by K.C. Neal

Created on: September 25, 2007

Hmmm...my favorite sci-fi movie? "Close Encounters" (I still hum the bars from the spaceship)
Hmmm...my favorite children's movie? "ET" (I still point my finger and say "ET, phone home", and yes, I do the creaky voice)
Hmmm...my favorite classic remake? "War of the Worlds" (I still cringe around robots)
Hmmm...my favorite scary movie? "Jaws" (I am still afraid of the water)

Oh, and by the way, who directed each of these? You guessed it...Steven Spielberg...

Most of my answers to any genre of movie would include Steven Spielberg's name attached to it somehow. He is genius in the film industry.

Many directors were before him, and many will follow. Spielberg learned from those before him, and he built and created with that knowledge far beyond our wildest dreams, fantasies and terrors. And those that follow him will have such tremendous examples to use from his vast career in movie technique and skills.

He has made Indiana Jones (and Harrison Ford) household names. He started Drew Barrymore on her way in E.T. Whoopi Goldberg got her name in VERY bright lights with her role in "The Color Purple".

Steven Spielberg has won 3 Academy Awards for directing and producing. There have been so many nominations at the Oscars for his films that people have stopped counting. Usually, each of his films has received some sort of Academy Award, be it for sound, animation, music, editing, etc.

In 2006, he was given the title of the most powerful and influential person in motion pictures by leading magazines. And LIFE magazine, in 2000, called him the most influential person of this generation. Being that we are only 1 year away from 2006, and only 7 years from 2000, it will surely hold that his powerful influence is still in play.

Spielberg's movies will be watched for many generations to come. The stars who became famous because of his films have moved into this time of our lives doing more and more things on their own to influence us all.

His is the puppet master in Hollywood, and his mastery works perfectly and for all good intent. He makes people golden. And those who he makes golden spread their talents and abilities around for us all to enjoy. Look at:

Oprah Winfrey (The Color Purple)
Tom Cruise (War of the Worlds)
Richard Dreyfus (Jaws)
Drew Barrymore (E.T.)
Whoopi Goldberg (The Color Purple)
Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones)

Those are but a very few names who have continued into super stardom because of the master mind of Steven Spielberg.

There would be very few people in Hollywood who would turn down the opportunity to work with, for, or even in the same building as this great director.

Kudos to him! (But, I still won't go back in the water!)

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