Ross Joseph was grafting on roof tops in suburban Melbourne when he felt the call to reach for the stars.

It took years in the making, but this month his dream comes a little bit closer with the worldwide release of a documentary he produced called Heroes of the Empire.

The film is set to show hardcore Star Wars fans in a whole new light as Joseph and his mate, director Tom Long, went behind the scenes to see what makes these 'heroes' tick.

Former Aussie builder Ross Joseph and a costumer dressed as Star Wars villain Kylo Ren at the premiere of Heroes of the Empire

Storm Troopers of the 501st are shown as actual heroes who visit hospitals and raise money for charity

The hour long documentary follows the 501st UK Garrison Star Wars costuming club around the UK as they attend a variety of fundraising events - revealing a side of costuming never seen before.

Forever labelled 'nerds' and 'geeks', Heroes of the Empire shows there is more to the stereotypical Star Wars fan than big kids dressing up.

Gary Hailes, commanding officer of the 501st UK Garrison, said he was drawn to Star Wars the moment he saw it.

'It was mind blowing, absolutely mind blowing ... I could not talk about anything else, well, since really,' he told Joseph.

Hailes was among a group of 'storm troopers' who carried young cancer victim Henry Allen to his final resting place.

'It was really amazing to be able to do it and do something that was so personal and so important to Henry and to his family,' he said tearfully.

Members of the 501st carry little Henry Allen in a casket that was too small to get on their shoulders

A 'storm trooper' visits a sick child at a hospital in London in a scene from Heroes of the Empire

Director Tom Long frames a shot in a hospital where members of the 501st were visiting sick children

The scene is one of many that will pull the heart strings of even the biggest Star Wars critic.

Joseph, an Aussie citizen who now lives in the UK, said it had been a hard road going from building kitchens in Melbourne to UK movie producer.

As co-founder of Speechless Films with Long, the movie comes just a couple of years after the release of Dream The Impossible, which told the story of disabled motorcycle champ Talan Skeels Piggins and his team.

'I've got not much left in the tank from making those films back to back with a full time job,' Joseph told Daily Mail Australia.

Joseph continues to 'graft' as a builder outside of London, which he uses to help fund the movies.

Ross Joseph pictured with his sister Rachel while living in Melbourne. He went from building kitchens in Port Melbourne to making movies in London

Ross Joseph in a scene from one of Speechless Film's first productions

For Joseph and long time mate Long, the movie business is not about the money.

'As a Star Wars fan, did it tick any boxes? Did it mean anything to a fan?,' Joseph asks. 'I hope it makes a difference to those in it and those who watch it.'

Qualified as a builder, Joseph said becoming a journalist and making documentaries came naturally to him.

'I feel journalism is about asking the right questions that open the heart, that was what I was aiming for, their hearts,' he said.

Heroes of the Empire is released in about 64 territories, including Australia, on Amazon Prime on February 8.