pilot files pilot pilot episode science fiction television series files episode aired september fox network united_states canada subsequently aired united_kingdom ireland episode written series creator chris_carter directed pilot set mythology storyline series episode earned nielsen rating viewed million households million viewers episode generally received fans critics alike led growing cult following series hit mainstream pilot introduced main characters fox_mulder dana_scully portrayed david_duchovny gillian_anderson respectively episode featured recurring characters smoking man scott smoking man series signature antagonist appearing season eighth episode follows fbi special agents mulder scully file case investigating string deaths mulder believes alien experiments inspired night series conceived chris_carter attempt scare people pants creating characters fox_mulder dana_scully carter decided play established stereotypes making male character believer female role traditionally male television principal photography pilot took place fourteen days march budget million scenes filmed vancouver area vancouver remain area production years production los_angeles beginning sixth season behest david_duchovny plot oregon teenager seen fleeing forest falls dark figure approaches light body later found detectives small marks later washington fbi special agent dana_scully gillian_anderson summoned meeting division chief seemingly anonymous government official smoking man scully assigned work special agent fox_mulder david_duchovny x-files obscure fbi section covering paranormal cases assigned scully implicit purpose scientific knowledge discredit mulder work directly tells scully asks intent scully introduces new partner shows evidence case notes fourth member high school class die mysterious circumstances mulder notes unknown chemical compound found body similarities death country mulder believes death extraterrestrial activity skeptical scully expresses disbelief mulder theory mulder scully plane flies encounters unexplained drive woods near town agents car radio mulder marks spot event spray painting road mulder arranges victim despite protests county medical coffin opened deformed body found inside scully concludes finds metal body nasal cavity mulder scully visit psychiatric hospital committed death meet classmates wheelchair suffers agents visit seen bear marks similar outside hospital mulder explains scully believes miles victims alien night agents investigate forest scully discovers strange ash ground leading suspect cult activity local detective arrives orders leave driving mulder scully encounter flash light spot car earlier car loses power mulder realizes minutes disappeared flash phenomenon reported alien mulder tells scully sister samantha vanished driven work paranormal agents receive anonymous telling killed traffic foot visit scene finding body wheelchair return find fire evidence destroyed daughter contacts agents help tells awakened middle woods times father detective miles arrive away mulder scully return cemetery victims find graves dug missing mulder realizes responsible bringing victims woods returning woods encounter hear scream find billy nearby arms flash light recovered unharmed months later miles recalls classmates abducted forest celebrated graduation subjected tests aliens killed tests failed scully provides metal remaining piece evidence later learns mulder miles case files missing smoking man stores away vast evidence room pentagon production pre production episode chris_carter wanted scare people pants noted influence episode conception night series 1970s led idea agents investigating paranormal events creating characters fox_mulder dana_scully carter decided play established stereotypes making male character believer female role traditionally male television casting actors main parts carter difficulties finding actor scully cast gillian_anderson network wanted replace carter believed responded negatively casting didn obvious qualities network executives come associate hit shows calling terrific actress carter reacted overall positively anderson audition saying came read seriousness intensity knew scully character knew right person david_duchovny hand met positive response network carter saying early favorite appearance recurring villain smoking man episode originally auditioned larger episode saying auditioned senior fbi agent lines didn got lines filming principal photography pilot took place fourteen days march budget million filming episode took place vancouver british_columbia series use area production years production los_angeles beginning sixth season behest david_duchovny scene set town graveyard shot queen marking time location represent graveyard location later purpose fourth season episode interior shots psychiatric hospital filmed disused building owned marked time crew met producer episode final warehouse scene filmed document warehouse belonging headquarters canadian television network knowledge office building meeting beginning episode scenes involving smoking man required special permission filmed order allow actor smoke public building interior shots fbi headquarters filmed main production crew found open plan offices wished represent longer existed having typically converted found working broadcast schedule later episodes series replicated location sound stage forest scenes shot location known crew spent building wooden pathways equipment cast crew easily area additional scenes filmed headquarters whilst scully apartment represented location episode episode squeeze use location discontinued apparent reverse angles large car park street effects artist toby tasked creating prop allow actress simulate camera use screen editing tricks test shots prop burst causing stage blood begin forehead nose gillian_anderson expressed displeasure scene character dana_scully visits fox_mulder room underwear examine suspicious wound turns insect bites actress felt scene saying wasn reason bites shoulder carter explained scene simply intended highlight relationship lead roles post production post production work episode finished final version episode assembled hours preview screening network executives stock footage exterior added episode later episodes film new exterior shots stand location climactic abduction scene featuring forest clearing featured vortex leaves created computer imagery series visual designer carter described complicated achieve normandy landings deleted scenes original script gives insight scully visit office scene introduces scully script set visit takes place virginia teaches small group physiology homicide specifically death cattle attention distracted agent enters room hands note reads attendance required washington sharp scully checks digital watch reads majority scene actually filmed scene omitted final version episode scene scully reports fbi headquarters script includes scully showing badge dialogue role tells scully section chief floor violent crime division final version episode scully badge appear scenes speak filmed scenes cut final version episode featured scully boyfriend scully meet scully plans holiday arranged assignment oregon case second scene briefly shows scully answering telephone mulder whilst asleep bed dialogue addition scully boyfriend attempt fox executives create romantic interest felt mulder scully chris_carter ultimately found easy remove character episode appearances slow scenes mulder scully fact carter found scully relationship fbi partner actually interesting exciting relationship boyfriend broadcast reception pilot premiered fox network september broadcast united_kingdom bbc september episode earned nielsen household rating share meaning roughly percent television equipped households percent households watching television tuned episode viewed million households million viewers pilot received series future crew members producer writer felt episode merging silence close encounters kind impressive felt truly scary series television time writer stated pilot set tone successfully noting difficulty inherent introducing series premise main cast minutes finding episode achieved tremendous synthesis parts chris_carter recounted episode test screening fox executives met spontaneous applause episode generally received fans critics alike variety magazine criticized episode reworked concepts praised production noted potential acting variety stated duchovny scientist sense humor win partisans anderson connects solid team variety praised writing direction cool direction carter ingenious script presentation sci boost magazine concluded carter dialogue fresh self conscious characters involving series kicks drive imagination innovative recent entertainment_weekly noted scully set pilot progressed belief season airing episodes magazine called files paranoid subversive noting tension anderson dubious events duchovny haunted look true believer writing praised episode rating felt episode premise worked set template future episodes noted chemistry duchovny anderson outset writing den geek reviewed episode positively praising chemistry lead roles quality script sfx named tenth best pilot science fiction fantasy genre saying brought came expect plot pilot adapted novel young adults title marks spot
Pilot (The X-Files)