Few film directors of the modern era have had such a marked influence on their peers as the great Steven Spielberg. Before Spielberg, it was believed that a filmmaker could either be highly creative or make films that were highly profitable. Usually a person could not accomplish both feats, at least in the same film. Also, when a director created a successful film, he or she was usually stuck creating works in that genre for the rest of his or her career. Spielberg was the first person to make thrillers, romances, dramas, and science fiction movies and have successes in each genre. He made it so that other directors who followed him could be involved in films from various genres instead of being pigeonholed in one format exclusively or
…show more content…
Both films would earn Spielberg the Academy Award for Best Director of a feature film. Since Schindler’s List, Spielberg has been involved in many Jewish causes and in constructing the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. His success with these films shows how the personal perspective of the director can have a marked influence on the film that he or she creates. Spielberg says that part of the reason why he wanted to make Schindler’s List was to honor his Jewish relatives. His experiences as a Jewish male influenced the tone and manner with which he directed and influenced other filmmakers to similarly use their own heritages to make the tone of their work stronger. Spielberg said that as a child he was ashamed of his Jewish heritage because it put him into the ethnic minority. Most of the American society was of the Christian faith and being other than this instilled in him a feeling of otherness. In making Schindler’s List, Spielberg was trying to explore his Jewish heritage and make up for these feelings of guilt as a youth. “I was so ashamed of being a Jew, and now I’m filled with pride…This film has kind of come along with me on this journey from shame to honor” (McBride 18). Because of the emotional charge of the piece, Schindler’s List was not only critically successful, but became the first movie about the Holocaust to be a financial success as well (Weintraub). Before, studios were reluctant to make films which such dark subject matter. However, they now understood that in the right hands, no story was unacceptable for
Both films would earn Spielberg the Academy Award for Best Director of a feature film. Since Schindler’s List, Spielberg has been involved in many Jewish causes and in constructing the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. His success with these films shows how the personal perspective of the director can have a marked influence on the film that he or she creates. Spielberg says that part of the reason why he wanted to make Schindler’s List was to honor his Jewish relatives. His experiences as a Jewish male influenced the tone and manner with which he directed and influenced other filmmakers to similarly use their own heritages to make the tone of their work stronger. Spielberg said that as a child he was ashamed of his Jewish heritage because it put him into the ethnic minority. Most of the American society was of the Christian faith and being other than this instilled in him a feeling of otherness. In making Schindler’s List, Spielberg was trying to explore his Jewish heritage and make up for these feelings of guilt as a youth. “I was so ashamed of being a Jew, and now I’m filled with pride…This film has kind of come along with me on this journey from shame to honor” (McBride 18). Because of the emotional charge of the piece, Schindler’s List was not only critically successful, but became the first movie about the Holocaust to be a financial success as well (Weintraub). Before, studios were reluctant to make films which such dark subject matter. However, they now understood that in the right hands, no story was unacceptable for