The Moment Spielberg Came Up with E.T.’s Iconic Spaceship Design: “Like a Victorian Christmas Tree Ornament…”

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As a devoted cinephile, I’ve long recognized Steven Spielberg as one of the most exceptional storytellers in the realm of cinema. He possesses an innate visual sensibility that effortlessly translates onto the silver screen, leaving audiences in awe and inspired. Just listen to J.J. Abrams on the commentary track for Super 8, who describes Spielberg as follows: “He comes to set, surveys his surroundings, and with a casual suggestion, ‘You know what would be good…?’ He points out two shots that are more brilliant than anything you could have imagined.

Bryan Burk, a partner at Abrams’ Bad Robot, shared a similar story with SYFY Wire. He reminisced about accidentally stumbling onto the set of The Lost World: Jurassic Park and observing Steven Spielberg meticulously adjusting the scene where the rampaging T. rex chased the bus through San Diego’s streets.

For More on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Steven Spielberg Discusses How a Powerful Father-Son Scene in Jaws Influenced the Creation of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

E.T.’s Production Designer Explores Finding the Perfect Balance between Ordinary and Extraordinary

Steven Spielberg Reflects on Imagining a Compassionate First Contact in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

In this article, Steven Spielberg discusses how a significant father-son moment in Jaws influenced the production of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial. The production designer for E.T. shares insights on striking a balance between the ordinary and extraordinary. Additionally, Spielberg reflects on his vision for a more compassionate first contact as portrayed in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Remember: there are countless individuals nearby who are losing a great deal of money. They’re closing streets and they desperately need one critical shot, which requires them to detonate the bus. Amidst this chaos, Steven considers the situation and proposes an alternative angle for the camera. ‘Yes, it’s a good shot,’ he says, ‘but instead of the camera moving upward, what if we move the camera downwards so it looks down on the dinosaur, making it appear larger against the bus?’ This minor adjustment transformed the shot into something ten times more remarkable. At that instant, you realize, ‘Ah, that’s why he’s Steven Spielberg.’ It’s his ability to consistently perceive things and offer significant changes, as well as small, subtle tweaks that instantly elevate it from good to extraordinary.

As a gamer, I can tell you that if I were lucky enough to collaborate with Steven Spielberg, tales like these would be shared abundantly throughout his remarkable 50-year journey in Hollywood. The most recent account comes from William Kotzwinkle, author of the official novelizations for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and its 1985 sequel, The Book of the Green Planet. He was there when the talented filmmaker whipped up the legendary design for the alien’s spaceship in a flash.

How Steven Spielberg came up with the design for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial‘s iconic spaceship

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On numerous occasions while E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial was being filmed, Kotzwinkle observed Steven’s brilliance, he shares with SYFY WIRE via email. A particular instance that sticks in his mind is when the art director approached Steven on set and suggested, ‘The spaceship should resemble a teardrop of mercury.’ It became apparent that no one had previously considered the design for the spaceship. After a brief pause, Steven countered with, ‘No, it looks like a Victorian Christmas tree ornament.’

In an unexpected turn of events, he spontaneously conceived the idea, and it turned out flawlessly. One might find it astonishing that he could visualize a Victorian Christmas tree ornament, but evidently, his mind is filled with a vast library of images. That’s the appearance of the ship in the film, and that’s how I depicted it in my book.

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2025-02-10 22:01