USS INDIANAPOLIS:
THE LEGACY

Documentary

Based on the largest collection of original source material available on the subject, The Legacy Project is a complete re-telling of the story of USS Indianapolis, told first hand, by those who lived through the experience. You can check out our Facebook Page, and the YouTube link to see the trailer, and find out about upcoming events, screenings and release dates.

Director

Sara Vladic

Producer

Melanie Capacia Johnson

Genre

Documentary; WWII

SURVIVOR ENDORSEMENT

The survivor’s organization has enthusiastically endorsed filmmaker Sara Vladic, giving her their full trust, and their unconditional support. With 80+ survivors assigning her their life story rights (only 1 survivor is still living), this is considered to be the first fully supported documentary, told almost entirely from the perspective of the USS Indianapolis survivors themselves.

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

I became intrigued by the USS Indianapolis story when I was about 13 years old. I couldn't believe it was a real event when I heard about it, so I immediately went to my local library, and started searching. There was little information to be found, but it was indeed a true story. I thought it would make a great movie, and I couldn't wait to see it come to the screen. After graduating college and realizing nobody had told the story yet, or at least not done it justice, I began reaching out to the USS Indianapolis survivors--and the journey began. That was nearly 25 years ago. I never imagined that the research materials I gathered in order to write a screenplay would someday turn into a full-length documentary. At the start, I simply wanted to get the story right, and I knew I had to interview the men that lived it.

Going through so many years of filming (over 170 hours and 107 interviews) proved to be quite the challenge, especially with technology changing so much over time, but by providence, and a little serendipity, it all came together. This film tells the true story of the USS Indianapolis with only first-hand accounts by those who lived it. Throughout this incredible adventure I have made some of the best friends I've ever known, and have been adopted by the survivors and their families as a granddaughter and keeper of their legacy. It was for them that I made it through this rocky roller-coaster of a process, and for them that I'll keep fighting to make sure the story is told as it should be. It's so much more than just a cheap thriller about a massive shark attack. My hope is that when viewers finish watching this film, they will have a complete understanding of those final days of the war. I want them to know the survivors, and to understand how ordinary 17 and 18 year old kids fought and paid the price for their freedom.

PRODUCTION NOTES

A lot has changed since we started this project...When Sara began filming these interviews, George Bush was president, the first iPhone was still two years away from being invented, and there was no such thing as HDTV.

9 Different cameras were used to capture the interviews over the years, and similar to TVs, HD was not yet an option for filming. We used:

AVCHD: Canon, Panasonic
MiniDV: Canon GL2
DVCPro50: DVCPro50 A, DVCPro50 B
P2: Panasonic HVX100, Panasonic HVX200 A, Panasonic HVX200 B
SxS: Sony PMW-200

Production Stills

BEST OF FEST 2025

The Best of the Fest showcase brought together a curated selection of 13 standout films from the past decade, chosen from fan favorites and impactful works that highlight the unique histories, personal triumphs, and innovative cinematic voices of service members and veterans. Held on Wednesday, November 5, at NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, the event celebrated the films that have most resonated with audiences over the years.

Among the featured selections was USS Indianapolis: The Legacy, chosen for its lasting impact on the festival. After earning multiple honors, including Best Picture and Best Director at the 2016 awards, its original screening became one of the most highly attended events in the festival’s history. Following the showcase screening, filmmaker Sara Vladic was joined by Captain William Toti, USN (Ret.), and moderator Tom Bowman of NPR for a compelling Q&A discussion exploring the film and the powerful story of Indy.