In this episode of What It Takes, Steven Spielberg discusses creative instinct and Janusz Kaminski explains choices made behind the camera. Alice Winkler hosts the show, drawing on the Academy of Achievement’s archive. The first part is a talk Steven Spielberg gave to students in 2006. The full show also features Janusz Kaminski, who works with him on films. The title names only one of the two men heard here. [1]
Spielberg tells how he came to make films. As a boy, he wanted to watch his toy trains crash. He found a way to film the crash and play it back. He could then watch it as often as he liked. The story gives a small, clear start to what became his life’s work. [1]
He also recalls the thrill of showing an early film to a crowd. Their response made him want to do more. His story links the drive to make something with the chance to see how it affects other people. [1]
Kaminski’s half of the episode examines both taste and craft. He recalls claiming not to like Spielberg’s films, despite enjoying them. He came to see that stance as snobbery. The story asks how much a stated taste comes from what feels acceptable to one’s peers. [1]
He also describes how he helped shape the battle scenes in Saving Private Ryan. Camera speed, shutter settings, and color could change how the scenes felt. His account connects the effect on a viewer with choices made while doing the work. [1]
We cite Spielberg’s advice about instinct. He calls it a whisper, a quiet sense of what draws you that can be hard to hear. This is advice from his own life. It is not research that proves a gut feeling is right. [1]