How to Make a Steven Spielberg Film

Love him or hate him, Steven Spielberg is the most commercially successful director in the history of movies. Ever since Jaws became the highest-grossing movie of its day, Spielberg's magic has led to from one top grossing movie to another. Spielberg's success has left many critics and filmmakers scratching their heads and wondering how he crafts such successful films. So what's the method behind the magic? Once you understand it, you too can craft your own Steven Spielberg films.

Spielberg and Narrative
Steven Spielberg movies tend to be straightforward linear narratives. Most Spielberg films use the classic three-act structure. In addition, Spielberg tends to work with genre-specific films. Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the purest examples of the adventure genre ever made, as is Jurassic Park and Jaws. Occasionally Spielberg will mix genres, 1941 comes to mind, but he has met with limited success when he has.

Spielberg and Structure
Spielberg utilizes a classic Hollywood approach to dramatic structure. Spielberg's approach is to create a goal-oriented main character who seeks resolution. Then he throws obstacles in the hero's way, leading to the climax in which the hero attains his goal. Spielberg films almost always offer full closure to the audience. One exception that succeeds in having the best of both worlds is Raiders of the Lost Ark, in which the hero, Indiana Jones, attains his goal, only to lose it in the end. However, even with this exception, closure is still complete in the sense that the Nazi's no longer have the Ark of the Covenant.

Spielberg's Main Characters
Spielberg's main characters tend to gravitate toward two types: childlike innocence and reluctance. Within these types all of his characters are passionately goal oriented. Roy Neary in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, embodies the prototypical Spielberg character. He's playful with his kids, watches Looney Toons cartoons, plays with a model train. He's like an overgrown kid. He's reluctant to go on the adventure to find the Devil's Tower, until the impulse to do so overrides his reluctance. Once committed to the goal however, he is fully committed. He will see it out to the end no matter what. This is the typical Spielberg protagonist. Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan is reluctant to go on the mission. Oskar Schindler is reluctant to help his Jewish workers. Most of Spielberg's main characters need some convincing before fully committing to the goal, but once they do, they are completely and utterly committed to attaining the goal.

Spielberg's Villains
Spielberg's antagonists are typically extremely powerful and identifiable. They are personified antagonists, meaning that they are embodied in a single person or thing. The shark in Jaws, the T-rex in Jurassic Park, Amon Goeth in Schindler's List - these are not vague shadowy incarnations of evil. Spielberg villains function to provide powerful, direct opposition to the hero. The greater the villain the more heroic the hero must be to overcome him.

Spielberg and Plot
Spielberg's films are almost entirely plot-driven. Characterization in a Spielberg film comes directly as a result of the plot. In classic Hollywood narrative, plot is used as an obstacle to keep the protagonist from achieving goals. This is how Spielberg uses plot as well. Plot generates action and excitement, and Spielberg is ever-conscious of the role of plot in his movies.

How to Make Your Own Spielberg Film
If you wish to follow Spielberg's example when crafting your own film, do the following:

1. Make your hero a goal-driven reluctant hero with a childlike innocence.

2. Create a direct and powerful antagonist.

3. Use a plot-driven narrative.

4. Utilize a classic three-act structure.

5. Focus on the conventions of a given genre.

6. Use plot to drive the action while using character to give the story an emotional resonance.

As you can see, there's nothing particularly magical about Spielberg's approach to filmmaking. Spielberg is simply a master of craft working hard to keep the audience engaged at all times. Now it's your turn.