During the filming of the scenes where Space Cop and Cooper are looking for Grigg, someone in the neighbourhood got spooked at the sight of a crudely-decorated 'cop car' cruising around the area and called the real police, telling them than an 'Arab' was driving around in a car full of explosives. Once the police arrived and realised what was going on, they had some pictures taken with 'Rich Evans' and went on their way, with a friendly reminder to get the proper permits next time.
From the time the script was written, up until post production was completed, movie took exactly 12 years to make - exactly as long as Boyhood (2014), which the filmmakers ridiculed so much (because it literally has no bearing on that film's quality, which they find lacking) as to turn it into a meme.
The ring of the planet on top of Space Cop Headquarters is made out of an Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) DVD.
Production had a lot of trouble getting actors and extras, which explains why several parts are played by the same actors. This was even the case during the strip club scene when some of the dancers who agreed to show up didn't. Despite local flyers advertising free beer and strippers only four people turned up. The day was saved, following several failed audition sessions, when the group's only professional actor, Jocelyn Ridgely managed to get several actor friends together to fill out the important roles.
Promotional materials for the movie retooled quotes of George Lucas, from behind-the-scenes footage of Star Wars: Episode I, on how he optimistically expected the story and characters to work on screen. The original footage of these quotes were heavily featured in Red Letter Media's The Phantom Menace Review (2009), to juxtapose Lucas's expectations of the film with how it was ultimately perceived.