Spielberg and the Hollywood Blockbuster

Question 1

Identify Spielberg’s first professional directing job. What was the medium? Who hired him? How old was Spielberg?

Answer 1

Intern at Universal Studios directing a television series “Amblin’” when he was 23 years old.

Question 2

What scene did Spielberg add (that is, shoot anew) to the 1980 Special Edition version of Close Encounters of the Third Kind?

Answer 2

The interior of the mothership seen at the end of the film, a decision he would later regret.

Question 3

In the film E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, what does young Elliot use as bait to lure the alien out of his forest hiding place?

Answer 3

Reese’s Pieces.

Question 4

Name two films that John Williams did not score in the entirety of Steven Spielberg’s career?

Answer 4

Duel and The Color Purple.

Question 5

Which character in The Color Purple shows Celie that a physical act such as kissing can come from love?

Answer 5

Shug Avery.

Question 6

What kind of factory does Oskar Schindler create to “employ” imprisoned Jews from a nearby death camp?

Answer 6

Munitions factory, that was not actually producing ammunition.

Question 7

Name the three films that, at the time of their release, moved to the top of the all-time box-office grossing films?

Answer 7

Jaws, ET, Jurassic Park.

Question 8

The story of A.I. Artificial Intelligence is often compared to what fairytale?

Answer 8

Pinocchio.

Question 9

At a relatively early age of about 40, Spielberg received this prestigious award from the Academy of Motion Pictures. What was the award and to whom is the award normally devoted to?

Answer 9

The Irving Thalberg Award, awarded to creative producers.

Question 10

Identify and explain one of the recurring themes in Spielberg’s films.

Answer 10

The most reoccurring theme in Spielberg’s films is tension between parent-child relationships, specifically absent, reluctant, or ignorant fathers, with a common element being divorce.

Question 11

What were some obstacles the US film industry had to overcome in the early 90s?

Answer 11

Hollywood relies on Megapictures and “Tent Poles”;

marketing costs up over 90%, star salaries double, production costs up by double digits, profit margins shrink;

box office growth low, numbers of films up 167 to 212 (now theatrical release hovers around 500);

foreign revenues bests domestic

Question 12

Saturation Booking (wide open)

Answer 12

3000 screens or more

Question 13

Platform Booking

Answer 13

a more precise roll out; gradual increase in screens

Question 14

The 2000s in the US for the film industry saw an influx of franchises. What and how did this effect the film industry?

Answer 14

synergistic interaction of corporate parts; an entertainment product that is “infinitely exploitable”;

theatrical release, broadcast and cable TV, theme parks, music, internet, merchandising

Question 15

What were some things that the US film industry saw in the 2010s that it had not previously experienced?

Answer 15

40k screen;

domestic sales highest again, domestic box office will often cover costs, foreign and ancillary create the profit;

American audiences account for 40% of global box office

Question 16

What is Steven Spielberg’s back story?

Answer 16

born in Cincinnati, 1946, divorced parents, bounced around a lot during childhood and teens;

made a film for his Boy Scout merit badge;

turned down by USC Film School

Question 17

What are some Spielberg television shows and movies?

Answer 17

Marcus Welby, MD; Columbo, The Duel, Savage

Question 18

What was Steven Spielberg’s first theatrical film?

Answer 18

Sugarland Express

Question 19

How many productions is Steven Spielberg named on?

Answer 19

56 films; producer on 155, writer on 22

Question 20

What was the first summer blockbuster and why is this significant?

Answer 20

Jaws; Hollywood used to “dump” movies in the summer, Jaws was an unprecedented media blitz for a summer movie and had an unprecedented wide release of 400 theaters

Question 21

How far over budget and past schedule was the movie Jaws and why?

Answer 21

$3.5 million to $10 million/55 days to 159 days; the shark didn’t work

Question 22

What are three remarkable successes of Jaws?

Answer 22

1 for 14 straight weeks;

$260 million domestic/ $470 million global that summer (now over $1 billion worldwide);

nominated for Best Picture (won 3 oscars)

Question 23

What are two effects Jaws had on the film industry?

Answer 23

brought high concept, action movies into the A-list;

youthful themes awakened by younger audiences

Question 24

What are four effects Jaws had on viewers?

Answer 24

affected beach attendance;
music score was iconic;
awakened Hollywood merchandising;
fascination with sharks

Question 25

What are the three distinct themes that can be found in Spielberg films?

Answer 25

Childhood;
Mysterious forces;
Citizen vs. The State/Establishment

Question 26

Define ‘childhood’ as a Spielberg-ian theme and give examples.

Answer 26

wonderment, technology, coming of age;

Spielberg as Peter Pan;
technology, aliens, monsters, speed, tricks of the eye/ SFX;
absentee fathers, broken/dysfunctional families, children in adult situation, adults exploring their inner child

Question 27

Define ‘mysterious forces’ as a Spielberg-ian theme and give examples.

Answer 27

god, evil, magic, hope and faith;

Spielberg the Mystic;
Jaws, Close Encounters, Indiana Jones, Color Purple, Always, Amazing Stories, Empire of the Sun, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, A.I., Lincoln

Question 28

Define ‘Citizen vs. The State/Establishment’ as a Spielberg-ian theme and give examples.

Answer 28

suspicion of authority, government, systems;

Spielberg as Political;
revealed himself as religious, rather conservative, home and family man, nationalistic;
generally never gray about right an wrong;
Sugarland Express, Jaws, Close Encounters, ET, Indiana Jones, Color Purple, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, Munich, Lincoln…