When it’s about making a film, especially in today’s tech-driven world, the new filmmakers often seek advice from someone who has mesmerized audiences previously. And, if that filmmaker is none other than Steven Spielberg, the three-time-Oscar winner, then what else one needs? Well, he shared a few tips for the new-age filmmakers, but it’s nothing related to technique.
What Is Steven Spielberg’s Advice to New Filmmakers?
Steven Spielberg is hands down, one of the greatest filmmakers Hollywood has ever produced. From E.T. to Jurassic Park to Saving Private Ryan and of course Jaws, he has earned the name and fame for himself. And three Oscars as well.
His movies offer us visual storytelling, innovative brilliant camera work, and distinctive cinematography.
A couple of years back, the famed filmmaker in an interview with Collider shared his filmmaking advice, particularly to those who are aspiring directors. And what he said was not something expected.
“I hope they never learn anything about movie-making. I hope they never know. I hope they never see who’s behind the curtain. I think if they don’t want to be a filmmaker, so if they don’t want to get into the business and they just want to be entertained or want to be transported somewhere else, it’s best not to know too much because you don’t want to knock down that proverbial fourth wall. You want to keep yourself safe and secure from any knowledge other than what the story is throwing back at you.”
“Don’t worry so much about technique and don’t worry so much about where to put the camera or have a light,” Spielberg added.
He stressed the art of storytelling rather than focusing much on technique.
“Worry about one thing or think about one thing, preoccupy yourself with, how do you tell a story that’s really interesting, that you can get somebody not to walk out of the room right in the middle of your second act of your telling the story?”
“Once you’ve got that, there’s a lot of people in this world that will get around you and show you the ropes,” he continued, “but learning how to be a storyteller is the most important advice I can give you.”
To date, among all acclaimed movies by the director, one movie that sets him apart is undoubtedly, Schindler’s List. It went on to earn twelve Oscar nominations winning seven, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Steven Spielberg’s Lesson to Young Filmmakers Citing The Fabelmans Reference
Giving reference from The Fabelmans, the semi-autobiographical movie that won best picture (drama) at the 2023 Golden Globes and was nominated for best picture at the 2023 Oscars, Steven Spielberg gave some serious pieces of advice to the next generation filmmakers.
“Well, I’m not going to say, ‘Get the f-ck out of my office,” said Spielberg.
“That’s a big difference between me and John Ford,” Spielberg said at a press conference at the Berlinale. (Via The Hollywood Reporter)
“The advice I usually give is not so much about how to make shots interesting, but how to recognise interesting stories and how to tell stories. There are so many opportunities to learn from so many great cineastes working today. I learn actually more from filmmakers today than I do from some of the older filmmakers who have made movies 80-90 years ago, because some of the new filmmakers are doing such audacious work.”
He added that he still learns from young filmmakers like Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert.
Spielberg continued: ”One of the things I’ve learnt is you have got to have a good script. I’ve always said, ‘If it ain’t on the page, it ain’t on the stage.’ And I really believe that. So, my advice is that if you want to be a movie director, first of all write, and if you don’t feel that’s your strong suit, meet somebody who’s strong suit is storytelling and writing, and form a little partnership, because it’s stories that get an audience to pay attention to you and not the shots.”
Spielberg’s next project is a new Bullitt movie starring Bradley Cooper. Recently the duo collaborated on Maestro.
