Key Takeaways:
– Even renowned actors can't deter Steven Spielberg from his bedrock principle: the importance of the screenplay.
– Spielberg doesn't cast actors based on their fame but on their suitability for the role.
– The distinguished director has adhered to this rule throughout his over five-decade-long career.
The Marvel of Spielberg's Cinematic Contributions
In the sphere of cinema, few have left as significant an imprint as visionary filmmaker Steven Spielberg. From Jurassic Park and Jaws to The Color Purple and ET, Spielberg's cinematic oeuvre has consistently been ahead of its generation. Over his career spanning five decades, Spielberg has presented an array of groundbreaking features across diverse genres and themes. Despite his phenomenal success, a key question often arises: what's his secret formula for creating such cinematic masterpieces?
Spielberg's Golden Rule in Filmmaking
What's often surprising is that Spielberg's recipe for success involves a non-negotiable principle that prioritizes the screenplay over the star presence of actors. Despite collaborating with stellar talents like Tom Hanks, Liam Neeson, Sam Neil, Harrison Ford, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Leonardo DiCaprio, Spielberg maintains that no actor, irrespective of their renown or trophies, should ever overshadow the screenplay.
In an exclusive interview with Economic Times, Spielberg shared his bedrock principle for filmmaking. Emphasizing the primacy of the script, he stated, “For me, the screenplay is the star. We are all in service of that story, aiming to tell it in a dynamic and colorful way.” Notably, he expressed that he doesn't select an actor to make a movie but rather casts an actor who vanishes within the role after falling for the story.
The Screenplay First, Actor Second Approach
Unlike the Hollywood trend of casting stars to guarantee a movie's success, Spielberg vouches for the screenplay's supremacy. His adherence to this rule has been evident in films starring Hanks in the Oscar-winning Saving Private Ryan and DiCaprio in Catch Me If You Can. In both instances, he insisted that the screenplay came first before the actor was sorted.
While recounting his working experience with stars, Spielberg told The Economic Times, “Tom Hanks did ‘Saving Private Ryan', but the script was always the priority. Similarly, Leonardo DiCaprio was chosen after ‘Catch Me if You Can' was scripted.” Spielberg has never tailored a story to an actor, underscoring his unwavering faith in his golden rule.
A Legacy Built on a Sturdy Foundation
Spielberg's dedication to his principle could be a contributing factor to his films' enormous success. His insistence on pitching the screenplay above the acting ensemble may be why his movies, like the underrated Amistad, have turned into critically acclaimed classics.
Spielberg's principle and impressive filmography underscore that he is a true pioneer of Hollywood and modern cinema. His strict adherence to prioritizing the screenplay over even the greatest actors such as Hanks and DiCaprio is a testament to his commitment to the story above all else.
Fans and followers of Spielberg will undoubtedly continue to appreciate his brilliant cinematic contributions and understanding of the medium, underpinned by his rock-solid rule. Regardless of whether it's his unwavering guiding principle or simply his unparalleled talent, Spielberg's success in the film industry is irrefutable.
