!

Story Synopsis

The Chance takes place during the dark times of the Galactic Empire. The Empire relies on fear to retain power, destroying all who stand in the way. Yet there are some who dare to take action. In The Chance, we follow a group of Jedi who struggle to move forward in the face of overwhelming odds, waylaid by grief, guilt, and a growing sense of hopelessness. Meanwhile, a high-ranking Imperial grapples with maintaining his personal status quo or risking it all, unsure of where his true allegiance lies. With lives on the line and opportunities fading, the fight becomes more than just a battle against an enemy—it’s a journey to resist despair and preserve hope. It is a story of clashing ideals, deep conviction, sacrifice, survival, and a hope that lives on in the face of inevitable loss.

The Origin of This Project:

Reading stories and acting them out has always been a part of our family rhythm. When Palmer was a preteen he began experimenting with film. We encouraged him to start a YouTube page as a way to share his work and the films just kept coming. Using his siblings as cast, his dad as tech support, and me as conflict manager (required when five siblings work together), every film was an opportunity to develop as a film-maker and a leader.

This film is simply what is next. Palmer, now film student at Webster University in St. Louis, had a vision for a Star Wars story that explores the utter dominance of the Empire and the desperation of those who dare fight against it. The vision was a big one and his desire for excellence is high. He knew that to tell this story, and to tell it well, would require a team of passionate people.

Right out of the gate he needed help developing his vision into a screenplay and someone to usher the project along. Fortunately for him, his mom (that's me!) loves to write and was more than willing to serve as producer. So we began plugging away, developing characters and giving shape to the story. Palmer continued to develop his special effects skills and produce test footage. We began scouting locations and scored a big victory in the costume department when Joni Sackett signed on to design for us. We began looking into how to fundraise and how to recruit a cast and before we knew it we were making a movie!

We are excited to see what happens next as this process continues to unfold!