Steven SpielbergSteven Spielberg

ChildhoodChildhood Steven Spielberg was born on December 18, 1946, in Steven Spielberg was born on December 18, 1946, in

Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati, Ohio. Grew up as the only Jewish family in the neighborhood, this Grew up as the only Jewish family in the neighborhood, this

impacted his childhood and later his movies. impacted his childhood and later his movies. Looking for a distraction from life, young Spielberg picked Looking for a distraction from life, young Spielberg picked

up his father’s 8mm camera, which was to be his newfound up his father’s 8mm camera, which was to be his newfound hobby. In which he created many short films, enlisting his hobby. In which he created many short films, enlisting his family members as cast members. family members as cast members.

At the age of 13, Spielberg taught himself how to master At the age of 13, Spielberg taught himself how to master camera angles, technical tricks, and visual storytelling skills. camera angles, technical tricks, and visual storytelling skills.

His first feature-length film, “Firelight”, was two-and-a-half-His first feature-length film, “Firelight”, was two-and-a-half-hours long. Firelight showed at a local movie theatre, hours long. Firelight showed at a local movie theatre, whereby Spielberg made one hundred dollars in profit in whereby Spielberg made one hundred dollars in profit in one night from his film. one night from his film.

After graduating from high school, Spielberg attempted to After graduating from high school, Spielberg attempted to enroll into film school but failed due to poor high school enroll into film school but failed due to poor high school grades. grades.

Early YearsEarly Years He attended California State College at Long Beach, He attended California State College at Long Beach,

and majored in English. and majored in English. After graduating from college in 1970, Spielberg snuck After graduating from college in 1970, Spielberg snuck

onto the Universal Studios lot and tried to convince onto the Universal Studios lot and tried to convince producers to look at his films. producers to look at his films.

Spielberg’s film, “Amblin” told the story of a couple Spielberg’s film, “Amblin” told the story of a couple hitchhiking from the Mojave Desert to the Pacific hitchhiking from the Mojave Desert to the Pacific Ocean. Ocean.

Spielberg scrounged together fifteen thousand dollars Spielberg scrounged together fifteen thousand dollars from his friends and family to make this 22-minute from his friends and family to make this 22-minute film. film.

The film “Amblin” revealed Spielberg’s talent and a The film “Amblin” revealed Spielberg’s talent and a producer from Universal Studios, contracted Spielberg producer from Universal Studios, contracted Spielberg for 7 years after he saw the movie “Amblin”. for 7 years after he saw the movie “Amblin”.

1973 - First assignment at Universal Studios1973 - First assignment at Universal Studios

Universal assigned Spielberg to make a Universal assigned Spielberg to make a film made for television, “Duel”. “Duel” is film made for television, “Duel”. “Duel” is about a traveling salesman whose car is about a traveling salesman whose car is relentlessly chased down rural highways relentlessly chased down rural highways by a large truck with an unseen driver. by a large truck with an unseen driver.

The American public enjoyed this thriller, The American public enjoyed this thriller, and was popular enough to be shown in and was popular enough to be shown in theaters overseas. The movie “Duel” may theaters overseas. The movie “Duel” may still be considered to be the best American still be considered to be the best American television movie ever made. television movie ever made.

19741974

The film “Sugerland Express” was released The film “Sugerland Express” was released in 1974 as Spielberg’s feature film debut. in 1974 as Spielberg’s feature film debut.

Inspired by a real incident, Spielberg Inspired by a real incident, Spielberg constructed this movie about a young constructed this movie about a young couple that led a police chase across couple that led a police chase across Texas as they attempt to retrieve their Texas as they attempt to retrieve their baby from the foster parents. baby from the foster parents.

It received praise from box office critics It received praise from box office critics but failed at the box office. but failed at the box office.

““The Sugerland Express” won a Cannes The Sugerland Express” won a Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay

1975 – “Jaws”1975 – “Jaws” ““Jaws” became Spielberg’s claim to fame, Jaws” became Spielberg’s claim to fame,

becoming the top-grossing film of all time in becoming the top-grossing film of all time in 1975. 1975.

The movie was nominated for Best Picture at the The movie was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, and won a few technical awards. Oscars, and won a few technical awards.

““Jaws” marked a new movie genre, the Jaws” marked a new movie genre, the blockbuster. The blockbuster movie could be blockbuster. The blockbuster movie could be interpreted as a highly anticipated movie that interpreted as a highly anticipated movie that made a lot of money and captured both critics made a lot of money and captured both critics and viewers attention. and viewers attention.

In 1998, the film was named by the American In 1998, the film was named by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American films of the century. films of the century.

1977 – “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”1977 – “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”

Spielberg created and directed Spielberg created and directed “Close Encounters of the Third “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, in 1977. Kind”, in 1977.

He showed the viewing He showed the viewing audience his passion for science audience his passion for science fiction. fiction.

This film earned Spielberg his This film earned Spielberg his first Oscar nomination for best first Oscar nomination for best director. director.

““Indiana Jones”Indiana Jones”

1977 - Spielberg told George 1977 - Spielberg told George Lucas he wanted to make a film Lucas he wanted to make a film with the James Bond character. with the James Bond character.

Lucas suggested a movie set in Lucas suggested a movie set in the 1930’s about an archaeologist the 1930’s about an archaeologist and his adventures. and his adventures.

““Indiana Jones and the Raiders of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Arc” came out in 1981. the Lost Arc” came out in 1981.

Spielberg won an Academy Award Spielberg won an Academy Award nomination for best director. nomination for best director.

Later he directed the film’s two Later he directed the film’s two sequels, “Indiana Jones and the sequels, “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “Indiana Temple of Doom” and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” Jones and the Last Crusade.”

1982 – “E.T.”1982 – “E.T.” In 1982, “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” In 1982, “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial”

toppled the film Jaws from the all time top-toppled the film Jaws from the all time top-grossing movie ranking. grossing movie ranking.

Appealed to suburban America, the story Appealed to suburban America, the story line became a classic hit. line became a classic hit.

• Once again, Spielberg earned an Once again, Spielberg earned an Academy Award nomination for best Academy Award nomination for best director, Spielberg’s status was “the first director, Spielberg’s status was “the first director since Alfred Hitchcock to director since Alfred Hitchcock to become a household name.”become a household name.”

1982 - Spielberg creates “Amblin” 1982 - Spielberg creates “Amblin” EntertainmentEntertainment

Universal Studios restricted the Universal Studios restricted the amount of films he could amount of films he could produce, this was a hindrance produce, this was a hindrance to Spielberg’s will, therefore, he to Spielberg’s will, therefore, he was stimulated to found his own was stimulated to found his own production company “Amblin”. production company “Amblin”.

Amblin Entertainment, using Amblin Entertainment, using the E.T. logo as its trademark of the E.T. logo as its trademark of good fortune from the movie good fortune from the movie E.T. E.T.

At this point in his career At this point in his career Spielberg was perceived more Spielberg was perceived more as of a producer than a director. as of a producer than a director.

Spielberg did not find producing Spielberg did not find producing as satisfying as directing and as satisfying as directing and gradually has become less gradually has become less involved. involved.

1985 – “The Color Purple”1985 – “The Color Purple” Spielberg directed “The Color Purple” Spielberg directed “The Color Purple”

(which launched Oprah Winfrey's career), (which launched Oprah Winfrey's career), as a response to critics claiming that he as a response to critics claiming that he can't make a "serious" movie.can't make a "serious" movie.

This “serious” movie received a lot of This “serious” movie received a lot of “serious” critical acclaim, and brought “serious” critical acclaim, and brought the Directors Guild of America award to the Directors Guild of America award to Spielberg for Theatrical Direction in 1985, Spielberg for Theatrical Direction in 1985, as well as 11 Oscar nominations, but not as well as 11 Oscar nominations, but not one honoring the director. one honoring the director.

As a consolation prize, he did receive the As a consolation prize, he did receive the prestigious Irving G. Thalberg Award in prestigious Irving G. Thalberg Award in 1987. 1987.

1987 saw the release of “Empire of the 1987 saw the release of “Empire of the Sun”Sun”

““Always” was released in 1989Always” was released in 1989

““Hook” was released in 1991.Hook” was released in 1991.

These were each moderate successes, while These were each moderate successes, while the latter two were pretty forgettable, the latter two were pretty forgettable, especially by the time 1993 came around. especially by the time 1993 came around.

1993 – “Jurassic Park”1993 – “Jurassic Park”

Jurassic ParkJurassic Park Spielberg made a major career Spielberg made a major career

resurgence in 1993 with the resurgence in 1993 with the special effect-heavy dinosaur special effect-heavy dinosaur extravaganza Jurassic Park. extravaganza Jurassic Park.

Jurassic Park made an Jurassic Park made an outstanding impression, with a outstanding impression, with a record-setting opening record-setting opening weekend gross of $70 million weekend gross of $70 million and a total gross of $357 and a total gross of $357 million. million.

The film encouraged and The film encouraged and launched other big money launched other big money franchises, including two franchises, including two sequels, the lost World: Jurassic sequels, the lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), which Spielberg Park (1997), which Spielberg directed, and Jurassic Park 3, directed, and Jurassic Park 3, which he produced. which he produced.

““Schindler’s List”Schindler’s List”

Also in 1993, Spielberg displayed an Also in 1993, Spielberg displayed an affectionate, caring, and giving side of affectionate, caring, and giving side of himself when he released his sobering himself when he released his sobering black and white adaptation of Thomas black and white adaptation of Thomas Keneally’s prize winning novel Keneally’s prize winning novel "Schindler’s List", the story of a "Schindler’s List", the story of a complicated real life hero. complicated real life hero.

"Schindler’s List" earned over $100 "Schindler’s List" earned over $100 million at the box office.million at the box office.

Spielberg gave all of his earnings from Spielberg gave all of his earnings from the film to the Righteous Persons the film to the Righteous Persons Foundation, an organization that Foundation, an organization that supports a number of projects that supports a number of projects that impacted modern Jewish life. impacted modern Jewish life.

1998-20051998-2005 2005 2005 “Munich”“Munich” 2005 “2005 “War of the Worlds”War of the Worlds” 2004 “2004 “The Terminal”The Terminal” 2002 “2002 “Catch Me If You Can”Catch Me If You Can” 2002 “2002 “Minority Report”Minority Report” 2001 “2001 “A.I.”A.I.” 1998 “1998 “Saving Private Ryan”Saving Private Ryan”

Roger Ebert (Sun-Times film critic) said: "If Spielberg Roger Ebert (Sun-Times film critic) said: "If Spielberg never directed another film, his place in movie history never directed another film, his place in movie history would be secure. No other director has been more would be secure. No other director has been more successful at the box office and few placed more titles on successful at the box office and few placed more titles on various lists of great films. No director or producer has various lists of great films. No director or producer has ever put together a more popular body of work" (ever put together a more popular body of work" (FilmmakersFilmmakers).).