Production Overview
Disclosure Day represents one of the most ambitious productions of Steven Spielberg's career. Combining practical effects with cutting-edge digital technology, the film was crafted by a team of industry veterans who have collectively earned dozens of Academy Awards.
Production Timeline
From script to screen, the journey of Disclosure Day:
Development Begins - Spielberg begins developing the concept with writer David Koepp. Early script drafts completed.
Pre-Production - Casting begins, production design underway, location scouting across the East Coast.
Cast Assembled - Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Colin Firth, and Colman Domingo confirmed for lead roles.
Principal Photography - Filming begins across multiple locations. Practical effects work starts.
Production Wraps - Principal photography completed. Pick-up shoots as needed.
Post-Production - Extensive VFX work, editing, scoring. Final cut locked.
Release - Disclosure Day opens worldwide.
Filming Locations
Disclosure Day was filmed across the East Coast from February to May 2025, under the working title "Non-View":
New Jersey (Primary)
The majority of filming took place in New Jersey. The state's diverse landscapes and proximity to NYC made it ideal for the production. Strict security measures kept plot details under wraps.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta served as a major filming hub. Georgia's film-friendly tax incentives and state-of-the-art production facilities made it an essential location for the production.
New York City & Huntington
NYC provided urban sequences with iconic backdrops. Huntington on Long Island offered suburban settings typical of Spielberg's ordinary-people-in-extraordinary-circumstances stories.
Key Creative Team
Steven Spielberg
Returning to his roots in sci-fi storytelling, Spielberg brings 50+ years of filmmaking experience to Disclosure Day.
Janusz Kaminski
Two-time Oscar winner and Spielberg's exclusive DP since 1993. His signature lighting style defines the film's visual approach.
David Koepp
Long-time Spielberg collaborator (Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds) crafted the screenplay balancing spectacle with human drama.
Rick Carter
Likely production designer based on Spielberg's preferences. Carter designed Jurassic Park, Avatar, and West Side Story.
Industrial Light & Magic
ILM handles the film's extensive visual effects, continuing their decades-long partnership with Spielberg and Amblin.
Michael Kahn / Sarah Broshar
Long-time Spielberg editors who have shaped the rhythm of his films for decades.
Practical Effects Philosophy
Steven Spielberg has always been an advocate for practical effects, believing they help actors deliver more authentic performances. Disclosure Day continues this tradition while embracing modern technology where necessary.
"When an actor can see something real, touch something real, their performance becomes real. Digital is wonderful for things we can't build, but if we can build it, we will."
- Steven Spielberg on practical effects (general philosophy)Techniques Used in Disclosure Day
- Practical Creature Effects: Key alien elements were created practically, allowing actors to react to real physical presences on set.
- Miniature Work: Select establishing shots and destruction sequences utilized detailed miniatures, a Spielberg tradition.
- In-Camera Effects: Lighting effects designed to simulate alien technology were achieved practically on set.
- Full-Scale Sets: Rather than green screen, full interior sets were constructed to give actors tangible environments.
- Digital Enhancement: ILM extends practical work digitally, creating seamless integration between real and virtual elements.
- LED Volume Technology: Some sequences may have used LED volume stages for realistic environmental lighting.
On-Set Stories
Production tidbits and behind-the-scenes moments from the Disclosure Day set:
Spielberg's Storyboards
True to form, Spielberg reportedly hand-drew storyboards for key sequences, a practice he's maintained since his earliest films.
Emily Blunt's Preparation
Blunt reportedly spent time with scientists and researchers to understand the psychology of someone experiencing first contact.
Colin Firth on Spielberg
Firth described working with Spielberg as "a masterclass in visual storytelling" during production interviews.
Secret Set Visits
Security on set was reportedly intense, with code names and restricted areas to prevent plot leaks.
Night Shoots
Key alien contact sequences required extensive night filming across multiple locations, often running until dawn.
Practical Sky Effects
The production created practical lighting rigs to simulate otherworldly phenomena, giving actors real light sources to react to.
Visual Effects Breakdown
While official VFX breakdowns await release, here's what we know about the digital work:
ILM's Approach
Industrial Light & Magic, founded by George Lucas and long partnered with Spielberg, handles Disclosure Day's visual effects. The company brings decades of experience in creating believable alien life and spacecraft to the project.
Expected VFX Sequences
- Alien Beings: The design and animation of extraterrestrial life forms, likely a combination of practical elements and digital enhancement.
- Alien Technology: Spacecraft, communication devices, and otherworldly machinery requiring full digital creation.
- Environmental Effects: Large-scale atmospheric and environmental changes caused by alien presence.
- Crowd Multiplication: Creating massive crowds for scenes depicting global reaction to disclosure.
- Set Extensions: Digitally extending practical sets to create larger environments.
"The goal is always seamlessness. If the audience is thinking about the effects, we've failed. They should be feeling the story."
- ILM philosophySound & Music
The auditory experience of Disclosure Day is being crafted by industry veterans:
Sound Design
Creating the sound of alien life and technology presents unique creative challenges. The sound team must develop entirely new audio landscapes that feel both otherworldly and emotionally resonant.
The Score
While official composer information awaits confirmation, any Spielberg film's score is a crucial element. Whether John Williams (at 93) contributes or a new collaborator takes the helm, the music will be central to the emotional experience.