http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~ina22/splaylib/Screenplay-Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind.pdf
Paul Schrader is a true genius of the movie screenplay format and is responsible for being a loyal personal friend, while being many credited -and uncredited- works, starting with his first script 'Taxi Driver' that he wrote while living in his car in his 20's, talked about during a Chess game with Marty Scorcese and ultimately making his pitch sale to Scorcese (also in his 20's at that time) by the end of the chess game. So, they both won. Later, Paul Shrader's original script for 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' was purchased by Steven Spielberg and ultimately Shrader's name was removed from the final film- in totality. Why? Because so many editorial changes had occurred to help the script be more accessible to a larger audience, to make it more popcorn fun. The relationship between Shrader and Spielberg had been frayed for awhile, but is now 'friendly' despite the fact that Shrader asked Spielberg for a watch (Rolex) since so much of his original script was lifted and used in his hit movie. Spielberg refused to give him any watch, lol. Spielberg's film is a true classic and basically represents everything Spielberg is brilliant at. That said, Shrader's script is now available to read online and it's truly just as great and very different than what ended up on-screen. There are many scripted moments that remain intact, but it's the general spirit of Shrader's story that never changed. Schrader is simply a brilliant and adaptable script writer. bye.
