UFO Fever

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

A blurb to be taken with a grain of salt

Close encouters of the First Kind—sighting of an Unidentified Flying Object.

Close Encouter of the Second Kind—physical evidence of a UFO.

Close Encouter of the Third Kind contact.

Out of that mysterious, awesome experience of extraterrestrial contact is reputed to come one of the most challenging motion pictures ever conceived: Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The release of the film ends nearly five years of effort following the original conception of the story by writer and director of the film, Steven Spielberg. With the success of Jaws, Duel, and The Sugarland Express already under his belt Spielberg, the latest boy-wonder director of the seventies, is attempting his most ambitious film to date.

The film eschews the sci-fi trappings moviemakers have relied on since George Mclies fired a plywood rocket at a cardboard moon in the early silent era. Instead. Spielberg has rooted his imagery in an awesome body of scientific data and utilised the skills of Douglas Trumbull, the same visual effects coordinator for Kubric's 2001: A Space Odyssey

In order to protect the dramatic concept, the impact of the story, and the special photographic effects, the production was filmed under tight secrecy and security in Wyoming, Indiana, Alabama, and California. It was Spielberg's aim to reach an absolute realism, designed to bring the audience as close as possible to an event that could be the most momentous of our time.

In planning the set required for the film's spectacular climax, a World War II dirigible hangar was converted into a movie sound-stage six times the size of Hoolywood's most spacious stage. In addition, the production company took over an entire 13.500 square foot building, converting it into a complete movie studio. As production progressed, the budget soared in excess of $20,000,000.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind was filmed under the leadership of a talented team of experienced artists with major successes to their credit. Producers Julia Phillips and Michael Phillips previously co produced The Sting and Taxi Driver, both highly acclaimed box office successes. The director of cinematography, Vilmos Zsigmond, has worked on Deliverance, Obsession, McCabe and Mrs. Miller to name a few. John Williams scored the theme music music in the style that has won him acclaim for Star Wars and Oscars for Jaws and Fiddler on the roof. Dr. Allen Hynek serves as technical advisor and consultant. He is considered by many the world's premiere authority on the UFO subject.

The players are lead by Richard Dreyfuss of Jaws and American Graffiti fame. Francois Truffaut, the universally acclaimed French filmmaker and Academy Award winner for Day for Night, stars as the French scientist Lacombe, in a role written especially for him by Spielberg.

Kevin John Young