Steven Spielberg: Interviews, Revised and Updated

Conversations With Filmmakers Series

by Lester D. Friedman (Contributor), Brent Notbohm (Editor)

More than four decades after the premiere of his first film, Steven Spielberg (b. 1946) continues to be a household name whose influence on popular culture extends far beyond the movie screen. Now in his seventies, Spielberg shows no intention of retiring from directing or even slowing down. Since the publication of Steven Interviews in 2000, the filmmaker has crafted some of the most complex movies of his extensive career. His new movies consistently reinvigorate entrenched genres, adding density and depth. Many of the defining characters, motifs, tropes, and themes that emerge in Spielberg’s earliest movies shape these later works as well, but often in new configurations that probe deeper into more complicated subjects—dangerous technology rather than man-eating sharks, homicidal rather than cuddly aliens, lethal terrorism instead of rampaging dinosaurs. Spielberg's movies continue to display a remarkably sophisticated level of artistry that matches, and sometimes exceeds, the memorable visual hallmarks of his prior work. His latest series of films continue to demonstrate an ongoing intellectual restlessness and a willingness to challenge himself as a creative artist. With this new collection of interviews, which includes eleven original interviews from the 2000 edition and nine new interviews, readers will recognize the themes that motivate Spielberg, the cinematic techniques he employs to create his feature films, and the emotional connection he has to his movies. The result is a nuanced and engaging portrait of the most popular director in American cinema history.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Biography, Business

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2000

Reviews

[Alenka · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I've never been in it for the money; I was in it for the physical pleasure of filmmaking. It's a physical pleasure being on a set, making a movie, you know - taking images out of your imagination and making them three-dimensional and solid. It's magic."
If I didn't know or like Steven Spielberg and/or his works enough, this book made sure I did. Even though it only includes discussions about his works up to the year 1998 and is in dire need of an update, it perfectly balances information about movies, production, his personal life, and the filmmaking industry as such. As a cinema lover and someone who grew up watching his movies, this book really delivered.

[Michael Jolls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although badly in need of an update (it concludes just after the release of "Saving Private Ryan"); it's still one of the best in the Conversations With Filmmaker series. The pieces give the career arch of the Hollywood titan; the talented youth who impressed studio heads to get the directing job for "The Sugarland Express", followed by the first contemporary blockbuster, "Jaws". Speilebrg keeps excellent track record, until coming to "The Color Purple" in which he openly frets about taking on more adult content (still a fantastic film). He stifles his way through the remainder of the 80s, until the year 1993, in which the articles become fixated on the boy becoming a man. The theme carries on for the rest of the 1990s, and tips its hat to the opening of DreamWorks and Spielberg's branching out as a producer.

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read. The interviews and essays collected here were remarkably good and packed a surprising punch in terms of information and the color they lend to understanding Spielberg's personality, making this really brief book an incredible value. Spielberg is fascinating to watch throughout the book's pages. He is now certainly one of the most articulate and interestingly cultured filmmakers, but this volume does an excellent job of showcasing his personality during the course of his first films, where he was simultaneously more and less confident about his space in Hollywood culture and history, and occasionally displayed a curious hubris that gets worn down into a steady humility in his later life and films. All-in-all this was an excellent collection to read, one that was breezy to get through but just value-laden in terms of its influence, impact, and the perspectives offered on Spielberg's words and work.

[Michael Jolls · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the update we’ve been waiting for!! This long overdue follow up to the 2000 edition hits the nail on the head. The update addresses the duality between Spielberg’s light hearted flair and his serious drama, particularly in the 2000s and 2010s. The interview choices look peculiar from the outset, but they are masterfully chosen. Arguably a new “best” in UPM’s Conversations with Filmmaker Series.

[Ben Cryer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a long time ago, but from what I remember it was a very nicely written book. And since I love film it was nice to get an in depth look at the life of one of the greatest filmakers of our time.

[Gabriel Tejeda-benitez · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really good. I got to know Steven Spielberg. He's awesome.

[Hasan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book on Spielberg and his success as a critical and commercial filmmaker.

[Norman Howe]

Science-Fiction