Steven Spielberg

According to TIME, one of the most important people of the 20th century Steven Spielberg's first films were made at a time when directors were the most important people in Hollywood, and his more recent ones at a time when marketing controls the industry. That he has remained the most powerful filmmaker in the world during both periods says something for his talent and his flexibility Steven Spielberg's first films were made at a time when directors were the most important people in Hollywood, and his more recent ones at a time when marketing controls the industry. That he has remained the most powerful filmmaker in the world during both periods says something for his talent and his flexibility

What does he do? Spielberg has worked in Hollywood as a: Spielberg has worked in Hollywood as a: Writer Writer Director Director Producer Producer Video game designer Video game designer Studio entrepreneur Studio entrepreneur Internet content innovator Internet content innovator

What is significant about his contributions? insight that there was an enormous audience to be created if old-style B- movie stories were made with A-level insight that there was an enormous audience to be created if old-style B- movie stories were made with A-level Use of latest developments in special effects. Use of latest developments in special effects. The story lines were the stuff of Saturday serials, but the filmmaking was cutting edge and delivered what films have always promised: they showed us something amazing that we hadn't seen before. The story lines were the stuff of Saturday serials, but the filmmaking was cutting edge and delivered what films have always promised: they showed us something amazing that we hadn't seen before.

Recurring images:  Characters that are backlit  Use of powerful flashlights in dark scenes  Shows children in some sort of danger  Consistent references to WW2  Use of piano in key scenes  Use of rear view mirror/reflections for character development  Protagonists in films often come from divorced families (archetype)  Often uses images of the sun

Other elements often found in Spielberg’s films Sense of wonder and hope Sense of wonder and hope Identification with child-like point of view Identification with child-like point of view Heroes usually don’t have complex emotional entanglements. The Color Purple is an exception. Heroes usually don’t have complex emotional entanglements. The Color Purple is an exception.

The year he changed the industry 1975, released Jaws 1975, released Jaws Perhaps the first blockbuster movie Perhaps the first blockbuster movie Started a new trend in summer releases Started a new trend in summer releases 1976 won an academy award 1976 won an academy award

Biography Born December 18 th, 1946 Born December 18 th, 1946 Born in Cincinnati, lived in New Jersey and Scottsdale, AZ Born in Cincinnati, lived in New Jersey and Scottsdale, AZ At the age of 13, he won a film contest for a 40 minute film called, Escape to Nowhere At the age of 13, he won a film contest for a 40 minute film called, Escape to Nowhere At 16, he produced Firelight, which later inspired Close Encounters At 16, he produced Firelight, which later inspired Close Encounters He attended California State University where he majored in English because he couldn’t get into film school. He attended California State University where he majored in English because he couldn’t get into film school.

Bio. Cont. Janitors closet – Janitors closet – breaking into the film industry. breaking into the film industry. Made his first short film Amblin for $15,000 but got him noticed by Universal Made his first short film Amblin for $15,000 but got him noticed by Universal Did TV- Did TV- First feature film, Sugarland Express. First feature film, Sugarland Express. In 1994, Dreamwork SKG partnership Steven Spielberg, Jeffery Katzenberg, and David Geffen In 1994, Dreamwork SKG partnership Steven Spielberg, Jeffery Katzenberg, and David Geffen

Bio. Cont. By 1997, Spielberg's annual income had reached $283 million. He was the highest paid entertainment figure of that year. This money comes from a variety of investments: Amblin (100% ownership) $400 million value * Dreamworks (22% ownership) $550 million * Dive! (restaurant chain) (50% ownership) $6 million * idealab! (internet content) (15% ownership) $7.5 million By 1997, Spielberg's annual income had reached $283 million. He was the highest paid entertainment figure of that year. This money comes from a variety of investments: Amblin (100% ownership) $400 million value * Dreamworks (22% ownership) $550 million * Dive! (restaurant chain) (50% ownership) $6 million * idealab! (internet content) (15% ownership) $7.5 million

Films The 1970s Duel (1971) The Sugarland Express (1974) Jaws (1975) Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) 1941 (1979) The 1970s Duel (1971) The Sugarland Express (1974) Jaws (1975) Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) 1941 (1979) Duel The Sugarland Express Jaws Close Encounters of the Third Kind 1941 Duel The Sugarland Express Jaws Close Encounters of the Third Kind 1941 The 1980s Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Poltergeist (1982) E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) Twilight Zone The Movie (1983) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) Ghost Train (1985) The Mission (1985) The Color Purple (1985) Empire of the Sun (1987) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) Always (1989) The 1980s Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Poltergeist (1982) E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) Twilight Zone The Movie (1983) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) Ghost Train (1985) The Mission (1985) The Color Purple (1985) Empire of the Sun (1987) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) Always (1989) Raiders of the Lost Ark Poltergeist E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Twilight Zone The Movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Ghost Train The Mission The Color Purple Empire of the Sun Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Always Raiders of the Lost Ark Poltergeist E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Twilight Zone The Movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Ghost Train The Mission The Color Purple Empire of the Sun Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Always

Films cont. The 1990s Hook (1991) Jurassic Park (1993) Schindler's List (1993) The Lost World (1997) Amistad (1997) Saving Private Ryan (1998) American Journey (1999) The 1990s Hook (1991) Jurassic Park (1993) Schindler's List (1993) The Lost World (1997) Amistad (1997) Saving Private Ryan (1998) American Journey (1999) Hook Jurassic Park Schindler's List The Lost World Amistad Saving Private Ryan American Journey Hook Jurassic Park Schindler's List The Lost World Amistad Saving Private Ryan American Journey The 2000s A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) Minority Report (2002) Catch Me If You Can (2002) The Terminal (2004) War of the Worlds (2005) Munich (2005) Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) The 2000s A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) Minority Report (2002) Catch Me If You Can (2002) The Terminal (2004) War of the Worlds (2005) Munich (2005) Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) A.I. Artificial Intelligence Minority Report Catch Me If You Can The Terminal War of the Worlds Munich Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull A.I. Artificial Intelligence Minority Report Catch Me If You Can The Terminal War of the Worlds Munich Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Current Film projects Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull Adventures of Tin Tin Adventures of Tin Tin War Horse War Horse Lincoln Lincoln

Recent work on the small screen The Pacific The Pacific Smash Smash Terra Nova Terra Nova The River The River Falling Skies Falling Skies United States of Tara United States of Tara Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Live Have you seen any of these television shows, how do they fit in with his traits?

Academy Awards Schindler’s List – 1993 Schindler’s List – 1993 Saving Private Ryan – 1998 Saving Private Ryan – 1998

Saving Private Ryan

Terminal

E.T.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

1941

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Poltergeist

Amistad

Empire of the Sun

Jurassic Park

Transformers

Schindler’s List

Discussion Discuss with your table: What do you think about Spielberg now? How much of an impact does he have on the film industry? In retrospect, how many of his projects have you seen?