How Steven Spielberg Influenced 5-Season Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Thriller

Jeff Dodge (he/him), a published author and graduate of Western Washington University, has been a TV news editor for many years and has had the chance to interview multiple reality show stars, including Randy Jackson, Nick Cannon, Heidi Klum, Mel B and John Cena. Fun Fact: he’s been to every single Idol Live! Tour.

Noah Wyle, the star and producer of the sci-fi thriller . Wyle played Tom Mason, a professor-turned-member of the Massachusetts Militia Regiment. The character made that drastic career change after an alien invasion completely changed society on Earth.

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It's been 11 years since Falling Skies went off the air, and Wyle is now reflecting on the series with Star Trek: The Next Generation alum and filmmaker Jonathan Frakes, who directed three episodes during the final three seasons.

During an appearance on Frakes and his TNG co-star Brent Spiner's podcast, Dropping Names with Brent and Jonny, Wyle gave props to Spielberg for how much he influenced the production.

Carl Franklin directed the Falling Skies series premiere in 2011, and when he went to put his mark on the series, he ended up directing the episode "in the style of Steven's style," according to Wyle, who added that what Spielberg "really understands cinematically is geography."

He would always tell the various directors on Falling Skies to make it clear where everyone was "at all times in relation to other characters and environment."

Spielberg clearly knew what he was talking about, considering his background directing several iconic films, and the fact that Falling Skies earned multiple nominations throughout its run at the Saturn Awards and won Most Exciting New Series at the Critics' Choice Television Awards.

Wyle got to work with "some great directors." Franklin, Frakes, Greg Beeman, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Holly Dale, David Solomon, Olatunde Osunsanmi and Miguel Sapochnik (who would go on to win awards for directing episodes of Game of Thrones) were just some of the many directors who worked on Falling Skies. Wyle himself even helmed the antepenultimate episode of the entire series.

Not everything was smooth sailing on the production, though. As mentioned, Falling Skies aired for five seasons, but the show had multiple showrunners come and go throughout its run, which made the experience like "a little bit of schizophrenic parenting," as Wyle put it.

"Carl Franklin directed the [Falling Skies] pilot. Carl directed it in the style of Steven [Spielberg]’s style, but we had five showrunners in five seasons on that show, so it was a little bit of schizophrenic parenting. The one thing that Mr. Spielberg really understands cinematically is geography. His whole thing to directors was that he wanted to know where he was at all times in relation to other characters and environment. I saw some great directors come through that show. "

Up to that point, Wyle was best known as the The Pitt, which earned him an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, and an executive producer on The Librarians: The Next Chapter.

Meanwhile, Spielberg went on to direct the films Bridge of Spies, The BFG, The Post, Ready Player One, West Side Story and The Fabelmans. His most recent