"The Spielberg Curriculum" - 206 movies you must see to work with spielberg
08-01-11, 07:08 PM
#1
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"The Spielberg Curriculum" - 206 movies you must see to work with spielberg
via slashfilm.com
link to the google doc
the list:
Whether you’re in Hollywood, outside of Hollywood, male, female, celebrated actor or up and coming production assistant, surely anyone who loves movies would kill to work with Steven Spielberg. For the better part of four decades he’s been the creative force behind some of the most influential and magical films ever released. And while some would argue his recent work can’t compare to that dominance, he’s still the go to mentor for the biggest names in the business: Michael Bay, J.J. Abrams, Jon Favreau, etc.
So what does it take to work with Steven Spielberg? Well, other than being ridiculously talented and probably just a little bit lucky, having seen the following 206 movies couldn’t hurt. A list is now circulating online unofficially called The Spielberg Curriculum and it’s rumored to be a list of movies put together by Spielberg himself that he feels any aspiring filmmaker must see to work with him. Obviously he doesn’t do job interviews with a clipboard and checklist, and this could very well be a total fabrication, but it’s an interesting exercise none the less. Find out if you make the Spielberg cut after the jump.
The list comes to us from GoIntoTheStory (via JoBlo.) Here’s how it’s described:
This is a list that someone sent me during a conversation on Twitter. It’s unofficially referred to as “Steven Spielberg’s List of Movies You Have to See Before You Can Work With Him” aka “Steven Spielberg’s Curriculum.” Weirdly enough, I could only find ONE mention of it on Google. ONE. And it was a weird mention here: But it’s a list of 206 movies that Spielberg assembled as movies that should be required viewing for any aspiring filmmaker. And if you listen to the way Spielberg talks about cinema and the history of film, it’s quiiiiite clear he has seen more movies than anyone on earth other than Martin Scorsese. But just goes to show you how overlooked that part of your mantra is: watch. Movies. A lot of the great directors from Spielberg’s era have probably seen more than half of those movies. Maybe even 3/4. The younger filmmakers coming up now? I’d be shocked if they’d seen 30 of them. I haven’t seen anywhere NEAR half of them. Anyways. Pretty interesting list. I uploaded it as a Google document which I figure is probably easier for sharing than a Word document.
So what does it take to work with Steven Spielberg? Well, other than being ridiculously talented and probably just a little bit lucky, having seen the following 206 movies couldn’t hurt. A list is now circulating online unofficially called The Spielberg Curriculum and it’s rumored to be a list of movies put together by Spielberg himself that he feels any aspiring filmmaker must see to work with him. Obviously he doesn’t do job interviews with a clipboard and checklist, and this could very well be a total fabrication, but it’s an interesting exercise none the less. Find out if you make the Spielberg cut after the jump.
The list comes to us from GoIntoTheStory (via JoBlo.) Here’s how it’s described:
This is a list that someone sent me during a conversation on Twitter. It’s unofficially referred to as “Steven Spielberg’s List of Movies You Have to See Before You Can Work With Him” aka “Steven Spielberg’s Curriculum.” Weirdly enough, I could only find ONE mention of it on Google. ONE. And it was a weird mention here: But it’s a list of 206 movies that Spielberg assembled as movies that should be required viewing for any aspiring filmmaker. And if you listen to the way Spielberg talks about cinema and the history of film, it’s quiiiiite clear he has seen more movies than anyone on earth other than Martin Scorsese. But just goes to show you how overlooked that part of your mantra is: watch. Movies. A lot of the great directors from Spielberg’s era have probably seen more than half of those movies. Maybe even 3/4. The younger filmmakers coming up now? I’d be shocked if they’d seen 30 of them. I haven’t seen anywhere NEAR half of them. Anyways. Pretty interesting list. I uploaded it as a Google document which I figure is probably easier for sharing than a Word document.
the list:
Spoiler:
Last edited by riotinmyskull; 08-01-11 at 07:16 PM.
08-01-11, 07:19 PM
#2
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: "The Spielberg Curriculum" - 206 movies you must see to work with spielberg
it's a good list. The one Spielberg film is Close Encounters (not my favorite), and The Celebration appears to be the only film made within the last ten years (that I can see), but it's a great film nonetheless.
08-01-11, 07:23 PM
#3
Re: "The Spielberg Curriculum" - 206 movies you must see to work with spielberg
What's funny is that the list was at one time editable by users so who really knows how factual it is, beyond just it's existence.
08-01-11, 07:29 PM
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Re: "The Spielberg Curriculum" - 206 movies you must see to work with spielberg
08-01-11, 07:58 PM
#6
DVD Talk Gold Edition
08-01-11, 08:43 PM
#8
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Re: "The Spielberg Curriculum" - 206 movies you must see to work with spielberg
Michael Bay was banging models 2-at-a-time while watching most of those.
08-01-11, 08:50 PM
#9
DVD Talk Legend
Re: "The Spielberg Curriculum" - 206 movies you must see to work with spielberg
From most directors I would expect a list like this with foreign obscure films that most haven't seen.
08-01-11, 10:47 PM
#11
Moderator
Re: "The Spielberg Curriculum" - 206 movies you must see to work with spielberg
What, it's not possible to learn from about filmmaking and film story from a not-as-great film?
08-01-11, 11:05 PM
#12
Re: "The Spielberg Curriculum" - 206 movies you must see to work with spielberg
Whatever crap it deservedly gets for the story and Sofia's performance, there's some amazing imagery; the helicopter sequence, the spiraling priest crashing towards the camera, the final shot; there are some very good learning opportunities in framing a shot.
08-02-11, 07:39 AM
#14
DVD Talk Legend
Re: "The Spielberg Curriculum" - 206 movies you must see to work with spielberg
Wow .... I've seen 187, have about 150 on DVD. Where do I send my resume??????
08-02-11, 09:10 AM
#15
Re: "The Spielberg Curriculum" - 206 movies you must see to work with spielberg
I've seen 169 of them. I probably should see the ones I haven't seen, even though I have no intention of ever working for or with Mr. Spielberg.
Interestingly, the list has no films by any of the following: Raoul Walsh, Anthony Mann, Sam Fuller, Sam Peckinpah, Don Siegel or Phil Karlson. And, of course, none by Sergio Leone, Chang Cheh, Kinji Fukasaku, John Woo, Ishiro Honda, Mario Bava or Terence Fisher.
Oh wait, those are on Tarantino's list. Now, that's the list I want to see.
Interestingly, the list has no films by any of the following: Raoul Walsh, Anthony Mann, Sam Fuller, Sam Peckinpah, Don Siegel or Phil Karlson. And, of course, none by Sergio Leone, Chang Cheh, Kinji Fukasaku, John Woo, Ishiro Honda, Mario Bava or Terence Fisher.
Oh wait, those are on Tarantino's list. Now, that's the list I want to see.
Last edited by Ash Ketchum; 08-02-11 at 10:54 AM.
08-02-11, 09:36 AM
#16
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Re: "The Spielberg Curriculum" - 206 movies you must see to work with spielberg
....not a surprising list that it'd be something for Spielberg to like. Like Ash said, I'd like to see QT's list...QT's list would be a treasure trove of films for sure. In fact...it was his name dropping of sooooo many films that made me watch some very interesting films that I own most of those that I've noticed him name drop them. love love love...the Edgar Wright/QT commentary...damn thing practically forces you to get a pen and paper to write them all down...
08-02-11, 09:43 AM
#17
Moderator
Re: "The Spielberg Curriculum" - 206 movies you must see to work with spielberg
Seeing this list reminds me I wanted to buy Three Days of the Condor when it finally came out on DVD. Both the DVD and blu-ray must be out of print; the secondary market prices are outrageous!
Also, regarding Godfather III, notice it's the only multi-film story on the list. There's something to be said about watching a completed story, no matter if it wraps up the way you would have it unfold.
Also, regarding Godfather III, notice it's the only multi-film story on the list. There's something to be said about watching a completed story, no matter if it wraps up the way you would have it unfold.
08-02-11, 09:55 AM
#18
DVD Talk Hero
Re: "The Spielberg Curriculum" - 206 movies you must see to work with spielberg
08-02-11, 11:20 AM
#22
08-02-11, 11:30 AM
#23
Re: "The Spielberg Curriculum" - 206 movies you must see to work with spielberg
Seen 17.
Regarding the 17 I've seen:
Absolute hate at least 4 of them.
Another 4 I feel are great.
Pretty "meh" on the others.
Regarding the 17 I've seen:
Absolute hate at least 4 of them.
Another 4 I feel are great.
Pretty "meh" on the others.
08-02-11, 11:31 AM
#24
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: "The Spielberg Curriculum" - 206 movies you must see to work with spielberg
Kind of surprise that he didn't put Das Boot on the list. He did borrow the submarine from the movie for Raiders of the Lost Ark.
08-02-11, 11:34 AM
#25
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