| Steven Spielberg | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Full name |
Steven Allan Spielberg |
| Born |
December 18, 1946 (age 77) |
| Occupation |
Film director, film producer |
| Spouse |
Amy Irving (1985–1989) |
| Characters played |
None |
| Movies | |
| — | |
Steven Spielberg is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He was an uncredited executive producer for Shrek.
History[]
First coming to attention directing adventure films, Spielberg is noted in recent years for his willingness to tackle emotionally powerful issues, such as the horrors of the Holocaust in Schindler's List, slavery in Amistad, hardships of war in Saving Private Ryan, and terrorism in Munich. One consistent theme in his family-friendly work is a childlike, even naïve, sense of wonder and faith, as attested by works such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Hook, A.I., and Super 8, and the challenging role of a father-figure, apparent in War of the Worlds and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Spielberg is the most financially successful motion picture director of all time. He has directed and/or produced an astounding number of major box office hits, giving him great influence in Hollywood. As of 2004, he has been listed in Premiere and other magazines as the most "powerful" and "influential" figure in the motion picture industry.
In 2005, Empire magazine created a list of the 50 greatest film directors of all time. Spielberg was number one on the list.
He has been nominated for six Academy Awards for Best Director, winning two of them for Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan, and seven of the films he directed were up for the Best Picture Oscar Schindler's List won. He is seen as a figure who has the influence, financial resources, and acceptance of Hollywood studio authorities to make any movie he wants to make, be it a mainstream action-adventure movie such as (Jurassic Park), or a three-hour-long black and white drama about the Holocaust (Schindler's List).
In 2001, he was given the honor of Knight Commander of the British Empire (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.
Involvement with Shrek[]
In 1991, Spielberg had purchased to rights to produce a film based on William Steig's children's book, "Shrek!". Originally to be a traditionally animated film at the now defunct Amblimation, production never made it past development. Thus the film was put on hold until the formation of DreamWorks Pictures in 1994. The film was quickly put into pre-production the following year, with minimal involvement from Spielberg. Despite a lack of presence, he would later go on to praise Mike Myers' portrayal of the titular character-- noting his intense dedication to the performance.