Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Friday 28 July 2017
Steven Spielberg opens up about life, filmmaking in HBO doc

By SANDY COHEN edges some mistakes in
AP Entertainment Writer “1941,” Lacy said Wednes-
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — day at the Television Crit-
Steven Spielberg isn’t afraid ics Association’s summer
to talk about his flops. meeting.
“Indiana Jones and the She said she only expect-
Temple of Doom” is his ed to have four interviews
least favorite film in that with the traditionally pri-
franchise, says documen- vate filmmaker, but that
tarian Susan Lacy, who they ended up meeting 17
spent more than 30 hours times.
interviewing the filmmaker “I can only guess that turn-
for “Spielberg,” premiering ing 70 is a turning point
Oct. 7 on HBO. for many people,” said
Spielberg also acknowl- Lacy, who created and

Director/producer Susan Lacy speaks in the “Spielberg” panel during the HBO Television Critics
Association Summer Press Tour at the Beverly Hilton on Wednesday, July 26, 2017, in Beverly Hills,
Calif.
Associated Press

produced the “American shooting... There are very able to do it.”
Masters” series on PBS for few filmmakers who have “Spielberg” focuses on his
decades. Spielberg turned that skill, and it impressed work as a director. Lacy
70 in December. everyone.” said she doesn’t get much
She also spoke with Spiel- Lacy described her subject into his philanthropic efforts
berg’s parents and sister, as both a populist and an or his various projects as a
as well as scores of his col- artist, saying his early work producer. The documen-
laborators, including Dan- reflects his life in the sub- tary’s most valuable mes-
iel Day-Lewis, Matt Damon urbs and as a child of di- sage for future filmmakers
and Tom Cruise. vorce and his later movies and other creative people,
The most compelling thing pay homage to the classic she said, is Spielberg’s be-
about Spielberg, both to his Hollywood filmmakers he lief in himself. “Having a vi-
colleagues and to Lacy, is admired, such as William sion and sticking to it and
his deep knowledge of and Wyler and John Ford. not letting anybody get in
enthusiasm for the medium, She said Spielberg never the way of it is probably the
she said. “I could not be- tried to influence her docu- best lesson you can learn
lieve how articulate he was mentary’s approach and from Steven Spielberg,”
about the process of mak- that he didn’t see the film Lacy said. “The decision to
ing films and his process until it was finished. When make ‘Schindler’s List,’ a
of making films, and how he called Lacy to say he 3 ½-hour black-and-white
much fun he had talking liked it, she let out a two- movie about the Holo-
about it,” she said. “Every year-old sigh of relief. caust, that didn’t come out
actor I interviewed — and “I didn’t allow myself to go of any kind of focus group.
I interviewed everybody... there: What happens if Ste- That was a belief that it was
that’s what they were most ven Spielberg doesn’t like something he needed to
impressed with: How much the movie?” she said. “If do.” Spielberg won his first
he understands the process I’d thought about that, I’d directing Oscar for the 1994
of filmmaking and how he probably have been frozen film, which was also named
sees ahead when he’s and immobilized and not best picture.q

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