Star-Studded Steven Spielberg Documentary Gets Fall Release From HBO
Susan Lacy project promises “unprecedented chronicle” with an embarrassment of celebs
Matt Donnelly | July 11, 2017 @ 10:13 AM
Last Updated: July 11, 2017 @ 2:09 PM
HBO has set a premiere date for an intimate, star-studded documentary about the life and work of iconic film director Steven Spielberg.
The Susan Lacy film — titled “Spielberg” — hits the cable network October 7 and will air across platforms HBO Go and HBO Now.
The original doc promises interviews with “Spielberg’s family, as well as friends and colleagues,” and touts behind-the-scenes footage from his body of work like “Jaws,” “Raiders of the Lost Arc,” “ET: The Extra-Terrestrial,” “Jurassic Park,” “Schindler’s List” and “Saving Private Ryan.”
You want a laundry list of famous people interviewed for the piece? Fine.
J.J. Abrams, Christian Bale, Drew Barrymore, Cate Blanchett, Francis Ford Coppola, Daniel Craig, Daniel Day-Lewis, Brian de Palma, Laura Dern, Leonardo DiCaprio, Richard Dreyfuss, Ralph Fiennes, Harrison Ford, David Geffen, Tom Hanks, Dustin Hoffman, Holly Hunter, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Ben Kingsley, Kathleen Kennedy, George Lucas, Liam Neeson, Martin Scorsese, Oprah Winfrey and Robert Zemeckis are all set to appear.
A synopsis of the project also promises some pathos in addition to what can only be gushing praise from the above list. “Spielberg” will examine themes in the four-time Oscar winner’s career, like “separation, reconciliation, patriotism, humanity and wonder.”
Lacy is the creator and former EP of the WNET series “American Masters,” which airs on PBS. She has ten primetime Emmys for Outstanding Documentary Series and 12 Peabody Awards.
“Spielberg” was produced by Emma Pildes and Jessica Levin and edited by Deborah Peretz.
12 Hollywood Heavyweights for and Against Sean Parker's Screening Room Proposal
AGAINST: Roland Emmerich The "Independence Day: Resurgence" director joined the chorus of Parker detractors saying, "it's crucial that we support and protect the cinematic experience."
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FOR: Peter Jackson The "Hobbit" helmer said the device "does not play off studio against theater owner. Instead it respects both, and is structured to support the long term health of both exhibitors and distributors."
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FOR: Steven Spielberg Perhaps the most important of all backers, Mr. Spielberg is also an advisor to Parker.
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AGAINST: James Cameron The "Titanic" and "Avatar" director joined producer Jon Landau in blasting the conceit, saying, "we don’t understand why the industry would want to provide audiences an incentive to skip the best form to experience the art that we work so hard to create.”
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FOR: Martin Scorsese The iconic director also serves as one of Parker's advisors.
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FOR: J.J. Abrams The gatekeeper of the "Star Wars" universe sits on Parker's panel of advisers.
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AGAINST: Jon Landau The mega-grossing producer blasted Parker's notion in a joint statement with director James Cameron, saying "both Jim and I remain committed to the sanctity of the in-theater experience. For us, from both a creative and financial standpoint, it is essential for movies to be offered exclusively in theaters for their initial release."
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AGAINST: Christopher Nolan The "Interstellar" director echoed support for Screening Room dissenters James Cameron and Jon Landau, saying "it would be hard to express the great importance of exclusive theatrical presentation to our industry more compellingly than Jon Landau and James Cameron did."
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FOR: Ron Howard In remarks with Grazer, Howard said "Screening Room uniquely provides [a] solution."
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AGAINST: M. Night Shyamalan The "Signs" director has opposed the proposal, tweeting, "Once filmmakers & theater owners open the door to this idea, there is no going back. The movie going experience is something to fight for!"
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FOR: Brian Grazer In a joint statement with director Ron Howard, the prolific producer said Screening Room is "fair, balanced and provides significant value for the entire industry that we love. We make movies for the big screen and for as many people to see it."
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FOR: Frank Marshall The prolific producer is on a board of Parker's advisors for this specific concept.
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