Film & Literature

Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg is one of the most important films directors; he had created many films about different genres, such as adventure films and science fiction films. Steven was born on December 18, 1946 in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. His mother was Leah Adler and his father was Arnold Spielberg. During his childhood he spent his free time playing with his sister and creating some amateur films, where he was the director and his sister sold popcorn. When he was 12 years old, he became a boy scout and he started to work in order to win a badge in photography, but when he was creating photos, his camera was broken and he started to use a video camera to create short films. Spielberg was raised by Jewish parents, and when he was a child he felt embarrassed about his family’s religion. When he was young boy his parents got divorced and he started his studies on film at University of Southern California but he didn’t finish his career, until 2002, when through an independent project. In 1969 Spielberg started to work in The Universal Studios and there, he made many TV series. In 1977 Spielberg created a film called “Encounter of the third kind”, which was his first best director nomination, the film was about UFOs. In 1994 Spielberg created his new Studio “DreamWorks”, and during that year he won his second Academy Award for direction, in his film “Saving Private Ryan” a film played by Tom Hanks. Spielberg’s works have marked the way of create films, when he directed “Shildler’s List” we could see his real feelings about Jewish people. “Shildler’s List” was one of the greatest American films ever made; it was based on the Oscar Shidler’s life, a man who saved 1100 Jews during the Second World War. Steven Spielberg is one of the most interesting directors, because he had created hundreds films about different genres and topics, he is a hard-working man but his big imagination is the most important characteristic and also his professional work.
If you are interested in Steven Spielberg Films and also in his works you will enjoy the following websites:
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAM5q837enk
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldA6RHJ1fKk&feature=related

Filmography and Awards

When Spielberg was 13, he won his first prize for a short film called “Escape to Nowhere, and when he was 16 years old he created his first independent film called “Firelight” -it was shown in a local cinema. After this he work very hard and he directed a new adventure film called “Raiders of the lost Ark”, the first of the Indiana Jones films, and it was a great success; nowadays this film is considered as a clear example of action genre. Then Spielberg returned to the science fiction genre with his film “E.T, the extraterrestrial”. During 1982 until 1985 Spielberg produced 3 important films, “Poltergeist”, “The Twilight Zone” and “The Goonies”, but one of the most important films was “Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom”, because during this film he met his future wife, Kate Capshaw. In 1985 Spielberg explored a new genre, the dramatic genre through his film “The Colour Purple” this film was about an African-American woman, who has fought against black discrimination. In 1987 Spielberg directed a film about China and its Culture called “The Empire of the sun”, the same year he directed an interesting film called “Hook”, a film about Peter Pan’s story played by Robin Williams.In 1993, Jurassic Park was awarded for its amazing special effects and it was the return of Spielberg to the adventure genre. In 2001 Spielberg and his friend Stanley Kubrick directed a new film called “Artificial Intelligence”, this film was a big success too. Spielberg has won a big number of OSCARS for his work like 1994 Best Director Award for “Schindler's List”, 1999 for “Saving Private Ryan”, he also won some Golden Globe like Best Picture – Drama for “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial”, “Schindler's List”, “Saving Private Ryan”. Spielberg is considered as one of the greatest director of our times, and he has also contributed to the film industry and the developments of new ways of create films.