Contact - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts

[russell]

The book is different from the movie in several key places. In the book, three machines were built. Each machine held five passengers, and Ellie was accompanied by four intellectuals from around the world. The book is set in 2000, 15 years "in the future" from its release date, with a female U.S. president and an intact Soviet Union. Ellie's father is John Staughton, her mother's second husband, because John and Joanna had a long affair when she and Ted were married.

[michele]

In the movie, young Ellie's father affectionately calls her "Sparks." Jena Malone is from Sparks, Nevada.

[morris]

The Very Large Array was collecting data during filming. Most of the V.L.A. scenes were shot at a full scale-reproduction of the control facility in Culver City, California.