<Li> Warren Kemmerling as Wild Bill </Li> <Li> Roberts Blossom as Farmer </Li> <Li> Cary Guffey as Barry Guiler, Jillian's son . Spielberg conducted a series of method acting techniques to help Guffey, who was cast when he was just three years old . </Li> <P> The film's origins can be traced to director Steven Spielberg's youth, when he and his father watched a meteor shower in New Jersey . As a teenager, Spielberg completed the full - length science fiction film Firelight . Many scenes from Firelight would be incorporated in Close Encounters on a shot - for - shot basis . In 1970 he wrote a short story called Experiences about a lovers' lane in a Midwestern United States farming community and the "light show" a group of teenagers see in the night sky . In late 1973, during post-production on The Sugarland Express, Spielberg developed a deal with Columbia Pictures for a science fiction film . 20th Century Fox previously turned down the offer . Julia and Michael Phillips instantly signed on as producers . </P>

Close encounters of the third kind movie wikipedia