Movies of summer
Steven Allan Spielberg, is an American director, producer, and screenwriter. He is considered one of the founding pioneers of the New Hollywood era, as well as being viewed as one of the most popular directors and producers in film history.
Enjoy these facts about Steven Spielberg.
Blood Money
Spielberg was credited for starting the tradition of the summer blockbuster after his 1975’s mega hit Jaws cleared $100 million at the box office.
Schindler’s List was considered to be the most expensive black and white film ever made but Spielberg didn’t accept any payment for his work on this movie.
I can see it
He stated that any money accepted would be “blood money”, considering the Holocaust.
From a young age
He claims Richard Dreyfuss is his alter-ego.
Breeds excellence
When he was a child, he snuck onto the lot of Universal Studios during a tour and befriended an editor who showed him a few things about filmmaking.
Steven is the godfather of Drew Barrymore and Gwyneth Paltrow.
He’s done alright
Gwyneth is known to call him ‘Uncle Morty’.
His Masterpieces
According to Forbes’ “400 Richest People In America,” Spielberg’s fortune is an estimated $2.5 billion.
When asked what are the films he’s made he would like to be remembered for, he said E.T.
Don’t you say that!
the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and Schindler’s List (1993).
Everybody lost here…
According to his interview on the series Inside the Actors Studio, his favorite curse word is “Rats!”
Serial winner
His longtime friend George Lucas originally wanted him to direct the third entry of the original Star Wars trilogy, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) and Spielberg was eager to do so, but Lucas was unsuccessful in getting him the job because of his dispute with the Director’s Guild at the time.
He has directed ten films that were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture: Jaws (1975), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), The Color Purple (1985), Schindler’s List (1993), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Munich (2005), War Horse (2011), Lincoln (2012) and Bridge of Spies (2015).
Set the mood
Of these, Schindler’s List (1993) is the only one to have won the award.
According to friend and veteran film editor Michael Kahn, Spielberg will not watch a cut of his film without temp music.
Friends in high places
Temp music is music used in production that conveys the mood or atmosphere of the scene.
Spielberg very close with George Lucas and Oprah Winfrey.
And the winner is…
He was also best friends with Robin Williams until he passed away.
Ghostwriting
For an AFI survey, Spielberg designated Lawrence of Arabia as his favourite film.
When promoting A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), which he wrote, he was asked why he had not written a film in the 19 years since Poltergeist (1982).
Loves Bond…girls.
He replied that the gap was not that long because he actually does rewrites on most of the scripts that he directs.
A lifelong fan of the 007 movies, Spielberg named Honor Blackman as his favorite Bond girl.
Through adversity
Blackman played Bond girl Pussy Galore in Goldfinger.
Lego Maniac
He struggled with dyslexia his whole life but was not diagnosed until very recently (around 2007).
Multitasker
He struggled with dyslexia his whole life but was not diagnosed until very recently (around 2007).
He is at his most productive and creative when working on more than one project at a time, be it as producer and/or director: E.T.
Get that scary couch outa here!
the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) + Poltergeist (1982) / Schindler’s List (1993) + Jurassic Park (1993) / War Horse (2011) + The Adventures of Tintin (2011), etc.
The creed is strong with this one
Steven confessed to host James Lipton that he has a phobia about “furniture with feet”.
Knows how to excite
Spielberg’s favorite indoor relaxation pursuits are watching golf on TV and playing the popular game “Assassin’s Creed”.
He directed six of the American Film Institute’s 100 Most Heart-Pounding Movies: Jaws (1975) at #2, Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) at #10, Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) at #31, Jurassic Park (1993) at #35, E.T.
Pull!
the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) at #44 and Saving Private Ryan (1998) at #45.
Spielberg is an excellent shot with a shotgun. Actor Shia LaBeouf once said about his shooting, “He’s an Olympic shot.
Pitch in or pull out
The hand-eye co-ordination of that man is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. If he weren’t a great director, he could be one of our greatest snipers”.
Helps out his friends
Steven pulled out of his role as advisor to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, reacting to the Chinese government’s inaction over the genocide in Darfur (February 2008).
The Dons
His dog Elmer starred in several of his films including Jaws (1975) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977).
I like the part when it goes bang!
He, George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola presented Martin Scorsese with his first ever award for Best Director, for The Departed (2006).
Steven owns one of the largest gun collections on the East Coast.
It was destiny
He does shoot, but only privately.
Early in his career, while working for Universal Studios, he was asked to give a tour to a special guest who had just sold the film rights to one of his books to the studio.
For the best anyways
That guest was Michael Crichton, who later worked with Spielberg on Jurassic Park (1993).
When Steven used product placement in E.T.
No questions please
the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), he used Reese’s Pieces only because M & M’s parent company didn’t want their product associated with aliens and UFOs.
No auditions necessary
To date, he has never provided a director’s commentary on any of his films DVDs.
He often casts new actors based on their performances in other works.
Steven rarely does auditions for major roles.