Faces, Spielberg learning from the Best.

In the mid-60's Steven Spielberg befriended actor Jeff Corey, who ran a prestigious acting studio (attended by James Dean, Jack Nicholson, Roger Corman, Irving Kershner and many more). Steven attended lots of classes, but he always avoided acting himself, he was more interested in directing and watching Corey work with the various people. (He later directed Corey in one of his TV-Movies Something Evil)

John Cassevetes

If he wasn't attending the classes, he was wandering around the Universal Studio Lot. On one of these walks, he paid a visit to the set of Wind Fever, an episode of a Universal TV-series, directed by Robert Ellis Miller, starring William Shatner, Leo G. Carroll and John Cassavetes.

When Cassavetes saw Spielberg on set he pulled him aside and asked him what he wanted to do. When Spielberg said he wanted to be a director Cassavetes told him that he wanted him to comment him on his acting, after every take, and give him direction for a better take. Spielberg was a little embarrassed, after all, he was only 18-19 years of age, so he asked if it would be possible to do that out of sight of everyone else involved.

Cassavetes directing his wife Gena Rowlands in Faces

That's when Cassavetes invited Spielberg to work on Faces, a low-budget film he had begun directing in January 1965, in and around his own house.

This turned out to be the first involvement with a professional film for the young Spielberg, and even he didn't get a credit for his work (as a Production Assistant), he did learn a lot about working with actors. And he learned it all at first hand from one of the masters himself: john Cassavetes.

The film premiered on April 6 1968, in Toronto, so today it celebrates it's 47th birthday.

Below you can watch an excerpt of the film.

Ronny.

The Bearded Trio - The Site For Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and John Williams

THE BEARDED TRIO ON FACEBOOK
THE BEARDED TRIO ON TWITTER
THE BEARDED TRIO ON GOOGLE+
THE BEARDED TRIO ON PINTEREST

CLICK HERE FOR FACTS ON STEVEN SPIELBERG
CLICK HERE FOR FACTS ON GEORGE LUCAS
CLICK HERE FOR FACTS ON JOHN WILLIAMS

Comments

Did Paul Freeman Accidentally Eat A Fly In Raiders of the Lost Ark?

The Famous Indiana Jones Fly In Belloq's Mouth Scene. Did It Really Happen? I've always wondered if Paul Freeman unintentionally consumed a fly in this scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark ? It's the scene where Indiana Jones shouts down to Bellosh...I mean Belloq and threatens to blow up the ark. Did a fly go in his mouth? I remember watching this scene back in the early eighties and my ten year old mind thought he definitely had a snack while filming. I recall talking about 'flygate' in my school playground at the time and the general consensus with my friends was that Freeman definitely had a sneaky snack. Paul Freeman talks about the famous 'fly' scene in an interview with TheIndyExperience.com and settled 'flygate:' This is a bit of a dicey question so don’t get too upset. (Laughs) A movie’s always got bloopers in it, some have a lot, and some only have three or four. And the most remarkable blooper was right before the opening of th...

Star Wars VII Movie Poster - Every End Is A New Beginning

Star Wars VII Movie Poster Just saw this Star Wars VII movie poster on Kyle Newman's Facebook fee d. The poster is by Lyndon Berresford and Paul Bateman. I am loving this. Who do you think the two characters are? Lando and Leia? Han and Leia's children? Have you seen other Star Wars VII movie posters? Let me know. Rob Wainfur @welshslider

Explaining That "Weird" Cut In Poltergeist. Read The Missing Scene

Why Is There A Strange Cut In The 1982 Horror Classic, Poltergeist? If you're a fan of the 1982 Horror classic, Poltergeist then you will be very familiar with that "weird" cut in the movie. It's 32 minutes and 47 seconds in to the movie and the scene is where Diane is explaining the strange phenomenon that is happening in the kitchen. First, she shows to Steve a chair scraping across the floor all on its own then she does the same with Carol Anne. Steve leans up against the kitchen wall and is completely shocked at what just happened. It's at this point Diane starts to explain the sensation of being pulled and then...A very abrupt cut. One moment we are listening to Diane and suddenly it cuts to Diane and Steve at their next door neighbours door. Why the sudden cut? It's on the VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray and even the streaming versions. Why does this awful and weird cut exist in the movie, Poltergeist? Watch the clip below to see the cut...

The Bearded Trio

Search This Blog