Directors that inspire me

Directors that inspire me

Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. His mother owned restaurants and played concert piano while his father worked as an electrical engineer in the early years of computers.

One thing I’ve noticed about many scenes in Steven Spielberg films is that they very often begin with production design elements. This cinematography technique used by Spielberg does three things:

• Creates cinematic energy
• Sets the tone for the scene 
• Informs character and setting

It’s also a nice visual reset for the viewer, so that way we all know we’re beginning a new scene. Sometimes this opening shot can add context to the overall story, especially when combined with the previous scene.

Steven Spielberg movies use performance blocking that moves the actors through the scene. Spielberg mainly does this for two reasons:

• Provide kinetic energy
• Inform on a subtextual level

As the mood and stakes of a scene change, so will the positioning of the actors. Visual choices are the lifeblood of a film director, and while sound and music can signal emotional information, the best visual tool is an actor’s physical movement and location relative to the camera.

Great directors don’t build a single shot. They build many shots within a single shot, alternating between compositions. This really is one of the best Steven Spielberg trademarks because the change in shot size:

• Evokes emotion
• Directs attention
• Keeps things interesting

Often, the goal is to create a willing suspension of disbelief in the viewer, especially with the kind of movies directed by Steven Spielberg. He can’t risk pulling the viewer out of important moments with a jarring cut.

This fluid cinematography technique isn’t easy to achieve, and requires a lot of practice, rehearsals, and a talented film crew.

Spielberg uses zooms and fluid camera movement to shift shot composition throughout a single camera setup. It switches from a full shot, to a medium shot, to a medium close, to a long shot, and back to medium close — all without cutting.

This camera work is distinct to a style used in many 1970's espionage films and it transports the viewer. Spielberg's movies are truly amazing.