Ellie has a more prominent role in the first film than in the novel. Because of alterations to the plot in the film, Ellie does many of the things done by Donald Gennaro in the novel. In the film, it is Ellie who ventures out of the bunker with Muldoon to bring the park's power systems online. Additionally, in the film, Ellie is a doctor of paleobotany and in a relationship with Grant. Spielberg did this to add tension to the film and because he felt that she did not get enough attention in the book.