Steven Spielberg's Advice for Young Filmmakers

Steven Spielberg: "It's the stories they're going to get an audience to pay attention to you, not the shots" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Dzo-O9cXXg

Rod Serling's Background As WWII Veteran

Rod Serling publicity photo for the premiere of The Twilight Zone, 1959. Courtesy CBS Television.

My friend Jonathan shared a link with me about Rod Serling's background as a WWII veteran and how the war influenced his legendary show, "The Twilight Zone." (1959 - 64) I can also see this influence in his work on "Planet of the Apes" (1968). And early in his career, Serling was inspired by comedian Jack Benny. Did you know that Rod Serling was Jewish?

Rod Serling's background as a WWII: Click

Steven Spielberg on the Importance of Studying Classic Films

Snapshot: Video by American Film Institute published in 2011 on Youtube.com

Hello,

here is a 2-minute video from Steven Spielberg, speaking about the Importance of Studying Classic Films. It's a video on Youtube, published by the American Film Institute in 2011: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdoC-5OI2xY

Key Takeaway

1. Don't Forget the Classics: Spielberg worries that young folks are missing out on old movies, especially from the 1930s and 40s. They might know a lot about modern films and directors like Tarantino, but they're not tuned into the rich history of cinema.
2. Learning from the Masters: He points out how today's filmmakers, even big names like himself, learned from the masters of the past. The directors of the 1970s, like Spielberg, were influenced by those who came before, showing that inspiration travels through generations and time
3. Give Old Movies a Chance: Spielberg urges everyone to give black and white films a shot, even if they seem old-fashioned at first. He's noticed that once people start watching, they get drawn into the story, proving that good stories never go out of style, no matter when they were made.

Spielberg says we should watch old movies because they teach us a lot, but young people often ignore them. He wants everyone to give black and white films a chance because they're still great stories, no matter how old they are.

Best,

André

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