Steven Spielberg reacts to the unforgettable scene in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind": "As soon as you saw this, you remember it." 👽🛸
He breaks down the genius of the wide aspect ratio revealing the mysterious broadcast slowly, pulling your eyes from Richard Dreyfuss to the screen: "Did I see what I think I saw?" Then John Williams' music takes over emotionally, connecting the characters as Dreyfuss spots the mountain like structure matching what he built at home.
Spielberg shares how they shot it practically on TV sets in real time, with Dreyfuss timing his reactions perfectly across cuts from Alabama heat to Wyoming. A masterclass in building wonder and suspense that still captivates decades later.
Watch this rare insight from the legend himself.
The average player is 36 years old.
People use games to relax, socialize, compete, and explore worlds in ways that movies and TV simply can't offer.
The idea that gaming is "just for kids" feels about 30 years out of date.
Steven Spielberg and Close Encounters of the Third Kind
new original UFO history documentary
This documentary covers the early life and career of Steven Spielberg leading up to his first major UFO film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, released in 1977. It covers how Spielberg’s lifelong fascination with UFOs and with film making would ultimately lead to his seminal UFO film.
It also covers J Allen Hynek who was the scientific advisor to the Air Force’s UFO investigation Project Blue Book in the 1950s and 1960s. Hynek would eventually leave Project Blue Book accusing the Air Force of covering up the reality of the UFO phenomenon. Hynek would later be an advisor to Spielberg and would greatly influence Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
This video also goes scene by scene with Close Encounters illustrating real world events and easter eggs the film draws on.
Spielberg’s Early life and film career
00:00 Intro
01:57 Early life
03:50 Early interests in film, space, and flying saucers
05:50 The young film maker
07:23 Spielberg’s first UFO film “Firelight”
10:54 The young LA director
16:12 J Allen Hynek and Project Blue Book
24:55 JAWS
The Making of Close Encounters of the Third Kind
27:19 The making of Close Encounters of the Third Kind
29:21 Hynek and Vallee come on as advisors
34:24 Casting
35:58 Filming locations
37:15 Music
38:14 Special Effects - UFOs and aliens
41:06 George Lucas visits the Close Encounters set
41:55 J Allen Hynek visits the Close Encounters set
43:41 NASA and the Air Force don’t cooperate with the film
44:16 President Jimmy Carter and Close Encounters
45:34 United Nations UFO initiative and Spielberg
47:40 Close Encounters releases November 16, 1977
Close Encounters scene by scene breakdown
49:04 Scene by Scene break down
49:15 The UN investigators and the disappearance of Flight 19
50:25 UFOs above Indiana
51:33 Jillian and her son
52:18 Roy’s first UFO encounter
54:00 UFOs causing car interference and radiation burns
56:36 Police cars chase UFOs over state lines
57:44 UN investigators and Mongolia and India
58:34 Roy’s obsession starts
01:00:21 The signal from space
01:02:12 UFO abducts Jilian’s son
01:02:52 Air Force Press Conference
01:05:18 Mashed potatoes mound, Roy’s family leaves, and Devil’s Tower
01:06:37 The journey to Devil’s Tower
01:08:20 Lockheed and TRW easter egg
01:10:55 The UFO landing site
01:11:36 The UFOs arrive
01:12:23 The abductees return
01:14:05 The aliens
01:16:13 The impact of Close Encounters of the Third Kind