"The Empire Strikes Back" was released on May 21, 1980. It was followed by a breathtakingly sophisticated fan film, "The Empire Strikes Forward." At the time of production, the filmmaker's parents did not see why the filmmaker needed to own a Kenner probe droid or tauntaun. The credits: "Produced by John A., Michael A., Steve M., and Matthew." The "and Matthew" was added after parental arbitration, because the filmmaker's younger brother "felt left out."