Steven Spielberg

Yearly Years Born in Cincinnati Ohio December

18 1946 to an electrical engineer of a father and a mother who was a professional pianist

Oldest of four Developed love of film making

when his family moved to Arizona His interest for film making was

encouraged by his mother Leah His first films consisted of short

Western and war films His first full length film was

inspired by a story made up by his kid sister and was funded by his own tree planting business

He would later take his talent all the way to Hollywood

Steven as a kid

Hollywood sign in California

Launch of his Career A short film called Amblin', got

Spielberg his big break with Universal Entertainment

This short film, which was funded by a certain Denis Hoffman, would later become a cause for controversy, due to the fact that Spielberg agreed to a contract and never came through with it, stating that the contract was invalid because he was a minor at the time of the signing

At Universal, Spielberg started out directing T.V. Shows but finally got the opportunity of a lifetime when he was asked to direct a full length feature film entitled Jaws which at the time was a best selling novel

Filming proved to be difficult for the young director

Universal backlot

Movie cover for Jaws

JAWS The most difficult parts of filming

Jaws were the open ocean scenes and also the issue of creating a believable 25 foot man eating shark

Production was slow and time was running out

Spielberg was on the verge of being replaced and editing continued until the last minute

Everyone expected failure from the film but due to Spielberg's talent the film was a hit and became legendary

After this Spielberg's name was huge and the rest is history

Spielberg on the set of Jaws

Spielberg and Jaws the shark

His Greatest Work Although he is known for many

films these are some of his most famous

After Jaws came the 2 billion dollar film E.T which starred Spielberg's own little goddaughter, Drew Barrymore

Films like Indiana Jones and The Color Purple, which was nominated for 11 Oscars, soon followed

Jurassic Park and Schindler's List then became two more hits added to the list

Spielberg had then gained respect from critics and went on to direct Saving Private Ryan and Back to the Future

Spielberg on the set of Jurassic Park

Spielberg on the set of Schindler's List

Awards Motion Picture Producer of the

Year Award for Schindler's List 1993

Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award for Saving Private Ryan 1998

PGA Hall of Fame - Motion Pictures for E.T 1982

Silver Ribbon award for Saving Private Ryan.

Golden Globe for Best Director for Schindler's List

Golden Globe for Best Director for Saving Private Ryan

Empire Award for War of the Worlds for Best Director 2005

Lifetime achievement award

Awards

David Award for Best Producer for Back to the Future

Best Screenplay for the Sugarland Express 1974

Blue Ribbon Award for Jurassic Park, The Color Purple and E.T

Oscars for Scindler's List and Saving Private Ryan

Saturn Award of Best Director for Jurrassic Park

2006 Lifetime Achievement Award for his allover success

Oscars

Golden Globe

His Legacy and Impact From the beginning, Spielberg

changed the filming industry and changed the way people saw movies

Opening doors for other film makers, Spielberg set the example for what movies and television should be

Not only did he know how to entertain and bring in the big bucks, he also knew how to paint a picture on the big screen and tell a story and that was always his main goal

And although other film makers were inspired by his genius, Spielberg will remain a legend in the industry

Star on the Walk of Fame

Looking to the Future

Spielberg keeps making history and entertaining America as a film maker and a producer with his films such as Harry Potter, Transformers, Letters From Iwo Jima and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

With future films already in production, his audiences await a new thrill, laugh or mystery from the legend film maker himself

Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Transformers