Contact (1997)

Director:

Robert Zemeckis

Writers (WGA):

Carl Sagan (novel)
Carl Sagan (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 July 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Get ready to take a chance on something that just might end up being the most profoundly impactful moment for humanity, for the history... of history.

Plot:

Dr. Ellie Arroway, after years of searching, finds conclusive radio proof of intelligent aliens, who send plans for a mysterious machine.

Plot Keywords:

Hieroglyphics | Virtuality | Neo Nazism | Olympic Games | Zero Gravity

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Jena Malone	...	Young Ellie
David Morse	...	Ted Arroway
Jodie Foster	...	Eleanor Arroway
Geoffrey Blake	...	Fisher
William Fichtner	...	Kent
Sami Chester	...	Vernon
Timothy McNeil	...	Davio
Laura Elena Surillo	...	Cantina Woman
Matthew McConaughey	...	Palmer Joss
Tom Skerritt	...	David Drumlin
Henry Strozier	...	Minister
Michael Chaban	...	Hadden Suit
Max Martini	...	Willie (as Maximilian Martini)
Larry King	...	Himself
Thomas Garner	...	Ian Broderick
Conroy Chino	...	KOB-TV Reporter
Dan Gifford	...	Jeremy Roth
James Woods	...	Michael Kitz
Vance Valencia	...	Senator Valencia
Angela Bassett	...	Rachel Constantine
Donna J. Kelley	...	Herself
Leon Harris	...	Himself
Claire Shipman	...	Herself
Behrooz Afrakhan	...	Middle Eastern Anchor
Saemi Nakamura	...	Japanese Anchor
Maria Celeste Arraras	...	Latina Anchor
Tabitha Soren	...	Herself
Geraldo Rivera	...	Himself
Ian Whitcomb	...	British Anchor
Jay Leno	...	Himself
Natalie Allen	...	Herself
Robert D. Novak	...	Himself
Geraldine A. Ferraro	...	Herself
Ann Druyan	...	Herself
Rob Lowe	...	Richard Rank
Jake Busey	...	Joseph
Kathleen Kennedy	...	Herself
Michael Albala	...	Decryption Hacker
Ned Netterville	...	Decryption Expert
Leo Lee	...	Major Domo
John Hurt	...	S.R. Hadden
William Jordan	...	Chairman of Joint Chiefs
David St. James	...	Joint Chief
Jill Dougherty	...	Herself
Haynes Brooke	...	Drumlin Aide
John Holliman	...	Himself
Bobbie Battista	...	Herself
Dee Dee Myers	...	Herself
Bryant Gumbel	...	Himself
Linden Soles	...	Himself
Steven Ford	...	Major Russell
Alexander Zemeckis	...	Major Russell's Son (as Alex Zemeckis)
Janie Peterson	...	Major Russell's Daughter
Philippe Bergeron	...	French Committee Member (as Phillip Bergeron)
Jennifer Balgobin	...	Dr. Patel
Anthony Hamilton	...	British Committee Member (as Anthony Fife Hamilton)
Rebecca T. Beucler	...	NASA Public Relations
Marc Macaulay	...	NASA Technician
Pamela Wilsey	...	Voice of NASA
Tucker Smallwood	...	Mission Director
Jeff Johnson	...	Mechnical
Yuji Okumoto	...	Electrical
Gerry Griffin	...	Dynamics
Brian Alston	...	Communications
Rob Elk	...	Pad Leader
Mark Thomason	...	Security
José Rey	...	Controller #8
Todd Patrick Breaugh	...	New VLA Technician
Alex Veadov	...	Russian Cosmonaut
Alice Kushida	...	Scientist
Robin Gammell	...	Project Official
Richardson Morse	...	Mission Doctor
Seiji Okamura	...	Japanese Ensign
Bernard Shaw	...	Himself
Mak Takano	...	Japanese Tech #1
Hiroshi Tom Tanaka	...	Japanese Tech #2 (as Tom Tanaka)
Catherine Dao	...	Life Support
Kristoffer Ryan Winters	...	Dynamics #2
Valorie Armstrong	...	Woman Senator
Jim Hild	...	Reporter #5
Bill Thomas	...	Reporter #6
Diego Montoya	...	School Boy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jonathan Adler	...	White House Official (uncredited)
Robert Aguilar Jr.	...	NASA Controller #2 (uncredited)
Neil Armstrong	...	Himself / Voice Through Space (voice) (uncredited)
Mark Bailey	...	Four-Star General (uncredited)
Matt Bennett	...	Senate Observer (uncredited)
Christopher Boyer	...	Scientist (uncredited)
Aixa Clemente	...	President's Secretary (uncredited)
Bill Clinton	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Candice Cook	...	Supporter (uncredited)
Derrick Damions	...	Ailing Believer (uncredited)
Russell Darling	...	Protestor (uncredited)
Pamela Fischer	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Carl Gilliard	...	Controller (uncredited)
Adolf Hitler	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
William B. Kaplan	...	TV Interviewer (uncredited)
Martin Luther King	...	Himself / Voice Through Space (voice) (uncredited)
Sunshine Logroño	...	Puerto Rican Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Douglas MacArthur	...	Himself / Voice Through Space (voice) (uncredited)
Neal Matarazzo	...	Kitz's Aide (uncredited)
Joseph McCarthy	...	Himself / Voice Through Space (voice) (uncredited)
Lo Ming	...	Pod Systems Control (uncredited)
Richard Nixon	...	Himself - Voice through space (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Paul L. Nolan	...	Ellie's Attorney (uncredited)
Marisa Petroro	...	Oval Office Secretary (uncredited)
J.A. Preston	...	Senator (uncredited)
Frank Principe	...	Ailing Believer (uncredited)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt	...	Himself / Voice Through Space (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Russell Sanderlin Sr.	...	Photographer (uncredited)
Frank Silva	...	Army Officer (uncredited)
Delaney Williams	...	Believer #1 (uncredited)
Walter Winchell	...	Himself / Voice Through Space (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Zemeckis

Writing credits (WGA)
Carl Sagan		(novel)
Carl Sagan		(story) and
Ann Druyan		(story)
James V. Hart		(screenplay) and
Michael Goldenberg		(screenplay)

Produced by
Steven J. Boyd	....	associate producer
Joan Bradshaw	....	executive producer
Ann Druyan	....	co-producer
Lynda Obst	....	executive producer
Rick Porras	....	associate producer
Carl Sagan	....	co-producer
Steve Starkey	....	producer
Robert Zemeckis	....	producer

Original Music by
Alan Silvestri

Cinematography by
Don Burgess

Film Editing by
Arthur Schmidt

Casting by
Victoria Burrows

Production Design by
Ed Verreaux

Art Direction by
Bruce Crone
Lawrence A. Hubbs

Set Decoration by
Michael Taylor		(as Michael J. Taylor)

Costume Design by
Joanna Johnston

Makeup Department
Janice Alexander	....	hair stylist
Audrey L. Anzures	....	hair stylist (as Audrey Anzures)
Steve Artmont	....	makeup artist
Kathryn Blondell	....	key hair stylist (as Kathryn L. Blondell)
Hallie D'Amore	....	key makeup artist
Deborah La Mia Denaver	....	makeup artist: Mr. Woods
Carolyn Elias	....	hair stylist
Margaret E. Elliott	....	makeup artist
Roxanna Floyd	....	makeup artist: Ms. Bassett
Frances Mathias	....	hair stylist: Ms. Foster
Vivian McAteer	....	hair stylist
Jean-Luc Russier	....	makeup artist: Ms. Foster (as Jean Luc Russier)
Keith VanderLaan	....	prosthetic makeup effects producer: Cannom Creations
Gary Archer	....	dental prosthetics (uncredited)
Barbara Lacy	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Kerry Mendenhall	....	assistant hair stylist: Washington D.C. (uncredited)

Production Management
Joan Bradshaw	....	unit production manager
Cherylanne Martin	....	unit production manager
Nannette Rosa-Collazo	....	unit manager: Puerto Rico

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cellin Gluck	....	second assistant director
Basil Grillo	....	dga trainee
Bruce Moriarty	....	first assistant director
Lucille Ouyang	....	second assistant director
Darin Rivetti	....	second second assistant director
Alison C. Rosa	....	second second assistant director (as Alison Rosa)
Steve Starkey	....	second unit director
David Ticotin	....	second assistant director (as David A. Ticotin)
Gabriela Vázquez	....	second assistant director (as Gabriela Vazquez)

Art Department
Doreen Austria	....	graphic designer (as Doreen S. Austria)
Evelyn Barbier	....	set designer
Beth Bernstein	....	art department coordinator
Marzette Bonar	....	special effects art director
Mariko Braswell	....	set designer
Jerrold F. Brooks	....	construction foreman
Steve Burg	....	conceptual artist (as Stephen P. Burg)
Chris Casey	....	swing gang
James F. Claytor Sr.	....	set designer (as James Claytor)
Clifton T. Cooper	....	assistant property master
Robert E. Denne	....	stand-by painter
Michael Diersing	....	construction coordinator
Sara Gardner-Gail	....	key set dresser (as Sara Gardner Gail)
Michael Gastaldo	....	assistant property master
Scott E. Handt	....	construction foreman
Val Harris	....	swing gang
Kenneth Heil	....	swing gang
Darryl Henley	....	storyboard artist
James Jackson	....	swing gang
John B. Josselyn	....	art department assistant
Mark Joyce	....	construction foreman
Elizabeth Lapp	....	assistant art director
Josh Lusby	....	set designer
Thom Magana	....	swing gang
David Manhan	....	lead man
Christine Maurer	....	labor foreperson
Frank McEldowney	....	greensman
Doug J. Meerdink	....	assistant art director (as Doug Meerdink)
Robin L. Miller	....	property master (as Robin Miller)
James R. Powers	....	construction foreman
Kristen Pratt	....	set designer
Eric Ramsey	....	storyboard artist
Brent Regan	....	construction general foreman
Brad Ricker	....	assistant art director
Ernest M. Sanchez	....	swing gang
Terry Sandin	....	model maker
Alex Scutti Jr.	....	plasterer (as Alex Scutti)
Easton Michael Smith	....	set designer (as Easton M. Smith)
Saul Solache	....	swing gang
Jim Stubblefield	....	assistant property master (as D. James Stubblefield)
George Denes Suhayda	....	conceptual designer
Sally Thornton	....	assistant art director
Michael Thurman	....	swing gang (as Michael S. Thurman)
Hap Weaver	....	greensman
Tim Wilcox	....	3D computer graphics artist
Dean Wolcott	....	set designer
Clyde Zimmerman	....	paint supervisor
Craig Zimmerman	....	swing gang
Elizabeth Bell	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Carl Catanese	....	set buyer: Washington, DC (uncredited)
Stephen I. Erdberg	....	assistant props (uncredited)
Susanna Glattly	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Peter Gornstein	....	artist (uncredited)
Ryan Handt	....	construction propmaker (uncredited)
Eric Hunsaker	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Allan F. Johnson	....	mill gang boss (uncredited)
John Kelso	....	metal fabricator (uncredited)
Kristina Kilpe	....	assistant props: Washington DC (uncredited)
Reiko Kobayashi	....	conceptual designer (uncredited)
Ted Lubonovich II	....	set dressing: Washington D.C. (uncredited)
Bryan McBrien	....	greens department (uncredited)
Maureen McGuire	....	property assistant (uncredited)
Barbara S. Shelton	....	set dresser: Florida (uncredited)

Sound Department
Phil Benson	....	supervising sound editor
Steve Boeddeker	....	sound effects editor
Sara Bolder	....	foley editor
Kent Brown	....	assistant sound editor
Lindakay Brown	....	adr editor
Fred Clemons	....	machine room operator
Fred Clemons	....	sound re-recordist
Fred Clemons	....	sound transferer
Andrew Cowitt	....	assistant sound editor
David Dresher	....	assistant sound editor
Tony Eckert	....	foley mixer
Teresa Eckton	....	sound effects editor
Sue Fox	....	supervising adr editor
Karen Harding	....	assistant sound editor
Catherine Harper	....	foley artist
Tom Johnson	....	sound re-recording mixer
William B. Kaplan	....	production sound mixer
Stephen Kearney	....	assistant sound editor
Bruce Lacey	....	foley editor
Mary Helen Leasman	....	foley editor (as Mary Helen Leaseman)
Scott Levy	....	sound re-recordist
Barbara McBane	....	dialogue editor
Douglas Murray	....	sound effects editor
Peggy Names	....	cable person (as Peggy A. Names)
Cheryl Nardi	....	first assistant sound editor
Susan Popovic	....	assistant sound editor
Charleen Richards	....	adr mixer (as Charlene Richards)
Gary Rizzo	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Earl Sampson	....	boom operator
Dennis S. Sands	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dennis Sands)
Tony Sereno	....	foley mixer
Michael Silvers	....	dialogue editor
Andrea Stelter	....	assistant sound editor
Ewa Sztompke	....	dialogue editor (as Ewa Sztompke-Oatfield)
Randy Thom	....	sound designer
Randy Thom	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dennie Thorpe	....	foley artist
Marian Wilde	....	sound effects editor
Mark Jan Wlodarkiewicz	....	sound
Mark Jan Wlodarkiewicz	....	temp sound editor
Mary Works	....	assistant dialogue editor
Mary Works	....	assistant sound editor
Thomas Giordano	....	production sound technician (uncredited)
Steve Romanko	....	machine room operator (uncredited)
Randolph Saucedo	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
David E. Turner	....	machine room operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Ted Bukowski	....	special effects
John P. Cazin	....	pyro technician (as John Cazin)
Eric Cook	....	special effects coordinator
Louis R. Cooper	....	special effects (as Lou Cooper)
Curtis Decker	....	special effects
Jeff Deyoe	....	mechanical designer
Edwin J. Escobar	....	special effects
Roberto Espinoza	....	special effects
Steven C. Foster	....	special effects (as Steve Foster)
Edward Gettis	....	special effects
Allen Hall	....	special effects supervisor
Matt Hall	....	special effects
Steven Hall	....	special effects
Richard Jacobs	....	special effects
Arlen Johnson	....	special effects (as Arlen J. Johnson)
Joe Karas	....	special effects
Ken MacInnes	....	special effects
Scott MacLachlan	....	special effects
Joe Montenegro	....	special effects foreman (as Joe M. Montenegro)
James L. Roberts	....	special effects (as Jim Roberts)
Juan Carlos Rodríguez	....	special effects (as Carlos Rodríguez)
Richard Stringfellow	....	lead technical designer (as Rick Stringfellow)
Charles Wolff	....	special effects
Roland Blancaflor	....	special effects technician: Cannom Creations Inc. (uncredited)
Charlie Bonilla	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Shea Clayton	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Richard Addison-Wood	....	digital artist: Weta Ltd.
Matt Aitken	....	CG supervisor: Weta Digital Ltd
Tim Alexander	....	digital compositor: ILM
Richard Alonso	....	lead computer graphics designer (as Rick Alonso)
Maura Alvarez	....	rotoscope artist
Joel Aron	....	computer graphics artist: ILM
Chris Arreola	....	film recording technician
Okan Ataman	....	Sabre artist: ILM
Jean-Luc Azzis	....	high speed compositing artist
Al Bailey	....	digital paint & roto artist
Jacquie Barnbrook	....	visual effects vendor producer
James Bell	....	digital artist: Weta Ltd.
Chuck Bemis	....	visual effects first assistant camera (as Charles Bemis)
Jim Berney	....	lead technical designer
Nick Booth	....	production assistant: Weta Ltd.
Ron Brinkmann	....	computer graphics supervisor
Suzy Brown	....	digital painter
Max Bruce	....	technical designer
Megan Bryant	....	digital camera supervisor: Warner Digital
Fiona Bull	....	digital effects associate producer: Message Sequence
Brad Burbank	....	model maker
D. Walt Cameron	....	Inferno/Flint artist: Warner Digital
Mageara Cameron	....	visual effects production
Colin Campbell	....	visual effects composite artist
Marguerite Cargill	....	high speed compositing artist
Rusty Case	....	computer system engineer
Gimo Chanphianamvong	....	rotoscope artist
Jerome Chen	....	computer graphics supervisor
Amelia Chenoweth	....	technical designer
Charlie Clavadetscher	....	matchmove supervisor
Buckley Collum	....	digital artist: Weta Ltd.
Michael Conte	....	visual effects composite artist: SPI
Caitlin Content	....	Sabre artist: ILM
Theresa Corrao	....	visual effects coordinator: ILM (as Theresa R. Corrao)
Yvonne Cuthbert	....	digital artist: Weta Ltd.
C. Marie Davis	....	visual effects executive producer: CIS
Karen deJong	....	senior CG art director
Debbie Denise	....	senior visual effects producer
Jeff Doran	....	digital compositor: ILM
Colin Drobnis	....	visual effects composite artist
Sheena Duggal	....	high speed compositing supervisor
David Emery	....	visual effects supervisor
Rob Engle	....	lead software engineer
Matt Farell	....	technical designer
Bill Feightner	....	technical supervisor: CIS Hollywood
Michael L. Fink	....	senior visual effects supervisor: Warner Digital (as Michael Fink)
Thomas F. Ford IV	....	high speed compositing lead data engineer
Doug Forrest	....	high speed compositing artist
Michael Forster	....	model maker
Fortunato Frattasio	....	Inferno/Flint artist: Warner Digital
Mark A. Freid	....	visual effects equipment coordinator
Julia Frey	....	visual effects producer (as Julia Rivas)
Bart Giovanetti	....	compositing supervisor (as Bart Gio