Quentin Tarantino Reveals His 20 Best Films of the 21st Century, and Number 13 Is Totally Unexpected Starting as a hopeful screenwriter Before his big break, Gilligan was like many young screenwriters, armed with unsold scripts and driven by ambition. Despite the challenges, his admiration for The X-Files gave him focus. As an early fan of the series (which debuted in 1993), he dreamed of bringing his stories to life within its mysterious, thrilling world. But how does one get from dreaming to actually being in the room? The right moment with the right pitch Gilligan’s opportunity came through his agent, who connected him to Chris Carter, the creator of The X-Files. At the time, Carter and his team were preparing the show’s second season, grappling with the challenge of fulfilling a larger episode order. During their meeting, Gilligan seized the moment. He pitched an idea on the spot: a shadow that gains autonomy and kills people. It was spontaneous yet unique, a risky gamble that paid off. Bringing the story to life From this impromptu idea, Gilligan developed the script for the episode titled Soft Light. As the story evolved into a polished production, Gilligan’s talent became clear. The episode aired as part of the show’s second season, cementing his place as a key contributor to the series. His inventive plot and sharp writing proved he had much more to offer. Source: https://3dvf.com/en/before-breaking-bad-and-his-new-sci-fi-series-its-creator-landed-a-job-by-improvising-the-story-of-a-cult-show/