The film has no CGI! All special effects are practical effects using miniatures or hand made props. Also, no green screen was used. The director wanted a realistic atmosphere and texture for the look of the film.
Director Berton Pierce approached model maker Martin Bower to make the hero shuttle miniature. Bower worked on the miniatures for Alien, Outland, Flash Gordon, and Space 1999. These films inspired Pierce to become a director and use practical models rather than CGI. Other famous industry model makers worked on the film as well, like Greg Jein, Bill Pearson, Steve Howarth, Fon Davis, and Alex Friedrich.
While working as a model maker on Wes Anderson's, The Grand Budapest Hotel, director Berton Pierce met many model and prop makers. After production on that film wrapped, he hired some of them to help work on this film.
The first version of the film was 86 minutes long. After various festival screenings, the director cut 6 minutes out. The final version of the film is now 80 minutes long.
While casting for the lead actors, the director found out both were Irish. It was soon decided to keep their Irish backgrounds and build it into their screen characters. Now the film has an Irish feeling.