Steven Spielberg is one of the most successful and influential filmmakers of all time. He has directed over 30 films, including some of the most iconic and beloved movies of all time, such as Jaws, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Schindler’s List, and Jurassic Park. Spielberg’s films have grossed over $10 billion worldwide, making him the highest-grossing director of all time.
He has won three Academy Awards for Best Director, and his films have been nominated for over 100 Academy Awards. In recent developments, Spielberg has shown interest in directing long-format series thanks to this one specific show.
Steven Spielberg’s newfound affinity for long-format series
Steven Spielberg was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1946. He began making films at a young age, and his first short film, Escape to Nowhere, won first prize at a film festival when he was just 13 years old. After graduating from high school, Spielberg studied film at California State University. He dropped out of college after two years to pursue a career in filmmaking. Spielberg’s first feature film, The Sugarland Express, was released in 1974. The film was a critical and commercial success, and it launched Spielberg’s career as a Hollywood director.
The director has, however, recently shown interest in directing long-format as well.
In a recent episode of the SmartLess podcast hosted by Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes, Spielberg spoke about his interest in experimenting with long-format direction and the show that he really hoped to be roped in for, the Kate Winslet starrer, Mare of Easttown. He said,
“I do have an appetite for long-form, and someday, I will direct a long-form series.”
“I mean, if someone would have brought me ‘Mare of Easttown,’ I would have done that. That was a beautifully directed story.”
He also spoke of how he wanted to originally make his 2012 film Lincoln as a miniseries, stating,
“I was willing to do ‘Lincoln’ as a six-hour because I couldn’t raise all the financing for it;” “No one believed in it…I went around town and everyone turned me down. I was ready to make a deal with HBO to do it and expand it to six5 hours. Tony Kushner’s first draft was 550 pages, so I had the goods! I had the material. I don’t know if I could have talked Daniel Day-Lewis into doing six hours, but I was on the brink of that.”
Spielberg has previously been involved with long-format series’ such as Band of Brothers, but as an executive producer and not in a directorial capacity.
His career in Hollywood
Over the years, Spielberg directed a string of hit films, including Saving Private Ryan, Transformers, The Terminal, Indiana Jones, and Back To The Future. These films were all critical and commercial successes, and they helped to establish Spielberg as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation.
His films are known for their powerful expression, their visuals, and their ability to entertain and inspire audiences of all ages. His films have also been praised for their exploration of complex themes, such as the Holocaust, the Vietnam War, and the dangers of technology.
Steven Spielberg is one of the most successful and influential filmmakers of all time. His films have entertained and inspired audiences of all ages over the last five decades. Spielberg is undeniably a master storyteller, and the films he makes go on to reiterate exactly that, time and again.
Mare of Easttown is available to stream on Hulu.
Source: IndieWire
